fever for 4 days

[hondapatches]

I have been really sick since Friday Today is Monday, Couldn't go to work. I have had 101.5 fever for 4 days now. I called my doctor and he called me in a z-pac. I was so weak I could even get up out of the bed. when I stood up for a little bit, I would have to sit back down and do things really slow. I hope the z-pac don't make me sicker, I think I was having an upper resptory  infection. Has this happened to any one. Feeling dizzy right now.
hondapatches

[Bill1950]

Did all those years you you only use Infergen?  Sounds like you did the right thing, anyway.  I got my fingers crossed for you.
Bill

[Tallahassee]

Yes, I was UND the whole year.  Interesting observation: My liver enzymes were always during the treatment at high, but normal levels (~35 units) until last two months of my almost 2-year treatment -- at the very end of the treatment my liver enzymes became really low (for me, at least!) ~17-21 units.  ... it is still at the same level.

I think, very low virus count was still present in my body ... hopefully, last two months of the treatment completely eradicated it.

I should add that I used Interferon for total approx. 10 years - from age 26 to age 38 – I was completing my degrees and doing not bad - the last year (especially last 6 months) were the most difficult.  I

was not talking about my treatment at work ... but people would stop and with very concerned look ask me if I'm okay...  my immediate colleagues finally figured out that I was on some sort of treatment, after I lost most of my hair and started wearing a wig.  But my wig looked like my natural hair, so other folks asked contact number for my new hair dresser - this was placing me in a very uncomfortable position.

All the best of the best!!

[Bill1950]

My fingers are crossed for you too.  Maybe you just needed to get up to the heavy dose of meds and when you did it worked.  That breakthrough was strange but sounds like your doc did the right thing and continued your treatment for a year.  Did he keep testing your VL after the breakthrough?  

Anyway, you are an inspiration and I think I am going to follow your course of action soon.  
Bill

[JodyLynn]

Thats my life now....i feel that way everyday....the fever the having to move slow so i dont passout. Thank God i dont work because if i did i couldnt. And only time i can get a good breath is when i yawn lol. Good luck to you...hope ya feel better soon.

[Tallahassee]

I guess we typed simultaneously.

I was treating with Infergen since 1998, since I'm a non-responder (!) to 48 weeks of 3 x weekly interferon + riba (clinical trial of 1995-1996).
Infergen was given 3 x week, 15 mcg.  I was always UND (<10) while on this drug, but at soon as therapy was discontinued, my virus was back and happy!

This time I had 15 mcg (and much higher) daily + avg. 1400 mg riba daily.  My weight was 120 lbs at the beginning of treatment, 2-months later I lost 10 lbs and my Dr. ORDERED to gain some weight, he said that I was already underweight prior to start of the treatment and he will discontinue everything without my weight gain.  Well, sure enough, I remember thinking all day long what else I could eat (and retain).  At 12 weeks I was UND & was UND until week10-11... after ... surprise! - viral breakthrough --- I continued my treatment for 1 more year and now, 3-months post I'm still UND ... so I keep my fingers crossed...

All the best!

[Bill1950]

You are taking the 15 mcg per day Infergen, right?  I had one doc, at a clinical trials clinic, refuse to treat me with that.  SOC Pegintron or Pegasys.  Nothing else, despite the fact that I had relapsed earlier.  How much Ribavirin do you take?  I am thinking about this time trying to get a "branded" riba as I think the stuff I had last time had problems.  But I am not sure.
Bill

[Tallahassee]

I see, Bill, you didn't clear up... sorry for that, but you have excellent attitude, I should say!

My GI will not step outside of the approved protocols for treatment plans (especially lately, when these "protocols" were created).  I like my Dr. a lot ... he has been treating me for 12 years.  He will always send me to Gainesville University for consult or approval of outside of the protocol treatment.  Also, you may research Miami's University Drs (FLGuy is very knowledgeable about it).

Be well and all the best!

[Bill1950]

I bet that was my thyroid, never thought of that but I bet that was it.

I should have thought of it though.  My 40 year old wife had  her thyroid removed two years ago and she was always cold, but now with the thyroid pills she is better.  She doesn't have hep C, her trouble was thyroid cancer but hopefully she is fine now.  

Yep, I cleard the virus but it came back with a vengence six months post TX, from 2.5 million VL to 15 million VL.

BTW, looks like I am fixing to join you with the Infergen, probably 15 mcg per day with a Florida doc.  I will know in a month.

The nurse there says that they have had good results with Infergen, that it has not caused more toleration problems than Pegasys and maybe less than weight based Pegintron.  So, there is hope, huh?
Bill

  

[Tallahassee]

It could be your thyroid gave up at the end of treatment.
My thyroid stopped functioning ... but now - 4 months post tx - it is okay.

Amazing, how many things we have to go through just to win the battle… and this creature (Hep. C) is even invisible :-)

Did you clear the virus? - I sure hope so!!

All the best! (&SVR for all!)

