Hi everyone! My mother started Revlimid on Friday and she has a fever that started last night. Is it likely this fever was caused by the Revlimid, or is it more likely to be just some sort of bug?
She is also on Velcade and dex, but has been on those two drugs before and tolerated them well.
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BeatMyeloma - Name: BeatMyeloma
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Fever after starting Revlimid
Fever is unfortunately an oft-butchered word.
Does she have a temp greater than 101.5 ? If so, call PCP at once. It may be a sign of an infection.
If you are referring to her feeling "warm", then one of the known side-effects of Revlimid is the "Sweats/ warmth", it can bring. Usually these are "transient" in nature.
Revlimid can quickly effect bio-chemistries in the blood (WBC's, etc) so monitoring for a "Fever" (Greater than 101.5 degrees F) is probably indicated.
Good luck.
Does she have a temp greater than 101.5 ? If so, call PCP at once. It may be a sign of an infection.
If you are referring to her feeling "warm", then one of the known side-effects of Revlimid is the "Sweats/ warmth", it can bring. Usually these are "transient" in nature.
Revlimid can quickly effect bio-chemistries in the blood (WBC's, etc) so monitoring for a "Fever" (Greater than 101.5 degrees F) is probably indicated.
Good luck.
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Rneb
Re: Fever after starting Revlimid
Hi BeatMyeloma,
I am so new to this. I was diagnosed in Oct 2014 and have completed one series of Revlimid / Velcade / dexamethasone.
The first week I took the Revlimid, started on Tuesday night the 28th of Oct, and on Thursday night (the night before Halloween) I had a 102.6 F (39.2 C) temperature. I called the doc at 101 degrees F (38.3 C) and stayed in touch with him until about 1 AM and finally went to the ER. The docs there were great -- checked all they were supposed to check. Everything seemed clear at the time. They gave me 2 Tylenol [acetaminophen / paracetamol] and sent me home. Better safe than sorry.
All last week I was off all the meds (except dex) and never felt feverish. This week I have concluded (IMO) that the Revlimid caused the fever. With that said, I still understand the need to be checked each time I get a fever and not just chalk it up to the Revlimid because if it IS an infection it moves quickly, especially if your white blood count is down.
As a side note: 15 years ago I was a caregiver for my sister-in-law who had a bone marrow transplant from a not-related donor, not a perfect match She had leukemia (ALL). The transplant was a success and she is healthy as can be today. But, I saw first hand how it could all go south if you ASSUME a fever is one thing and it turns out to be another. So my plan is to stay in close contact with my doc and have my most recent blood numbers handy in case of fever, and don't be shy at the ER, and make sure I am my own advocate – tell them right away, up front, what the situation is.
I know I will probably be in the ER more than I would like (hopefully, only because of the Revlimid). I keep telling myself how much better multiple myeloma is compared to ALL 15 years ago, and if I need a transplant, I will be a perfect match for ME! And how far the research has come in the last 15 years. Then I think about my sister-in-law, riding her bike everyday, miles through the vineyards of the Napa Valley (where they live). I think I can do this for awhile! (I hope)
I am trying to have an attitude adjustment.
I am still in denial / shock, etc!
Sandi0033
I am so new to this. I was diagnosed in Oct 2014 and have completed one series of Revlimid / Velcade / dexamethasone.
The first week I took the Revlimid, started on Tuesday night the 28th of Oct, and on Thursday night (the night before Halloween) I had a 102.6 F (39.2 C) temperature. I called the doc at 101 degrees F (38.3 C) and stayed in touch with him until about 1 AM and finally went to the ER. The docs there were great -- checked all they were supposed to check. Everything seemed clear at the time. They gave me 2 Tylenol [acetaminophen / paracetamol] and sent me home. Better safe than sorry.
