Well, I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on tv.. but, I'll give it my best shot!
I have no idea why they would have started you on antibiotics and then stopped them so suddenly. I've never heard of that. Especially these days when they are more hesitant to give antibiotics in the first place. I can understand them not wanting the temp from your operated side, but stopping antibiotics so abruptly is odd. If you did have an infection and treated it with only a partial run of antibiotics, you'd stand a higher chance of it coming back in a more virulent form. (Hey, Jim.. there are a few big words here!
)
As far as "normal" temperatures, or normal anything else for that matter, "normal" could be different for everyone and could vary by the time of day, what you're doing at the time. I wouldn't think a degree either way would be considered a fever. At least, when I was working as a nurse, I wouldn't have considered it a fever. You also have to remember that those digital ear thermometers are not as accurate, in my opinion, as the old fashioned mercury thermometers, so there's some degree of error there too.
Like I mentioned earlier, your body temp usually goes up in the evenings, and for women, it changes during parts of their menstrual cycle, so there are going to be minor differences. As a nurse, I'd look at the whole picture if you came to me - see what other symptoms you might have that would indicate a fever and infection somewhere.
I know there are other nurses and a doctor or two here, so maybe they could chime and and answer better than I can.
Hope that didn't sound as confusing as it seems to me!
Lori
