Need help with post endocarditis experiences

[bvdr]

Bryon,

I'm not one to run to the ER with everything that comes up but with your situation and history, I think it is time to go.

 

[Nancy]

Get going, Bryan. For you, 100 means something, and don't let them tell you any differently. Stick to your guns.

 

[Bryan B]

Thanks guys. Here's my plan. I will take my temp before each dose of Advil (to get an accurate reading). If it spikes tonight I will get dressed and go. If it's still 100 or above tomorrow evening I will get dressed and go. I know this is nothing to mess around with, but if it's a short lived virus I will give it a little time to run it's course. My gut feeling is to not wait around, and it will probably be in my best interest to have it checked out before I go to work on Monday. I appreciate everyone's advice. I promise I won't let this go past tomorrow.

Thanks!

 

[Nancy]

Hi Bryan-

I know it's everyone's first reaction to take something that will reduce the temp. However, that can also mask a rising temp and make it appear lower than it really is.

 

[Bryan B]

Nancy,

Yep you're right. I will try to take my temp when I think the Advil has worn off but before I take another dose. I checked it a couple of hours after taking the Advil and it was down to 99.1. I'm going to take it again right before bed (and before I take another dose of Advil). I had to monitor it regularly while I was on the IV antibiotics and report any significant changes so I got a nifty digital thermometer.

I have been on Penicillin VK 500mg 4 times a day for the last 6 days and I'm supposed to finish that up tomorrow (I had been waking up with sore throats that were going away...and no fever, but my doc put me on it to be safe. I don't know what to think about running a fever while on the antibiotics. Could mean it's just a viral bug that will run its course, or it could be a bacterial bug that is not affected by Penicillin. Thanks for all your help and information. I just can't say it enough how this place is helping me "keep it together" right now. If I had chosen to have my surgery here in Nashville I might have already had it by now. But since I want to have it done at Duke (close to family) I have added to the wait time and red tape. I know it's the right decision though. I will give a temp update tomorrow.

Nite!

 

[Bryan B]

Hi guys, here's an update. My temp was normal this morning (as it was yesterday morning), and this afternoon without taking any Advil it was 99.1. I finally took some Advil (for my tooth) and have decided not to go to the ER (unless something changes). I will see how I feel tomorrow and may call my family doctor for his advice, although I plan on changing PCP's after my surgery because I have lost my trust in him due to the way he has treated me recently.

 

[tommy]

Bryan,

Glad to hear that you are feeling better (except the tooth).

I suggest that you take a break from the Advil (deal with the tooth pain) long enough to be sure that the Advil isn't masking a more serious infection. If the fever comes, back, get seen right away.

All the best to you.

 

[Bryan B]

Thanks Tom,

I've been trying to take my temp when I know I haven't taken any Advil for over 6 hours. I took some before bed last night and didn't take any more until about 4PM today. I got the 99.1 reading right before I took the Advil for the tooth at 4PM. I'm seeing the dentist tomorrow and I'm hoping he can do something to help reduce the pain. The permenant crowns won't be ready until the following Monday (getting 2 fillings done tomorrow). I'll keep an eye on the temp and even if it stays low grade for a few more days I'll probably get it checked out just to be on the safe side.

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

 

[Bryan B]

OK...closing this "crisis" for now. No temperature today, just a bad head cold and a toothache. The dentist made an adjustment to the temp crown and said that if the pain is not gone by Wednesday he will probably have to do a root canal on it.

Oh boy!

 

[tommy]

Yeah, let me get this straight................

The worst that can happen is a root canal?

 

[Bryan B]

He's already ground it to a nub...does he think he can scare me with a root canal?