Alan has a fever and won't go see Dr. Fred
 

Hi All:

First I have to give you a background of something that happened 29 years ago.

He got a fever lasting a long time no other symptoms. Kind of like what
is happening now. They put him in the hospital in isolation because they
didnt know what it was .

They finally released him indicating on his chart it was fever of unknown origin
it took about two months for him to get better. He never had a sore throat ear ache no other symptoms they never gave him antibiotics.

So i am thinking to myself what if that virus from 29 years ago, has stayed dormant in his system and is now waking up.

Five days ago we got some devastating news about our son. The stress alone is a killer. That night Alan got the fever. 102. Did the tylenol,
He had no cough, sore throat, aches, he did have a little headache, but NOTHING ELSE.
He was exhausted. He slept, the next morning it went down. Because he had no other symptoms and he hasn't had any other illnesses (except for cellulitis
infection of a foot ulcer which they treat with anti-biotics, and that was over
2 months ago), he's always fine. Except for his neuropathy I mean. And I've checked his body, his feet are fine, no ulcers, no nothing ANYWHERE.

But he never gets SICK. He never gets a cold, and oh by the way, he did not get a flu shot.

So naturally he wont' go to the doctor. The fever broke, and he felt better.
But it was like he was hit with a truck. Very weak. He is not a drinker!!!
Doesn't like water. I took him off of all diet soda with splenda, and gave him
my true lemon products ordering him to DRINK because you have to have fluids with a fever. Not much of an appetite 4 days ago. So bit by bit, the fever comes down but he's still sleeping all the time. I phoned his doctor (can you believe he answers his cell phone on July 4th)? I tell him his symptoms and he said "From what you are telling me, it's viral, but you can bring him in
tomorrow'. I told him "the color of his urine is darker than usual but no odor". He said "that's dehydration" . The doctor said "You are giving him
Gatorade right?' I said "Oh, no, I didn't think of that"

He said to give him Gatorade and call him the next day. Dr. Fred knows that Alan won't come in because he's exhausted and said "That's fine, tell him to come in once he's feeling a bit better"

I immediately went out and bought 2 bottles of gatorade. Brought them home and he practically inhaled the first bottle. They are both now gone. I phoned the doctor the next day (which was yesterday) and told him "should I switch from tylenlol to ibuprofen"? He said "yeah, do that". I am to call the doctor back in a few days to update him.

So yesterday his fever was normal (his doctor said if he had a bacterial
infection anywhere in his body, his fever would spike, stay up, and not go down unless he had an antibiotic and that's why he really thinks it's viral).

So last night he was hungry. I made him a sandwich and a knish, and another
glass of gatorade. He's been drinking this stuff for two days now. It's like his
body NEEDS whatever is in the gatorade.

He was on the computer last night. I took his temperature. it was 98. I said
"hurray, maybe this thing has passed"

He did not want to take any ibuprofen last night before bed time because he had no fever. And he was able to get up without being dizzy (like when the fever is 101 or higher. Thankfully it has NOT gone over 101 and it usually is in the 99 percentile.

Well, I get up this morning, go into the living room, he's on the couch doing
his leg exercises, I feel his forehead (his eyes are clear by the way), and I
said 'you feel warm, and his temp was 101.

I immediately gave him 2 ibuprofen. HE WON'T GO TO THE DOCTOR, JUST KNOW THAT!!! He says "I have a virus, I have to sweat it out". He's been sweating on and off for a few days, one day he sweat through his shirt and of course I cleaned him up. The only thing he feels is TIRED, knocked out.

This morning (after giving him the two ibuprofen), I went out for a bit, just came home, and he asks "Can I have a scrambled egg on
a bagel, I'm hungry". I felt his forehead. Cool as a cucumber.

He ate his breakfast. He's laying down, he's watching tv and because this man hasn't gotten sick like this in over 25 years, I am at a loss at to what to do. I went out and got him Walgreens nutritional drink with protein because he is not eating three meals a day. and I also got him gatorade.

So my question is (and I forgot to bring this up with Dr. Fred), but is it possible that this is a reoccurence of the virus that affected him all those years ago?? and have any of you known someone to have a condition (a
virus??) that you get a normal temp in the daytime you sweat it out you
take iburprofen or some other med and it brings it right down you get your
appetite back and then you wake up and its one hundred and one??? and then it goes down again?

His color is good, nothing hurts him,no other symptoms whatsoever HE WON"T
GO TO THE DOCTOR UNLESS HE"S DYING. STUBBORN


I'll be giving him LOTS of fluids

I told him "if you are not better by friday, I'm dragging you to the doctor"
Not that the doctor could do anything if it's a virus but he can eliminate other stuff, right?

