RPLND hot flashes

[maureenj79]

Did any of you that had an RPLND experience hot and cold flashes after the operation?

The doctors said that my husband's blood work was fine, he didn't have a fever or any signs of infection. The tumor was in the left testicle, the right one is still intact and normal. I know sometimes hot flashes are because of not producing enough testosterone, but I don't feel this is the problem because of him still having the right testicle and he can still grow a beard, etc.

Any advice if you had hot flashes on how to control this and if it went away?

[Karen]

When you say his bloodwork was fine does that include testosterone and TSH levels? Thyroid gland problems can also cause flashing.

[mrb1980]

See an Endocrinologist

Maureen,

You should get your husband to an endocrinologist ASAP. I doubt that the hot flashes have anything to do with the RPLND.

After my I/O last year I began to experience hot flashes. They went away during my chemo but returned with a vengeance after chemo was finished. It was pretty horrible. I finally saw an endocrinologist, who after a blood test said that my remaining testicle was not producing much testosterone, either because the chemo shut it off or it never produced enough to begin with.

The endocrinologist prescribed testosterone gel (Testim) and I haven't had a hot flash since, as my testosterone level is now in the normal range. The gel is a little inconvenient, since I have to apply it every morning before work and it makes my shoulders stick to my shirts. Still, it's a heck of a lot better than low testosterone and hot flashes.

PS--I was growing a beard after chemo during my hot flash period. There was enough testosterone for the facial hair but nowhere near the normal amount.

[maureenj79]

Thank you! I was thinking it might be something like that, but here's what I can't figure out. We banked sperm and they said he had enough to bank it. Wouldn't they test that when they collect the sperm? I really know nothing about this, so educate me if you do know. He never had chemo. He never had any reactions like this after his orchiectomy (which was in late march). His RPLND was on May 3 and he just returned home yesterday. The whole time after the RPLND he has had these hot flashes. So I'm just not sure if it's because of testosterone or the RPLND. Doesn't it seem weird that this just started to show up after the RPLND and not after the orchiectomy? I will definitely get him in to see an endocrinologist, I just wondered your thoughts on why these hot flashes would show up with the timing of the RPLND?

[Mom]

Maureen, I am surprised none of the guys who had a RPLND had hot flashes after the surgery. That surgery is a shock to the system. Both times I had major surgery I had hot flashes/night sweats for a couple of weeks then as the body recovered they went away. I don't know enough about sperm/testosterone but I don't think one has anything to do with the other. My husband had a very low sperm count but you can't find a thicker beard or a deeper voice, so he certainly went through puberty without any problem with low sperm. So I think you can have plenty of testosterone without the sperm. However, once he was without testicles he suffered horribly with hot flashes, to the extent he was dripping. With the right amount of TRT he has no hot flashes. I don't think it would hurt to have your husband's testosterone tested, but he might recover on his own in a couple of weeks. Dianne

[maureenj79]

so he went to get his testosterone levels tested and everything was normal.

good news though, may 3 was the rplnd, the hot flashed have subsided considerably since then. although he still doesn't like it, it has gotten better.

so maybe it was just a shock to the system... who knows

my mother in law suggested panic attacks but he's never had this before and he says he is not panicked when he gets the hot flashes.

maybe this is just something that will go away with time unless you all have other ideas?

thanks for the advice.