Adult fever question

[AggieDave 6]

I'm asking because I'm having problems finding on a google search or WebMD.

I have what I think is food poisoning (I've had it before and its exactly the same) and realized I had it about 1am this morning. Barely slept since, but on the upside I'm able to keep down really watered down gatorade.

Morgan is being a champ, once I started being sick, she wasn't mad, wasn't upset, she just wanted to know what she could do to help me.

Anyways, now I'm feeling very dehydrated but am trying to fix that slowly, the question is adult fever. I can't remember the last time I had a fever and I don't know what's a dangerous temperature?

Usually I'm running at about 97.5F (even in the mornings and afternoons), but my fever has been climbing for the past 2 hours. The usual bullshit, I feel very hot and then I have a chill. Right now my I'm starting to get close to 101F, which I've had before as a kid, but as I remember kids get high fevers with not much problem and adults at the same temperature suck it up.

I took an Aleve and am laying down (except for right this second) and am drinking cold very watered down gatorade.

All I know is I need to be 100% tomorrow, I have a formal interview (even went and bought a nice..albight fairly inexpensive suit) at 2:15 tomorrow afternoon. And all though my stomach has started to settle a bit and I'm not in the bathroom like this morning...BUT this fever thing just started a couple of hours ago.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Bdog 0]

sorry to hear your sick. with a fever are you sure it's not the flu? last week i had a fever of 103.2 not good. i beleive a fever is sometimes good so long as it doesn't get above say 102. i've read some of yur ammunities do not keck in until you have a fever. above 102 though i'm not sure that is good. i took aspirin every 4 hours and tylenol every four hours alternating them so i was taking one or the other every 2 hours. if my fever was to not go down to a reasonible level i would have taken a cool bath.
hang in there and keep a clese eye on it.....

_________________________________________

---Future Darwin Award recipient-

[Michele 1]

Tylenol is better at hitting fevers than is Aleve, in my experience and as per my Dr's recommendation. Keep getting the gatorade, water, and other CLEAR liquids in you...Imodium or another anti-diarhhial is going to be important.

I think fever can be safely dealt with at home up to something like 103-4 as an adult, but if you have convulsions, please get into a Dr. immediately. Also see a Dr IMMEDIATELY if you can't think straight (well, worse than normal), have massive trouble with controlling your body (ie walking), or have any indication that you are having issues breathing.

Best bet is off the computer, into bed, and let Morgan take care of you for a bit. Water, water, water (room temp is best with a bad belly), and even if you get "hot" because of fever, keep dry, warm clothing on.

And I hope you feel better soon!

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[swedishcelt 0]

Tylenol is best, yes. I like to suck on chopped up ice. Also good, gatorade frozen into ice cubes and chopped up and sucked on. It rocks when sick. The nurses actually gave it to me at the hospital when I had the flu, although it might have been pediolyte, not sure.

[Lindsey 0]

Michelle's giving good advice. Also...alternating acetaminophen (tylenol) and ibuprofen is a good idea if you're getting close to the maximum recommended doses of either. Both work well, but they work through different pathways. You can decrease the liklihood of taking too much of either by alternating them.

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[RoadRash 0]

Quote

Tylenol is best, yes. I like to suck on chopped up ice. Also good, gatorade frozen into ice cubes and chopped up and sucked on. It rocks when sick. The nurses actually gave it to me at the hospital when I had the flu, although it might have been pediolyte, not sure.

Everything above is a good start...but...I recommend Aspirin instead of Tylenol...I have found that Aspirin tends to work faster...but if you have a sensitivity to it, go for the Tylenol...Eat some crackers when you take the Aspirin too...better chance of avoiding stomach upset...

Try to avoid OJ until you can keep food and water down...

Other than that...Hope you feel better!
~R+R...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~...

[skycat 0]

If you can find it in your area, emergen-C is better than gatoraid for electrolytes and aiding in hydration. It's what we use during adventure races since gatoraid has so many sugars which can make it hard to drink when you are on your 20th hour of hard going.

http://www.nutritiongeeks.com/details.asp?ProductID=8545&ProdgroupID=8513&type=GoogleAdWordsSearch&adgroup=Emergen-C&kw=Emergen+C

Fly it like you stole it!

[Lostinspace 0]

Engineer’s advice, take it for what it is worth.

After 103/104° you run the risk of going into seizures

Children can go higher.

Run a bath with cold water or sit the shower
take aspirin.


Sugar (gator aide/juice) can dehydrate you more. Pedialite is good. No pedialye? ... This is cheaper anyways:

Electrolyte Drink:

Ingredients

4 cups water
1/2-teaspoon baking soda
1/2-teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 packet Sugar-Free Kool-Aid or 2 packets sugar free jello

Mix all until disolved.
Store in the refrigerator. Throw away any remaining after 1 week.
You can also freeze some in ice cubes to use later, or keep drinks cold.

(psst, you can drink this to prevent hangovers some times )

[Lindsey 0]

There are better ways of hydrating a person than with gatorade....but if you've just had typical vomiting for a day, are recovering, and aren't *seriously* dehydrated, gatorade will be okay.... No reason to run off and get something else when you have something adequate at home....

