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Fever Questions
Okay, I am going to try and sum this up quickly so if I am missing info please let me know and if this is completely normal also let me know. Hubby is on Pegasys/Riba. Takes shot # 5 Friday. First four weeks very few if any mentionable sx. Biggest one which was to be expected was fatigue - shot days were always fine, Saturdays also good, Sunday slight "digestive issues" - Monday felt a little yucky and Tuesday usually felt flu-like with slight fever, then felt good Weds - Friday. This is how it went the first four weeks. But this week things shifted slightly, Sunday brought slight fever, "digestive issues" and just yucky feeling. Monday had the regular flu-like feeling with fever, slept 14 hours and then felt okay Tuesday. I assumed this was just a one day shift in symptons but today came home exhausted again with fever again. Now that the whole course has changed I am wondering about the fevers. I know last blood work showed rbcs lowered, but not yet low enough to be very concerned. And I just did a search on Anemia and fever did not seem to be a sympton. Is this nomal? Or should we be concerened? We go in for bloodwork again tomorrow but are not scheduled to see the dr, only the nurse. I kind of wonder whether I am being overly concerned - I know we have done pretty good with the sxs up to now and was really hoping we were going to stay lucky - so now I am not sure if this is to be expected or what?
I had high grade fevers low grade fevers no fevers sweaty fevers freezing fevers........they don't really carry a rhyme or reason as far as anything I could ever tell. I did not have them the first few months but at about week 30 my body went nuts.
As everyone has said - sides come and go and come and go and are replaced with new ones.......and you'll never really know what is going to happen next.
Keeping an eye on his hemoglobin is crucial - especially coming up about now when the meds have really started to reach their full capacity the anemia can come up. You really want to search hemolytic anemia because that is what we get.
IF a side ever appears very abnormal or is very difficult to deal with - forget the internet get to the doctor right away. Oftentimes we all blame EVERYTHING on treatment - every ache and cough and fever and pain but there have been times people have had serious illnesses that needed a physicians attention.
And remember - sides are sort ofa good thing, they mean the meds are kicking serious BUTT on that virus! (Well it's not necessarily true for certain but that is how I liked to look at them :)
Good luck.
As everyone has said - sides come and go and come and go and are replaced with new ones.......and you'll never really know what is going to happen next.
Keeping an eye on his hemoglobin is crucial - especially coming up about now when the meds have really started to reach their full capacity the anemia can come up. You really want to search hemolytic anemia because that is what we get.
IF a side ever appears very abnormal or is very difficult to deal with - forget the internet get to the doctor right away. Oftentimes we all blame EVERYTHING on treatment - every ache and cough and fever and pain but there have been times people have had serious illnesses that needed a physicians attention.
And remember - sides are sort ofa good thing, they mean the meds are kicking serious BUTT on that virus! (Well it's not necessarily true for certain but that is how I liked to look at them :)
Good luck.
NewandConfused
I had many fevers during my tx. They were mostly low grade fevers. After awhile I could feel them come on with just the slightest rise and took an antipyretic. I learned to live with it.
As to the issue with going to a psychiatrist. This would be a blessing. Most psychiatrists don’t do psyco-babble. They would be a source for AD’s and Ambian, seeing that your GI won’t give drugs for sx.
Bless you for putting up with your Hubby. Treatment affects the whole family.
I had many fevers during my tx. They were mostly low grade fevers. After awhile I could feel them come on with just the slightest rise and took an antipyretic. I learned to live with it.
As to the issue with going to a psychiatrist. This would be a blessing. Most psychiatrists don’t do psyco-babble. They would be a source for AD’s and Ambian, seeing that your GI won’t give drugs for sx.
Bless you for putting up with your Hubby. Treatment affects the whole family.
Support is what this board is about. For what it's worth, I tried valium before I went on the AD and it had no effect at all. The problem is that the Interferon effects the serotonin receptors in the brain. Its physiological. And the AD focuses specifically on that. Some people on this board do take valium, but for me it's an unnecessary pill.
Is it possible to find another doctor? I don't want to be intrusive, but this treatment is very difficult. He doesn't sound like he's in a position to offer reasonable care. It would really be frustrating to be battling poor care on top of the treatment itself.
