Low-grade fever 99-101 for a week now.

[gary]

Last monday night I cam down with a fever of unknown origin. The two trips to the doctor and a CBC and cultures have turned up nothing. All looks normal in the blood, assuming the lab has the right patient.

I have been told to come back in 10 days if the fever has not subsided by then.

Last resort dx is "Fever, unknown origin, Viral in nature".

Has anyone ever experienced a low grade fever (kept low by Tylenol) lasting this long?

Since my cardiologist thinks I' overly enxious about my heart valve replacement two years ago, after a bout of A-fib in June, I doubt he'll be of much help.

 

[John Cochran]

Gary,
I have had a couple friends with similar symptoms (low-grade fever that persisted). One ended up being diagnosed with Lymme's Disease, which he got from a deer tick, and recovered after a course of antibiotics. His doctor had missed this diagnosis completely...took another doc to find it. The other person I know ended up having allergies, which apparently can also induce a low fever.

The latest, depending on where you live, is West Nile Virus...we have hundreds of cases here in Minnesota, as it is spread by mosquitoes.

Hope you're feeling better soon,
John

 

[gary]

RE: Lyme's disease

RE: Lyme's disease

John,

Lyme's disease is caused by a bacteria. If there were bacteria running rampant thru my system after 6 days since possible exposure, it would have been picked up in my CBC.

The thorough blood tests all came back negative, all values including the 72 hour growth cycle to find 'vegetation' are normal.

West Nile has been ruled out as well.

This is the most confounding thing I've run into since the surgery in April 2000.

I was speculating that the valve I have (bovine Pericardial may be throwing off gluteraldeydes which preserve it and that in turn is causing this viral like reaction. It's a mystery thus far.

Can't believe what a 2 degree difference in body temp over 9 days makes one feel like.

 

[Nancy]

Gary-

I would write down your temp each day to keep track of it. Do you know what it is w/o the Tylenol? Or does the doc want you to keep it low. It's my understanding that Tylenol can lower a temp by several degrees.

Joe's PCP has to remind me that he can get ordinary things just like everyone else. Not everything has to be something horrible.

I hope you feel better ASAP.

 

[gary]

Nancy:

Nancy:

I have been tracking my temp about 4 times a day for nearly 9 days.

10 days is maximum on Tylenol without a Dr O.k. so I'll call him tomorrow to see if I should continue.

No doubt my temp would be near 102 without the Tylenol.

My cardiologist has no opinion about it in the absence of bacteria and my normal blood count.


But in my recorded memory I have never had a fever that lasted this long. And the lack of knowledge in the medical community as to what this might be is disturbing. I realize it may not be anything horrific but the sudden pain in the large muscles of my right thigh that began on Sunday, and has yet to abate, coupled with this fever, a week of constipation, and headaches tells me I'm not fighting off something minor.

 

[BillCobit]

Tough one to call. About 5 years ago, I had low fever during the day (would spike at 102+ at night w/ severe night sweats thereafter); I self-treated this w/ ibuprofen. I had mildly elevated white cells but still in normal range. Blood cultures were negative. Endocarditis was ruled out, and I got tested for AIDS, Lyme, TB...all negative. I had a few pot-shot courses of low dose antibiotics but w/ no effect. The condition finally cleared up after about a month. Turns out is was endocarditis...my MVR got progressively worse over the next 4 years, and the dx of bacterial endocarditis was finally confirmed when I had MV surgery and they found evidence of prior infection.

I don't want to alarm you...it's most likely not serious...but keep an eye on this, and if fever persists, don't allow your doc to dismiss this lightly. As my case demonstrated, the standard blood tests aren't necessarily conclusive.

 

[cindy19335]

Dressler Syndrome

Dressler Syndrome

There is a condition called Dressler Syndrome. It produces low grade fevers a week to two weeks after a heart attack. In some people it can last up to a year. There is no treatment as it is the body's response to necrocis.