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fevers after starting 6mp / stopping asacol? eosinophilic colitis?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/20/2017 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
i'm reaching out here because i am beyond exhausted & just don't know what to do anymore...

i started 6mp 50mg about 3 weeks ago. stopped asacol about 1.5 weeks ago (i have eosinophilia so my GI wanted to rule out the possibility of asacol causing it because there are rare cases of that happening). am also on 15mg of prednisone & have had two doses of entyvio so far. 4 nights ago i started running fevers of 38.8 degrees. yesterday i went to ER because my hemotologist was concerned i might have an infection, as we had done bloodwork & my eosinophils hadn't gone up (when they go up i tend to get fevers). i was given two types of antibiotics through IV, and an oral dose of levofloxacin (sent home with a 7 day course of it as well). felt great just a few hours after the antibiotics, but overnight my fever came back in full force along with the high heart rate - when i was checked into ER my heart rate was at 145 and by the time i left it was already back down to 85.

my colitis doesn't feel any worse, but could i be flaring because of stopping the asacol? has anyone had drug induced fever almost 3 weeks after starting 6mp? i don't want to go back to ER because every time they just pump me full of drugs & i have no idea how they are interacting or what is causing what. i think at this point even my hematologist is stumped as to what to do with me & now is working alongside my GI & an immunologist. i was stable for about 3 months on just the low dose of prednisone, and i can't help but think one of these med changes is not agreeing with my body.

do i start the asacol again? stop the 6mp? see if the 7 day course of antibiotics helps at all?
Posted 4/20/2017 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Fever is a common symptom of active UC. I had them frequently when I was in a flare.

Sue
Posted 4/20/2017 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
i don't know if i'm flaring though? i am definitely seeing some blood (my scope in feburary showed internal hemorrhoids so don't know if its due to that) & having some abdominal pain when going, but am only going twice a day with minimal urgency - this has kind of been my status quo for the last year or so. maybe i need to try going back on the asacol.

Post Edited (handfulofrain) : 4/20/2017 9:37:01 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/20/2017 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I can see low grade fever as a probability with UC flaring, but not a high one, and not constant.

If its been during the entire time of being on 6MP...l would think that to be a contributing factor.

How long were you on low dose pred? And at what dosage?

You're situation is putting the docs through their paces....i hope they're doing their homework and research to help getting this figured out.

Hugs,
q
Posted 4/20/2017 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
i've been on 15mg of prednisone since early februrary. was fine my first two weeks on 6mp, the first blood test even showed my liver function was normal too.

this exact same thing happened to me back in december as well....only i went to the hospital on the first day of having a high fever, and was prescribed tamiflu as well, once i had the IV antibiotics & tamiflu my heart rate stabilized & fevers didn't return. but this time that doesn't seem to be the case. it just doesn't make sense to me how antibiotics could work so well for 12 hours & then just....stop?
Posted 4/20/2017 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
It seems something else is going on as well....how was your blood pressure?

Curious if you were travelling last year at all?....and were you checked for parasitic infection?

q
Posted 4/20/2017 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
i think my blood pressure was okay for the most part, when i checked i was seeing numbers like 112/78, nothing too far off from 120/80. oxygen was sitting at 95% or higher too, just my heart rate was wayyyy up in the 140s until getting antibiotics and fluids. had a chest xray done & apparently everything was all clear, although they discharged me with a "lower respiratory infection".

only place i traveled to last year was ottawa, so nothing too exotic!

i'm reading online that the flu virus can cause fevers for up to 7 days & an increased heart rate, maybe this is a possibility??
Posted 4/20/2017 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Flu definitely can.....but you would know if you had the flu.

Parasites? Have you been checked for them?
q
Posted 4/20/2017 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
had a colonoscopy in february. yesterday they ran a urine test and some blood tests. and i know i had some other blood testing earlier this year as a precautionary measure to check for certain parasites that came back negative. my hemo has run all kinds of tests & biopsies to check for everything because we are both so stumped.
Posted 4/20/2017 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Who is your hematologist? Sounds like lots is covered.

Are you taking any alternative supplements?

q
Posted 4/20/2017 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had fevers from Imuran around the 3rd week. After ruling out infection, I stopped the Imuran per my GI's advice and the fever subsided. Once fever free for 2 to 3 days, I took it again - at the lowest dose possible and within 4 hours the fever was back. In my case the fever was definitely caused by the Imuran. I also felt like I had the flu with the fever - body aches, chills, weak, etc. Good luck, hope you find out what's causing it.
Posted 4/20/2017 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
@quincy - dr zarychanski is my hemotologist. he definitely leaves no stone unturned! i think that's whats getting so frustrating now. so many tests, and finally a diagnosis of eosinophilia, but because i have 3 autoimmune conditions & so many medications going through me it really is impossible to know what my body is doing.

i take a calcium/vitamin d supplement (because prednisone), and a tablespoon of psyllium husk powder with lunch & dinner (d has been a problem for me since my UC diagnosis & psyllium husk seems to be the cheapest & most natural way to get formed stools). both my hemotologist & GI are aware of this & aren't concerned about them causing any issues.

@ mrs. brady - perhaps i'll finish the 7 day course of levofloxacin to really rule out a possible bacterial infection, and if the fevers persist i'll stop the 6mp to see if that makes a difference. i do take my 6mp before bed & overnight seems to be when the fevers ramp up.

Post Edited (handfulofrain) : 4/20/2017 2:33:41 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/21/2017 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...your doc is definitely an awesome one. I'll keep him in mind should other I know need suggestions.

No concerns with the supps you're taking....good that the psyllium helps.

Please let us know about other tests or insights. I wish I had more to offer....but it seems that the 6mp could very well haave a hand in it.

Enjoy the weather....today is a beautiful one 😎

q
Posted 4/21/2017 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
my hemo & the ER docs were sure i had an infection, but the more i read about 6mp the more i think that is the problem...and most sources say to stop it immediately if you are running fevers/have shortness of breath/rapid heart rate. today it seems the nausea has kicked in too. i'm just not sure if these are side effects that will subside eventually or if its my body not agreeing with the drug & we'll have to move on to something else now. i think i will be stopping 6mp for a few days now to see if symptoms improve & then i'll have my answer.

going up to +17 here in brandon today!! at least i can enjoy that with enough tylenol in me lol!
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