Saturday night fever (not the movie)

Friday evening started getting fever (higher than when I should call but of course I didn't), took Tylenol and it went down. Went back up at next dose time so took more and by 6:45 am Saturday it was 97.3(my normal is around 97.6-97.9). So after getting lectures from friends and family about my not calling 24 hour cancer center line, I decided to take my temp more often and when it should signs of going up (98.5 or higher) I'd take Tylenol and keep it down.

All was going well until afternoon, when temp went up to 99.7 so just took 1 extra strength Tylenol and it went down and stayed down until 7:30 went it started going up again (99.7) took 2 regular Tylenol and hour later temp was 100.7 (went up instead of down). Of course I got freaked out, never gone up always gone down, so I called the number and was transferred to on call doc (happened to be my doc). My ears were muffled, and he was speaking so softly that it was hard to communicate. Anyway he asked if I had the antibiotics (didn't realize he had written prescription Friday so never got it called in and filled). I said no, and he said I didn't sound like I was communicating in my usual manner (disoriented ... but gosh I was freaked out and was trying to update him, but I realize now I was jumping around with times and forgetting to tell him days). Anyway he said I should go to the emergency room for evaluation and possible treatments.

By now it was almost 9pm, but was able to get in touch with Deb, and she took me in. Was being examined by 11pm. Heart rate was up to 154 (went down to 134 in couple minutes). My normal rate is in 90s, and since the last round of chemo it's been around 112-114. Blood pressure was okay and really felt okay except for fever. When they took my temp, it was 98.8 (thank goodness). ER doc came and talked while examining, and thought maybe an EKG would be in order to make sure that even though my heart was fast it had the "right waves". Then he called Dr. G and they decided I should stay and get saline fluids and IV antibiotic. Dr. G wants to see me Monday (not his normal clinic day) for a white cell stimulation shot, but have no idea of what time. Would be nice to know since I have to arrange for transport. I was to get a prescription for Ciprofloxacin and thank goodness CDA has Walgreen with 24 hour pharmacy so we could pick it up on way home (didn't even have to go out of the way since we were going right past it).

They weren't sure 'why' I was getting the fevers, could be reaction due to the blood products, or maybe an infection (since my counts were so low), but that the 10 days of antibiotics were a good addition to my meds, just in case it is an infection.

Deb, bless her heart, trouped right along with me, even though she was exhausted. We finally got out of the hospital by 1:30 am (temp was 98.8), stopped and filled prescription, and made it home by 3am! Sneezed a couple of times on way home, and could 'taste' the saline (or maybe the IV antibiotics). Of course it had to make me nauseated so threw up (nothing in my stomach anyway). Once I was sure my tummy settled down I could hear Mark in the back of my head saying 'take the anti-naseau pill', so I did then went to sleep until 6:45 when I had to take my thyroid pill. Temp was 97.7 so went back to sleep and woke up around 11am. Temp was 98.3 so will keep an eye on it. If it follows what is becoming a pattern it will go up around mid afternoon, then again early evening. I'm to keep taking my temps and take Tylenol if it starts climbing again.

Then I've still got the Tuesday appointment for labs, doc visit and who knows what else.

I'm very susceptible to infection so need to keep away from public until the count goes up (so much for doing a couple of hours at work this week). Anyway, Jim will be back Monday (snow storm day) and hopefully all will settle down and my labs will start coming back good.

Love to all