All last week I was off all the meds (except dex) and never felt feverish. This week I have concluded (IMO) that the Revlimid caused the fever. With that said, I still understand the need to be checked each time I get a fever and not just chalk it up to the Revlimid because if it IS an infection it moves quickly, especially if your white blood count is down.
As a side note: 15 years ago I was a caregiver for my sister-in-law who had a bone marrow transplant from a not-related donor, not a perfect match She had leukemia (ALL). The transplant was a success and she is healthy as can be today. But, I saw first hand how it could all go south if you ASSUME a fever is one thing and it turns out to be another. So my plan is to stay in close contact with my doc and have my most recent blood numbers handy in case of fever, and don't be shy at the ER, and make sure I am my own advocate – tell them right away, up front, what the situation is.
I know I will probably be in the ER more than I would like (hopefully, only because of the Revlimid). I keep telling myself how much better multiple myeloma is compared to ALL 15 years ago, and if I need a transplant, I will be a perfect match for ME! And how far the research has come in the last 15 years. Then I think about my sister-in-law, riding her bike everyday, miles through the vineyards of the Napa Valley (where they live). I think I can do this for awhile! (I hope)
I am trying to have an attitude adjustment.
I am still in denial / shock, etc!Sandi0033
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sandi0033 - Name: Sandi
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: Fever after starting Revlimid
Luckily, it was a pretty low grade fever; 100 was the highest it got and Tylenol brought it down to 99. It bounced between those two temps for about 48 hours. Don't worry, I regularly told my mother to go in immediately if it got to 101!
Her temp is normal today and she feels much more energetic. I guess the oncology nurse was right: it was just a bug. A very unfortunately timed bug with starting Revlimid.
Here's hoping that the Revlimid ride will go smoothly!
Her temp is normal today and she feels much more energetic. I guess the oncology nurse was right: it was just a bug. A very unfortunately timed bug with starting Revlimid.
Here's hoping that the Revlimid ride will go smoothly!
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BeatMyeloma - Name: BeatMyeloma
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan. 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Fever after starting Revlimid
Hi BeatMyeloma,
Glad to hear that your mother's temperature is back to normal and that she is feeling better. I think you're right that it was a badly-timed bug that coincided with the start of Revlimid treatment. One thing to be aware of is that Revlimid can often lower a patients' white blood cell count, making them more susceptible to infections. So it is important to stay in close contact with your oncologist at the first sign of a possible infection.
Hi Sandi0033,
Welcome to the club .. even though none of us wants to be in the club. From what you wrote, it sounds like you already have the right attitude; I don't think you need an attitude adjustment at all. Your sister seems like a great role model in dealing with a blood cancer. And you are right that there has been a ton of progress in the last 15 years, both in treating ALL and in treating multiple myeloma.
As far as bicycle riding goes, you'll find some really inspirational folks here. Ron Harvot regularly rides centuries or longer, even in the boiling Texas summer heat. And Kim T recently rode a metric century just a few months or less (can't recall the timing exactly right now) after completing her stem cell transplant.
Best wishes,
Mike
Glad to hear that your mother's temperature is back to normal and that she is feeling better. I think you're right that it was a badly-timed bug that coincided with the start of Revlimid treatment. One thing to be aware of is that Revlimid can often lower a patients' white blood cell count, making them more susceptible to infections. So it is important to stay in close contact with your oncologist at the first sign of a possible infection.
Hi Sandi0033,
Welcome to the club .. even though none of us wants to be in the club. From what you wrote, it sounds like you already have the right attitude; I don't think you need an attitude adjustment at all. Your sister seems like a great role model in dealing with a blood cancer. And you are right that there has been a ton of progress in the last 15 years, both in treating ALL and in treating multiple myeloma.
As far as bicycle riding goes, you'll find some really inspirational folks here. Ron Harvot regularly rides centuries or longer, even in the boiling Texas summer heat. And Kim T recently rode a metric century just a few months or less (can't recall the timing exactly right now) after completing her stem cell transplant.
Best wishes,
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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