Fever for over 7 days

[shalu4]

Hello:

Last Friday I went to the doctor complaining of some plugged ear.  Since I had a ear infection in the past I thought I might get it looked at sooner.  The doctor found very little fluid in the ear.  I also had a coug with some mucus so she gave me amoxicillan 875 mg 3 times a day for 5 days. She also advised a chest x ray.  I completed my antibiotics first.  But during that time I seem to have been getting worse.  I used to get mild chills followed by fever 100.1 etc.  

On this past Tuesday I took a blood test.  The doctor has not get any results as yet.  

I took a Chest X ray this past Wednesday.  My X Ray results are normal. The fever still persist.

I am so worried and presuming the worst.  Please help.

Shalu

[shalu4]

Thank you! God bless you forever!!!

Will write back when I am feeling better. I hope that is soon:)

[mkh9]

Usually steroids work within a couple of days depending how inflammed things are. It is good you are feeling better they must be doing the right thing. I don't think this is a sign of cancer at all. Try not to worry and just get rest and heal yourself.
mkh9

[shalu4]

Thanks once again everybody!!

My urine culture is negative. The blood culture preliminary report is that its not growing anything yet.  Its also negative for valley fever so far.

I still feel pressure in my ear.  My face feels hot and the temperature is 99.5 as usual.  This is my 3rd day on Medrol.  The new doc called to inquire how I was doing on the medrol.  I need to call back and say I am not feeling anything different.

In the meantime the chills have gone and only the pressure on the back of the ear, in the ear and around the tp part of the nose persist.  For some reason the symptoms are a little more obvious when I am lying down face up.

Yes. the new doc did mention that she feels the inflammation in the sinus areas may be causing the symptoms.  How long does it take take for medrol to act?

Could it be cancer?

I am more worried now.  Anxious and hopeless.

[mkh9]

The steroid will actually lower your immune system (it gets rid of inflammation though). I see doctors giving steriods when people have an infection to lower inflammation but since you have a fever I see that this could cause you to have less ability to fight an infection. They seem to think it is an allergy but allergies don't cause fevers. So as said by the other post, it could be both bacteria and an allergy or sinusitis and they are trying to get the inflammation down. But, if you still have a fever they should either do a sinus culture to see if you have a bacterial infection or not and if so then try another antibiotic. But it could still be a virus. I am not sure why they did the stool culure either unless you also have diarrhea? I also don't know why they are doing a urine culture. The blood work would probably include a complete blood count it helps to see if your white blood cell count is up it would be bacterial, if it is somewhat down viral. They can also look at cells called eosionphils that would raised if you had a serious allergy. Also, the lymhocytes look at your cellular immunity to a degree. I hope your blood culture and other tests come back normal. At least this doctor is on top of things but seems to be "shot gunning the tests" as he is sort of looking at everything. Let us know how it goes.
mkh9

[specialmom]

This is a corticosteriod that can be used for inflammation due to allergies.  I had thought it was an injection though.  

I'd also push for another round of antibiotics with something stronger.  Amoxicillin is not a strong antibiotic these days with much resistance to it.  If you take an amoxicillin/clavulanate mix--------  that is much stronger as well as there are other classes of antibiotics.  You may have alleries with a sinus infection on top of that.  I'm not sure what blood work shows for that as I've never had bloodwork to diagnose either an upper respitory infection (they might culture the bacteria with a swab but even that is pretty uncommon) or allergies.  And really don't know what a stool sample would be good for with allergies/respitory infection.  Just being honest that those tests are not protocol in the US for the condition you are presenting with.  I've had a urine test when a urninary tract infection is suspected but not a sinus infection.  Are they trying to determine if you have an autoimmune disorder?  

Anyway, hopefuly the steriod will help and another round of antibiotics.
good luck!!

[shalu4]

Thank you all!!

I took a second opinion from a doctor.  She said I could try methylprednisolone also know as medrol.  She says if this course reduces the symptoms (pressure in ear, fever etc.) then she will consider sending me to an allergist to determine if I have an inflammation from allergies is the cause and if so what are the allergic source.

I had to seek a second opinion when I found out that the previous doctor had not ordered the blood culture that she said she had done so before I went for my blood draw last week.  I found that out this past Tuesday when I contacted her for the blood culture report.  I was shocked at the misunderstanding!!  I would hate to cite her fault.  Anyway, this resulted in my suffering from my symptoms additional days.  The previous doc. also did not seem interested to evaluate me further to see if the fluid in the ear was still there despite the 5 day Amoxicillan course.  NO concern from her regarding my prolonged fever.  This is why I sought a second opinion from a doctor.

Nevertheless, I went for a blood culture, urine culture and stool culture yesterday, March 7 as recommend by my first doctor. I believe the results will be back next week - Monday or this Friday.

I am very nervous and sometimes angry.  

Anybody familiar with Medrol?

[specialmom]

The sinus cavity goes up to your forehead and that can become 'blocked'.  And all of this can interconnect to your ear.  Have they considered another round of antibiotics?  Have you tried steaming-----  boil some water, take it off stove, put head over it and maybe even a towel over your head (don't burn yourself!).  

My husband has chronic issues with these top sinuses.

Has the doctor also considered another round of antibiotics?  

[mkh9]

Glad to hear your blood work was normal (except for the pending blood cultures). Usually by 72 hours most blood cultures will be finished (most bacteria grow by then). It sounds like a sinus infection. Did they look up your nose? It could also be a virus that wouldn't respond to a antibiotic  since your xray was normal. Has your fever gone away? What about the productive (mucosy) cough?
mkh9

[shalu4]

Hi  There!

My preliminary blood work is normal. The doctor told this last Friday.  However, she is waiting for a blood culture report.  I am told it takes 5 days or so. I might hear from my doctor this Tuesday or Wednesday.

In the mean time my ears feel heavy, sometimes I sense pressure on my nose area between the eyes.  When I close my eyes it feels warm as if I have a clod but I do not have a stuffed nose or a runny nose.

I am so nervous.....

[mkh9]

The Xray should tell if you have pneumonia or a bacterial infection of the chest. I would call the doctor and see if they can give you your results. Also, the antibiotic may not be the right one for this infection.Many bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. It is probably best to go back to the doctor.

[shalu4]

Thank you so much.

My Chest X ray is normal.  I am waiting for the blood work results.  I took the test this past Tuesday the 28th.  I have not heard back from the doctor.  When I called the doc's office they said they have not received any results from the lab as yet.  

My Husband took the blood test as part of his physical last Friday and they called him only yesterday to say his results are normal.

is it normal for the lab to take this long?

[specialmom]

Don't presume the worst yet!  You'll be okay.  You're being followed by your doctor.  First, your doctor prescribed amoxciillin or autmentin (which is amoxicilin/clavulanate)---  there is a huge difference with one being signficantly more effectitve than the other.  Second, you could have a virus that causes a fever (which your fever really isn't too high----  it is still a fever but not in the high range) and have that still be working through your system.  It is  possible to have one virus followed quickly by another esecially when our immune system is down.  so, wait for the x ray and let your doctor know that you are still having the fever and perhaps a stronger antibiotic will be prescribed.  Drink extra (double the usual) fluids to keep hydrated.  Hope you feel better soon.  (oh, and fevers are actually the bodies way of fighting something off.  They are unpleasant but there for a reason which is good.  Take ibuprofen to relieve symptoms.  good luck)