Low Grade Fever?

[mcdoodles]

Is a low grade fever normal with diverticulitis flare-ups?  After three months of doctor's offices, specialists, blood tests, scans, mri's...now I have a fever to add to the mix.  I was diagnosed with gastritis (endoscopy), so far.  Gallbladder emptying at 47%, no stones or sludge...checked out due to pain that was throbbing under right rib.  This week the pain has moved to left side, rib to hip.  Hurts to breathe deep, wear a belt, sit, or anything that jars my abdomen or touches it.  Trying a low residue diet, but feeling pretty miserable and cranky.  Berry-flavored barium will be on the breakfast menu for Monday's CT scan of my intestine/colon on Monday.  How long does the fever and pain hang around?

[SLadylani]

You are so welcome! It's an honor, really, to be able to be of help to you. I'm glad you found it useful to continue posting on here and updating me with new info, as that better helped me into being able to give you more info! I think your decision is the best thing you can do for yourself at this time; journaling is really a wonderful tool that can help in future situations that you may not even be aware of yet. It also shows you're committed to your health and recovery :). As I said before, those 2 antibiotics you were on were pretty gnarly ones, so it doesn't surprise me that you're starting to feel better now. But at least they did some use in aiding with your GI symptoms and most likely infection. And methylprednisone!? Where did that come from? That can also have a multitude of symptoms, some odd in nature, so I'm glad that's almost over with. I want you to know I trully have been sending good thoughts and wishes your way, and wish you luck and your journey in discoery and recoery. This website is always here as a resource and is great for just checking in! I wish you luck with your endo tests and hope everything continues to turn out the way it's supposed to, and that you continue to feel better each day that comes. Take care of yourself, and remember to always advocate for yourself!

Sara RN

[mcdoodles]

Thank you so much for your postings.  I've decided that I'm going to watch my symptoms, keep a journal of food, stress, and reactions.  I've been reading and researching everything from the antibiotics, switching from generic to brand name synthroid, chlorine in the water, and my family's medical history.  This has definitely been an enlightening journey.  The farther I get away from the antibiotics, the better I'm feeling, 5 days off of them now.  They did seem to work on the abdomenal pain at least.  My mom has apparently had a similar problem with sulfide based antibiotics, so that's where I'm leaning.  I'll be on omeprazole for the next 6 weeks to finish healing the gastris, I've got two more days on the methylprednisone pack...it's giving me a glow for pete's sake.  Heart and stomach are feeling better tonight...and I got to eat some veggies today!  Never thought I'd be so tickled about eating veggies.  Still not taking the ambien.  And I called the endocrinologist today to get the paperwork for labs on my thyroid, vit. D and vit. B12 levels.   That's all for now.  Thankyouthankyouthankyou for the time you've taken to respond to these posts and giving more than just advice.  It is really appreciated.

[SLadylani]

Goodness, you never mentioned hives. Hives can be a classic allergic reaction to antibiotics, and why are you still on those darn things that were causing so much trouble? I do think another colonoscopy would be a good idea, as if anything were going on with your GI system, colitis/diverticulitis, IBS, the colonoscopy is the test that sees all. However, I did not know you were making payments, are you no insurance coverage or partial coverage? The colonoscopy I think would be between 1200-3000, but I'm not entirely sure. My best suggestion would be to follow your symptoms. You know you always have the colonoscopy as an option, but what's bothering you most right now? Have your GI symptoms gone away completely with the antibiotic course? Next may be you should see what happens after you get off the antibiotics, and watch what happens to your hives and your heart beat. Then you can go from there. That would be the least expensive route. If you are already going to your endo doctor, why not mention your overly strong heart beats to him/her and see what he/she thinks of it, if anything and get a free doctors opinion without paying for an extra visit? The cyst on the ovary can certainly cause a lot of pain, and the pain can be reffered to other areas of the abdomen, not just the side the cyst is on, so be aware of that as you;re watching your symptoms the next couple of weeks as well. I definitely suggest to continue to take it easy on yourself, as your going to be just getting off antibiotics and stress is probably a huge factor in your life right now with all of this going on. Relax as much as possible in between work, or even at work if you can, and avoid the strenuous things for now. Then see how you feel in the weeks to come. But definitely in an emergency or an episode of extreme pain, don't let that hold you back from an ER visit. There's CMS insurance which you can apply for which often covers a one-time visit at the ER. I am glad that the CAT scan looked good and that your GI symptoms have subsided for now. I'm continuing to send good wishes your way and hope you get past this all shortly. Take care,

