- Apr 14, 2001
- 57,354
- 19,534
- 146
Update below and on post 172.
Well, I had been having a low grade fever since a week after my mother broke her hip on Sept 23rd. I had gone to the doctor a few times and they found nothing. So I let it go... and with all the issues surrounding my mother's failed recovery and death on Oct 17th, I had little time to follow up.
Fast forward to last Thursday (Nov 13th). A few days before the 13th, I had developed what seemed to be a head cold on top of the low grade fever. I took meds to relieve the pain, and made yet another Dr appt.
Thursday the 13th started out fine. I felt flu-ish, but functional and ran errands, did laundry, etc. But by 2PM, things started going very bad. I crawled into bed and my fever skyrocketed. And then the death spiral started. Nausea and vomiting. I knew I was severely dehydrated and past the point of no return. I had been dehydrated 20 years ago and knew the signs. I spent the next 4 hours or so in denial trying to slowly sip water to rehydrate myself. I KNEW better, but for some reason, I was fixated on the idea I could overcome it. I was, of course, wrong. No matter what I did, I would vomit up anything I ingested.
At 8pm I finally gave up and got a ride to the emergency room. My fever was 104.5, my blood pressure was nearly undetectable and my heart rate was 140. Believe it or not, I actually walked into the ER under my own power and was able to communicate clearly still.
The emergency staff was great. I had never seen service this fast at an ER. I was sent straight back and IV fluids were given. Then they gave me an anti-nausea drug and Tylenol.
I figured just an evening of fluids would do it, but no. The next three days were spent in the ICU and it took two entire days to get my blood pressure back up, and my heart rate back down. Not only that, but because of the dehydration, IVs were very hard to insert in my arms, and I had MASSIVE pain from two infiltrations (IVs that miss the vein and put fluids into the tissues) in my right hand. So painful that they gave me adavan to shut me up. Man, that drug is a TRIP and makes you see things.
After seemingly endless tests, We had a diagnosis: Viral meningitis (Caused by Herpes Zoster) AND an infection of the mastoid process: an infection totally independent of any ear infection in my case, so it was not readily obvious. Two totally unrelated issues that, together, almost killed me. The meningitis was new, the mastoid infection, old and chronic and obvioulsy started back in Sept. Adding the meningitis was too much for my body to handle with it already having the fever from the mastoid infection.
I was just released from the hospital yesterday (Nov21).
It's been a hell of a ride and I'm still far from well. The spinal tap they performed is still giving me massive headaches when I sit up or stand. I still have a low grade fever and will for weeks as the meningitis runs it's course.
I was given massive IV antibiotics and am on an oral course now for the Mastoid infection. We will see if that works. It's hard to treat and may take many courses.
Just thought I'd share my experience with you guys. NEVER let an unexplained low grade fever go. Bug the crap out of your doctors or just go to the emergency room.
And yes, I will be changing my primary care dr. Any doctor that does not treat an unexplained fever that lasts more than a week as important obviously is not a good dr.
What a shitty year this has been for me...
------------------------------
Update:
Update 12/4:
The lumbar headaches are pretty much gone. But I still have the stiff neck and moderate headaches from the meningitis. Today was the first day my fever stayed under 99 all day.
But when it rains, it pours. On Thanksgiving I caught a nasty little cold (Symptoms started 3-4 days ago) from a GF that caused some nasty post nasal drip and ended up going straight to my chest. Ever try to cough hard with a headache and a stiff neck? OUCH!!! Both ears are clogged up tight too. Went to the Dr today and since I have been on antibiotics from the time I went into hospital until two days ago, we both figured it was all viral. Just to be sure, though, I am on another round to prevent bacterial bronchitis and ear infections. It's been getting progressively worse each day since the syptoms started and last night was horrible. I hope it's going to ease up now.
This cold is EVERYWHERE in this town right now, and everyone has the same symptoms. It seems to go right to the chest with post nasal drip and clogs up the Eustachian tubes with swelling in the throat. It's a nasty little virus that is leading to a lot of bacterial infections in the chest and ears. It starts with sneezing. Weird, huh?
For the AT doctors: I'm on Avelox (Mycoxafloppin) for any bacterial infection, Mucinex D, and codine cough syrup. They won't prescribe the vicoden cough syrup anymore. I guess they had too many drug seekers? Anyhow, I liked that stuff a lot more.
