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Longlasting cold/flu with UC

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Posted 11/6/2007 2:19 PM (GMT -8)
Anyone here besides me get a cold/flu that doesn't seem to go away?  Had a cold a few months ago that lasted 2 months.  Now I've caught another one from my daughter that I've had going on 2 weeks, with no sign of letting up.  Not to mention it's in my chest now.  Anything any of you, or your doctor, have done to help get rid of it?  Thanks for any input.
Posted 11/6/2007 2:26 PM (GMT -8)
I do get sick more often now. I think it is a combo of a 2 year old in preschool and the Imuran lowering the ole immune system. Have you seen your primary about this last bout? Maybe need antibiotics??
Posted 11/6/2007 4:22 PM (GMT -8)
I am going on almost three weeks with bad sinus pain (headache, sore tender nose that is also slightly swollen, teeth hurt). I called my GI because I am on Remicade and feared an infection, but although the pain is very bad I have no fever and any discharge is clear. But the sinus headaches are just terrible. I am being seen on Thursday (Friday will be three full weeks of this agony) and if my GI has nothing for me I am going to call my primary and see what can be done. But yeah, when you're bosy is already working full time dealing with the inflamation other illnesses hang on for longer -- you just don't have the resources to deal with it all. Are you flaring? In spite of the Remicade I am still in the midst of a long bad flare which I amsure has something to do with the general unwell I am feeling.
Posted 11/6/2007 5:09 PM (GMT -8)

Tab - I haven't seen my primary yet about it, I'm afraid they'll just say 'hang in there another week or two and see if it clears up on its own'  I've considered the antibiotics also, but that's up to my doc to prescribe them.  If I have bronchitis for example, then antibiotics wouldn't do much anyways, since they're most often caused by a virus.  It would only prevent any secondary infection from settling in.

Meesh - I've been flaring for pretty much 1.5 years straight.  It's only a mild flare at the moment, but a flare nonethless.  I agree that my body is probably too busy to mess with this cold, or whatever it is.  It's just crazy that we should have to deal with these lengthy colds every couple months, on top of our UC.  We just never seem to get a break.

Thanks for the input.

Posted 11/6/2007 7:00 PM (GMT -8)
I found myself that way too at first - now I started taking the flu shot at the beginning of the cold/flu season every year and I'm much better.  Don't get the colds as often and when I do - they don't last as long.  I'm still good for strep throat once or twice - but not sick all the time like I used to be.  Ask your doc about the flu shot.

Posted 11/6/2007 9:04 PM (GMT -8)
A cold shouldn't last longer than a week to 10 days, meaning totally gone by then. You have much more than just a cold.

Do you cough or blow any yellow or green/grey mucus? If so, you have an infection. If you don't I'd be surprised considering it's constant.

If not, your lungs are in an inflamed state and the doc should be prescribing you something more to help open the airways and calm them down.

The fact that you're on prednisone will possibly have you in a more weakened state.
Sinus and lung x-rays might be in order to make sure all is clear and that you don't have "walking" pneumonia or sinus infection.

You could also have the doc do mucosal swab tests to be cultured to make sure it's not just nothing.

You're not a candidate for the flu shot until you're much better. But, do discuss it with him and the pneumonia shot as well (which is once I believe) for next year.

Don't assume too much as to what the doc might say....be very forward and make sure he covers all the bases....for he should be MORE concerned you're in such a state especially the meds you're on.

I'm still going to remind you of the obvious hand-washing, not sharing towels or wash cloths and changing toothbrushes monthly or more often after you're better.

Keep us posted....I hope you get answers and are on your way to feeling better soon.

quincy
Posted 11/6/2007 9:23 PM (GMT -8)
Yes, I get this. Mostly in winter time.

My doctor put me onto Seritide in the theory that some of the inflammation external to my colon was affecting my lungs. The Seritide dilates the bronchioles in my lungs, which allows me to cough the gunk out like a normal person.

Worked like a charm last winter.
Posted 11/7/2007 8:04 AM (GMT -8)
Believe it or not, I had an appt. to get my flu shot last week, and was supposed to have my first Remicade infussion this week.  Obviously had to postpone both of them due to this illness.  I'm waiting on a callback from my doctor to get their opinion on the matter.  I'll post information that they give me after a callback.
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