low fever

[mom2owen]

Owen has a 99.9 fever tonight. He is still coughing a lot and was really crabby, ears bright red. I called the on-call pulmonologist who said she is not worried about this low fever, which she wouldn't even call a fever. I am supposed to call the CF clinic in the morning to let them know but the one tonight said there are a lot of viruses including RSV going around so I shouldn't worry....We did do a sputum culture last week, I haven't heard anything so I assume it was normal. But now going on his fifth week of coughing up phlegm that has turned green, I cannot help but wonder what is going on.
Of course, I have read lots of things here about getting sick with common things and know that if it is viral, antibiotics won't help. But, is there anything else we can do? It so often goes to pneumonia when he gets a respiratory virus and I hate to think we are going to wait for that to happen. And, along with atelectasis, it seems like a wait and see approach is a little weird.
When do you worry about a fever and cough?

 

[mom2owen]

Owen has a 99.9 fever tonight. He is still coughing a lot and was really crabby, ears bright red. I called the on-call pulmonologist who said she is not worried about this low fever, which she wouldn't even call a fever. I am supposed to call the CF clinic in the morning to let them know but the one tonight said there are a lot of viruses including RSV going around so I shouldn't worry....We did do a sputum culture last week, I haven't heard anything so I assume it was normal. But now going on his fifth week of coughing up phlegm that has turned green, I cannot help but wonder what is going on.
Of course, I have read lots of things here about getting sick with common things and know that if it is viral, antibiotics won't help. But, is there anything else we can do? It so often goes to pneumonia when he gets a respiratory virus and I hate to think we are going to wait for that to happen. And, along with atelectasis, it seems like a wait and see approach is a little weird.
When do you worry about a fever and cough?

 

[mom2owen]

Owen has a 99.9 fever tonight. He is still coughing a lot and was really crabby, ears bright red. I called the on-call pulmonologist who said she is not worried about this low fever, which she wouldn't even call a fever. I am supposed to call the CF clinic in the morning to let them know but the one tonight said there are a lot of viruses including RSV going around so I shouldn't worry....We did do a sputum culture last week, I haven't heard anything so I assume it was normal. But now going on his fifth week of coughing up phlegm that has turned green, I cannot help but wonder what is going on.
<br />Of course, I have read lots of things here about getting sick with common things and know that if it is viral, antibiotics won't help. But, is there anything else we can do? It so often goes to pneumonia when he gets a respiratory virus and I hate to think we are going to wait for that to happen. And, along with atelectasis, it seems like a wait and see approach is a little weird.
<br />When do you worry about a fever and cough?

 

[pipersmom]

I would definitely call your clinic first thing tomorrow. In the "olden" days, lol, one of the first signs of an exacerbation for Piper was a low grade fever along with her cough. The fact he's been coughing stuff up as well would lead me in that direction. Also, not sure how your clinic is, but I normally have to call and ask about Piper's sputum results, they don't automatically call me, even if she's growing something new. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to start him on an oral antibiotic. Will be thinking about you guys and hoping he starts to feel better soon!

 

[pipersmom]

I would definitely call your clinic first thing tomorrow. In the "olden" days, lol, one of the first signs of an exacerbation for Piper was a low grade fever along with her cough. The fact he's been coughing stuff up as well would lead me in that direction. Also, not sure how your clinic is, but I normally have to call and ask about Piper's sputum results, they don't automatically call me, even if she's growing something new. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to start him on an oral antibiotic. Will be thinking about you guys and hoping he starts to feel better soon!

 

[pipersmom]

I would definitely call your clinic first thing tomorrow. In the "olden" days, lol, one of the first signs of an exacerbation for Piper was a low grade fever along with her cough. The fact he's been coughing stuff up as well would lead me in that direction. Also, not sure how your clinic is, but I normally have to call and ask about Piper's sputum results, they don't automatically call me, even if she's growing something new. I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to start him on an oral antibiotic. Will be thinking about you guys and hoping he starts to feel better soon!

 

[ymikhale]

definitely call for the results of the culture. Usually it takes 3 days for the results to be in. Given the symptoms you are describing, he is probably growing something, the sooner they treat it the better.

 

[ymikhale]

definitely call for the results of the culture. Usually it takes 3 days for the results to be in. Given the symptoms you are describing, he is probably growing something, the sooner they treat it the better.

 

[ymikhale]

definitely call for the results of the culture. Usually it takes 3 days for the results to be in. Given the symptoms you are describing, he is probably growing something, the sooner they treat it the better.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS rarely gets a fever, so that's usually the first indication that something is brewing. And it's always a low grade fever. So I KNOW it my gut that something is off and we call the clinic the next day. DS' baseline is also no cough, so if he develops a cough we're also supposed to increase cpt/neb treatments and call his doctor as well.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS rarely gets a fever, so that's usually the first indication that something is brewing. And it's always a low grade fever. So I KNOW it my gut that something is off and we call the clinic the next day. DS' baseline is also no cough, so if he develops a cough we're also supposed to increase cpt/neb treatments and call his doctor as well.

 

[Ratatosk]

DS rarely gets a fever, so that's usually the first indication that something is brewing. And it's always a low grade fever. So I KNOW it my gut that something is off and we call the clinic the next day. DS' baseline is also no cough, so if he develops a cough we're also supposed to increase cpt/neb treatments and call his doctor as well.

