Post Chemo Fevers - am I overreacting?
I've done 5 infusions so far, the first two with zero reaction. The last 3 infusions (Taxol and Carboplatin every week, Keytruda every 3rd), I've gotten mild to severe fevers on infusion nights. The next day I can't really get out of bed and day 3 I can work on and off (remotely) but mostly off. Day 4 I feel completely normal and can exercise/do normal things.
On the days with fever I feel so awful like I can't even lift my head. I thought a fever of 100.4 was an emergency, so the first time my temp said 101, I had my husband packing a 'go' bag while I called the after hours doctor. They told me to stay put for now and call back if it got worse, alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen.
This week (week 5) I hit 103 fever (while on Tylenol) and the on call doc told me to go in to the ER. The hospital gave fluids, antibiotics, morphine, Tylenol, ibuprofen and did a bunch of tests. I left in the morning with a temp of 100.5.
These fevers got me feeling just really awful, like cannot move, do not want to even drink water, get up for the restroom. I am still pushing fluids as much as I can, but it's difficult to lift my head.
Am I overreacting and this is normal? The oncologist adjusted my meds down for the round this week and it's the worst week I've had. And they gave me extra fluids with it.
They told me this is generally the easier 12 weeks to handle, when I get to the rounds with AC it'll be worse. I'm not even halfway through Taxol/Carbo and I'm dreading infusion day. I can set my watch to when I'll start my decent into fever and pain.
Any advice for how to tolerate these reactions? Am I being too sensitive and these fevers should be no big deal?