What Causes Extreme Cyclic Body Temperatures, Freezing Cold And Profused Sweating?

Posted on Thu, 28 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 Answered on

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband has been feeling ill for several weeks. The major symptoms are alternating or cycling body temperature extremes First he is freezing cold and body temp drops to 66.8. Them he is sweating profusely (Very bad while sleeping) and body temp is near normal. He feels weak. He has been diagnosed with a virus but extensive blood cultures have been taken with no abnormalities found. Today he has gone for more extensive blood work, a chest xray and a echo cardiogram No results yet. Any thoughts?

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hormone tests

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about your husband's ill health.

I see he is receiving appropriate testing. I recommend certain hormone tests which I am quite sure the medical must be considering anyway.

Cortisol defienciency, thyroid hormone abnormalities, calcium and glucose problems are a few examples of problems that need to be ruled out with relevant blood tests.

When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:

CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your 3 month glucose average)
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH
Free T4
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
Serum Cortisol at 8 am

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar