Has anyone had rigors?

SandiaBuddy said:

Rigors

I had to look that term up, "shaking combined with fever".  On chemo, I would get so cold that I would shake violently (to the point I was afraid I would damage my muscles), but I never took my temperature at the time.  I dealt with it by taking a hot bath, turning up the heat and getting in bed with all the blankets plus a sleeping bag.  The condition went away when I stopped chemo, so I assume it was a side effect of the chemo or how thin I had become.  Putting on a few pounds (like 25) has probably helped a bit.

Thanks for letting me know it can just be a side effect. I was chattering so bad I thought my teeth would fall out, and I have never shaked so bad. My temp is fine now, so I am hoping just side effect and not infection. I know they have to take any sign of infection seriously because it can kill a chemo patient, but they surrounded mme, and were all so freaked out, it got me scared. No fever this morning, so thinkint the higher temps were a result of my 3 allergy attacks to the oxaliplatin that day

Joan M said:

I've also had extreme chills

I woke up in the middle of the night freezing and had to look for sweat pants, socks, put on my bathrobe and actually put on a winter cap and gloves and got back under the covers.  I was shaking and teeth chattering as others have described.  I couldn't sleep because I was so cold.  I didn't have any fever with it though.   That happened again last May when I wasn't even on chemo, so not sure what is causing it.  I think I had a cold both times and may have taken a cough medicine.  Not sure if that can cause decreased blood flow?  It was very strange.   

Yeah, it was strange. But I kept apologizing, saying leave it to me to have some strange side effect, but they said it is common. They put 5 heated blankets on me, and I was still freezing. It started slowly. I was like, could you turn the heat on. But by the time the oncologist arrived, it was full on. Demerol stopped it. Plus, it had the added benefit of overriding the sleeplessness from all the steroids I take for chemo, so I SLEPT last night. Only 7 hours, but usually on chemo night lucky to get 4. I understand why they go to worst case that port is infected because that coud go directly into my blood stream, but my temps are normal today, so hoping not infection

JanJan63 said:

Rigors

I've had this a few times but didn't know there was a word for it, thanks! Sometimes it would make me worried I was going to break my teeth and once- when I had sepsis- my back myscles locked up and I was almost screaming in pain. But I haven't had it due to chemo. I do find that for the last few years I'm always cold. That internal, inner core cold that nothing seems to help. My onc suspects my inner thermostat might be out of whack from the chemo. But I'm also a wimp who was always cold before this, it's just worse now.

Jan

their was definitely because it can be a symptom of infection. I think for me it was so many allergic reactions, bad ones, as I have normal temparture today, and yep, thought I would lose some teeth  

Annabelle41415 said:

Rigors

My teeth would chatter so bad during treatment and always was wraped in a blanket and they knew it during treatment and never told me what it was.  Just thought it was normal.  It's surprising how much you go through that the medical staff doesn't even communicate what they have information on.  Sometimes I'd be so scared that it wouldn't go away.

Kim

Mine was so bad. THey gave me demerol to stop it. They really should have told you as it is scary.