Oh this man is so stubborn.

Mel

P.S. Know what this reminds me of?? When a person has had malaria and on and off throughout the years, they get the sweats and they have to sweat it out.
And I checked for tick marks over his body (for lyme) and I know what that is, but he doesn't go anywhere where there would be ticks. Last week he went on a bus and went to the bank and to the supermarket and that was it.
Good Lord. I really do wonder if stress triggered something.

Thanks much for any information you can share.

He needs some blood work.

A monospot for Mono. And tests for hepatitis.
Regular CBC.
A depressed white count will point to a virus. Mono can give odd fevers and crushing fatigue.

I'd also test his blood sugar (when he is not consuming that sugar Gatorade). Fasting would be best.

There is a lot that can be done in the office, and going to the hospital is not always done anymore.

There are many many things ... one is that the cellulitis may move to the heart. The fact he had that recently would be something to look at, too.

I really do think he should go to the doctor. And you know I'd suggest that right? ;)

Hi. Of course I agree with you that he should go and have blood work done. It's HIS brain that doesn't get it.

The cellulitis was a long time ago and he has been fine. But I don't know if this means anything.

and I just now took his temperature and it's 97.9. He's cool

whatever THAT means.

I'm going to have a long talk with him when he wakes up.

Men!!!!!!!

Melody

P.S. Do you think this is a flu, virus or SOMETHING else?
Dr. Fred seems to think it's viral.
I'll get him there somehow.

Hi.

Well, this man is a stubborn case. And I had to change his shirt because he sweated it through. He said "I think I broke the fever". I said "Oh really??" well you need to get a blood test to rule out mono, thyroid, etc. etc.

He just said "No, I'll go when I'm feeling better"

so what else can I do??

People???? help

lol
Melody

I would take some blood sugar readings. If they are elevated, that points to infection.

Low white cells point to a virus.
It's been a while now for a simple virus. What remains is Mono, and the various hepatitis ones.

When he takes either Tylenol or Ibuprofen the fever temp goes down, but the inflammation is still there...hence the sweats. These drugs only mask symptoms. If he has a hepatitis then taking Tylenol is not a good idea.

If his white count is elevated...that points to an infection somewhere. You can't really tell what is happening without testing.

It's your and his decision to see a doctor, after all.

My dh won't go to a dr either unless there's a really good reason to go.
I am kind of the same way also.

Since his temp is fluctuating and he is eating on/off I would just keep an eye on things and maintain the fluids and nutritious foods .
You can even dilute the gatorade type products with some water so he isn't getting as much of the sweetener.

His body must be dealing with whatever it is for now, and as long as he doesn't crash and stay down.
- total lethargy no energy at all...
or spiked high fever that does not drop after a short time..


If you have some vit C & a multiple vitamin/mineral- I'd keep those going too.
Sometimes when we're sick we forget about those & it's when we need them the most.

Many people tend to get overly focused on temperatures & fevers, but it is the body's natural way to fight certain illnesses.
In a normally healthy person, a fever can be a good thing as long as it doesn't go into the danger zone.

I wouldn't give Tylenol or Ibuprofen unless he asks for it due to general discomfort reasons. headache, achy muscles..
But that's just the more natural way as those things can interfere with the natural healing of the body.
It will be easier to monitor for anything possibly serious happening if he isn't taking IB or Tylenol types.

but that is just my dimes worth LOL inflation ..



maybe this will have something else of interest about temps/fevers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever

I completely agree with everything you said. His last dosage of Ibuprofen was at 8 a.m. this morning. I went out, came back and he was hungry. His fever broke. It's been normal all day now. And he had that BIG sweat. So no ibuprofen sincel this morning and now it's almost 4 p.m.

But, because his urine was dark, I imagined all kinds of things. He doesn't drink like I do and he's a big guy and he should be drinking LOTS of water and he's not doing that. At least not until this afternoon when I'm now giving him LOTS of water.

Let's see what the color is after all this water goes through him. He slept all day an now he's up and watching tv.

No aches, no pain, no body aches, no headache, no nothing. He just has to get back his strength.

Oh, guess who I just called AND HE ANSWERS HIS CELL PHONE!!!! Our beloved doctor.

Alan has a 3 p.m. appointment tomorrow afternoon. Will get blood work done too!!!

I shall update all information right here.

He is now checking the tv guide to see what tv show he will watch.

BIG difference than a few days ago.

so whatever buggy boo is travelling through his system, let's hope it travels on out.

You are one smart cookie.

And thanks VERY much.

Melody

Oh I forgot to mention what I did.

