Another Female Question re: "Monthly" Fevers

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Susan BAV

Okay. Sorry. Another female question.

I have been wrestling with a possible hysterectomy issue for a few years...
putting it off, and trying to avoid it, and putting it off, and trying to avoid it...

Now I'm getting recurring fevers each month, several days in a row, and I'm a bit worried about what these recurring fevers might do to my porcine valve. I guess they might be called low-grade because I only get up to around 100 degrees, but it's for a few or several days in a row.

PLEASE, does anyone have any experience with or know anything about this kind of an issue, regarding these recurring monthly fevers and heart valves?

The ob/gyn recommends a "simple hysterectomy" and I think I'm finally convinced of the necessity of that and will probably schedule it for pretty soon.
 
Susan,

There is a good chance the fevers are merely hormonal. Have you had any sed rates run to see if there is any sign of infection?

Any recurring fever in a valve patient is something to watch. I had my uterus removed in 1988 due to excessive bleeding. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I hope you will feel the same way.

Best of luck to you.
 
Susan. I wish I could help, but I don't know anything about these matters.

My guess is, though, since you opted for a tissue valve, that you saw this coming down the pike and decided you would be more comfortable having surgeries with the tissue valve. I guess you have to go with your instincts and your doctor's advice.

There must be a woman's forum somewhere to address some of this. Often, too, there are social worker/counselor type part time women who are starting up support groups for such issues. Check with the nurses at the ob/gyn. Maybe they know of something local, or even just another client who would be willing to give you some feedback.

Good luck.

Marguerite
 
I would have some blood work completed. Never have heard of a "hormonal fever". Fever usually indicates your body is fighting a virus or infection.
 
Just an FYI.

I used to have fevers every month connected to my menstrual cycle. No elevated sed rate or any indication of an infection was every found. This is why I brought up the possibility of the fever being related to hormones.

Causes & symptoms
Fevers are primarily caused by viral or bacterial infections, such as pneumonia or influenza. However, other conditions can induce a fever, including these:

allergic reactions
autoimmune diseases
trauma, such as breaking a bone
cancer
excessive exposure to the sun
intense exercise
hormonal imbalances
certain drugs
damage to the hypothalamus
 
Thanks Gina. I do have my issues in that area. Have been avoiding surgery because of the risks. Now if I start with hormonal fevers.........think I will put a rush on it:eek: ;)
 
Thanks, very much, for your replies; I really appreciate it.

What's an "elevated sed rate?" My family practitioner caught the elevated temperature with me a few months ago when I was in his office and he had those intensive blood tests run on me. I forget what the blood tests are called but it's where they take blood from each arm and check for endocarditis and the blood tests came back fine.

I was about ready to go in for the hysterectomy last fall but then a dear friend went in for a hysterectomy last fall after being diagnosed with uterine cancer -- but with a different surgeon than mine -- and her surgery went so badly that she nearly died and had to have more surgeries. She's still recovering. That scared the heck out of my husband and I so I just hunkered back down and decided to put off the hysterectomy again.

But then I started worrying about the fevers and the valve.

Thank you again for your replies and your experiences. If anyone else has any comments, please do. Nearly all of my women friends who have had hysterectomies say they have no regrets.
 
Susan,

The blood test you had is a blood culture. It is meant to not only identify that an infection exists but also will give a great deal of detail as to type of bacteria, etc.

A sed rate is just a simple blood test that indicates infection. It gives no specific information but usually indicates a need for further testing.

Hope this helps some.

When I had my surgery, it was done through the vagina and was relatively easy. I was slightly anti-coagulated and had very little problem with post-op bleeding. All the sutures were internal and dissolved on their own. Of course, if you need ovarian surgery also that's a different issue. I don't mean to imply that it was not a serious surgery as it is major but I have had root canals that gave me more problems than my hysterectomy.

Good luck.
 
Yes that's it, a blood culture. Thanks Gina. I don't think I've ever heard about or read about a sed rate before. My family doctor called the fever "a fever of unknown origin," and he had several other tests run too, but now we're realizing that the fevers are happening every month. Thank you again, for your postings, Gina. It really helps to hear/read someone else's experiences, especially the positive ones.
 
