Fever increasing symptoms?

[twopack]

I've been sick with a gastro type flu for a few days with a fever > 101F (38C).  I've noticed my vision is worse, increased tripping, weakness, mental fog, and lots of aches and pains.  The joint pain disappears with acetaminophen and getting the fever down but the other symptoms seem to be hanging on, vision problems especially.

I'm guessing that an internal rise in temperature is at least as bad as an environmental one.  Is that right?  How long does this type of worsening of symptoms usually last?

Mary

[Quixotic1]

Mary, you're at risk for the double whammy.  The increased temperature will increase your MS symptoms in a pseudo-exacerbation.  That part should improve as the fever disappears.  However, the infection may trigger a true relapse that could last as long as any real relapse lasts.  So you may not ever see the difference.  Fever and infection are the worst things that can happen in terms of increase in symptoms.

Call your neuro.  You need a CBC, UA at minimum, to see if you might have something that would be treatable with antibiotics.  This probably is a virus, but your neuro should have the opportunity to check you.  I am under strcit orders to call my neuro with ANY illness or fever.

The key to the increase in temp is not whether it is caused by an interior factor (fever or exercise) or an environmental one (hot day, hottub, hot room).  The key is the rise in your core body temp.  As Lulu says, even a fraction of a degree is enough to set off symptoms.

Quix

[Lulu54]

Mary,
even a slight increase of 1 degree of our internal temperature can create havoc with our wiring.  this can happen from illness (infections) or environmental.

Unfortunately we can't predict how long these problems will linger - MS is so unpredictable.

Feel better soon,

Lulu

[HVAC]

Yes temperature rises cause symptoms to be worse. I hope you feel better soon.

Alex