 

[mom2owen]

This is why I am so confused all the time. Owen has been coughing up phlegm for over five weeks now. I just wish something would make sense. My original thought was that he had a lot of mucus stuck in his lungs and the nebs and CPT were helping to loosen it and get it out. But, the pulm. told us last week to stop nebbing since he was coughing so much and to just use the albuterol inhaler. He did not cough less, but now the mucus is looking thicker and has more green and brown color to it.
He hasn't had a temperature during this five week round until now but he was up most of the night coughing. And yet, this morning, he was better, no temp. Still coughing, but no fever and his energy level is back to his version of normal.
My gut tells me he needs something. I called the CF clinic this morning and left a message on the burse line. I sure hope they call back before I lose patience and bug them! It is interesting that some other fever posts have come up here. Unless Owen has strep or something very obvious like that, he has had low grade fevers for years. One other interesting thing my husband pointed out last night is that if this is ashtma, he has been considered "uncontrolled" at every appointment for two years. He gets prednisone every time we go to the asthma doc and now pulmonology too. How can he have uncontrolled asthma on high doses of meds for two years? Just wondering how it all fits.
Thanks for the responses and for tolerating my many questions and processing out loud!

 

[mom2owen]

This is why I am so confused all the time. Owen has been coughing up phlegm for over five weeks now. I just wish something would make sense. My original thought was that he had a lot of mucus stuck in his lungs and the nebs and CPT were helping to loosen it and get it out. But, the pulm. told us last week to stop nebbing since he was coughing so much and to just use the albuterol inhaler. He did not cough less, but now the mucus is looking thicker and has more green and brown color to it.
He hasn't had a temperature during this five week round until now but he was up most of the night coughing. And yet, this morning, he was better, no temp. Still coughing, but no fever and his energy level is back to his version of normal.
My gut tells me he needs something. I called the CF clinic this morning and left a message on the burse line. I sure hope they call back before I lose patience and bug them! It is interesting that some other fever posts have come up here. Unless Owen has strep or something very obvious like that, he has had low grade fevers for years. One other interesting thing my husband pointed out last night is that if this is ashtma, he has been considered "uncontrolled" at every appointment for two years. He gets prednisone every time we go to the asthma doc and now pulmonology too. How can he have uncontrolled asthma on high doses of meds for two years? Just wondering how it all fits.
Thanks for the responses and for tolerating my many questions and processing out loud!

 

[mom2owen]

This is why I am so confused all the time. Owen has been coughing up phlegm for over five weeks now. I just wish something would make sense. My original thought was that he had a lot of mucus stuck in his lungs and the nebs and CPT were helping to loosen it and get it out. But, the pulm. told us last week to stop nebbing since he was coughing so much and to just use the albuterol inhaler. He did not cough less, but now the mucus is looking thicker and has more green and brown color to it.
<br />He hasn't had a temperature during this five week round until now but he was up most of the night coughing. And yet, this morning, he was better, no temp. Still coughing, but no fever and his energy level is back to his version of normal.
<br />My gut tells me he needs something. I called the CF clinic this morning and left a message on the burse line. I sure hope they call back before I lose patience and bug them! It is interesting that some other fever posts have come up here. Unless Owen has strep or something very obvious like that, he has had low grade fevers for years. One other interesting thing my husband pointed out last night is that if this is ashtma, he has been considered "uncontrolled" at every appointment for two years. He gets prednisone every time we go to the asthma doc and now pulmonology too. How can he have uncontrolled asthma on high doses of meds for two years? Just wondering how it all fits.
<br />Thanks for the responses and for tolerating my many questions and processing out loud!

 

[mom2owen]

well, interesting. Our doctor just called and Owen cultured staph. He is going on Bactrum. AND, she agreed it's not asthma causing this....
In a daze, not sure what to think. Off to get med to give him ASAP.

 

[mom2owen]

well, interesting. Our doctor just called and Owen cultured staph. He is going on Bactrum. AND, she agreed it's not asthma causing this....
In a daze, not sure what to think. Off to get med to give him ASAP.

 

[mom2owen]

well, interesting. Our doctor just called and Owen cultured staph. He is going on Bactrum. AND, she agreed it's not asthma causing this....
<br />In a daze, not sure what to think. Off to get med to give him ASAP.
<br />

 

[Rebjane]

I request a copy of the sputum culture report, good idea to have just in case. They should be able to mail you a copy, it will tell you the bacteria that was cultured, which in your son's case was staph and the sensitivitys. That will tell you which antibiotics will work against that bacteria. I try to have copy of the report, in case my daughter's CF pulmo is away. I do not trust other docs to make the correct choice of meds without knowing what my daughter is growing.

 

[Rebjane]

I request a copy of the sputum culture report, good idea to have just in case. They should be able to mail you a copy, it will tell you the bacteria that was cultured, which in your son's case was staph and the sensitivitys. That will tell you which antibiotics will work against that bacteria. I try to have copy of the report, in case my daughter's CF pulmo is away. I do not trust other docs to make the correct choice of meds without knowing what my daughter is growing.