Surgery - Fever

Hey guys,

So I had step 1 of 2 of my jpouch surgery 3 weeks ago and 2 days ago I got a mean fever (101.7) but I figured it was because I stepped down to 2.5mg of prednisone from 5 mg after 4 days. Last night I had a fever of 103.4 on day 2 of 2.5mg. Have you guys ever seen this type of reaction dropping prednisone? Is this just withdrawal symptoms or do I need to be worried about infection. I was on prednisone for almost a year, mostly at 20mg but I kept swinging around doses and bumped to 40mg twice.

Thanks guys, this isn't fun any advice would be appreciated I'd like to avoid the hospital if possible.
M

It just seems weird that the fever started when I dropped the prednisone not before.

Call your dr.'s office. I had a 102 fever two weeks post step 1 and I had an abcsess/infection brewing.

It's a high enough fever worthy of concern. Don't give the doc an out regarding the pred. It wouldn't cause a fever unless something else is going on.

Please call.

q

ks1905 said...
They caught mine quickly and all I had to do is take an oral antibiotic. Mine was so small that it didn't show CT Scan during the first one, a couple of days later I went for another one and it showed up.

you're lucky. Mine was huge and in my pelvic cavity. They had to put in a trans gluteal drain and I had it in place for six weeks draining. Was such a joy sitting down.

Maybe you should go back on a lower dose of steroids and then retapper slower.

I did call the doctor to be sure though, first day nurse called back, second day she called back said she'd check with the doc and never called back. Like I said though, since the fever is gone I don't think it's an infection. Just this crazy prednisone. It's crazy how much this stuff kicks your behind....

If you are suffering from the prednisone withdrawal, I encourage you to consider consulting an endocrinologist. The GIs really don't understand and know about prednisone withdrawal.

My husband was really suffering when he got down to 2.5 mg (he had been on steroids 3-1/2 years). Consulted with an endocrinologist who said that his taper, which was 2.5mg every couple of weeks, was way too fast. A well-managed taper should result in no withdrawal symptoms. She put my husband on hydrocortisone, which stays in your system shorter than prednisone. By taking it in the morning and afternoon, you better mimic how the adrenal gland works. And it is easier to get a true reading of how much cortisol your adrenal glands are producing on their own. She indicated the taper will take months and months. We had to stop for a little -- developed neuropathy which freaked him out. It seems he will have to live with that and continue to taper super slowly.

Good luck with your recovery.