[Bill1950]

The temprature swings can go the other way, too.  I was on SOC Pegasys and toward the end of the treatment I was cold all the time.  It was a cold wet early spring in the N Georgia mountians and my temp would get down as low as 95 or so and my BP would get real low.  I take Prinivl for high bP and I had to cut way back.  I had lost maybe 25 pounds.  I moved back to Florida and that cold winter up there on the TX was one of the main reasons.  
Slagle

[Tallahassee]

At or after the 3rd week of Infergen, I had fever 103-104 for a couple of weeks.  I was afraid to tell my GI nurse, so she would not order to stop or reduce my “beloved” Infergen & riba.  My PCP gave me antibiotics and I thought I was okay.  Fortunately, I did not have to teach a class, but I definitely couldn't not think at my work ... plus with my stubborn reluctance to take any pain-pills, even Tylenol (Ibuprofen I couldn't not take, since my platelets were becoming lower and lower with every day.   My GI nurse called me anyway and ordered to stop Infergen injections immediately, due to my Neutrophiles' reduction to 300 (absolute threshold!)  I didn't know at that time that Neupogen can be prescribed to Hep. C patients... so I begged her to continue at least at 1/2 of dose.  My GI was during this time on vacation and nurse was ordered to follow his orders.   ... Thank Goodness, she contacted other physicians and they gave her prescription for Neupogen. But then was another problem -- I could not find pharmacies holding in stock this drug... Well, after I found one with two vials of Neupogen, I was surprised with the bill of over $700 cash for two shots ... and insurance did not to pay to out-of-network pharmacy.  Well, since my husband didn't have this sort of money, pharmacy gave the meds free for two days ... and after about 300 phone calls (my exateration!  :)), BCBS paid for it.


The up-and-down (mostly up -- 100-101) temperatures continued during the rest of my treatment time (total 98+ weeks).
At the beginning of treatment, your Dr. should monitor CBCs weekly... you should watch for Absolute Neutrophiles count ... don't wait until they drop dangerously low, like in my case.  Ask for Neupogen, insist on it, you may also schedule appointment with Hematologist and request his support (and prescription). Meantime, try to stay well (if needed, with help of antibiotics!) and stay in good contact with your Dr. & Nurse.

All the best!!!

[dperry10]

I too have had fevers of 101 + on treatment.  The next night after shot,   I can count on a fever about 730 in the evening, and sometimes I have it on and off for a few days.   At week 4 is when my HGB dropped, and was dizzy each and everytime I stood up, or start to walk.. could not do anything standing for more than a few mins.. had to sit and rest.   Spent a few wks on the couch during the day.  But I had to go back to work.  I was debating going back out on leave this week.. am currently on week 40 this week., and starting to feel the sides again.   My rash cleared.. was a little itchy yesterday, but will put some cream on there today.   I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow, so today
is day 2 of my liquid diet before the proceedure.    I am only working a half day today, as have to start taking the meds at 1 pm.. and need to be near the restroom.. LOL      Just all the liquid yesterday got to me.   I was up at 4 am this morning and run to the bathroom at least 5 times already, not really so sure I can work that first 4 hours this morning.   Not so close to restroom at work.    Oh well.. I hope you start to feel better, and hopefully , this too shall pass.

[sfbaygirl]

I had fevers above 101 quite often on tx. At first my temp was 96 degrees for months.  Then after 4-5 mos. it was over 101.  I wouldn't worry so much about it unless it gets to 103 or above. I am no doc, but I have had my fair share of temps.  Of course check with the doc,  but if becomes sort of normal for you on tx, so be it for a while. 101 isn't too bad.  Sorry you are going through this, I did the temp up and down the whole time during tx.  Your body is most likely adjusting to the tx and will have crazy ups and downs of sx. Hopefully not.  Temps do make you feel bad,  but as I usually say it seems like Jumanji, you never know what sx will hit you next.  Watch out for the anemia and look at your CBC's,  this about the time this could hit you.  Hope not.  Afterwhile on tx, I kinda just sort of expected some strange thing to happen. When it didn't,  I felt very fortunate and went about my day with great joy.  hope you have many of those!!!  

Linda

[Lonestar823]

Patches, I think you're in your third week of the daily now, right?  It took me a few weeks for my body to become accustomed to the infergen.  If I tried to overdo I found I'd get fevers, difficulty with breathing and extremely dizzy.  I'm kinda surprised your doctor just called in the z pack prescription without seeing you.  I used it once or twice during treatment for upper respiratory infections and don't remember any unusual sides.   Mostly, I needed rest, rest, rest and lots of gatorade and water.  Are you able to take some time off from teaching?  You started this just a couple days before school began,I think.  Jeez, you need some time for your body to adjust to this.  Hope your four week test looks promising.  

[debnevada]

two things.

My hepatologist told me that fevers up to 101 were within normal limits for interferon.

I had an illness in week 11 that resulted in four days of temps up to and over 103. Zpac first then either ceclor or keflex ...i can't remember. i was too out of it. took over a week to resolve this illness.
it did resolve, but i went on to have four more infections ...mostly when my hemo was doing its dropping.

Hepatologist said it had to do with immunomediation in my case.  in other words, the interferon was doing the work of my immune system instead of my immune system.

I don't know if that helps you or not, Honda, but that's my experience.

deb

[goldyn]

Bless your heart that was time i felt the worst, is when i had a kidney infection on tx and when I had strep throat on tx..im glad your doc gave you some antibiotics 101.5 on your body for 4 days is just to much i know you feel worn out but give those anti a couple of days to kick in and youll feel better...

[hondapatches]

I didn't get to see him but I did talk to him. He said there has to be some other infection because the infergen should not give me that much fever for that many days. I am only on my third week, of everyday injections. The fourth week I get all my blood work done. Including my viral load. I just hope the doc knows what he's doing.
HondaPatches

[debnevada]

what week are you?

See if you can get into the doctor.