Great timing, huh? Next time I'm sick I'm going to tell the GFs to stay away. :|
Well, I had been having a low grade fever since a week after my mother broke her hip on Sept 23rd. I had gone to the doctor a few times and they found nothing. So I let it go... and with all the issues surrounding my mother's failed recovery and death on Oct 17th, I had little time to follow up.
Fast forward to last Thursday (Nov 13th). A few days before the 13th, I had developed what seemed to be a head cold on top of the low grade fever. I took meds to relieve the pain, and made yet another Dr appt.
Thursday the 13th started out fine. I felt flu-ish, but functional and ran errands, did laundry, etc. But by 2PM, things started going very bad. I crawled into bed and my fever skyrocketed. And then the death spiral started. Nausea and vomiting. I knew I was severely dehydrated and past the point of no return. I had been dehydrated 20 years ago and knew the signs. I spent the next 4 hours or so in denial trying to slowly sip water to rehydrate myself. I KNEW better, but for some reason, I was fixated on the idea I could overcome it. I was, of course, wrong. No matter what I did, I would vomit up anything I ingested.
At 8pm I finally gave up and got a ride to the emergency room. My fever was 104.5, my blood pressure was nearly undetectable and my heart rate was 140. Believe it or not, I actually walked into the ER under my own power and was able to communicate clearly still.
The emergency staff was great. I had never seen service this fast at an ER. I was sent straight back and IV fluids were given. Then they gave me an anti-nausea drug and Tylenol.
I figured just an evening of fluids would do it, but no. The next three days were spent in the ICU and it took two entire days to get my blood pressure back up, and my heart rate back down. Not only that, but because of the dehydration, IVs were very hard to insert in my arms, and I had MASSIVE pain from two infiltrations (IVs that miss the vein and put fluids into the tissues) in my right hand. So painful that they gave me adavan to shut me up. Man, that drug is a TRIP and makes you see things.
After seemingly endless tests, We had a diagnosis: Viral meningitis (Caused by Herpes Zoster) AND an infection of the mastoid process: an infection totally independent of any ear infection in my case, so it was not readily obvious. Two totally unrelated issues that, together, almost killed me. The meningitis was new, the mastoid infection, old and chronic and obvioulsy started back in Sept. Adding the meningitis was too much for my body to handle with it already having the fever from the mastoid infection.
I was just released from the hospital yesterday (Nov21).
It's been a hell of a ride and I'm still far from well. The spinal tap they performed is still giving me massive headaches when I sit up or stand. I still have a low grade fever and will for weeks as the meningitis runs it's course.
I was given massive IV antibiotics and am on an oral course now for the Mastoid infection. We will see if that works. It's hard to treat and may take many courses.
Just thought I'd share my experience with you guys. NEVER let an unexplained low grade fever go. Bug the crap out of your doctors or just go to the emergency room.
And yes, I will be changing my primary care dr. Any doctor that does not treat an unexplained fever that lasts more than a week as important obviously is not a good dr.
What a shitty year this has been for me...
------------------------------
Update:
Update 12/4:
The lumbar headaches are pretty much gone. But I still have the stiff neck and moderate headaches from the meningitis. Today was the first day my fever stayed under 99 all day.
But when it rains, it pours. On Thanksgiving I caught a nasty little cold (Symptoms started 3-4 days ago) from a GF that caused some nasty post nasal drip and ended up going straight to my chest. Ever try to cough hard with a headache and a stiff neck? OUCH!!! Both ears are clogged up tight too. Went to the Dr today and since I have been on antibiotics from the time I went into hospital until two days ago, we both figured it was all viral. Just to be sure, though, I am on another round to prevent bacterial bronchitis and ear infections. It's been getting progressively worse each day since the syptoms started and last night was horrible. I hope it's going to ease up now.
This cold is EVERYWHERE in this town right now, and everyone has the same symptoms. It seems to go right to the chest with post nasal drip and clogs up the Eustachian tubes with swelling in the throat. It's a nasty little virus that is leading to a lot of bacterial infections in the chest and ears. It starts with sneezing. Weird, huh?
For the AT doctors: I'm on Avelox (Mycoxafloppin) for any bacterial infection, Mucinex D, and codine cough syrup. They won't prescribe the vicoden cough syrup anymore. I guess they had too many drug seekers? Anyhow, I liked that stuff a lot more.
Great timing, huh? Next time I'm sick I'm going to tell the GFs to stay away. :|
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