Nightly fever
Posted on Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 at 8:16 amThe newest issue is the series of nightly fevers. They start about sundown and continue until about 2 to 3 AM. They’re low grade, usually less than a degree F, and aren’t particularly associated with any other symptoms. This is common in post-surgical recovery, almost expected. And the fact that that it is predictably cyclical shows that it is in all likelihood a healing response, and not a response to an infection.
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It’s not a show stopper, but it is putting a crimp in my style, making me feel a little weaker than I have been feeling in general. And waking up at 3 AM, needing to change my wet shirt is no big joy either. I’m making up for it in naps, but that isn’t exactly solid sleep. Ibuprofen helps reduce the fever to where I don’t feel like I’m sick, but still I know it’s not 100% gone.
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I guess the thing that bugs me most is that it’s yet another thing to endure in a long string of endurances. It’s by no means the biggest or the most debilitating, but it is the current one. And it is damping progress in how well I feel, mostly from a lack of solid sleep.
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But I am still making progress. I have more physical stamina. I am stretching my stomach, slowly, but still some each day. The fluid retention is dissipating, almost fully. I walk with ease and am not getting winded. So I can’t complain that I’m not getting better, as I am indeed improving day by day. Sunday, I tabbed Deep in the West by Shake Russell in the key of G, singing and playing as much as needed to assure it’s where I want it. Yesterday, I talked Helen’s arm off for a couple of hours, telling stories (with diversions) and didn’t tire from it. So improvements continue. Just wish the fevers wouldn’t nag my nights so.