I have started sweating after eating. Anyone else?

Posted by GailBL, Alumni Mentor @gailb, Sep 24, 2017

I am soon to be 69 years old and have started sweating after I eat. It's as if I'm having a big and extended hot flash. I have been doing this close to a year. I'm wondering if my bidy is telling me something.

Some background:
I had gastric bypass surgery 3+ years ago
I have type 2 diabetes, 6.6 A1c
I have back problems
Meds: Tramadol, Valsartan, Levothyroxin, Glipizide, Lantus Insulin

If you have these symptoms, what have you done that helps or stops these heat waves after eating, please share what you know.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Women's Health Support Group.

@baxtersmom

Hi @gailb
I saw your original post and even though it is older I thought I would ask you this. I have not had gastric surgery of any kind. I do have a moderately sized hiatal hernia since at least 2002 which has not been a problem and also have barrett's esophagus. I never felt that I had reflux but my GI doctor says it is silent and that many people have it that way. I am on omeprazole 40 mg twice a day. I do notice sometimes if I eat anything too close to bedtime and don't prop up my head I have some reflux. Recently I started having the symptoms described by you and others here. That is, almost like clockwork as I take my last few bites of dinner, I am sweating profusely. I also begin to feel nauseated. It doesn't last long. Often a few sips of ginger ale will help. I also don't throw up or anything. I notice some belching recently which is not normal for me but it could be the ginger ale. Sometimes I take a pepsid. Today it happened after lunch and I just had to lie down. I don't notice that it is related to any particular food but I do often have a small bit of sugar free greek vanilla yogurt as dessert after dinner. I know that sometimes I will have trouble swallowing it. I has a barium swallow test and it showed mild esophageal spasms. Doctor gave me some medicine for it but I didn't like it (can't remember why as it was a while ago). He told me to stop taking it and that the spasms weren't dangerous just a common symptom of someone with barrett's and hiatal hernia. The swallowing issue doesn't happen all the time so I just don't worry about it. But the sweating and nausea has me concerned. I have been hesitant to go to the doctor because of COVID-19 but am due for my endoscopy to check my barrett's. I have gained a bit of weight (maybe 20 pounds) over the last 2-3 years due to back problems. Am largely a healthy eater (don't eat much meat at all just every so often) but I do have something sweet just about every day (usually a bran muffin that helps me to not be constipated from pain meds for my back). Any thoughts please send them my way. If I am posting in the wrong place, please redirect me.
Thank you.

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Hello @baxtersmom.

I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing with the nausea and sweating you were experiencing after eating. I know you mentioned you were concerned. Were you able to reach out to your provider or are symptoms better?

@gailb @trbrewer65 @ldramjet @fredheiden I know it's been a while since this discussion was posted, but was wondering how you all were doing related to your symptoms after gastric surgery (sweating after eating, etc.). Have your symptoms been better? What have you been doing to try and alleviate any discomfort?

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I have for the last three months experienced these same symptoms. A simple sip of water in the morning activates abdominal pain, throat constriction and sweating and flushing of the neck and face. I have had ct, endoscopy w biopsy, gallbladder ultrasound, 24 hour urine test and multiple comprehensive blood tests.
No conclusions. Symptoms appear very prominent at end of day early evening. That seems to indicate as body processes more food or drink they increase. Blood pressure fluctuation occurs primarily dropping to 90/60, subsequent cold fingers and toes. Returns to my normal after hour or so. Weight loss after first 8 weeks has stabilized at 14 pounds after I decided I better eat, smile. Mayo, I am in the cue for last three weeks but wait is at least until mid January. I would add that locally one physician is concerned about carcinoid syndrome. Attempting to receive nuclear medicine test or PET scan to rule out tumor. Very difficult to forget being told tumor is a possibility.

