Suggest Treatment For Lung Cancer
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Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I am concerned about this situation, as you are.
You didn't mention how long ago he underwent treatment for the lung cancer. If it was within the last few months, OR if he has some immunosuppression or lowered white blood cell count from the radiation or other treatments, then he is more at risk for a severe infection.
I do not know if flu is going around in your area, but there is influenza in many parts of the US right now.
I suggest doing one of two things:
Call your doctor or the doctor on call for your doctor, who may be able to look up your husband's labs and records to decide if he might be ok to try to weather this at home
Or, and I would feel best about you following this option, go to the urgent care or ER. There they can examine your husband, get a CBC, and also do a flu screen.
My one caution about his going in to the urgent care or ER is the risk of picking up someone else's germs there. So I strongly advise that both of you stay very conscious about not touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands until you are home and have thoroughly washed your hands (maybe twice).
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can help further.
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Detailed Answer:
As long as he seems to be doing better, not worse, you can watch and wait.
Make sure he drinks plenty of fluids and rests.
Also, he should have food before naproxen. Tylenol is ok as an alternative too.
Yes, I don't think the course shivers you described were from it being cold weather but rather his body's response to infection. The cold weather may have stressed his body which may have made it more likely to get an infection, but that is likely not what he was shivering from unless he truly became hypothermic from being outside (and then it would have occurred shortly after coming inside).
I am sorry to hear about the problems he has had since the cancer treatments. I do wish we had better treatments available than chemo and radiation.
His temp is back to normal for him (97.8), he's resting and staying inside today. :)
Thank you for your help.
XXXXXXX
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Detailed Answer:
What you are thinking makes sense to me.
Please share with your husband that where I live in Wisconsin, 39 degrees in winter is considered warm, but we still wear our winter coats to go outside!
Hypothermia is a stress on the adrenal glands so he may need to take it easy for awhile, i.e. not stress his body in any other way for a few days.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD