• Registered: Fri, 25 Nov 2011
  • Posts: 25

Topic: chills

My husband gets so frustrated because several times a day he will get severe chills. He doesn't have a fever. Could this be the cc, his chemo(gem/cis), or the oxycontin he takes? Does anyone else get these chills?He will use an electric blanket but sometimes this takes awhile.

  • From: Phoenix AZ
  • Registered: Fri, 13 Jan 2006
  • Posts: 8,210

Re: chills

Ah, the old chills, I remember them well. I would have to put 4 blankets on Teddy then honestly about climb on top. They are awful. BUT, his were always accompanied by high fevers and that meant a run to ER with a blood infection, which fortunately they had down pat so all could be resolved quickly. Maybe someone else can pipe in here about chills/chemo as Teddy never had Chemo. I know they are wicked so sending best thoughts that they go away quickly. Electic blanket good!

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHING
Any suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.
  • From: Indiana
  • Registered: Mon, 10 Oct 2011
  • Posts: 140

Re: chills

My first course of treatment (9 total) was Gemzar.  And within 4 hours, I was laying on the couch with chills and shivers.  Never ran a fever though.  I would just cover up with a couple of blankets.  They were always gone by the morning.

Cindy

  • Gavin
  • Gavin
  • Moderator
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  • From: Scotland - Dundee
  • Registered: Tue, 23 Sep 2008
  • Posts: 4,831

Re: chills

Hi tflory,

My dad used to get the chills as well and they seem to be quite common. And there are a ton of posts here on the website about them and if you use the search function then I know that you will be abe to read lots on them. My dad never had chemo so we couldn't put his chills down to that, and unlike Lainy and Teddy, my dad never had the chills with a temperature or an infection so we couldn't put them down to an infection of any kind. They just used to come out of nowhere and would last for a short amount of time, then they would just pass as quickly as they had come on. It was quite frightening at first, especially as we didn't know what was causing them. But then my dad sort of got used to them and knew that they would go away after a bit. Hope some of that helps.

Best wishes,

Gavin

  • Registered: Fri, 12 May 2006
  • Posts: 8,165

Re: chills

tflory.....My husband also had these episodes of chills (also called rigors.) They are not uncommon and have been reported often on this site.  In fact, the Search function will lead you to numerous, previous discussions.  They come on unexpectedly and seem to take their course within a few minutes to somewhere around 1/2 of an hour. I would grab the feather comforter and wrap myself around my husband until it stopped. (He said that this was one of the better moments with this disease.)
A nurse mentioned that it had something to do with the nerve endings being affected by something although; she did not know what that something might be.
I wish I had a better answer for you, but sometimes it helps knowing that others have had similar experiences.
All my best wishes,
Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER