I have had a low grade temperature for a couple days now. I am not under treatment yet -- suppose to start treatment in a couple weeks. My temperature stays under 100 F [37.8 C] and when I take Tylenol [paracetamol, acetaminophen] it comes to nearly normal again, but then goes back up after 4-5 hours.
Anyone have any idea? I see my doctor next Thursday, but should I report this or not?
Best wishes to everyone out there!
Forums
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
I would tell them. I've had a couple of experiences with persistent low grade fevers. Shortly after my stem cell transplant, I had one and it turned out to be pneumonia. I've had one lately that has been in the last couple of weeks of my first Revlimid regimen. I told the doctor about it and he didn't seem to be concerned.
I think with multiple myeloma you should report anything that is abnormal.
I think with multiple myeloma you should report anything that is abnormal.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
Dear Barbara,
I agree that this should be reported. Myeloma in and of itself suppresses your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infection. Are you having any signs or symptoms of infection aside from the fever? Another cause of a low grade fever would be a first dose of Zometa or Aredia. Have you started therapy with either of these agents?
Either way, definitely report the fever.
Thanks!
Pete V.
I agree that this should be reported. Myeloma in and of itself suppresses your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infection. Are you having any signs or symptoms of infection aside from the fever? Another cause of a low grade fever would be a first dose of Zometa or Aredia. Have you started therapy with either of these agents?
Either way, definitely report the fever.
Thanks!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
Thanks to all for the information.
The fever seemed to break last night, but today I am feeling lots of nausea and headachey. It looks like I picked up a virus cause since I have not started any treatment for the multiple myeloma yet, I can't blame it on that.
I will report it to the oncologist tomorrow just to give him a heads up. I start treatment in two weeks.
Thanks again for all the support. This forum is awesome!
The fever seemed to break last night, but today I am feeling lots of nausea and headachey. It looks like I picked up a virus cause since I have not started any treatment for the multiple myeloma yet, I can't blame it on that.
I will report it to the oncologist tomorrow just to give him a heads up. I start treatment in two weeks.
Thanks again for all the support. This forum is awesome!
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
I've had 4 fevers this winter, with no other explanations (i.e. no stomach issue or respiratory symptoms). Have also had night sweats the last few months. Decided it was time to report it. My care has been transferred back to my family doctor, with just quarterly visits to my oncologist.
Family doc has ordered blood work and an abdominal ultrasound "just to be sure" and if they are clear might order a chest x-ray. Unfortunately, it could be just that I'm fighting a virus, or when you have myeloma (even if it is in remission) something more serious and you need to be sure!
Family doc has ordered blood work and an abdominal ultrasound "just to be sure" and if they are clear might order a chest x-ray. Unfortunately, it could be just that I'm fighting a virus, or when you have myeloma (even if it is in remission) something more serious and you need to be sure!
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
lys2012 Please keep us updated. I am experiencing night sweats now but I have just blamed it on the heat that we currently have in Ohio. I guess if it continues I will have to report it. Oh my, more doctor visits.
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barbara1200 - Name: barb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 75
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
I'm bringing this up in this thread because it seems appropriate:
My normal body temperature is, and has been for pretty much all my life, around 96.8 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. It can go up to 97.5 or so if I'm working hard, or feeling sweaty, but...if someone takes my temp and it's 98 degrees or so, I'm feeling feverish; you know, the 'crawly' sensation you get, the sluggishness, the miseries....and if I actually get up to 100, I'm in trouble. In fact, if I get up that high, I'm too sick to do anything; there is nothing 'low grade' about me running 99-100 degrees, at least if you are going by how I FEEL. Shoot, when I was in the hospital doing my SCT and had C-diff, shaking and hallucinating, my temp never went above 101.
Yet I'm told that as far as temperature is concerned, 100 degrees is still 'low grade,' and I shouldn't get upset if it is lower than that, no matter what my physical symptoms are.
Is this a medical fact? Does a 'fever' really mean the absolute number, no matter where you begin?
Seems to me that if one should report 100 degrees when your average temp is 98.6, then you are only dealing with a temperature rise of a degree and a half or so. If I have to wait for that, I"m reporting a personal temperature rise of 3 degrees. Isn't that the equivalent of a temp of close to 103 for a 'normal' person?
Could someone who knows talk about this a bit? It just seems to me that if I feel 'feverish' ... and have all the symptoms of a fever, then ... why am I NOT running a fever? What is there about the number that makes all the difference?
My normal body temperature is, and has been for pretty much all my life, around 96.8 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. It can go up to 97.5 or so if I'm working hard, or feeling sweaty, but...if someone takes my temp and it's 98 degrees or so, I'm feeling feverish; you know, the 'crawly' sensation you get, the sluggishness, the miseries....and if I actually get up to 100, I'm in trouble. In fact, if I get up that high, I'm too sick to do anything; there is nothing 'low grade' about me running 99-100 degrees, at least if you are going by how I FEEL. Shoot, when I was in the hospital doing my SCT and had C-diff, shaking and hallucinating, my temp never went above 101.
Yet I'm told that as far as temperature is concerned, 100 degrees is still 'low grade,' and I shouldn't get upset if it is lower than that, no matter what my physical symptoms are.
Is this a medical fact? Does a 'fever' really mean the absolute number, no matter where you begin?
Seems to me that if one should report 100 degrees when your average temp is 98.6, then you are only dealing with a temperature rise of a degree and a half or so. If I have to wait for that, I"m reporting a personal temperature rise of 3 degrees. Isn't that the equivalent of a temp of close to 103 for a 'normal' person?
Could someone who knows talk about this a bit? It just seems to me that if I feel 'feverish' ... and have all the symptoms of a fever, then ... why am I NOT running a fever? What is there about the number that makes all the difference?
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
I have ask the same question. I run in the same range that you do and coincidentally had C-diff during my SCT and had the reaction.
I'm always told to worry if it rises above 101, but I wonder why not 100? For me that's usually close to 3 degrees over.
I'm always told to worry if it rises above 101, but I wonder why not 100? For me that's usually close to 3 degrees over.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
Hi Guys,
Just an update! Last I posted in hear I though everything was still CR for me, but it turns out not the case
I've had a detectable M-Spike since March, but my doctor did not tell me! I went for blood work but it was not back yet by my appointment in March, so everyone just assumed I was still in CR. Well, at my 3 month check in June, my M-Spike is still there, going up slowly.
So in my case, I think the fevers and a few other vague symptoms (night sweats etc) were due to my myeloma starting to come back.
Just an update! Last I posted in hear I though everything was still CR for me, but it turns out not the case
I've had a detectable M-Spike since March, but my doctor did not tell me! I went for blood work but it was not back yet by my appointment in March, so everyone just assumed I was still in CR. Well, at my 3 month check in June, my M-Spike is still there, going up slowly.
So in my case, I think the fevers and a few other vague symptoms (night sweats etc) were due to my myeloma starting to come back.
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Experiencing a low grade fever - should I do anything?
Thanks, lys2012, for the update. It's really helpful when people who have raised issues here in the forum get back to everyone with how things were resolved.
We're sorry that you're no longer in CR, and hope that your M-spike stops climbing and stays low.
We're sorry that you're no longer in CR, and hope that your M-spike stops climbing and stays low.
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