What to do about a fever?
 

I've been trying to kick the beginnings of a cold but I'm afraid it's got me. 102 this evening. I know that a fevers is one of our worst enemies but should I go so far as to get in a cold tub? Any other hints appreciated. One of the drawbacks of never having my own kids, I don't automatically know this stuff! :D

Two in my family only respond to Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) and one only responds to Ibuprofen (i.e. Advil) . . . but most people can probably take either to bring down a fever.

If it gets up to 99, that's when you want to treat it. Don't let it get to 100 because it can escalate too quickly at that point.

Try one or the other (probably need 2 tablets, depending on strength of the dosage, read the bottle), and check again in about 30 min. If it has not gone down to "normal", you CAN combine both Tylenol and Ibuprofen if necessary to get the fever in check.

Next time try the other, if the first one didn't work that well.

Check your fever every 4 - 6 hrs, even when sleeping. You don't want it to get over 100 and sometimes you don't notice until it's too high.

Note the "max" daily limit on the med. If you need to alternate Tylenol and Advil (to the max of each daily limit), that's ok too.

If you start to vomit, you might have to resort to suppositories. I've never had to do that personally, but have had to with the kids.

You can get in a luke-warm bath to bring down your temp in a hurry . . . but if I recall that is not recommended because it causes you to shiver and bring your temp back up (or something to that effect). You need fever reducers, as indicated above.

If the fever doesn't break in a 2 - 3 days, I'd be getting checked for infection.

Hope you get it in check quickly!! :hug:

Cherie

Thank you! Just the sort of common sense answer I was hoping for. I'll rest easier tonight for knowing so it's a bigger deal than you might think. :Bow:

Hi Keith

That's how this crud I've got started. Cold for a couple of days, then spiked a 102 fever for a couple of days. Ibuprofen every 4 hours and lots and lots of fluids! Stay in bed and if the fever doesn't break, call the doc. In my case, I called the doc! Sinus infection! Yep, that would be me!!!

I hope you feel better soon! :hug:

Or, my old cure for all...Asprin...((((Keith))))

Feel better soon, Keith!

How are you feeling today, Keith? Hope you're better!!

l. LOTS of Fluids,
2. Tylenol or like Advil
3. If vomiting, use suppositories. (Used for one of my kids, no big deal)
4. I do recommend luke-warm baths (But don't shiver) if temp. spikes. In a bath or not, be aware of your temperature. What's best for you?
5. Easy to digest foods if need to eat. Doctor for kids always recommended BRAT diet - Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. I did cracers, broth soups, my mom gave crackers with peanut butter as I got well.
5. Lots of bad TV, repeats of old shows, Movies you know - if you can find them.

Having kids is good training. Never lost one

Thanks for all the concern peeps! Much appreciated. Slept about 12 hours last night (I admit I didn't set the alarm and check my temp :eek:) and woke up sans the fever TG. Lot's of liquids today and a trip the doc at 1:30. I'm pretty sure it's a sinus infection due to the really gross stuff coming out of my nose. Bad part is the numbness in the right side of my body. I knew that fever wasn't gonna result in anything good. I hope it goes away before it qualifies as a relapse. I don't think I could take the roids right now.

THANK THE LORD that I'm not puking. :D

I'll second the thank God you aren't puking sentiment, lol. Unless you have issues that would contraindicate this you can also alternate tylenol and ibuprofen if they aren't keeping the fever at bay until the next dose. Hang in there!

Good luck at the doctors today. Sounds like you have the flu or a sinus infection. A fever that high is not good for ms'ers as you know by the numbness. I don't think they would call it a relapse since you have a fever which can explain your symptoms away.

i couldn't add to the great advice you've been given.
i'm glad you're going to your dr.

i hope you feel better.
hopefully your MS sx's are just a pseudo flare from an infection.

Feeling better though I think it's going to be a week before I can cough and blow my nose enough to get rid of all this nasty flem. No more fever and the little sx's have passed (thanks God!).

