Right now she says she has had a constant low grade fever for months. She says her normal temp is 96.8 and now it is 98.6. The doc gave her an antibiotic, then tested her for TB and Valley fever -- both negative. Now she is convinced that she is going to have to go in the hospital for tests. I try to reassure her and suggest that her normal temp has just gone up a bit. She says she is always hot and her eyes burn. She lives in Tucson and has macular degeneration.
A second opinion might be warranted. (We have had a couple of docs who did unnecessary testing just so they could get so more money out of Medicare.)
As far as temps - my temperature has always been 98.6!
I'd find another doc if he dreams up tests and treatments for non-existent maladies. Sounds like he's making $$$ off of her. He could listen to her and either reassure her that she's OK or give her sugar pills. Anything beyond that (with the example of her temp that you gave) isn't right in my opinion.
Mom keeps her place at 76 degrees summer and winter and uses blankets even at that temp....
Good luck with the revolving diseases. I finally told mom that she could not tell me that she was terribly sick unless it met certain criteria: Persistent vomiting, bleeding, unable to breath etc... Still happens but less frequently.
Perhaps you can find a new game...like something she can think and dwell on that is not an illness...or some other folks to interact with ( like at the local senior center).
I wouldn't mind Dr. doing tests...or prescribing B12 or vitamin D but extra antibiotics could mask a real problem without curing it.
And, importantly, as long as it doesn't stop him seeing the real wolf if/when it does come along!
By the way, most of my life my body temp was 96.8, my Dad had the same thing, but as I got older my body temp finally got to the normal 98.6. Who knows why, I never questioned it.
By the way, how old is your Mom? Could she still be having change of life hot flashes? Or has she been put on a regular prescription medication that has a possible side effect of hot flashes? Does she keep her home too warm? How about seasonal allergies? That can make you feel a bit warm.