Hello everyone! I hope all is well. I have not been here in many many months because all is great here! I started Enbrel several months ago due to severe plaque Psoriasis. I also have (or used to have) PsA, but it unbelievably disappeared all on it's own a few years back and has never reared it's ugly head again!
What brings me back is elevated body temperature every single evening for about one month now. It's not technically a fever I guess, but it is unusual to me. Generally my body temp runs low (97.0-98.0). But lately every evening I get a flushed, hot, sticky feeling. My temperature during this time raises to about 99.5. Sometime's higher (99.8), sometime lower (99.0). I'm of course scared of Lymphoma, or TB, or infection. I had two CBC's done during this time and both were normal. I was surprised. I was expecting something to be abnormal. Anyone have any clue what this could be??
I worry about cancer, but I don't have any other symptoms which I'm assuming would be unusual for blood cancer's. I have no swollen lymph nodes that I can find, no weight loss, or night sweats. Infection would have likely showed up in my WBC count right?? Any suggestion welcome!
OH, and BTW, Enbrel has been a complete success!!! I am 100% Psoriasis free!! I am so hoping it's not the Enbrel causing these symptoms cause I do not want to stop this med!
I’m hot all the time. I’ve never bothered to take my temp, but my CBC and tb chest xray have been fine. I thought it was hormonal, but also contemplated a drug reaction or interaction. I take Remicade though, so that is definitely different from your drug. I also get much warmer during a flare, and then I have noticed a slight temperature bump; up to 99 or so.
I guess you have already spoken to your doc about it, since you had CBCs drawn? I would bring it up again. Mine is bothersome, I just don’t have time to take my own advice!
I have always figured the inflammation must be at fault but I could be wrong. When my joints are red and hot and swollen and my skin is flaring and my eyes are dry is also when I run hot (99 tops) but frequently feel cold. When my inflammation is better I have no troubles with my internal thermostat.
Thanks for the replies. Inflammation is unlikely in my case I'd imagine. My PsA mysteriously remitted without treatment long ago and has amazingly never returned. Sometimes I doubt that I even had/have it. But, severe disabling arthritis followed by severe Psoriasis seems like an open and shut case of PsA so I dunno. And Enbrel has cleard my P, so no inflammation there (I guess). It's frustrating because it just makes me feel "icky". Not really sick, just blah. Hopefully it goes away soon!
I get an elevated temp during flares. Definitely not medication related. My normal is below 98, and I'll go up to 99-99.6. I usually feel somewhat feverish as well. It hasn't happened as much since I added in a second DMARD.
No flairs of any type here. In fact, I'm doubting that I even really have PsA. I fear Lymphoma. I was under the impression that clean blood work meant no Lymphoma. Unfortunately, a quick Google search dispelled that belief rather quickly. From what i'm understanding blood work is actual normal in the majority of Lymphoma patients as most early disease is confined to the marrow.
I feel the EXACT same way. It’s similar to coming down with the flu. My temp goes up, but I ache and feel like I’m freezing. I love it when someone validates my symptoms! Thanks!
michael in vermont said:
I have always figured the inflammation must be at fault but I could be wrong. When my joints are red and hot and swollen and my skin is flaring and my eyes are dry is also when I run hot (99 tops) but frequently feel cold. When my inflammation is better I have no troubles with my internal thermostat.
There are many things this could be. I would discuss it with your doctor, I would also keep a log of your temps. Although men do not have a true menopause a drop in testosterone can give men some of the same symptoms. I know this is not very reassuring and I can only imagine your fears. But sometimes when you hear hooves you have to look for horses instead of zebras. The incidence of lymphomas when using biologics is very small. Infection or hormones are a more likely cause. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Please don’t think the worst! It does sound like textbook PsA and med induced remission. Those are good things, last I checked.
You are obviously very concerned, and that’s fine, but take things one step at a time. Talk to your doctor, preferably your rheumatologist. You can insist on further testing, and maybe you should. I do feel like you should act, so that you can get that ball rolling. Hopefully, your test results I’ll ease your mind.
You could also be having inflammation, without symptoms. There are some people who have very few symptoms, but have a raging disease process going in the background. It’s not uncommon.
I wish you the best. Let us know what happens.
Chris said:
No flairs of any type here. In fact, I’m doubting that I even really have PsA. I fear Lymphoma. I was under the impression that clean blood work meant no Lymphoma. Unfortunately, a quick Google search dispelled that belief rather quickly. From what i’m understanding blood work is actual normal in the majority of Lymphoma patients as most early disease is confined to the marrow.
Thanks for the replies. Grumpy, my Psa went into 100% remission without medications. I was once on Remicade but had a reaction once during an infusion and that was the end of that. After that I decided to wait and see what happened before I started another med. Two years went by and the PsA did not return. Not an ounce of it thank goodness. It's like I never had it in the first place. However, I developed severe Psoriasis, hence the reason I started Enbrel.
