Chills / Shivers During Chemo

dunedintech
dunedintech Member Posts: 90
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi all - wondering if anyone else experiences chills / shiver attacks during their chemo infusion? My episodes tend to last 30 minutes and I get chattering teeth, shivers and nausea. Things then go back to normal as if nothing happened. Nurses / Drs are unsure why this is happening and will wrap me in blankets until it passes. Bit of a strange one but thought I would get your views. 

CPC

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    edited November 2016 #2
    chills / shivers

    CPC,

    How  you doing other than having chills / shivers during chemo?

    I did not have Platinum based chemo, mine was the Erbitux variety (much different), but I did have the rads and the accompanying side effects and I do feel colder than I used to.  Makes me want to move to a warmer climate.  There are so many little changes since cancer treatment started,  I am not sure what was caused by surgery or radiation or Erbitux or from getting older.  Maybe it is your Thyroid?

    Maybe you should just get use to bundling up.

    Wishing you the best.

    Cold in Oregon,

    Matt

  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    #3
    Chills

    We all react differently to the drugs.  I didn't actually have the chills during the infusion, but at times I was cold.  There is nothing like wearing a knit hat, sweatshirt, jacket, and gloves inside with the A/C set at 80.

  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    edited November 2016 #4
    Chills

    CP

     Do you get Benadryl prior to your chemo? My first time with taxol I had such a severe allergic reaction that I was in the hospital for the rest of the week. 

    As Sash mentioned you might be having some kind of reaction to the chemo. 

    Best of Luck

    Dave

  • AnotherSurvivor
    AnotherSurvivor Member Posts: 384 Member
    #5
    Mine increased as my chemo

    Mine increased as my chemo progressed.  I started having a reaction consistently 4 hours after completion of infusion.  First one was at week 4 and turned out lucky because I spiked a 103F fever, did an EMT ride to the hospital where a CT revealed I had 3 pulmonary embolisms.  Everyone was looking for infections, but PEs will present very similar to septicima.  Process always started with the chills, but fever followed.  Through chemo now.  All those symptoms are now passed, but the week in the hospital wiped me.  And I was only on Carbo Taxal.  Also, I found I have a strong reaction to benedryl.

  • dunedintech
    dunedintech Member Posts: 90
    #6
    PICC Line Infected

    Well, turns out my line was infected. End result I'm in hospital on antibiotics via IV every 6 hrs. A severe bacterial infection! Also spent New Years Eve in here which sucked. Guess I'll be riding this one out. Happy New Year! 

    CPC

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    edited January 2017 #7
    dunedintech said:

    PICC Line Infected

    Well, turns out my line was infected. End result I'm in hospital on antibiotics via IV every 6 hrs. A severe bacterial infection! Also spent New Years Eve in here which sucked. Guess I'll be riding this one out. Happy New Year! 

    CPC

    OMG!

    Get better soon. Sounds like sepsis - glad it is treated now.

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