PERSISTENT FEVER/ILLNESS 2 WEEKS POST THR

Posted by lhering @lhering, Jul 19 6:07am

Wondering if anyone has experienced this — s/p r THR 2 weeks ago. All seemed fine. Not my first rodeo with joint replacements. 3 days home I started with a cycle of fevers following the same pattern every day. Weakness, chills, sweats, total exhaustion, some reprieve with Tylenol, and the cycle starts again. Went to ER, of course while there I was not running a fever. They ruled out usual causes, UTI, pneumonia, DVT. Basic blood work all negative. I had an appt with the surgeon Friday. Incision looks fine. Hip X-ray looks fine. I hoped for more intense blood work, but he did not feel that would be worthwhile. I am left hanging - still feeling so ill. Pain is more than I thought I should have, but when I expressed that, I was told that was normal. I will now turn to my PCP, but this has never happened to me with my other joint replacements and I am uneasy. Again, has anyone had this happen to them? Starting to feel a little crazy at this point. Thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jul 19 9:12am

@lhering Don't stop pushing! Fever and chills are not normal after joint replacements. See your PCP as soon as you can, or go to your facility's Urgent Care. In my experience, this is a better choice than the ER, where "fevers and chills" are not necessarily a high priority.

Please let us know how you are doing.

loriesco | @loriesco | Jul 21 7:16pm

You absolutely need to contact your surgeon's office and speak to a triage nurse ASAP! An infection is serious business and can be life-threatening after surgery! They did NOT release you from the hospital with a temperature and infection -- or they wouldn't have let you go! So now that something is brewing, you simply must get it attended to! Not kidding here, call them today. After hours? go to the ER.
https://www.google.com/search

ladybug4joints | @ladybug4joints | Jul 22 4:02am

Ask your surgeon or PCP to refer you to an infectious diseases MD subspecialty if possible

missy4242 | @missy4242 | Jul 26 10:25pm

I am an RN.
Ask for these lab tests to rule out sepsis.

1.) Blood Cultures: Checks for bacteria or fungi in the blood. Results usually take 24 to 72 hours, so a negative initial result does not instantly rule out an infection.
2.) Serum Lactate: Measures the amount of lactic acid in your blood. High levels mean your organs may not be getting enough oxygen due to low blood pressure.
3.) Complete Blood Count (CBC): Measures your white blood cell count. Abnormally high or low white blood cell counts can signal that your body is fighting a severe infection.
4.) Procalcitonin (PCT): A biomarker test that rises quickly during severe bacterial infections. Low levels can help suggest that a bacterial cause (and thus sepsis) is less likely, though it is not definitive on its own.
5.) Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) / Organ Function Tests: Checks markers like BUN and creatinine (kidney function) and bilirubin (liver function) to see if the infection is causing stress or failure in your organs.
6.) Coagulation Tests: Measures tests like PT, PTT, and platelet count to check if the blood is clotting properly, as sepsis can disrupt normal clotting.