My Mum is still getting shivers – she’s just had chemo no.5 (yesterday) and today she has been shivery. I know some of you have experienced this, but the thing is my mum worries so much. Every time she shivers, she thinks she will have a high temp and have to be admitted again. Is this just her main side effect from the chemo? The chemo booklet says if you get shivery and have a high temp ring the unit. Her temp is ok but as shivers are a symptom this adds to the worry. She has been shivery on and off from the beginning. Should you only really worry about the shivers and checking temp on days 7 -14? I just want to find out why she is shivery? She is now on reduced FEC and has GCSF inj for 10 days again starting Friday.
Thanks and apologies for posting this topic again just need advice. xx
You should be always be aware of temperature at ANY time during the chemo cycle. Even if white cells are okay for chemo administration the likelihood is that they will be lower than they were prior to starting treatment and therefore risk of infection is higher.
Shivering can be the first sign of a temperature. I always started to shiver several hours before my temperature rose and once even the day before. However she may also be shivery/shaky because she is generally feeling unwell eg. feeling cold or sick, not eating and drinking well etc. I’m no expert though so you do need to get proper advice.
It is good that your Mum has you looking out for her but I sense you don’t live nearby. Does your Mum live on her own? If she does is there someone close by to her that could offer her support and keep an eye on her temperature and general well-being? I felt scared during my chemo as I was so unwell and having my neighbours calling in or giving them a key was very reassuring.
I wouldn’t hesitate in speaking to the Oncology unit and asking them for advice. The chemo nurses are so knowledgable on all the side effects and problems of chemo and it may be good for you to talk to them as well.
If your mum is having a district nurse in to give her the GCSF injections it would be worth to speaking to them too.
I can understand your Mum worrying. Having experienced neutropenic sepsis and been admitted to hospital I can tell you it is very frightening and you feel so unwell. The speed at which you can deteriorate makes it even more frightening. I think it is very sensible to be checking temperature regularly say two or three times a day given her history and also to help put her mind at rest.
I’m sure that you are also aware that if she is taking anything like paracetamol or ibuprofen that this will bring down a temperature but not do anything to an infection. It is therefore important to take the temperature before taking medication of that sort.
Please do let us know who you get on. This must be very worrying for you too.
take care
Elinda x
I would take everyone’s advice on here and get it checked out with your mums Oncology team.
I will say though that I had ‘shivers’ throughout chemo - worse on FEC than TAX. I have just finished chemo and do still have them but occasionally. They are not hot flushes (which I get in the evening and night now) but a sort of internal shiver that runs from head to toe. During this time I had no temperature and rang my team for advice. I was told that as long as I hadn’t got a temperature and hadn’t any other symptoms then not to worry. I have since spoken to the Onc team about these and they didn’t seem to know what they were due to. I still get them now but not as much.
Having said all this we are all so individual and it really is best to get this checked out with your mum’s team.