Night fevers

[ancientprune]

In Feb. I was taking 8mgs of pred .Now taking 6.5 tapering .05 mg down to 5mgs.For the past 3 nights I've been running a fever of 99 to 101 but it's been gone by morning.Had to take Keflex after some dental work a week ago but that's done. Does anyone have any advice? Called the dentist and he says it's probably not from teeth or { would be in severe pain and to wait one more day and see what is happening.Any suggestions are very much appreciated

[SheffieldJane]

You could be experiencing a bit of a flare due to the dental treatment. I don’t know where in the world you are but it has been so hot in the U.K. in recent days, my nights have had a feverish quality. I have been sleeping with a fan blowing on my face and feeling a bit unwell. Do painkillers help at all?

[ancientprune in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for the reply.I live in the US and yes it's been hot but keep my air at 79 and never thought of a flare aftre an extraction and filling that sent me crying in pain back to the dentist who gave me an anti-biotic and told me to take Advil which I did for 6 doses.Now I use Tylenol and it bringsthe fever down.It only goes up at night with terrible sweats

[SheffieldJane in reply to ancientprune]

Any physical or mental stress can trigger a flare. Of course, you will have air conditioning! An old fashioned fan is very comforting though. I would be suspicious of the Keflex, with fever as a side effect.

[ancientprune in reply to SheffieldJane]

I hate anti-biotics but am allergic to penicillan and erythromycin and never knew the sid effects of keflex but the pain was so bad the dentist thought it might be an infection after the work that was done. I now believe it truly was a flare.Next month I'll lose three teeth and wonder how I can prevent another flare.Any advice is appreciated more than I can express.Friends and family do not understand what PMR and accompanying pred does to us.Just because I'm upright and mobile doesn"t mean I'm well and Drs.don't seem to know as much as I have learned from this site'Thank God for all of you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Probably something to aim at the GP rather than the dentist.

I'm assuming there is no chance you have picked up Covid? Symptoms like a feverish cold are now accepted as typical now - more than 20 common symptoms, not the 3 harped on about by the NHS website.

[ancientprune in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for the reply.I thought about Covid but no other symptoms than the fevers that start in the evening then sweats while sleeping.Everything back to normal when I wake up.I only called the dentist because I had just had a molar pulled and a deep ,below gum filling.When I looked up side effects for the anti-biotic,Keflex. one was fever.He said he was not aware of that side effectPerhaps I should have upped the pred a bit before the procedure? what is youradvice as I'm having 3 teeth removed next month for a full lower plate which I hate but my old teeth keep breaking down so it's the lesser of twq evils.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ancientprune]

Don't really know - it does depend on your current dose. That first dental story sounds unpleasant and a bit stressful.

[ancientprune in reply to PMRpro]

Should I increase pred before and after the procedure?How much and for how long? I'm taking 6.5mgs now.Was down to 6mgs but went back to 6.5mgs 6 days ago.After this week I'll go back to 6 as I'm. decreasing to 5mgs by .05mgs a month

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ancientprune]

If it were me I think I'd definitely take a bit more on the day of the procedure - 10mg perhaps- and then see how I was afterwards. The dentist may be some help too.