Guest Feverquestion Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 My dad has Stage 4 LC met to brain, elsewhere mets who knows. His chemo treatment #5 (think he is taking carb/tax) was on the 5th of March. Has a 6th treatment left to do still. Anyway, he is taking procrit now for low blood counts. Today he has the flu/cold/not feeling well, and thinks he has a fever. Does anyone know how high of a fever before we call the doctor? Or should we call ASAP because he is sick with a cold/flu/not feeling well............. HELP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckyg Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 My doctor tells me to call if the fever gets above 100.4. But call before that if you are concerned--he'll either be concerned to or tell you not to worry about it. Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowflake Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 I call the doctor with either kind of fever - the steady one or the one that climbs and drops... Normally, we then go through a list of other "symptoms" and she decides if she needs to see me (read "give me drugs") or if I just need to continue to monitor the situation and when I should either seek emergency room help (if after office hours) or drop in to see her. Now, I did not do chemo so I'm not sure what the "rules" are surrounding a fever and compromised immune system - I'd err on the side of caution and call the doctor. Being a mom, for my son, sometimes things just don't "feel right" even if the symptoms don't seem to be pointing to anything - I call the doctor then, too. If you are uneasy with the fever and anything else you are seeing, run it by the doctor. The doctor doesn't live with the patient to catch the nuances of small changes... Becky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelliemacs Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 I agree, call and tell them what the fever is and let them make a decision, if they don't seem worried until it reaches a certain point then relax. my mom always had a low grade fever especially after bloon transfussions but they just told us to give her advil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betplace Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 What exactly is a "low grade" fever? I always hear the term, but no one ever defines it. Sorry if it is a dumb question, but I am curious. It is so amazing this thread is on here, I have been fighting a fever for the last 24 hours, just finally got it down. At one point, was going to call Dr, but it was 11 pm and I took some ibuprofin and decided if it didn't drop by 11:30 I would call them. It went down, so I went to bed and it stayed under 101 from that point on. Probably should have called Doc this AM, but he already has me on antibiotic, so seemed pointless. Almost feeling human now, so I guess I survived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 I would call right away. Procrit is for red blood cells. Sometimes doctors give something to boost the white cells (to fight infections) also. I think one is Neupogen. Another is Neulasta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 Any fever with low blood counts is cause for a phone call. My Dr. gets mad if I don't call him if I get over 100.4. You are so much more likely to catch something when counts (especially white counts) are low. One thing that helps me a lot is washing my hands as often as I can. I am ALMOST to the OCD point, lol. I also try and stay away from large groups of people when my counts are low (the mall, main parts of the hotel, etc.). Prayers for a simple case of the flu or something even less! God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolyn Flournoy Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 When on chemo your white blood cells decrease putting you at risk for infection. Either my husband or his doctors not treating fever soon enough put him at risk. He ended up with pneumonia one time. Shingles another and yet another bronchitis. Call his onc. ASAP Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berisa Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 should go to doctor ASAP as he has flu .....etc especially now he is receiving chemo....he is too weak and easy to get pnuemonia or infection etc. Pneumonia will kill....hurry up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest2 Posted March 12, 2004 Share Posted March 12, 2004 Guess my dad went to the dct yesturday. And they said that it was a bad reaction to the Chemo that he had on friday. (it is first really bad reaction, if you don't count being tired and hair loss as a bad reaction) They shot him up with Iron and some other stuff and said that he was dehydrated and sent him home. The 6th treatment is still on for this month. makes me wonder if the next reaction will be worse. Just thought I would update you all. Thanks for the help..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GUEST2 Posted March 14, 2004 Share Posted March 14, 2004 UGH! Gosh, I hate not being told the full story. anyway, I guess he fainted and lost control of his bowels and got confused and then passed out again. Then went to the dctr and they gave him steriods and gave him fluid bc he was dehydrated. All happened a few days after a chemo treatment. So, my question isconsidering he already has met to brain (localized radiation to treat met to brain) do ya;ll think it is likely due to an seen met to brain that caused the episode or just because he was dehydrated. Anyone else has something simular happen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted March 14, 2004 Share Posted March 14, 2004 Being dehydrated can cause several different problems. Is you Dad on his own or is there someone with him? Prayer for your family being said. God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest2 Posted March 14, 2004 Share Posted March 14, 2004 For all intensive purposes he is on his own bc he wants to be. brought up the topic that we could get help but I was told to shut up. He does have a family member check in but not living with him..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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