I've had uncontrollable shivering (rigors) and a high fever-102-103 for the past 3 days. It always comes at night, but today it came during the day. Last night it was so bad that my lips turned completely blue. That was pretty scary. The rigors lasts for about an hour, and it's horrible and very painful. The last 2 times this happened, I was much sicker, and ended up in the ICU with septic shock. I do have a Central Line for TPN.
A substitute visiting nurse came today. My regular nurse was out sick. She said to call my PCP, so I did. He seems to think that I have some kind of an infection. That would be my guess, too. My blood was drawn this morning, but it won't be back until tomorrow.
Now I'm a little afraid of another rigors incident occuring. It really hurts, and I hate the feeling of total loss of control.
Does anyone have any suggestions? How do you stop rigors once they start? I've now had 4 episodes, each over an hour long, in the past few days. I don't want to end up back in the hospital. I spend way too much time there:( Thanks, Deb


Hi deb
I had rigors a few years back and i agree horriable and scary.Rigors is a good word for it -it feels like it sounds but i am still here.It was a fixable problem.A scary ride but I was fixed in the end by intervenous antibiotics.Like you i didnt want to go back to hospital (it was my daughters second christmas) but frankly that was a big mistake-I was being treated but pills were not enough for me.Is it possiable that the line is the source of your infection?
Good luck
emma