Fever at 9:30pm: what to do?

[ponygirlmom]

I hope there are some people lurking right now! I started feeling crummy enough to take my temperature, and it's 99.2. That's nothing for most people, but my temp is regularly 97, not 98.6, so 99 is really a fever for me.

I wonder if I just got an infection, or if I've had one that was masked by ibuprofen until now. Yesterday I got a horrible migraine (which I still have) and I thought it might have been triggered by my pain meds. So I haven't had vicodin since yesterday, and today my headache got worse twice after taking my ibuprofen (400mg) so I haven't taken that since this morning, either. I did take my baby aspirin a little while ago (I'm supposed to take it every day) but I don't think it will affect my temp. Other than baby aspirin I'm not supposed to take aspirin.

My heart feels okay and I'm not having a lot of incision pain. But I feel like I'm coming down with something.

So what should I do? Wait until tomorrow and call my doctor? Or should I be more worried than that, like should I call him now? I would hate to go to the ER because talk about GERMS!

 

[john.m]

fever

fever

if u r concerned then call your doctors office,,,who ever is on call will call u back...tell them what is bothering you and see what they have to say,,,after all,,that is what they get paid to do,,hope u feel better

 

[ALCapshaw2]

You may even want to call your Surgeon's office number since your surgery was only 2 weeks ago. He, or whoever is covering for him at night, should be advised of any fever in the first few weeks post-op.

They may want you to come in for an examination tomorrow (Surgeon or Cardio or PCP) or go in to the ER tonight if it is deemed urgent. Let them make the call.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[catwoman]

I had something similar about 3 weeks post-op.
Fever of 101-102, headaches, achy, lethargic. Started on Monday afternoon. Called my cardio & surgeon (both about 50 miles away from my home), they said to call my PCP. By the time I got into my PCP's office on Thursday afternoon, I was starting to feel much better. He ordered a battery of blood tests (including culture to rule out endocarditis); nothing found.
By Friday morning I was fine.
All doctors decided I had a viral infection, brought on by stress from the surgery.

Perhaps this is what you're experiencing.

 

[MikeHeim]

It's normal to have a fever for weeks after surgery. Similar to you, my "normal" temp is around 98, and I ran a fever of about 99.5 -100.5 every single night for about six weeks. I would get more concerned if your fever gets above 101.

 

[WayneGM]

Low grade fever is fairly common post-op. However, remember the rule...if you are concerned something isn't right call the doctor. It's always better to be safe than sorry. I hope this passes and all is well.

 

[ponygirlmom]

Update

Update

I called the doctor on call and he asked me series of questions: coughing up stuff from my lungs? (no) pain during urination? (no) lower back pain? (no) diarrhea? (no).

He said it sounds like a flu bug and to take ibuprofen to lower my fever. He said that if I still felt miserable this morning to come in and see my surgeon.

It's 6:30am now and my temp is normal, but the ibu is still in my system.

 

[hall]

I did not experience and fevers. I would call the doctor if you still have it. Hope you feel better.

Deb

 

[KristyW]

You've received excellent advice. My Doctors told me that they consider 101° the calling point. Until then treat with tylenol and drink lots of liquids.

Low grade fevers happen. Sometimes for no reason.

Follow your instincts.

 

[Anne K Sippit]

Happened to me too.

Happened to me too.

Two days after being released following MVR (about 1 week post surgery) I had a couple of fainting spells - one serious enough that my spouse dialed 911 and I was ushered back to the hospital for observation.

That set my mind-set. four weeks post release I was sitting in front of the computer and suddenly feel really really lousy (about 5 PM on a Friday). Ache and pains and just feeling bad - fever of 101.0. The time of day would have put me back in the hospital, so I took some tylenol and lots of water and decided to give it 24 hours. 24 hours later still had the fever but less about 100 and my stomach and intestinal track were in shambles. Felt hungry enough to eat on Sunday. Sunday night I woke up in bed drenched as if someone had poured a bucket of water on me and my temperature returned to normal (98.9 - I run hot). Looking back I think I had stomach flu but the timing and mind-set I was in set the stage.

I definately would have checked with my doctor if I wasin bad shape that monday morning.

I have since had what felt like pluresy. At about 6 weeks post op I had severe pain and tightness in the chest when I took a deep breath. Felt just like pnemonia. Again a one day wait - tylenol to take care of the pain and then back to normal with a half day of lung cleaning coughing.