As for the way you feel, well, yeah – not to be dramatic but the whole world as you know it is falling apart. You need to be sooo patient. The treatment is just hell and one aspect of it is that it seems endless. But it does end and there is hope that it will cure the disease.
Is it possible to find another doctor? I don't want to be intrusive, but this treatment is very difficult. He doesn't sound like he's in a position to offer reasonable care. It would really be frustrating to be battling poor care on top of the treatment itself.
As for the way you feel, well, yeah – not to be dramatic but the whole world as you know it is falling apart. You need to be sooo patient. The treatment is just hell and one aspect of it is that it seems endless. But it does end and there is hope that it will cure the disease.
Sorry, I never thought to post that. He is actually at 99.9 but his regular temp for some odd reason is always 97.4. So I am guessing that also needs to be taken into consideration?
You left out the most important thing. How high is his temperature. Some people call a 99 temp "fever" while others call 101 a fever.
For some odd reason I feel as if I really connect with you and your situation. I thank you for taking the time to respond to that and for trying to explain - you did a pretty great job at it actually! No he is not on antidepressants, which in itself bothers me a lot. I know from reading here on the boards that it can be a huge concern and was already worried about it going into this. Problem is dr does not believe in meds for any side effects (yeah, remember I am the one who has the impossible doc). NP does recognize the importance and already saw firsthand a change in hubby - saw him get agitated and speak up quickly which is something he normally would never do. I have also witnessed this numerous times and I know it is the meds which cause it and I will try my hardest to let it roll off my back I was fearful he might wind up in some trouble by voicing his new demeanor to someone else. NP asked him about it and although he did not see any problems or mood changes in himself he did admit that others were telling him to cool it. So she went to his general dr and discussed it with him, also talked to him about the insomnia. Dr. prescribed valium to be taken at night. Well, this does help with the insomnia somewhat but has done nothing to curb the attitude. I think the biggest problem is that the general md is not familiar with this treatment and what to do - although he is willing to try - he just does not have the right experience. The GI is just unwilling to prescribe anything but the Pegasys and Riba. In all my time on the boards I have not heard of anyone using valium in this manner, but it seemed worth a shot. Now with all this started we find ourselves between a rock and a hard spot with only the NP to rely on. And try as she might she just can only do so much. Husband has never suffered from any kind of depression and GI originaaly said that treatment would be stopped at signs of serious depression - this last visit he said that if depression starts he would need to see a psychiatrist - I don't think I have to tell you how husband responded to that "threat" in his new altered sense of being. Your insight though along with a lot of others on the board has caused me to be more aware of what is going on - I will not let this get out of control - one way or another. Oddly I find myself battling something - as of yet I amnot quite sure what it is. I fear it just might be a depression of sorts as my whole life has been turned upside down and although I am understanding I find it hard to be happy, when things just aren't the way they normally are. I wonder if your wife has faced any of this?
I certainly did not mean to rattle on like this to you, but just felt a connection and went with my intuition. There is only one other person on the boards here that I have experienced this with and I know she knows who she is! Thank you so much for your willingness to lend support!
I certainly did not mean to rattle on like this to you, but just felt a connection and went with my intuition. There is only one other person on the boards here that I have experienced this with and I know she knows who she is! Thank you so much for your willingness to lend support!
Re. your first follow-up: you have nothing to apologize for at all. I know how tough this is on spouses. I think your support for your husband is great.
I'll try to describe it from my perspective although I may fail – probably like a lot of guys, I'm not a "good patient." I always think I can muscle through and I don't like communicating how I feel. But the interferon throws that into a whole new place. There's a mental lethargy that makes is difficult to be available emotionally. I find it impossible to describe the way the treatment makes me feel. The only person I have found who seems to understand is a female oncologist I see who uses Interferon to treat melanomas. Other than that, it's hard to get sympathy. I look healthy and I go to work each day although I suffer through most days. And that makes me draw in even more and get more stubborn. So you end up in a lonely, difficult place and it's very difficult to reach out.
