Finished chemo last week and had gum pain today so told my team. I was started on pencillin And throat swabs taken. I’m also on my period. Tonight I had a nap under a thick cover with a hot water bottle (period pain) and in my sweats, I have just taken my temp which is 38. I live in a very high risk area and don’t really want to go to a&e which I am afraid us what my team will say if I call, can I not continue on with penicillin and paracetamol? Has anyone had any experience of this?
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Hello @Prongso and a big welcome to this forum. I hope you find it helpful and supportive. I feel for you so much. I have had similar experiences and every time I have had a raised temperature, even pre-Covid, my Clinical Nurse Specialist has always advised me to go to A&E which, as you can imagine is not a happy experience, especially on a Friday night. I must admit that on one occasion I went against the nurse’s advice as I just couldn’t face it! Fortunately by the morning my temperature had returned to normal. I am not suggesting you do what I did, but just explaining that I fully understand your dilemma. I wish you well and hope you soon feel better. If you feel up to it, do let us know how you get on and you can always speak to the Blood Cancer UK Support Line too. Warm wishes. Willow
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Hi @Prongso, a great big welcome to our forum.
You have the right idea in asking your medical team all such questions because they know all of your medical history and can give you the advice you need. Needless to say it is Friday evening and I expect you might not be able to contact them till Monday.
Perhaps just monitor your temperature for a while and if in doubt ring 111.
Be kind to and pamper yourself as perhaps you and your body have been through a lot physically, emotionally and practically since you started treatment and also these Covid times are uncertain and scary.
If you would like to talk to someone you can contact our Support Services Team on 0808 2080 888 (10am-7pm Monday-Friday, and 10am-1pm Saturday and Sunday) or via email at support@bloodcancer.org.uk
Please keep posting so as we can support you.
Hi willow
Do you mind me asking what the outcome of the others were? Do you just go straight into iv antibiotics and automatically become an inpatient?
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Hi @Prongso and welcome to the forum. I understand it must be a really difficult decision but would strongly advise you get some medical advice before making your final decision . Let us know how you get on X
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Hi @Prongso. On the occasions that I had a temperature and went to A&E my blood was tested and my blood counts were satisfactory, ie, my neutrophils hadn’t dropped dangerously low, and I was given oral antibiotics and antiviral tablets and allowed to go home. I take oral chemotherapy tablets daily for my blood cancer and have never had intravenous chemotherapy treatment. I hope this answers your question. Hope you soon feel better. Warm wishes. Willow
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Hi @Prongso we hope you’re doing okay?
This does sound like an incredibly worrying time for you, especially as you say, you’re also living in a high risk area. As our other forum members have said, contacting your treatment team is something we would strongly encourage just to ensure you get safe and specific advice tailored to your individual circumstance. Have you been given a dedicated number you can contact them on? Have you also been given advice as to who within your treatment team or within the hospital to contact if it is out of hours?
Once again, so sorry to hear of what you’re going through and please do keep reaching out for support.
Su
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@Prongso I would check in with your team if your temperature is still high. When I was having treatment for blood cancer if my temperature was raised I reported straight to the Haematology unit, and did not have to go to A&E. It might be worth discussing what the procedure is with your CNS
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My temp is ranging from 36.8 to 37.3, I rang my team this morning and was told if it went above 37.6 again I’d have to head straight to a&e as I have a picc line in. I wouldn’t be allowed be transferred untill I had two negative covid tests. Monitoring it every hour.
Did people usually have to stay in hospital with a raised temp?
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Hi @Prongso that’s really good to hear you were able to speak to them. Hope it helped to talk to them?
It’s a really important question you ask, and maybe some of other forum members might also be to share any similar experiences. Though the hospital staff overseeing your care would always make a decision based on what they feel is best and most appropriate for you as an individual, and your personal circumstance. It’s very understandable to feel anxious about this, and i do hope you have support around you and people you can talk to?
Take care and do keep us posted on how you’re doing,
Su
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Really glad you managed to talk to somebody. You take care and keep us updated x
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Hi @Prongso, I am really glad you managed to speak to someone in your team today.
How are you feeling now?
Hi @Prongso wishing you well. Having the blood cancer is worrying enough without Covid worries complicating things. Glad you were able to get some good help from your team.
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