Sara RN

[mcdoodles]

Confused.  Still have the hives.  Nothing showed on the CAT scan, but they did note that my ovary is still holding a cyst.  I'm reading/researching my medications and just about every one of them has side effects.  It 'could' be a delayed allergic reaction to either Cipro or Flagyl.  It could also be a side effect of switching from generic to brand name Synthroid. It could be the ambien.  It could be ibs or colitis.  All the symptoms of the diverticulitis attack have subsided.  But no signs of it on the CAT scan.  I'm really perplexed.  I've made an appointment to see the endocrinologist next month and get my thyroid levels checked (he schedules them every 3 to 6 months).  Guess I'll get my b12 levels checked too.  Right now it feels like my heart is beating harder, not faster.  My GI doctor is pushing for the colonoscopy again, but how much could really have changed in less than two years?  I just can't afford any more payments to doctors.  

[mcdoodles]

I took the Cipro/Flagyl combo from Monday night to Monday night, skipped Tuesday, took two doses Wednesday, and said no more for me Thursday.  Friday night, the scalp started itching and I woke up to hives Saturday morning.  Fun time trying to get ready for work and hide the pink puffy eyelids.  Pink spots and splotches and oh so itchy.  Started taking benadryl in quarter doses so it wouldn't put me to sleep.  Then had another dizzy spell while standing at the service desk.  Thankfully, one of the guys was there with me and the customer, and stayed calm while calling a manager up for me.  The manager was offering to give me a ride home after my supervisor took my pulse and decided I was a little clammy and glassy-eyed...so I took the afternoon off to go to the walk-in clinic.  The doctor there said methylpredinosolone pack and benadryl till I can see my primary care doctor on Monday.  He said he had no correlation between my dizzy spells and hives to my medications.  I didn't take any ambien last night. Working on a theory that ambien could be connected to my symptoms.  I'm going to run my symptoms and time line past both doctors on Monday.  Still itching, so time for another benadryl and probably another nap when it kicks in.  Definitely catching up on the sleep I haven't been getting these past two weeks!

[SLadylani]

I told you about the barium! Don't worry, that is, what I've found thus far, the absolute worst thing that you will ever be asked to drink. Ever. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself by calling your doctor about the antibiotics. If you took a break from them for a day (which I have to say, you;re not supposed to do :)), and felt fine, these symptoms and syncope could all be from the antibiotics, and you could be having a severe adverse reaction to them. If your white blood count was high as well, it doesn't sound like they;re working either so perhaps they need to be switched anyway. You've been on them a while it seems, how much longer is the course? My suggestion is remember to be an advocatefor yourself and speak assertively to the doctor about how you've ruled out other causes, and you;re certain the antibiotics are causing an adverse reaction and you absolutely need to switch as you simply cannot tolerate it anynmore. Hopefully he will also have seen the results of your blood work and discovered they're not really doing anything for the infection either. Do you take your temp everyday? Might be something you want to start doing and documenting. Gastritis will hang around for a while, often times you'll have to be on medication for quite some time depending on the severity. But it does get better. And goodness that CAT scan is taking a while to come back. But that's usually a good sign, as if they spotted something bad or urgent on it, they would have quickly made your doctor aware. I'm glad you're hanging in there and will be sending good thoughts your way tomorrow for s successful call to your doctor. I continue to send best wishes and good thoughts towards symptom relief and hope the ansers are layed out soon. Thanks for checking in and take care!

Sara RN

[mcdoodles]

Ok, checking back in.  The barium drink was hideous and was a real challenge to keep down.  Never got the memo about that stuff being liquid dynamite for the digestive system!  The dizzy spells this past week are definitely related to the antibiotics...skipped yesterday and felt well.  Took them today and the dizzies came back and now the heart beat feels stressed/anxious...probably the Cipro.  Read my labs today and my white blood cell count was listed as high...that's the infection.  Thinking we may be on the right track with the diverticulitis.  Still waiting for the CAT scan results.  Gastritis is still hanging around.  I'll do my research on the others, especially the POTS symptoms.  Calling the doctor's office tomorrow about the effects the Cipro and Flagyl are having on me, not liking this at all.  