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[eeneR 3]

Quote

with a fever are you sure it's not the flu?

It is going around rampid right now....i have to agree here....I had a 102 fever last week...and have been sick as hell. You may have had food poisoing, ubt you may have something else now

Aleeve as far as i know is not a fever reducer...tylenol is highly recommended....

She is not a "Dumb Blonde" - She is a "Light-Haired Detour Off The Information Superhighway."
eeneR
TF#72, FB#4130, Incauto

[RhondaLea 4]

Antimotility drugs, such as loperamide (Imodium AD) or diphenoxylate (Lomotil), may prolong the disorder, and should not be used unless the victim cannot replenish fluid losses.

Click here for everything you ever wanted to know about food poisoning, including differential diagnosis. This is a great site, in spite of all the ads.

Feel better soon.

[kai2k1 0]

Go get some pedialyte, Its perfect for replenishing fluids associated with dehydration.

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[sunshine 2]

Dave, just admit you started the thread to get peeps to send you get well vibes.

Seriously now, my Dr. told me unless the fever is higher than 101, not to take anything. A fever is the body's way of fighting the illness.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[quatorze 1]

from the wife (Registered Nurse) fever of 102 Doctors office, if it responds to tylenol. Emergency Room for 102 that doesn't respond or continues to climb, a degree or too higher and you cook your brain. Little kids can stand a slightyl higher temp than adults but not by much, best advice, call your family doctor, at home he makes enough to have no reason to bitch about it

I'm not afriad of dying, I'm afraid of never really living- Erin Engle

[flyclearjohn 0]

Quote

Michelle's giving good advice. Also...alternating acetaminophen (tylenol) and ibuprofen is a good idea if you're getting close to the maximum recommended doses of either. Both work well, but they work through different pathways. You can decrease the liklihood of taking too much of either by alternating them.

linz

The maximum dose of either is based on potential liver toxicity as both are metabolized by the liver. If you are reaching the max dose on one, switching to the other is dangerous.

New docs typically recommend alternating doses for infant fevers as a method for more effectively reducing fever. I don't recommend this as it's confusing to parents and it efficacy is questionable. In my experience, kids vary and respond better to one or the other. If one doesn't work, try the other ...stick with the one that works. In my experience, most infant fevers respond better to ibuprophen (advil, pediaprophen).

Here's a quick link http://www.texasspinalcare.com/content/HR_TylenolMixedIbuprofen.php

As a side note, if you are trying to rehydrate/replace electrolytesin your child and they just won't drink, make gatorade popcycles.

Michele's advice on tylenol as an antipyretic for adults is good. The antidiarrheal advice for suspected food poisoning is not. With diarrhea secondary to food poisoning, the body is trying to get rid of something that does not belong there. Trying to keep it there may cause further damage.

With adult fevers, it's simple ...tylenol (acetominophen).

Advil is a distant second and Aleve somewhere back in the pack.

Drink all the clear liquids you can tolerate. Watered down gatorade is fine.

Feel better soon.

John, MD (ret)

[Michele 1]

Hi, Dr. John (Ret.).

Please be aware that the antidiarhheral suggestion was simply because Dave is going to be stubborn and go to his appointment tomorrow regardless of how he feels, and as such, I figured he was better off not needing to run off to the loo on a regular basis...I don't keep AD in the house, because I agree with you - vomitting and diarhea are the ways a body can get rid of things that are toxic.

I also didn't suggest trading off between IB and tylenol...although my MD has made that suggestion.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[RedassSkychic 0]

Thanks guys.. after Dave started getting a fever and complaining of body aches and chills I started to suspect the flu because its really going around. He's fever's gone down below 100deg and he's been sleeping all afternoon, hasn't thrown up since 9am this morning. hopefully he'll feel much better in the morning! Thanks for the advice.

Morgan

[Lindsey 0]

Quote

Quote

Michelle's giving good advice. Also...alternating acetaminophen (tylenol) and ibuprofen is a good idea if you're getting close to the maximum recommended doses of either. Both work well, but they work through different pathways. You can decrease the liklihood of taking too much of either by alternating them.

linz

The maximum dose of either is based on potential liver toxicity as both are metabolized by the liver. If you are reaching the max dose on one, switching to the other is dangerous.

New docs typically recommend alternating doses for infant fevers as a method for more effectively reducing fever. I don't recommend this as it's confusing to parents and it efficacy is questionable. In my experience, kids vary and respond better to one or the other. If one doesn't work, try the other ...stick with the one that works. In my experience, most infant fevers respond better to ibuprophen (advil, pediaprophen).

Huh....we have routinely been taught that alternating the two is fine as long as they are given every 3-4 hours and dosages of either are not exceeded. So I did a quick review of pharmacology, and while they're both metabolized by the liver, the pathways are different, and it doesn't appear that the effects should be additive....

BUT, here's what I found at NIH.