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@krk

I have for the last three months experienced these same symptoms. A simple sip of water in the morning activates abdominal pain, throat constriction and sweating and flushing of the neck and face. I have had ct, endoscopy w biopsy, gallbladder ultrasound, 24 hour urine test and multiple comprehensive blood tests.
No conclusions. Symptoms appear very prominent at end of day early evening. That seems to indicate as body processes more food or drink they increase. Blood pressure fluctuation occurs primarily dropping to 90/60, subsequent cold fingers and toes. Returns to my normal after hour or so. Weight loss after first 8 weeks has stabilized at 14 pounds after I decided I better eat, smile. Mayo, I am in the cue for last three weeks but wait is at least until mid January. I would add that locally one physician is concerned about carcinoid syndrome. Attempting to receive nuclear medicine test or PET scan to rule out tumor. Very difficult to forget being told tumor is a possibility.

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Hello @krk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I am sorry to hear of your unique symptoms without a diagnosis yet. That is frustrating as well as worrisome, isn't it? While Connect is made up of patients like yourself (therefore we cannot make diagnoses), I can say, however, as someone who has had carcinoid tumors, there are aspects of your symptoms that do resemble carcinoid syndrome. Did any of your blood tests check your serotonin levels? Elevated serotonin levels can be checked through the 24-hour urine test and also by a blood test.

Have you had any diarrhea or other digestive pain and/or problems?

If you would like more information on carcinoid tumors we have a discussion group here on Connect. Here is the link, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuroendocrine-tumors-nets/.

When will you know if you will be able to have the nuclear tests?

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@hopeful33250

Hello @krk and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I am sorry to hear of your unique symptoms without a diagnosis yet. That is frustrating as well as worrisome, isn't it? While Connect is made up of patients like yourself (therefore we cannot make diagnoses), I can say, however, as someone who has had carcinoid tumors, there are aspects of your symptoms that do resemble carcinoid syndrome. Did any of your blood tests check your serotonin levels? Elevated serotonin levels can be checked through the 24-hour urine test and also by a blood test.

Have you had any diarrhea or other digestive pain and/or problems?

If you would like more information on carcinoid tumors we have a discussion group here on Connect. Here is the link, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/neuroendocrine-tumors-nets/.

When will you know if you will be able to have the nuclear tests?

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The urine test came back inconclusive.
I basically have had mild, by my standards, abdominal pain for months w the throat constriction and sweating.
I have damaged spine due to accident so pain is subjective to me, been living w that for decades. I have had polythycemia since I was 35 (now 70) but complicating this latest issue is two years ago I flipped to anemia which has puzzled the hematologist. One other symptom is since this started is fluctuating blood pressure. Prior to this I had mild elevated BP treated w small amount of drug but since this I was taken off due to sharp decrease in BP shortly after eating.
Anyway this is obviously mysterious and complicated. Would like a diagnosis merely to attack the issue. Interesting note is endocrinology department at Mayo declined the referral but upon re submission it appears internal medicine department is reviewing the info again. At this point it is what it is.....

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@krk

The urine test came back inconclusive.
I basically have had mild, by my standards, abdominal pain for months w the throat constriction and sweating.
I have damaged spine due to accident so pain is subjective to me, been living w that for decades. I have had polythycemia since I was 35 (now 70) but complicating this latest issue is two years ago I flipped to anemia which has puzzled the hematologist. One other symptom is since this started is fluctuating blood pressure. Prior to this I had mild elevated BP treated w small amount of drug but since this I was taken off due to sharp decrease in BP shortly after eating.
Anyway this is obviously mysterious and complicated. Would like a diagnosis merely to attack the issue. Interesting note is endocrinology department at Mayo declined the referral but upon re submission it appears internal medicine department is reviewing the info again. At this point it is what it is.....

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Thanks for providing a bit more medical history and background, @krk. Your situation sounds a bit more complicated given the injury to your spine and the polythycemia. I am glad to hear that the Internal Medicine Department at Mayo is reviewing your information. It would be a good thing to be seen at Mayo.

I understand your interest in getting a diagnosis. It's important just to know the cause.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post again with questions or updates?

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@hopeful33250

Thanks for providing a bit more medical history and background, @krk. Your situation sounds a bit more complicated given the injury to your spine and the polythycemia. I am glad to hear that the Internal Medicine Department at Mayo is reviewing your information. It would be a good thing to be seen at Mayo.

I understand your interest in getting a diagnosis. It's important just to know the cause.

I look forward to hearing from you again. Will you post again with questions or updates?

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Thanksgiving is in the books. Followed guidelines and kept ti to phone and videos. We decided to move the “feast” to noon, minimal in my case. Hour after it was what is now typical. Symptoms are still here, yesterday more pronounced as actually having a meal. As everyone on this stream notes it gets old real quick. Throat closed, flushed and very visible face turns red, neck sweat. Interesting that when a “meal” is consumed , as opposed to grazing throughout the day , the symptoms are quicker and more severe. So yesterday from 2 on basically miserable🥲. Symptoms are always like that in evening anyway. Funny that this reminds me of college when you knew your head would hurt after Friday night beers, but you do it anyway! Have to maintain weight and protein/calories to arrest weight loss.
I will be coming to Scottsdale February 1 to be seen by Dr Koch. Repeat my self but looking for cause is the goal if at all possible.

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@quiteachiver75

HELLO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND OUT I HAVE THYROID GRAVES DISEASE THIS IS ONE ☝️ OF THE SYMPTOM OF THIS. NOT SAYING YOU HAVE IT ONLY A SUGGESTION. THE SWEETING IS TERRIBLE.TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK 👍

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I have Graves’ disease and j has radiation as it was so overactive. Now anytime I eat anything green I feel a burning sensation in my feet, belly or chest and i feel it for hours. I cannot have anything with coconut if I eat certain nuts or anything with vanilla flavor I get severe dry mouth for days. Has anyone experienced that?

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I also have a problem after eating, although it is somewhat different. My nose runs, especially after a large meal, and I can go through many tissues. This began after moving from Cleveland, Ohio to Silver Spring, MD in 1975. I have found that eating smaller portions and spacing things out more is helpful, such as waiting after dinner before eating a bowl of cut-up fruit and yogurt for dessert. I have a borderline case of diabetes that is well controlled without medication. A doctor once told me that he could prescribe something that could inhibit this reaction so that it wouldn't occur when I went out to dinner, but I never asked for the prescription. I am wondering whether seeing an endocrinologist might be helpful to you.

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@evalvarez

I have Graves’ disease and j has radiation as it was so overactive. Now anytime I eat anything green I feel a burning sensation in my feet, belly or chest and i feel it for hours. I cannot have anything with coconut if I eat certain nuts or anything with vanilla flavor I get severe dry mouth for days. Has anyone experienced that?

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@evalvarez Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You have been diagnosed with Graves Disease. You are looking for other people that have Graves Disease and that experience a burning sensation and severely dry mouth for days after eating anything green, coconut, certain nuts, and anything with vanilla flavor, as you do.

Below I have linked two previous discussions related to Graves Disease in the Autoimmune Diseases Group. Please feel free to scroll down and read the previous comments in both of these discussions.

- Auto Immune Diseases: Looking for young people with Graves Disease https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/people-with-graves-disease-1/
- Autoimmune Diseases: Thyroid Graves Disease: Anyone else? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thyroid-graves-disease/

May I ask if your symptoms are common for someone with Graves Disease and what your provider has said about these symptoms?

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@luftmensh1

I also have a problem after eating, although it is somewhat different. My nose runs, especially after a large meal, and I can go through many tissues. This began after moving from Cleveland, Ohio to Silver Spring, MD in 1975. I have found that eating smaller portions and spacing things out more is helpful, such as waiting after dinner before eating a bowl of cut-up fruit and yogurt for dessert. I have a borderline case of diabetes that is well controlled without medication. A doctor once told me that he could prescribe something that could inhibit this reaction so that it wouldn't occur when I went out to dinner, but I never asked for the prescription. I am wondering whether seeing an endocrinologist might be helpful to you.

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Hello @luftmensh1,

Yes, your idea of seeing an endocrinologist is a good one. Since it especially happens after large meals it could be that you need to eat smaller meals on a regular basis. Endocrinologists are brilliant doctors. They have to know all of the body systems and they have a way of putting puzzle pieces together when other doctors don't think they fit.

Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?

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