posted
Wondering what others do about random fevers:
What temp do you consider a fever?
If they come and go so much, when do you know if you should go to the Dr?
How do you know if you are contagious? Do you stay away from others just in case?
Guess it's impossible to know if your lowered immune system caught the latest virus etc, or if its lyme and co-infection related?
Are yours random or on a cycle?
Thanks!
Posts: 242 | From Mississippi | Registered: Oct 2006
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Normal temps run about 96F-99.4F orally, 97-100.4 rectally or temporally. Most doctors will not call it a fever until it is over 100F orally and over 101 rectally or temporally.
Do not check your child's temperature under their arms or with the ear thermometers. These methods are too inaccurate. Use rectal for babies. Temporal or oral for kids. Temporal thermometers will cost you about $20 at Walmart. Oral thermometers cost about $5.
Your nurse or doctor should always ask how you check your temp. That way they can interpret the results properly. If they don't ask, tell them.
Some people think that anything above or below 98.6 is abnormal. It's not true, your temp fluctuates constantly. If you check a child's temp right after they wake up from a nap it will always be elevated. If they are calm, relaxed, watching TV it will probably be lower.
If you have a low grade fever, under 102 you do not need to treat with Tylenol or Motrin unless the child is uncomfortable. Fever is your body's way of fighting off the infection.
If the temp goes above 104, while treating with Tylenol or Motrin, the child should be evaluated by a doctor. Call to make an appt, you do not need to run to the ER. If it gets up to 105 then you should go to the ER (but don't panic and drive crazy).
Make sure that you are giving your child an adequate dose of Tylenol or Motrin. Follow the instructions on the bottle for dose based on the child's weight. If you do not give the right dose, don't expect it to work. Tylenol can be given every 4 hrs, Motrin can be given every 6hrs. Do not give both at the same time.
If a fever lasts more than 3 days and symptoms are not improving, make a doctor's appt.
Most of the time you will be contagious for a couple days, even a week, before you start to run a fever or show any symptoms. You will remain contagious until fever is gone and symptoms are better.
That's probably way more than you wanted to know about fevers but hey now you know.
As an adult with Lyme and Co, I get fevers randomly at night. They usually appear with other symptoms like sweats and chills in the day, worse fatigue, etc. I guess I recognize them as my "normal" for now.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
My temp was always below normal at least a degree, if not 2. I had a fever if I had 100-101. The only reason I checked it was feeling so bad.
I did this several times early in treatment. I would stop med.s for a day or 2, it would go away, and then I restart.
It worked for me.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
They're probably not so 'random' as you think. Pay attention to time of day that they happen and how often. Lyme can give you a fever every four weeks, babesia can every three or four days, and bartonella can give you one about every five or six days (sometimes seven).
No one can say what a fever is for you, but generally you take your temperature in the morning before you get out of bed, and if it rises more than 1.5-2 degrees, something isn't normal, lol. A temp going from 98.4 to 99.4 isn't as unusual as a temp going from 97.4 to 99.4, you see? Because your temperature naturally fluctuates about one degree throughout the day.
And be sure to use the thermometer correctly. Sounds simple but it needs to go under your tongue and all the way to the back, just like it says on the paper insert. Posts: 161 | From Southern United States | Registered: Sep 2009
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I have had fevers for about 3 years. Almost consatntly. I use ear thermometer. Brauns thermoscan is a wonderful product. Mt emp average is 100.4. Anytime its over 100 I feel awful This is usually in the evening.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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