[salma]

Intermittent fever after stem cell transplant

by salma on Sat Jul 30, 2016 1:57 pm

Hello everyone,

Hope this find you all in good health.

My father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year and he received 7 cycles of Velcade dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide. Then he underwent a stem cell transplant 1 month ago.

His sole problem now is the fever. He was admitted twice for fever of 38.5 C (101.3 F). The blood cultures were always negative, and free CT scan of the chest and PNS. This last time after we returned home, he got a 38 C fever only twice and it is responding to paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen).

It is not persistent fever but still I don't know what causes it. Can you please help?

Thank you in advance

Salma

[tpt]

Re: Intermittent fever after stem cell transplant

by tpt on Sat Jul 30, 2016 10:59 pm

Hi Salma,

In the first year after his autologous stem cell transplant, my Dad often had low-grade fevers, about 38.5 C like your father's. The doctor said he has seen a few cases like that. His reasoning was the immune system was compromised from the transplant, and the system was still trying to "stabilize". The fever went away after a while.

I am not a doctor but, as far as I remember, my doctor told him that if the fever can be brought down by paracetamol (Tylenol), then we don't need to worry about it (unless in the case of a very high fever, closing in to 40 C / 104 F) .

Aside, my Dad also developed chronic cough (he is coughing right now) and itchy, flaky scalp from the stem cell transplant.

I hope this helps answering some of your concerns.

[salma]

Re: Intermittent fever after stem cell transplant

by salma on Sun Jul 31, 2016 3:57 am

Hi tpt,

Thank you for your answer, your reply put my mind at ease, especially that Dad is getting a bit fed up of the repeated admission.

Thanks again.
Best regards,
Salma

[paraskaushik]

Re: Intermittent fever after stem cell transplant

by paraskaushik on Wed Aug 03, 2016 2:25 pm

HI TPT and Salma,

My father is also having a similar issue. For last 12 days, his fever has been hovering from 98.4-100. Each time he has a paracetamol (Tylenol, acetaminophen), it subsides.

He is coughing and has acidity (possibly stomach infection). For last 10 days he was on anti­biotics, but the infection is not going.

Regards,
PK

[salma]

Re: Intermittent fever after stem cell transplant

by salma on Mon Aug 29, 2016 12:03 am

Hello PK,

I am sorry your dad is going through this,

Sometimes the acidity and gastritis is a consequence of the chemotherapy. Dad went through this and what increased it is that he could not have plenty of fluids to take with the antibiotics, which increased his gastritis, and he could't take his oral antibiotics, but it subsided after taking the anti-emitic Zofran (ondansetron), and he was able to eat and drink normally in a couple of days.

The fever i was told it might have been a reaction of the body to the transplantation if the blood. Cultures were negative.

Hope your dad gets well soon.

Regards,
Salma