Inflammation markers in blood test

Hi All,

If anyone has had a similar experience or can give advice on inflammation markers in the blood ? My mum is currently in hospital on antibiotics for an ‘infection’… However, she is currently in between treatments and hasn’t taken any drugs for at least 4-5 weeks!! So it cannot be her neutrophils ! I dont understand why she has caught this ‘infection’ and in hospital with it ?

I’m now panicking it is to do with her cancer! She had scan results around a month ago with some progression in her bones. She has extensive bone mets, but it is no where else. I’m wondering if the inflammation markers are another sign of disease progression?

Thanks for any advice! I understand its quite a niche question! Xxx

Hi

I’m sorry to hear about your mum. I haven’t heard anything about inflammatory markers during my treatment but, in my primary treatment, I was hospitalised and isolated. I had neutropoenic sepsis but they couldn’t find the cause (hence the isolation, which was fine by me). They never did find the cause but, last week, when my temperature was high because I’d had my second shingles jab, they whipped me into isolation to await a room on the emergency ward for observation. I thought it was an overreaction but later understood that, having had sepsis before with an unknown cause, they were taking no risks. Perhaps your mum has been in this situation, hence the caution and the antibiotics?

I didn’t feel remotely ill when I had this sepsis but my husband says that I wasn’t always ‘there’ so I wouldn’t remember. I guess that was the fever. So, even if your mum feels ok, that doesn’t mean there’s not some infection at work and they have to find the source or control the infection.

I hope someone replies with more information. I’d strongly advise you ring the nurses’ helpline - they are very knowledgeable and helpful. Otherwise, ask outright at the hospital. You need to understand what is going on.

I hope she recovers quickly,

Jan x

Hi secondary sister!

I have had a very similar experience to your mum.  About three weeks ago I had pains in my tummy and was taken to A&E with a fever and high infection markers.  I hadn’t had any treatment for a couple of weeks due to low white blood count.  I was in hospital for a week on antibiotics and intravenous fluids.  My discharge notes said I had neutropenic sepsis.  I don’t know how I got it.  I still haven’t had any further treatment due to various blood results.  Tomorrow I have to have yet another blood test at the hospital (I had one today at the surgery).  They are concerned about dehydration this time.

Sorry I can’t throw any light on what caused the infection.

Hope your mum is now getting over it.

Best wishes

Windflower