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viking1's avatar
viking1
Member
8 years ago

Radiation day 1 chills and fever ... normal?

I started rad yesterday and the actual process was uneventful but the aftermath not as I expected.  Felt very sleepy coming home and by 2pm had cramps in the bowel. Thought I would have diarrhoea but no. Felt hot so had a cool shower. Temp went to 35c and I had chills then fever.  Lying in a pool of water.  At 3.30am my temp was 38c so monitored it for an hour and it dropped to 36.7 then lowered every hour.  I checked with nurse before treatment today and she said it sounds like a bug.  But it felt identical to when I had neutropenia twice with chemo (and hospitalised).  I know neutropenia isn't a side effect of rad like it is for chemo, but on an America site I read that fever and chills were.  Has anyone has a similar experience? Today I came home tired, probably from being awake most of the night, and again around 2pm my temp went to 35c.  Slowly went back to normal over arvo.  Hoping this is a once off thing.
radiation
side-effects

7 Replies

  • viking1's avatar
    viking1
    Member
    8 years ago
    Nothing happened overnight, so that was good.  I will go to ER if I get the 38c again...the nurse said for more than an hour.  I did the same with the neutro. @primek I will investigate the 35c.  Same happened during neutro.  Nobody commented on it in hospital.  But obviously I need to make a pointed question of asking a Dr! I will be seeing my rad onc soon too so can get from horse's mouth. With neutro I had very low blood pressure.  I suggested to young nurse raising my feet. She thought it an excellent idea and it went up a bit. My right breast was quite warm last night so had a cool bath in ego soap free wash and applied moogoo udder cream. My udder is very comfy this morning!
  • Sunshine0206's avatar
    Sunshine0206
    Member
    8 years ago
    Always best to check with a doctor with this kind of thing. If you worsen or are more concerned - go to your nearest ED and explain to the triage nurse what has been happening.

    best of luck.
    x
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    8 years ago
    To have such low temps is what is giving you the chills. The question is why. So definitely get checked out. A very slow pulse rate might be the reason. Important to know the cause. Let them know asap. If unwell over weekend. Please go to an emergency department. It could still be chemo related. Better to feel silly saying all okay than regretting not seeking assistance that is really needed. 
  • JoeyLiz's avatar
    JoeyLiz
    Member
    8 years ago
    It would not be from the radiation but definitely mention it to the nurses and maybe even Ask to get bloods taken. Hopefully you start to feel better soon x
  • lrb_03's avatar
    lrb_03
    Member
    8 years ago
    Weird, yes. Frightening... definitely.  When you've experienced neutropaenia, I think you're never quite as blase about a temperature and feeling unwell again
  • viking1's avatar
    viking1
    Member
    8 years ago
    I finished chemo 3 weeks before Christmas ... so quite a while back.  It just seemed so weird to happen on day 1...I was "omg, not more of this!".  Ta xx

  • lrb_03's avatar
    lrb_03
    Member
    8 years ago
    It does sound like a bug, but if it continuess to happen get it checked. If you were neutropaenic, it wouldn't be related to radiotherapy after only 1-2 sessions. How long since you finished chemo?