low grade fever

karenack
karenack Member Posts: 90
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi everyone. I need some advice. I am having A/C chemo. This past Wednesday I started running a fever of 101. I don't know what kind of infection I have. I only have the fever and body aches. I called my onc and he called in the anitbiotic Levaquin for me. It's three days later and I am still running a fever of 101 off and on. It doesn't appear that the anitbiotic is doing the trick. I don't know if I should go to the ER for this or not.

Comments

  • OregonSeaStar
    OregonSeaStar Member Posts: 41
    #2
    Hi - I don't know if this would be of any help, but I'm also on A/C. I realize every onc. has their own guidelines, but in the packet of info given me, my onc. stresses over and over (bold type and underlined) that with ANY fever of 100.4 or higher he wants his patients to go the ER immediately.

    Good luck and my prayers are with you that you get better soon. Let us know how you are doing.
    -shelley
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #3
    Hi Karenack-- I had that happen to me 2 or 3 times, and like Oregon said, I was told to go to Urgent Care w/a fever over 100.5 orally, and I did. My hospital slapped me in there for a couple of days of IV fluid antibiotics. Are you going to a Cancer Center hospital? My advice--"Get thee to a ER". Better than a nunnery, yes? lol, Just go!
    ASAP....... It isn'y scary, just a lil rest, OK?

    Loads of love and (huggggs), Kathy
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #4
    My Onc office kept someone on call at all times. Every time I ran a fever they quickly got me on an antibiotic and kept check on me each day. My Onc office didn't say to go to the ER, because they didn't want their patients around other people who were sick. They basically handled everything through their office, which was located in the hospital. Call your Onc, if they don't have a 24 hour call number, then call the ER or hospital. Hope you are feeling better. I know this is a scary time.... they may just need to switch your antibiotic. They used a Z pak for me, It normally had me feeling better in a couple of days.

    ((((Hugs))))

    Susan
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #5
    Hi Karenack,
    Although I never had the type of chemo you ladies have had, fevers did happen with my chemo and I always took a trip to the docs or ER on weekends or holidays. My advice is to visit the ER or your clinic ASAP. I hope you get well soon.
    -Michael
  • mrsbetty2
    mrsbetty2 Member Posts: 24
    #6
    Hi Karen, Sorry you are having problems. I just finished my 4th A/C and then i start on Taxol. But if you had a port put in that could be causing your fever. The Dr. warned me about that. Said to get to a hospital if i ran a fever. Keep in touch and let us know how you make out. My prayers are with you.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #7
    I'm chiming in a little late, but YES, get to an ER! Chemo messes with your natural defense system...and the results can be very serious!!!

    Prayers that it is nothing...

    Hugs, kathi
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #8
    I'm back among the living. Against my better judgement, I stayed home and fought the fever. I honestly didn't have the strength to physically go to the ER. I made a pact with myself that I would go if my fever reached 102. I think that I developed strep throat, nasty white things on my tonsils. My fever went down to 99. I called the doc first thing this morning and I think they are going to call me in something stronger. Thanks all of you for your help.
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #9
    karenack said:

    I'm back among the living. Against my better judgement, I stayed home and fought the fever. I honestly didn't have the strength to physically go to the ER. I made a pact with myself that I would go if my fever reached 102. I think that I developed strep throat, nasty white things on my tonsils. My fever went down to 99. I called the doc first thing this morning and I think they are going to call me in something stronger. Thanks all of you for your help.

    hi karen, i'm glad u r ok, but just for a point of reference....101 orally is 102 rectally, which is the actual temp. And go online and see what the puppeteer jim henson died of,....... and he didnt have a comprimised immune system. i do believe ins. covers ambulances as well, when someone has not one, single, solitary friend in the whole world who would have taken her, lmao! i'm sorry, i'm sorry this just scary to me. it all worked out well this time but please think about it for next time, if indeed there ever is a next time. ok, ok, i will shut up now, i think, but now i'm just quoting kathim, "results can be very serious". This is about love and wanting you to stay as healthy as you can throughout this battle. love you very sincerely as we all do, kathy
    p.s. please dont hate me ?
  • OregonSeaStar
    OregonSeaStar Member Posts: 41
    #10
    karenack said:

    I'm back among the living. Against my better judgement, I stayed home and fought the fever. I honestly didn't have the strength to physically go to the ER. I made a pact with myself that I would go if my fever reached 102. I think that I developed strep throat, nasty white things on my tonsils. My fever went down to 99. I called the doc first thing this morning and I think they are going to call me in something stronger. Thanks all of you for your help.

    Hi Karen - I'm so glad that you posted, was really worrying about you! Its good to hear that you are feeling better and that your fever has gone down. Hopefully, the new meds will help right away! Drink lots of fluids, keep taking your temp . . . . . and don't mess with this if your fever goes back up! AND, let us know how you are doing. Lots of prayers going your way . . .
    -shelley
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #11
    kathydaly said:

    hi karen, i'm glad u r ok, but just for a point of reference....101 orally is 102 rectally, which is the actual temp. And go online and see what the puppeteer jim henson died of,....... and he didnt have a comprimised immune system. i do believe ins. covers ambulances as well, when someone has not one, single, solitary friend in the whole world who would have taken her, lmao! i'm sorry, i'm sorry this just scary to me. it all worked out well this time but please think about it for next time, if indeed there ever is a next time. ok, ok, i will shut up now, i think, but now i'm just quoting kathim, "results can be very serious". This is about love and wanting you to stay as healthy as you can throughout this battle. love you very sincerely as we all do, kathy
    p.s. please dont hate me ?

    AW, Kathy, how can anyone hate you for showing caring and concern? I don't mess around with fevers, either...my white count is STILL borderline low...even after 9 months post chemo...sigh...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • kathydaly
    kathydaly Member Posts: 81
    #12
    KathiM said:

    AW, Kathy, how can anyone hate you for showing caring and concern? I don't mess around with fevers, either...my white count is STILL borderline low...even after 9 months post chemo...sigh...

    Hugs, Kathi

    Thank you, thank you Kathi, for helping me to feel like I wasn't being over the top, but I just feel like fevers are such a big red flag. I ended up in the hospital at least twice, or three times because of them and because of that care I was able to stay on track and never missed a chemo schedule.
    I wonder why it is your wbc is still borderline, do they say?
    Hugggs right back atcha, lol, Kathy
  • karenack
    karenack Member Posts: 90
    #13
    OregonSeaStar said:

    Hi Karen - I'm so glad that you posted, was really worrying about you! Its good to hear that you are feeling better and that your fever has gone down. Hopefully, the new meds will help right away! Drink lots of fluids, keep taking your temp . . . . . and don't mess with this if your fever goes back up! AND, let us know how you are doing. Lots of prayers going your way . . .
    -shelley

    You all are so right! I guess I thought since I did call the doctor Wednesday before Thanksgiving and they called in the antibiotic and didn't ask me to come in, it wasn't that big of a deal. In retrospect, when I told them my temp was 101, they should have had me come in right away. I just didn't get that sense of urgency from them. Anyway, they called late yesterday and said they wanted to see me today and check my blood levels. (Alittle late since my temp is down and I'm feeling better) I went and the nurse chastised me for not going to the ER and I said "I called you all and you just called in an antibiotic". So frustrating. My levels are getting back to the acceptable range and I am slated to have my last chemo this Friday. You guys are great and I will never mess around with infections or illness again. I was just darn lucky this time. I hope all of you are doing well and had a nice Thanksgiving! Thanks again.

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