I do feel better after researching Lymphoma a little more. Although the blood work is generally normal in Lymphoma, apparently regular lymph nodes are not. From what I've been reading, large, swollen lymph nodes are almost always present. In fact, that's generally what leads a patient to the doc in the first place.
Perhaps just a long lasting infection. I go the doc next friday, so maybe he'll have some ideas.
That’s good, Chris. A visit with the doc is just what you need right now. Don’t let yourself get too stressed out about all of this. There is no reason to worry until there’s a reason to worry. Stress can cause a flare, and that’s a cruddy way to find out that you really do have PsA!for Pete’s sake, stop googling!
Yeah Google is the enemy sometime's lol! I'm pretty near certain that I dodged the PsA bullet so far. It makes no sense to me that I was completely crippled one year, and today I have no signs of disease what so ever. And this was LONG before I started Enbrel. Even all my sausage toes have returned to normal. My reg doc say's he pretty certain I was dealing with a reactive arthritis of some sort, and not PsA. The fact that Psoriasis developed soon after was likely either a coincidence, or was brought on by whatever condition caused my reactive arthritis in the first place.
But yeah, I'm over the whole Lymphoma thing lol. I just had a momentary moment of panic! I've always had an unnatural fear of blood cancer for some reason. In my life I have know many people who either had Luekemia or lymphoma and none of them did very well hence the unnatural fear I guess.
I get that sick feeling during a flare. Run a slight fever as well. Sometimes I feel like I want vomit, but normally don’t. I have blamed drugs in the past and it turns out it was the disease. Talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Well, I'm over two months now with this fever. I guess it really isn't a fever per se, but I say it is for me. My temp generally runs MUCH lower then the standard 98.6. But either way, I feel like garbage every night. Hot, clammy, sticky, tired, and I look like hell lately. Something is no doubt wrong with me. I have not had an Enbrel shot in quite a while so i'm beginning to doubt it's the Enbrel. Every night like clockwork my temperature begins to raise till hits about 99.6--99.9 and stays there all night long. When I wake in the late morning it's back down to 98.6 (which is high for me) and I feel washed out.
Doctors have done several blood test (sed rate and cbc's/all normal) and two chest x-ray's that were also normal. None of these docs believe PsA or P to be the reason, but other then that they have no clue. Really wish this would go away.
When my disease is out of control I can get daily low-grade fevers. I too run a lower body temp, so my "fever" of 99 doesn't seem like much, but to me it can be quite debilitating.
No flairs here though. My PsA completely resolved several years ago and has not returned at all. I have zero arthritis symptoms. In fact, I'm 99.9% sure that I don't even have PsA. Now P I have in severe fashion. Prolly 40% coverage. However, the Enbrel cleared that up completely. And even though I'm two months without a shot my P is still clear.
Don't much care anymore to be honest. I will keep taking the Enbrel no matter what. I'd rather live a short life then a life filled w/ Psoriasis. I have near a years worth stocked away and will continue it's use it no matter what. I was hoping it's temporary discontinuance would clear the fever but it did not. So tomorrow I will inject.
Are you on any other medication? Flushing can be caused be either medication or your diseases. My face has a warm red appearance before I flare. I typically have a fever. My red face can last for months. Derm says it’s not psoriasis, but rhumey says it is.
Also, you might want to note that it’s normal for your body temp to be warmer at night. Everything you do during the day helps to regulate your body temperature.
No, No other meds other then the same BP med I've taken for 20+ years. My temp usually runs about 97.5 at night. 98.0 at the very most. It's been this way for 30+ years. So even 98.6 is high for me, not alone 99.whatever. Even on the hottest days and even after EXTREME workouts my temp NEVER touches the 98.6 mark. BUT that's not even the issue as far as i'm concerned. The fact is, I'm sweating like a hog (I never sweat, even during the hottest of day's) I'm flushed (I'm never flushed, even after after workouts), clammy (never in my life have i had damp palms, never ever), and I have a chilled, washed out feeling like I'm sick. Weak, tired and listless. None of these things have ever been normal for me. I never use a/c (don't even have A/C) and I keep my house around 90-95 degrees in the middle of summer. I've always relished the heat and humidity. Hell, I've actually never even felt this way on the rare occasions that I have been sick. I feel like my health is seriously declining. AND even at my worst, when my jaw was forced closed by arthritis and I could not eat solid food, and my knees were the size of volleyballs, and my toes looked like fat sausages, and my fingers were locked, fat and unmovable did I ever feel this "sick". Or when I was covered with that nasty damned psoriasis did I ever have a fever. Right now it's 3;43 AM and sweat is dripping on my keyboard as I type. My hair is soaked although my temperature is only 99.6??? Makes no sense to me. :(
That's really uncomfortable. Did your GP do a complete work up, including thyroid? I don't know if you're a man or woman, but could it be hormone related?
