Running temp, achy..IVIG??
 

HI All,
I've been achy all weekend and running a temp. tonight of 99.5 (usually my temp runs low). I thought I was just tired from starting the Fentanyl patch. Has anyone had a these symptoms from the IVIG? I was reading on the Serious Side effects list that temp, achy, fitigue, etc......are just that......serious.
I'm thinking that maybe I should go to the ER when my husband gets home later tonight......what do y'all think?? Thanks! Roxie

Call the doctor who prescribed the IVIG. Tell him or her, exactly your symtoms.

See what they say. 99.5 is not serious.

But just to make sure, make the call.

Alan ran a fever the last time.

It happens. He was achy, headachy, etc. It is a common side effect.

Don't panic.

Melody

Hi Mel, What did Alan's dr. say about the symptoms? I have an appt with my dr. for tomorrow so thought if it's not real serious I could wait till tomorrow since it's Sunday night......

I wish I could remember what I did when he had the fever the next day after the infusion. I just cooled him off. I remember that there was a leaky bag and the infusion was done quicker than usual. I remember going to my local pharmacy and buying him tylenol. And the pharmacist told me that when a fever is over 101 take ibuprofen. That much I remember.

Alan's fever went down with the tylenol. I didn't call the doctor because I go on these boards and asked every question I could ask. Everybody helped me out. So I didn't panic. I knew what to expect. It was a "strange infusion day", that's how I would call it. But he was fine in two days.

During his most recent infusion, he had what we thought was a cold but might have been allergies. But he tolerated it fine.

His next infusion is this tuesday.
I don't see any change at all. But his neuro says it has helped his balance, so I, of course, defer to her judgement.

So if you are going tomorrow, I would not worry about it. Take two tylenol (that is if you haven't already taken some), and try and go to bed. Drink fluids and rest.

Tomorrow your doctor will ease your mind.:hug:

All the best, Melody

Thanks Mel!
I had my infusion last Thurs......but have just had the headache (and probably the temp) yesterday and today. I will see my dr. in the morning and tell him all this stuff. Guess I'll get used to all this eventually!

I am glad you are being cautious....
 

Only because you are adding the patch at the same time...I don't know what other meds you are on, but this could enlighten you...
http://www.medicinenet.com/fentanyl_...em/article.htm
I can say that I've not 'added' a new med to the IVIG process, nor do I know of anyone who has...IF and when I do add new meds, it's usually between week 2 and 3 after an infusion. That is so I can keep 'things' like side effects separate.
It IS good that you are seeing your doc for a follow-up after the infusions [warning! He will probably want to take more blood to see if Some numbers have gone up [as they should] and that other numbers in your blood haven't gone klafooey! [honestly, here aside from the liver functions and white counts, I've not figured out the others?] A good doc will monitor you closely for a few months...and then you go on 'maintenance'....with quarterly then longer check ups..
Think of the achi-ness as a way of your body saying those little immuno-globulins are going to work! I know for me that they've had lots and lots of previously undiagnosed STUFF to work on...and they have really made the difference in keeping things from getting, well, downright horrid. Horrid is NOT a set of issues anyone here wants to deal with! Truly!
I dunno, but adding the 'patch' and the IVIG all at once is a LOT for any one body to deal with! Just my opinion tho.
Those headaches tho, aren't they amazing things? You sort of want to put that head [and maybe other parts] into a simultaneous heat and cold pak chamber? Or, WHERE are the 'magicians' knives going IN now????
They do pass tho...Hope you wake up with them GONE tomorrow! - j

Hi Roxie
 

As Dahlek and Melody mentioned - those can be normal side affects of the IVIG - but good you'll see your doc tomorrow.... my normal temp runs between 96 and 97 - and while on IVIG around normal (and high during the infusion itself).... also, found achiness and tiredness very common in the beginning - but after my body got used to the infusions would only last a day or so.....

Hope you feel better - and that all goes well at your appt:)

Hi All,
Yes this headache is miserable! I guess I thought it would happen close to the infusion not 2 days later. Plus I thought it was from the patch the Pain Management dr. started me on last week......UGH!!!!
I can't take oral pain meds because of my I.C. but did take a Tylenol an hr ago...(I'm sure my bladder will yell about that tomorrow!) So far the Tylenol hasn't helped the headache tho. I'm heading to bed in a min. and do hope I wake up tomorrow with out it!

Roxie--
 

--is there any way you can "pre-medicate" before the infusion in a way that your body will tolerate? Many people take a combination of Benadryl and some form of over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (aspirin, ibuoprofen, etc.) before the infusion to sort of forestall the kind of effects you describe; I realize with the gastric surgery you may be in a more complicated situation.

HI Glenn,
When I get my infusion they give me Benedryl but not Tylenol. I'm going to see my Rheumatologist this morning just so he can see the side effects I've been having all weekend. Maybe he will add Tylenol for this next infusion, though I didn't have the side effects till late Friday night and then all weekend.....the infusion was Thurs. I hope I don't have this many side effects after each infusion......ugh! Take care!