CONCLUSION: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are commonly being used in an alternating manner for management of fever. There is presently no scientific evidence that this combination is safe or achieves faster antipyresis than either agent alone. There is evidence that the improper use of these agents may cause harm. Despite 29% of participants citing American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations as the basis for fever management, no such policy or recommendations exist. The observation that this practice is more common in younger practitioners may reflect their continued anxiety about fever (fever phobia). Until properly controlled studies have assessed the risk of combining these 2 products, practitioners should proceed with caution.

It looks like the jury is still out on any dangers of alternating these medications. Of course I haven't looked at any original sources, though. Seems that there appears to be no benefit, and possible detriment. It looks like the biggest risk is renal rather than hepatic toxicity though....

Thanks!

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Superman32 0]

Quote

So I did a quick review of pharmacology, and while they're both metabolized by the liver, the pathways are different, and it doesn't appear that the effects should be additive....

BUT, here's what I found at NIH.

Lindsey, bored aren't we?

Inveniam Viam aut Faciam
I'm back biatches!

[happythoughts 0]

There has been a lot of talk of cold showers.

Take a warm shower. The running water will reduce your fever without giving you chills. I have done this before. A warm shower takes the fever down 1.5 degrees.

[Michele 1]

Quote

Lindsey, bored aren't we?

Nope, just scarysmart.



Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[SarahC07 0]

Glad to hear you're feeling better Dave.
Hey! You didn't come take care of me... ... I didn't have a fever, but I was throwing up and in pain.... .... Just kidding Morgan. I'm feeling much better now, btw.

Has he been taking erythromycin? I heard that it can make one throw up for hours on end? Or so the ER told me. Hehehe...

But about the fever...I can't give any advice there... I typically run in the 96-97 degree range (had 97.1 on the last reading)... and never really ever run a fever. Can't remember the last time I was sick and/or ran a fever... probably more than 6 years ago... but that's enough babbling... ....

I'm sure Dave has ODed on Tylenol by now... GL with the interview dude!

[flyclearjohn 0]

"Huh....we have routinely been taught that alternating the two is fine as long as they are given every 3-4 hours and dosages of either are not exceeded. So I did a quick review of pharmacology, and while they're both metabolized by the liver, the pathways are different, and it doesn't appear that the effects should be additive...."


I'm assuming you're a med student doing good research on an issue ...good on ya!

That's the traditional thinking. Our understanding of acetaminophen toxicity and resultant hepatic toxicity has expanded greatly in the past three decades. You are correct in that we have historically looked at the enzyme system as a single entity and we now believe that is an overly simplistic view.

We now know of different pathways, we know little of how they interact. Add to that the problem of toxicity 'inducers' and mixed function oxidase system and I would rather stay away from confusing recommendations for questionable benefit.

The real problem I have with your statement is that it might be interpreted as being OK to max out on each drug, as long as you are alternating them. Avoiding the murky area of 'inducers' you might be correct, but for the discussion of adult fevers, there is no need to even consider ibuprofen as an antipyretic. It's a great NSAID and can do wonders for aches and pains, but it's fever reducing properties in adults is seldom medically significant.



"BUT, here's what I found at NIH.

CONCLUSION: Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are commonly being used in an alternating manner for management of fever. There is presently no scientific evidence that this combination is safe or achieves faster antipyresis than either agent alone. There is evidence that the improper use of these agents may cause harm. Despite 29% of participants citing American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations as the basis for fever management, no such policy or recommendations exist. The observation that this practice is more common in younger practitioners may reflect their continued anxiety about fever (fever phobia). Until properly controlled studies have assessed the risk of combining these 2 products, practitioners should proceed with caution."

Yep, and the only time it should even be considered is with pediatric fevers (which we significantly over treat ...but that's another issue). We routinely tell parents to take x mg of tylenol every four hours and x mg of advil every six hours. This can easily be confusing to parents and is asking for trouble. That's why I say find the one that works (usually advil) and stick with that regieme.

"It looks like the jury is still out on any dangers of alternating these medications."

At the risk of sounding like a stodgy old codger, the jury is out when it comes to research and textbooks. When you assume the responsibility for treating real, live people, always remember "Do No Harm" Sometimes it's the best we can hope for.

"Of course I haven't looked at any original sources"

Hehe, would you believe we were using that one to hedge our bets 35 years ago when I was in med school :)

", though. Seems that there appears to be no benefit, and possible detriment. It looks like the biggest risk is renal rather than hepatic toxicity though...."

Acidification of the urine and subsequent tubular damage is very real. Hepatic toxicity is much more prevalent and much more deadly.

Keep up the good work and best of luck to you in your studies.

John

[jraf 0]

Jackass! You're hung over. You should know it by now

jraf

Me Jungleman! Me have large Babalui.
Muff #3275

[Lindsey 0]

Hehe, would you believe we were using that one to hedge our bets 35 years ago when I was in med school :)

well....I did just take a quick look to get a little more information. You took me by surprise because I've rotated with quite a few physicians (peds and family docs), and not once have I heard that. You piqued my interest at nearly-bedtime....

linz

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail