new -- low-grade fever
Hello, all. I'm new to the group -- I've been "lurking" and scouring the archives for the past week, but this will be my first post. My 59-yr-old mother had a single bypass on October 24. We were pleased with the fabulous treatment she received at the Cleveland Clinic, and she returned home less than a week after surgery (tomorrow, she'll have been home exactly 2 weeks). My father was home from work to stay with her for the first week and a half, and I'm here this week. I'm thrilled to have found such a supportive group to help ease our minds through this time (although I'll admit that some of the horror stories I've read have freaked me a bit)! We're curious about low-grade fevers. The info we have from the hospital mentions that she might have one "after surgery." But, how LONG after surgery? She's only gotten as high as 99.8, but that's WITH Tylenol and Darvoset. We're waiting for a return call from the doctor, but I'm almost more interested in hearing your experiences. She has also started having a sharp little pain on her left side, when she takes a deep breath. It seems to be in the area directly behind the hole for one of her chest drain tubes (which doesn't feel warm or appear to be infected at all). Does this sound familiar to anyone? Thanks in advance for your words o' wisdom. Peace to you. Jen
Thanks, Chuck and Rita, for your help. We spent the afternoon at the E.R. of the Cleveland Clinic. Mom's low-grade fever became...well...not so low. It was just below 101, but it caused concern, and her doctor advised us to come in. A chest x-ray showed pleural effusions, as well as pneumonia. They took a multitude of blood tests, and sent her home for the night with antibiotics. I was told to call the cardiologist's nurse clinician tomorrow morning to get the results of the bloodwork, and receive "further instructions." (Mom is crossing her fingers that the "instructions" won't be to come back to the hospital!) She seemed to be doing much better this evening -- no fever, less flu- ish, more alert. The harder she takes these events (emotionally), the more it tears me up. I just want to make it better, and I feel so helpless. I'm sure all of you caretakers out there understand. Before her surgery, she was seeing a therapist who specializes in health trauma. Mom was suffering from PTSD b/c of a botched heart catheterization in January AND August -- one led to a 24-hour "coma" from a reaction to morphine, and the other led to two accidental artery punctures, emergency vascular surgery, and an enormous internal hematoma. (Needless to say, we will never go back to THAT hospital, if we can help it.) I'm hoping Mom will be open to seeing this therapist again, when the time is right. Thanks again for letting me share. Jen