fluctuating body temperature

[sfw]

About two weeks ago my husband (age 48) was seen in emergency for kidney stones.  He has since passed them.  But since that time he has suffered with a general ill feeling, exhaustion, fever, chills, and increasingly worse headache that now includes neck pain.  He has redness in his face, he can't be touched.  He had great difficulty urinating so we returned to emergency.  He was x-rayed and seen again yesterday by an M.D. and urologist.  No sign of kidney problems.  Just an enlarged prostate with a calcium deposit on it, but not to worry he was told.  He was given Flomax.  Each visit shows his body temperature at 97 degrees.  Yet at night he is running a fever of 102.  Two weeks now.  He cried for the first time last night from the pain in his head.  We are concerned no blood tests were done.  Should they have been?  Perhaps there is no correlation between the stones and what is going on now.

[Cindy0601]

A related discussion, Side effects of Brain Surgery was started.

[sfw]

thank you.  it was a UTI.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Your husband's case is concerning for a possible infection. I agree that he should have some routine blood tests drawn such as a complete blood count to look at the number of white blood cells (marker of infection)and an electrolyte panel along with blood and urine cultures. Although he may not have " signs of kidney problems" he could have a urinary tract infection that has spread into his blood stream. WIth this severity of headache and fever, he should be thoroughly evaluated for worst possible case scenarios such as meningitis so that nothing is missed. Call your doc ASAP for further advice or take him to the ER for the labs and a more extensive exam. Make sure they know about the persistent headache and fever. If the neuro exam shows neck stiffness or other worrisome neurological signs, he may need a CT scan of the brain and maybe spinal tap. Good luck.