I looked at the whites of his eyes. They are white. I looked at his skin color. He's fine. I poked around where the liver is, pressing it. No pain. I poked and prodded him. He laughed.

He laughed!!!

That's a good sign!!

lol

Melody

Dark means a brownish dark. Not a yellow dark.

Well, he did drink lots of Gatorade which has red dye in it. So far he's drinking lots of my true lemon stuff. and thank god, no more stuff with splenda.

oohhh he just pee peed. Much lighter.

NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER WRITE THAT ON A MESSAGE BOARD. lol

And still no fever. And his eyes are bright and clear and there's a big glass of water in front of him.

Thanks for all your good info.

melody

Y'know--
 

--almost everything you've reported in this thread can be explained by a transient viral infection coupled with some dehydration.

That spike in fever you reported he had a bit later on? It was post-exercise, right? Most of us will experience a rise in body temperature during vigorous exercise, especially if our bodies are not used to it on a regular basis. And, it is summer in NYC, which tends to exacerbate that . . .

I really suspect he has an infection, his immune system fought it, and what has come after is more the effect of what he was doing to "fight" it (i.e., "sweating it out") rather than the infection itself.

Post Exercise???? What Exercise? This is a 64 year old man (you know him, you've SEEN him. Does he looks like he exercises. lol

The man doesn't even walk that much because of his back. (And his temp this morning was 99). It hasn't been 99 upon waking in 5 days, so that's step in the right direction). He's drinking, but he's not peeing that much. I asked him if he has any discomfort, any pressure, any ANYTHING?? He says "No, I feel fine'.

I agree with you that it all points to it being a virus. I wonder how a doctor knows (I mean when we are in the office), what can make him say, after an examination, (I gather he'll take urine sample), and he might say "this is not a bacterial infection, this really looks like a virus"

I wonder what they see in a patient so they can come to some sort of a conclusion before blood work results come in. I know they will check his WBC, etc.

But do doctors look at any physical stuff in a guy and upon examination, say "Aha, I know it's a virus". or do we have to wait until the blood work comes back.

Glenn I had to laugh out loud when you said "exercise".

Alan talks about going back to the gym. Only talk!!!!

lol

Melody

Blood work shows more than a "doctor's impression".

Virus infections cause low white blood counts.

Bacterial infections cause raised white blood counts.

The various hepatitis infections cause long drawn out illness.

Typical minor viruses do not last 5 days with high fever. But Epstein Barr (mono) can do this. I had 14 days of 104 spiking fever with normals in between. There is a blood test for this too.

So going to the doctor is important. Hepatitis is serious, mono is considered benign. You need some medical facts.

And we shall have these facts later on today. He's got SOME bug, we just have to identify if it's viral or bacterial.

With no other symptms to go by, I do wonder if that "fever of unknown origin" from 29 years ago, has risen it's ugly head. This happened the day after we got that call from our son.

Believe me, no one wants to get a call like that. My husband's body went into over drive and the next day he got sick.

Now I can't prove if stress triggered anything. I mean, who can prove this?

But I'm keeping him cool, he's drinking, and by later on today, we might have SOME answers.

Will update later on.

Melody

This is the part I meant--
 

Well, I get up this morning, go into the living room, he's on the couch doing
his leg exercises, I feel his forehead (his eyes are clear by the way), and I
said 'you feel warm, and his temp was 101.

Yes, I know that Alan does not run marathons and the like, LOL. But I did think that this particular spike might have come with him doing his leg exercises in that vulnerable "post-infectious" period.

Hi Glen

I just updated you on Alan (on your other thread).

He's doing much better and I hope you are too.

See you next week (hopefully)

Hi all.

Well, He's doing better (and now we know what he had). For a few days before going to his doctor, I noticed his urine output was definitely not normal. I kept saying "why aren't you peeing??, aren't you drinking??"

He said he didn't know why he wasn't peeing.

So we went to the doctor last week and the doctor gave him an antibiotic and some Jalyn. He said "he might have an inflamed prostate, and this will help him go, BUT HE MUST DRINK WATER"

He's been drinking my True Lemon products and peeing just fine and the color got a bit lighter.

So today, Dr. Fred phones us and says all tests came back fine EXCEPT the PSA which was high.

He said "Alan has Prostatitis" and he explained that the antibiotic will help clear this up. Everything else was just fine.

So Alan is drinking, peeing and next month he'll go back for another test.

I looked up Prostatitis and the symptoms fit to a tee!

He's much much better, he went out today and no more fever since it broke at the doctor's.

Just wanted to update.

Thanks for the update.

Prostatitis is treatable. My son had it, recently.
He took doxycycline for it. Cleared it right up.