New and confused

Hello everybody!

Wish we were "meeting" under different circumstances.

I was diagnosed about 6 months ago with "undifferentiated diffuse autoimmune disorder" after several years of odd symptoms and feeling miserable (I feel lupus will eventually be the diagnosis, but the rheumy isn't ready to "commit" to that just yet). I started plaquenil at that time and have had enormous relief from my joint pain.

I do have a question for those who have a better understanding of their symptoms while dealing with this disease. I've heard that low-grade fevers are common in patients with lupus. about a year ago, before I was aware of that symptom, for about 2 weeks straight, I would wake up every night drenched in sweat. I never even thought to take my temp during that time because I was so miserable from head to toe that I didn't suspect a fever. Here is the situation - I had surgery last Monday (lap assisted vaginal hysterectomy - removed everything except my ovaries). On Friday night/Saturday morning (about 3 a.m.) I woke up drenched in sweat. Until that point, I'd been feeling fine. As Saturday progressed, I felt worse. Starting vomiting, getting chills, etc. I took my temp to find it had reached 99.9 (and my normal is low 97). I ended up going to the ER Saturday afternoon due to a bunch of symptoms and feeling rotten in general. Results were inconclusive. My white count is elevated, indicating an infection, but they don't know where, why, or how bad. I started cipro (antibiotic) Saturday night.

Now here is where is starts to get weird.....

I woke up Sat night/Sun morning around 3 a.m. drenched in sweat. Took my temp and it was normal. Great, my fever went away. Well, by early Sunday afternoon, I started feeling feverish again. My temp slowly crept up until it hit around 99.9 by the time I went to bed. I work up at 3 a.m. drenched in sweat and my temp was again normal. That takes us to today. I've been fine all day (no fever). Around 4 p.m., my temp starting to slowly climb again. I'm now sitting at 99.4....

Why is my temp coming and going like this??? If it was related to the infection or complication of the surgery, it would just stay, right? Does anybody with lupus have a fever that only comes around in the evening? This makes me wonder if I had been running fevers last year, too, and just wasn't aware. I'm not one to sweat excessively, so for me to wake up soaking wet, there is something strange going on. I'd love any feedback I can get about this.

I am seeing my surgeon in the morning, of course, but he's OB/GYN, so I'm not sure how much he knows about lupus. I'd call my rheumy, but he seems to discount most of the symptoms I have (doesn't believe they are related to the disease at all). I've found that those with the condition seem to have the most knowledge/insight.

Thanks for all your help!!!

Hi I'm sorry to hear of your DX and your recent surgery (((hugs))). I've had lupus almost 27 years now and I have been very, very, sick with my disease.

It seems that a lot to most of us run a temp in the lower number on average. So, when we begin to run a fever 99.9 or 100.4 feels like we're burning up. I had a terrible infection over Christmas and even though, according to the resident in the ICU, a fever is 101.1, my temp was up to 100.9 and I thought I was dying.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that your temperature coming and going is due to your infection that you have. I know with me when I had my last infection I did the exact thing. It's also very common in a lot of cases, to run a temperature at night. We seem to feel worse at night and run a temperature.

I'd recommend that if you're not any better in another day, I'd at least give your Doctor a call. I hope that you start to feel better really soon. Welcome to the forum and please come bask and let us know how you're doing.

Hugs,
Barbara