Hi I am 16 days post chemo and have had a sord throat today so went to hospital. They have said I am neutropenic and are going to let me go home with anti biotics. I thought you had to stay in hospital with this, has any one any experience? Thanks Susy
Hi Susy,
I think it all depends on your “newt” count - I had neutropenia in Oct went in with a count of 0.09, was there for 4 days. They finally let me home at 0.5. I think that the logic is you are sometimes safer at home from catching other infections.
I wouldn’t worry too much just take it easy & rest well - if your temp rises, obviously call your unit.
Hope you are feeling better soon
Axx
I think it depends on your hospital. A lot of people get kept in, but I never was despite having a raging cellulitis infection after one chemo and my neuts dropping to 0.2 after another.
Each time I spent a few hours in the chemo unit, saw my onc, was thoroughly checked over and sent home with a carrier bag full of antibiotics.
After the cellulitis I had the neulasta jab after each chemo to help with my WBC so maybe they thought that and the ABs was enough.
Jane xxx
Hi Susy,
Sorry to hear you’ve not been well. I think they look at all your symptoms before deciding whether you need to stay in. Being ‘neutropenic’ means your neutrophil count is very low, but it isn’t the same as having ‘neutropenic sepsis’, which is when you become dangerously ill with a low neutrophil count.
During my first cycle I ended up in hosp for three days on IV ABs. Ny neutrophil count was .3 on admission and I was in terrible pain (head, throat, body), had very low BP and very high heart rate (signs of infection), but I didn’t have a high temp.
This cycle, when I had my pre-chemo bloods on day 19, they said they had to postpone my chemo because I was neutropenic. My neuts were only .4, but I haven’t felt ill or unwell at all this time.
Sounds like they’ve given you the ABs as a precaution. By day 16 your neuts should be beginning to recover. I was admitted on day 10 of my cycle.
Hope they do the trick and you stay reasonably well - if you feel poorly (even without a temp), don’t hesitate to go back to your doctor or A&E. Better safe than sorry!
Carrie x
Hi Susy
I was neutropenic 5 out of 6 chemos. I stayed in usually but the last time it happened was over the Easter/Royal Wedding period last year. The oncologist decided that I could stay at home with anti bi’s safely and to phone immediately if the temp rocketed or I had a cough. In his opinion I was more at risk from staying there!! C diff was a problem at the time. I felt a bit vulnerable but they assured me they were only a phone call away and they actually phoned me a couple of times to check how I was. 16 days post chemo is quite late to be neutropenic so you will hopefully be on the “up” very soon. Hopefully folks at home will give you lots of TLC and nursing care:)x
You are expected to be nuetropeanic between chemo… Everybody’s count will be about the same… This is why you are more at risk of infection… By day 16 your bloods should be coming back up a bit a little bit so hopefully its just a precaution… Did you ave a temp too? If not then its maybe unrelated… Or it could be something viral but they will want to make sure you are covered by antibiotics regardless so it doesn’t get any worse…
Staying in hosp also depends on how ‘unwel’ you are… If you just have a sore throat you don’t wanna end up getting mrsa in hosp.
Take it really easy, avoid other risks of infection and drink plenty fluids… And do regular temp checks and take paracetamol.
Lulu xxx
Hi I thought it was late in the day to be neutropenic. I wonder if I should avoid crowds for longer than the usual 10 to 14 days next time ?
No I didn’t have a temp my throat felt scratchy NA had yellow patches at the back if my throat. They have said I can stay if I want to but Ihave decided to go home as mentioned I am probably safer at home although I do feel a little scared.
Susy,
I was usually feeling worse from days 14 - 18, my count only managed to go above 1.5 for two chemos out of 6!
We are all different & react differently, don’t let it worry you too much
Axx
Just re-read Lulu’s post and would agree take paracetamols but monitor your temperature. I always thought we shouldnt have them but found that it was ok as long as you are careful!
Just be aware that u don’t have to feel that ill to have neutropenic sepsis. I had this after my first cycle of Fec & was kept in hosp for 3 days on an IV AB drip & GCSF injections. I just felt a little bit off colour & had a bit of a temperature. Thankfully i didn’t get it anymore but i did give mmyself GCSF injections at home after each cycle to keep the neuts up. I did have a sore throat on one cycle but it was just a cold & they checked me over & just gave me AB’s. As the others say, just keep an eye on how u feel & ring the hosp back if u need to. x
Well here I am again I am totally fed up with all this. Yesterday the doctor gave me 500 mg of Amoxicillin for the sore throat which is a lot better today. However, I have had really bad diahrea all day. I have phoned the hospital and they have said as long as I can eat and drink and don’t have a temp I should just take the meds and stay at home. I wonder if this is just a side effect of the meds. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I get second dose of chemo in Thursday.
Hi Susy,
Sorry you are feeling rough still. It does sound that the antibiotics having given you a dippy tummy. I recently had for a rads infection and that upset my tummy too.
Unfortunately, when we pop a pill for one thing … there are usually a host of side effects that follow!
Perhaps it would be wise to talk to your Onc before your next chemo to discuss GCSF injections to keep your neuts up throughout your cycle. The more you explain your side effects from the chemo, the more your team will be able o help you.
Hang on in there, you’ll get through it all in no time. (I thought it would never end when I started in September but finished chemo 12 weeks ago!)
Take care
Axx
Thank you it just all seems to be going wrong at the moment with how poorly I have felt. Prob a lot to do with anxiety which doesn’t help. I’m going to ask for some medication for that to.
Hard to believe but it will get better, just remember your not on your own. Have you joined the April chemo thread? I’m on the September one - you get a lot of suppport from girls going though similar times as you. It’s strangely nice to know others are going through the same side effects as you!
Axx