One suggestion – I don't know if your husband is one antidepressants, but at the first sign of anger, or mood change, or total lack of motivation, consider the issue. I had never suffered from major depression before, but clearly got it about ten weeks into treatment. I'm better now that I'm on an AD.
All the best. I hope the treatment goes really well for your husband.
I'll try to describe it from my perspective although I may fail – probably like a lot of guys, I'm not a "good patient." I always think I can muscle through and I don't like communicating how I feel. But the interferon throws that into a whole new place. There's a mental lethargy that makes is difficult to be available emotionally. I find it impossible to describe the way the treatment makes me feel. The only person I have found who seems to understand is a female oncologist I see who uses Interferon to treat melanomas. Other than that, it's hard to get sympathy. I look healthy and I go to work each day although I suffer through most days. And that makes me draw in even more and get more stubborn. So you end up in a lonely, difficult place and it's very difficult to reach out.
One suggestion – I don't know if your husband is one antidepressants, but at the first sign of anger, or mood change, or total lack of motivation, consider the issue. I had never suffered from major depression before, but clearly got it about ten weeks into treatment. I'm better now that I'm on an AD.
All the best. I hope the treatment goes really well for your husband.
I just read your bio - I see you do realize your wife is going through this too! You know our situations sound a lot alike - I too am the only one who knows about this treatment and I spend a lot of time making sure it stays that way, which is not easy! At least you obviously use the comp/internet - my hubby refuses. Which makes it even harder on me! I wish the best for you and your wife!
Thanks for the reassurance! I feel so much better now. I guess I am in for quite a ride and will learn to just buckle up and hang on. Right now so much of this is new to me that I am just a little overwhelmed. I thought the fever was caused by the Pegasys and was not expecting it so long after the shot.. you all cleared that up! Thanks again!
I like "expect the unexpected", I think that is definitely going to become our new logo around here!
I like "expect the unexpected", I think that is definitely going to become our new logo around here!
He has such a hrad time explaining his feelings to me also - so you are not alone. But speaking as the wife - I can see a lot of it without him saying much of anything. Sometimes I see it so well that I can almost feel his pain if that makes any sense. I know the people treating have it the worst hands down - but in fairness I have to tell you the significant others do have a load to bear throughout this also. I say this kindly and with no ill intentions, so please take that in the spirit intended!
Sounds normal to me . I never had fever but sx come and go as fast as anything. One sx comes goes, and another one is there!!
Its not a constant cycle by any means things are always changing.
Hope all works out
Good Luck
Its not a constant cycle by any means things are always changing.
Hope all works out
Good Luck
If you detect a pattern in your husband's side effects please let me know. I've been at this 32 weeks and I can't detect a pattern. If his experience is like mine, there will be times that are better and times that are worse. Sometimes they seem random. Also, it's hard for me to describe the way I'm feeling to my wife. There's something about the deadened exhaustion that is hard to explain.
Expect the unexpected is good advice. It's a roller coaster ride. Good luck.
Expect the unexpected is good advice. It's a roller coaster ride. Good luck.
Sounds pretty normal to me. I'm in week 24 and still have occasional fever, flu like symptoms and of course constant fatigue. Anemia causes shortness of breath, extreme fatigue and just makes you feel generally yucky. I haven't seen anyone post that fever was directly attributed to anemia. The first several weeks I could pretty much gauge when I'd start becoming feverish but as I progress through tx there is no particular time or day that this happens. It's just one of many unpleasant side effects with treatment. My creed throughout tx has been expect the unexpected.
If his fever spikes pretty high and consistently stays high, most definitely talk with the doctor about it. Of course, I don't know if this has anything to do with your husbands experience, but it seems like I am more prone to fevers if I become overly tired and push too hard. Must be my body's way of rebelling. Talk with the nurse tomorrow and she what she thinks. Hope his sx lessen, mine actually have as time goes by.
Trinity
If his fever spikes pretty high and consistently stays high, most definitely talk with the doctor about it. Of course, I don't know if this has anything to do with your husbands experience, but it seems like I am more prone to fevers if I become overly tired and push too hard. Must be my body's way of rebelling. Talk with the nurse tomorrow and she what she thinks. Hope his sx lessen, mine actually have as time goes by.
Trinity
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