[SLadylani]

Weepy? Such as Teary? If that is what you mean, the only rreason I can come up with is possible anxiety related to the dizziness. I'm really glad that you have co-workers by your side to take care of you when these spells. Go on. How often do these spells happen? Daily? I'm glad all your blood work came back normal, but that does, or should, mean that the doctors need to continuing to look for a cause for your pain. How did the Barium Swallow through go? What I can suggest for now is keeping a journal, writing down when each pain/dizzy spell occurs, what you were doing, if you had eaten recently, or anything else you think might have triggered it. Hopefully you, or your doctors will be able to notice some patterns. Have the doctors mentioned anything about gastroparesis? Also try looking up Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS, also postural tachycardia syndrome) and see if those symtoms make sense to you. I hope you and the doctors can find some sort of answer soon, but more importantly, you find some relief! In the meantime, try the journaling, and take it easy on yourself :) I'm sending painfree thoughts your way! Take care,

Sara RN

[mcdoodles]

Amylase, lipase, bloodwork lab results showed all within normal parameters, so I'm thinking my liver and pancreas can go on the 'cleared' list with my gallbladder and bile ducts.  Biopsy said no Sprue or Whipples.  Had a couple scary moments at work yesterday when the pain came out of nowhere and the dizzy/light headedness snuck up on me, with heart pounding, then sweating.  Very lucky that my co-workers keep an eye on me and got me into a chair, checking my pulse, and generally fussing over me till my color came back.  Why do dizzy spells make me weepy?  That's embarassing.

[SLadylani]

I'm glad my post could help :). And I'm glad you have insurance for now and 2 nurses by your side. If you have had problems with your ovaries, annd you do have a cyst, that could be responsible for at least part of your pain-at least on the one side the ovary is on. I asked about the colonoscopy because during that test sometimes doctors take biopsies which can show other diseases such as Celiac's (Gluten Intolerance). Cipro and Flagyl can be pretty harsh and do have some pronounced side effects in some people, so I'm glad you found out that could be the culprit for some of your symptoms. They should, however, kill any infection you may have that may be causing the fever. I hope you continue to use this website to keep us updated-it is a good resource and is full of support. I wish you luck in your testing and hope you get some answers soon! I'm sending pain-free thoughts and best wishes your way!

Sara RN :)

[mcdoodles]

Thank you for your response and kind thoughts.  I am very lucky to have had two fantastic nurses help me when my primary doctor could not.  They listened and didn't pat me on the head, hand me a script for labwork, and say come back in 6 weeks. Today the pain level is down a little, but this lovely little fever keeps coming back-which makes me cranky and whiny.  I finally read about Cipro and Flagyl and connected them to my recent dizzy spells and fatigue...duh.  Started the antibiotics Monday night and can't take any kind of nsaids or pain killers thanks to the slowly healing gastritis.  Feeling a little bit better for longer periods of time today.  
Oh, and I did have a colonoscopy a little over a year ago.  They found a small benign polyp and removed it.  That doctor said my pain was probably my ovary which keeps getting follicular cysts in it.  My Ob/gyn said my ovaries looked healthy during surgery and the ultra sounds do show a cyst.  Ovarian cysts are less painful...and I never thought I'd ever say that.  I've definitely been blessed this past year to have a job and insurance...I've really made up for all those years I didn't use the insurance!

[SLadylani]

Oh goodness, well it depends on what's causing the fever and pain and how soon they are able to get a diagnosis and treatment going. Fever can be a symptom of diverticulitis, if that is what's going on. It sounds like your doctors are taking care of you and doing a pretty good workup as far as tests go. What I can say about the pain, is that it will probably hang around until they find a source for the pain. With the fever, your doctors can always prescribe a general course of antibiotics to treat that. Have you had a colonoscopy with biopsies yet? That might be what's next on the list and might reveal some answers if the barium test reveals no clues. Biopsies can test for things like Celiac disease and colonoscopies can scan for things such as Crohn's. Either way, I'm sure your doctors are on top of it. If constipation isn't an issue, be aware that you have the right to ask for pain medication if the pain is really bad. You shouldn't have to suffer through this. Just know you have that right. I hope you keep us posted, this wesite is a great resource. Good luck with your upcoming test, I can't say look forward to it as barium tasted just as it sounds like it will :) I hope you find releif soon and I'm sending my best wishes your way. Take care,

Sara RN