An Update - Followup

An Update - Followup

Well, with all the upcoming heart surgeries scheduled this month, I guess this is fairly insignificant overall, but I'm scheduled for a partial hysterectomy for later this month, two weeks from today actually. I'm relieved at the thought of this trouble being over but I'm actually nervous about having another surgery too, even though hysterectomies are statistically the "second most frequently performed surgery." I wonder what is the first, "the most frequently performed surgery"; anybody know? My younger son is getting married out of state the end of January and the OB/GYN says I'll be fine by then, for the travel and all; so that's good news. Anyway, that's my followup. Thanks again, to those who posted. I really appreciated your kind input and comments. If anyone else has any comment or words of encouragement, please let me hear them. I am just super skittish about this. Kind of emotional too. I think that's normal though.
 
I just wanted to wish you luck and remind you that being emotional and skittish is what hormone imbalance can do to us!! ;)

How exciting to be going to a wedding! If your doctor says you will be fine, then it will be so!! Set your "eyes on the prize" of looking and feeling better by then and having double the reason to celebrate.

You've survived OHS and raising children.....how could this little procedure even compare?? Put your faith in the experience of the doctors, and only remember the good stories you heard from your friends. Don't you remember all the horror stories you heard from everyone when you were pregnant all those years ago? And did any of those happen to you? Probably not.

If anything, your body is much stronger now since your heart is fixed!!

Good luck. Keep us posted!

:D Marguerite
 
Hi Susan,

Just wanted to wish you all the best. I had a laparascopy about a month ago and even though that is a very simple surgical procedure I was much more nervous just because of my heart. So I can understand where you are coming from with being more concerned about your surgery. I'm sure though that everything will be fine and you'll soon be feeling a lot better and getting ready for that wedding!!! Let us know how it all goes - Jeanne
 
Thank you very much, Marguerite and Jeanne -

I really appreciate the kind words of encouragement. Nearly without exception, everyone I have personally talked with about a similar procedure has been very happy that they finally had their trouble ended. I've previously talked myself out of the procedure so many times because I figured, now at 45, maybe I can tough it out for a few or several more years. The fever issue that has developed, however, is the deciding factor. I don't want to take a chance of prematurely wrecking my valve. Also, if I don't squeeze this thing in now, I'll have to wait a couple of more months. Probably, these circumstances have made the decision much easier. Thanks again.
 
Susan
I had a hysterectomy 17 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. It badly needed to be done. I entered the hospital on Christmas Day to do the heparin drip. You should be fine for the wedding since I got married on Valentines Day just 8 weeks after surgery.
Kathleen
 
Hi
Go for it - you will feel so much better afterwards. No more periods EVER AGAIN, it is great!! That is speaking from personal experience..........I had a hysterectomy in June and recovered very quickly. I am hoping that my mitral valve repair/replacement/maze surgery goes as well as the hysto did, although I realise it is a much bigger deal.
Monday is the big day for me.

Cheers
Bridgette
 
Thank you Kathleen - That's exactly what someone likes to hear before they march down the same road! Even the two doctors I have seen said I'm going to feel SO-O-O-O much better and I'll wonder why I didn't do it years ago!

And, Bridgette - Thank you too; it's wonderful to hear such a great and quick recovery experience! Best Wishes for another safe surgery and another great and quick recovery from your mitral valve OHS too!

And Gadgetman - Fun humor!

Very comforting, all the posts. Thank you all very much! What a terrific network this is! I appreciate the positive experiences and encouragement and kind words more than I can express. I feel much braver now.
 
Kathleen said:
Susan
I had a hysterectomy 17 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made. It badly needed to be done. I entered the hospital on Christmas Day to do the heparin drip. You should be fine for the wedding since I got married on Valentines Day just 8 weeks after surgery.
Kathleen
Click to expand...
Likewise. Mine was in 1989 and I was actually released on Christmas morning. Went in on December 22nd (in the morning to start heparin) and had the surgery on the 23rd. Normally they would have kept me another day but I wanted to be home.

You will be very happy to no longer have to go down "that" aisle in the market. ;) :D ;)
 
geebee said:
Likewise. Mine was in 1989 and I was actually released on Christmas morning. Went in on December 22nd (in the morning to start heparin) and had the surgery on the 23rd. Normally they would have kept me another day but I wanted to be home.

You will be very happy to no longer have to go down "that" aisle in the market. ;) :D ;)
Click to expand...

(I hear you there...)

The ob/gyn said he'll probably only have to keep me in the hospital overnight! That seems fairly amazing to me.
 
Best Wishes, Susan, for a successful surgery with a fast, easy recovery.

Also Congratulations on your son's upcoming marriage.

I think you asked..... What is the Most Common Surgery performed in the U.S.? I was very surprised when I read it is Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery.
 
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