recurring fevers post op - ThinnerTimes

lee · 02-08-2005, 01:11 PM

I had my bypass two and one half months ago. I have lost 80 pounds so far. Three weeks after the surgery, I developed a severe fever. I was hospitalized for two weeks,endured the surgery again looking for non-existent leaks,and was eventually pumped full of anti-biotics. The final diagnosis was atypical pneumonia (aka walking pneumonia) by the surgeon and an infectuous disease doctor. My personal practitioner doubts that because I had no other symptoms but the fever of pneumonia. At any rate, the fever was gone and I went home Christmas eve. Four weeks later to the day after release, on a Friday, I came down with another fever lasting just one day. The next Friday I experienced another fever lasting two days. The next Friday, (last Friday) I came down with another fever which has lasted four days now. The fevers averages 101.3 F. as opposed to 104.5 F when hospitalized. In between fevers I feel fine. I had blood taken yesterday for cultures and diagnosis, but as of now, I am back to the Fever Of Unknown Origin. I wonder if any other patients have gone through anything like this and what the results were.

watergirl · 02-08-2005, 01:34 PM

Wow, sorry to hear about your fevers! That sucks! God speed to you and your doctors to figure out what's going on with you.

Kelly · 02-08-2005, 09:13 PM

I am 2 weeks post-op and on & off I am getting 99.3 - 100.4. Not nearly as high as yours. My fevers are unknown also. I was dehydrated, but that's it.

lealphachienne · 02-09-2005, 07:42 AM

Perhaps there's a metabolic reason. Did they check your thyroid levels? Perhaps your metabolism is super revved up. 80 lbs lost in 2 1/2 months is a lot of weight. Maybe it's creating havoc with your hypothalumus, which regulates body temp.

lee · 02-09-2005, 10:28 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I just came from the doctor and he is running bloodwork as we speak to check out my thyroid. All other tests ran Monday came out spectacullarly normal.

lee · 02-14-2005, 01:05 PM

My doctor thinks he has a dianosis. It is Blind Loop Syndrome. It was a relatively common side effect in the early days of gastric bypass but occurs very infrequently now. The bacteria continues to be manufactured by your intestines after the surgery. The idle part of the intestine stays alive as does the unused portion of your stomach. In some persons the bacteria output is above normal and it collects in the blinded portion of the intestine causing infection. I have been being treated orally with Lavaquin anti-biotic since Friday. Right now my fever is a low grade 99.5 F. I slept all night last night for the first time in nearly 4 weeks. The length of treatment is unknown because there is a chance it could slow bacteria production by itself. If not, long term treatment with anti-biotics is the choice. There is also a treatment utilizing a chemo drug in low doses if this doen't work. The last resort is total reversal of the procedure. Kelly, you may want to pass this to your physician if your fevers persist or worsen. I have a grat surgeon but I had to go to my practictioner to get this far. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital slow cooking and my surgeon never looked at this.

Christina · 02-14-2005, 01:11 PM

I'm glad you finally have a diagnosis. However, I am sorry you are going through this. I for one sincerely appreciate you posting this on the site. This is just another reminder why we have to be our best advocates after surgery. If you feel something is wrong, chances are you are right. Never let a fever or any symptom go untreated or unreported to your Dr. Thank you for posting this, it may help someone else in the long run.

Hope you are feeling better soon.