One weird thing though. When the Doc looked in my left ear he said it was full of wax. Don't know how it could be and the right was clear, but that's the vagaries of ear wax I suppose. He recommended I use one of the otc ear wax removal systems. Well my ear has now been REALLY clogged for two days and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I've tried hot showers and several additional applications and I can't get it out and now I can't hear.

More advice?

what I do for my younger sister when she gets this (often happens when she gets congestion):
Sinus rinses followed using the hair dryer on warm (not hot) setting to soften the wax.
Then use ear wax removal solution (OTC). We then use Qtips to help get more out. He showed us how to gently use Qtips so we don't end up shoving it all in tighter.
Instructions are also to regularly use Warm facial and ear compresses to keep stuff moving. This also gives her great symptomatic relief.

Ironically, we also have to do the same thing to our dog!:eek:

Once in a blue moon she has to go to the ENT to get ear gunk removed. He said blocked up sinuses can inflame the ear passages, thus one can get either an over production of ear wax or 'sticky-er' ear wax formation.

Good luck and feel better soon!

Are you being treated for a sinus infection, Keith? Quite often that can cause plugged ears too . . . although antibiotics wouldn't fix the wax problem anyway.

Ear "candling" is a great method for removing wax; many beauty shops offer this service for about $25. My ex had put up with it for years and every time he got a sinus infection or went swimming, he went completely deaf in one ear for about a MONTH!!

I finally bought him a gift certificate for ear candling (and a full body massage, that's how I tempted him there ;)) for Father's Day one year, and it only took one session to clear up the problem. He's not suffered with that in about 8 yrs now. :)

Cherie

Maybe a redskin victory today will help make ypou feel better, keep them fluids flowing and watch the fever still. hope you get to feeling back to normal real soon,



by the 4th quarter:rolleyes:

OH BOY WOULD IT!!!!

Don't feel too bad other than ear. DX wasn't specifically a sinus infection though they're full of crud and hurt. I'm on the azithromycin that you take for 5 days.

Frankly, I feel special gettin' all this attention. Thanks, for reals - wonderful source of information and good spirits to boot. I'll follow directions (have to try the candling this week if nothing else works) and hopefully with a victory and some care I can drag my butt back to work tomorrow. I don't figure to use this smiley often but it's appropriate :grouphug: :D

I've tried ear candling a couple of times, but have never done it when I've had a head cold.

You can buy ear candles at the health food store for about $4 each. But don't do it without someone there to help.

We just cover a paper plate with tinfoil and poke a hole in the middle for the candle. Takes about 15 min. per ear.

Good luck, Keith!

If you have a homeopathic medicine pharmacy close by, they will likely sell a product called "Traumeel", made by "Heel". It is only about $8 - $10 for ten vials of an ointment that will take that pain away instantly. I used it on my babies a lot, and have tried it myself too. It's great stuff. :)

Cherie

Thanks for another suggestion I'll see if they have it in my podunk town. It feels much better with the compress and keeping it warm. Obviously can't do that all day but luckily I live pretty close to work so I can sneak home for a long lunch (read nap) if I go in a little early and get some mid day relief. It's still clogged though and today's the last day of antibiotics. If it's not cleared up by Thur I'm going back to the doc and let him dig that stuff out. Frankly, I wish he would of just done that to begin with as I wasn't aware of the wax in my ear and it didn't bother me. The candling I looked into a little more and it seems to be quite the controversial remedy.

I'm over the sinus infection (crud) and I want to thank you guys. Knock on wood. That's the first time I've been sick since dx and I was a little more worried than I probably should have been. We men really are sissies. ;)

Really? I didn't realize that. :confused:

No comment. :p

Actually I think they are, until things get really bad . . . then they seem to handle things better.

Hope you get to feeling better soon :hug:, and be sure to get additional antibiotics if the infection hasn't totally cleared.

Cherie