Stupid cold!

[Psyborg]

I suppose it was only a matter of time, but finally got my first cold. Of course it's gone straight to the Tracheal Stenosis area. I suspect I have a slight infection as I'm coughing up yellow gunk. Though no fever, so not sure. The weird part is other than congestion and coughing I feel the same as before (felt bad on the weekend though). The cough doesn't even hurt more than my TS cough does. Is the prednisone offsetting the effects of the cold a bit maybe?

[Geoff]

Snap Psyborg!
Just returned to work today after 4 days in bed fighting off a 'man cold'! I have found since my DX that taking to my bed is the best remedy. I am still surprised that over 2 years since my DX this has been only my second 'cold' of note. I expected so many more. With regards to your comment about the pred, I have actually been tapering down from 10 to 5mg and have been delighted to have recovered so quickly from my cold. Nothing at all related to this illness makes any sense to me! Hope you get well soon:thumbup:

[Sangye]

Psyborg yes, pred can mask many signs of infection like fever. If you're coughing up yellow gunk you need to see your doc and do a sputum culture.

[elephant]

Yes, I agree with Sangye. Go to your doctors today.

[Brooke]

I think I am kind of in your boat Psyborg. I am having the green gunk in my sinuses though. I would also ask about the sputum culture.

[Psyborg]

I'm pretty sure it's a mild infection...I can taste it (yeah I know yuck ;)). I've had tons of chest infections over the years, it's what I suspect brought on the Wegs last Spring to be honest. It really feels very mild and I'm on Bactrim 3 times a week, I'll ask the Doctor if I should do anything when she calls me back. I'm supposed to be going off the CTX after tomorrow, but still waiting on guidance on where i go next, I suspect one of the non-chemo immune-suppressors.

[Brooke]

I can taste it too at times Psyborg! I have a feeling it is an infection of some sort for me as well.

[Psyborg]

I've always had an overdeveloped sense of smell. Honestly, I'd be in a medical field like the rest of my family probably if not, but smells just absolutely destroy me. Weirdly I don't get sick to my stomach so much any more, but I'm even more sensitive to smells. Not sure if that a side effect of Pred...it seems like every other weird thing that happens is though :)

[freakyschizogirl]

Snap Psyborg!
Just returned to work today after 4 days in bed fighting off a 'man cold'!

Did ya know Geoff its now been downgraded to a "man sniffle"

[chrisTIn@]

I'll ask the Doctor if I should do anything when she calls me back.

I hope is really IS a mild infection, and that you will recover from it soon!

:cool1:

[Jack]

I don't think I've had any colds since Wegener's although it might be difficult to tell since I always have a bit of a runny nose and cough all the time anyway.

[Psyborg]

I think I definitely have an infection...slight fever this morning. I'm just not sure what they do to treat an infection given I'm already on antibiotics. I guess a different antibiotic?

[elephant]

Psyborg, you may need a stronger antibiotic like levaquin, but you probably need to get it cultured. Sometimes they give you a different kind of antibiotic to see if that works. Call your doctor today, you want to knock this out so it doesn't cause a WG mini flare.

[Psyborg]

Was up to 102 this afternoon...doctor gave me an antibiotic, name escapes me at the moment. Seriously don't want to get a mini flare...just starting to get to a reasonable level on Pred finally.

[Geoff]

Good Luck Psyborg, hope you nip it in the bud!

[marta]

Good luck Psyborg, and Geoff and Brooke. Know how you feel. I was down to 12.5mg pred, off cytox to get ready to move to mtx and poof, I'm in a hospital with extra antibiotics in pill form and now extra antibiotics in IV form.... Booooo hoooo, poor little bunny. I think I'm having a "man cold" too. What I'm bummed at is going from 12.5mg to 1000mg and having to continue the cytox. I think the wean will be quicker this time though so who knows. No kidding this disease is weird. I too think that I haven't really had a cold since diagnosis, it's so bizzzare.
Stay strong and healthy my weg friends.

[chrisTIn@]

...doctor gave me an antibiotic, name escapes me at the moment.

Maybe it was Clarithromycin?* My WG-specialist gave me a prescription, which I haven't been needing so far, but might need in the future.

"I give you this in advance, so in case of emergency you won't have to convince your family-doctor that you need this" he said.
I felt that was a very good gesture. Gave me the feeling that my condition is taken seriously, and it made me feel safe...:smile1:

(*Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic.
Doctors prescribe it for bacterial infections such as respiratory infections (pneumonia, acute bronchitis, Legionella sore throat, sinusitis, otitis media), skin infections and stomach and intestinal ulcers.
Clarithromycin inhibits the growth of many species of bacteria, by making the protein synthesis within the bacteria more difficult. A bacterium can not grow without protein...)

Anyway, whatever antibiotic you're on, hope you recouver soon!

[Psyborg]

No, not that one for me. It's augmentin, and is from my family doctor rather than the WG doctor. Feeling a bit better today, though still a little rough around the edges.

[pberggren1]

I am on Clarithromycin right now for my lung infection Mycobacterium Abscessus.

[chrisTIn@]

I am on Clarithromycin right now for my lung infection Mycobacterium Abscessus.

Wow! And how do you feel right now?
Are there any side-effects other than the usual?
Did you use it before?
How long will you have to take it?
Did you also get it prescribed from your WG-specialist, or did your family-doctor give it to you?

Augmentin I know...
I've had it prescribed before...

[DEE]

No, not that one for me. It's augmentin, and is from my family doctor rather than the WG doctor. Feeling a bit better today, though still a little rough around the edges.

augumentin is what i use too dr alwats make sure that i have some at home as it works quick for me ,hope you feel better soon

[pberggren1]

Wow! And how do you feel right now?
Are there any side-effects other than the usual?
Did you use it before?
How long will you have to take it?
Did you also get it prescribed from your WG-specialist, or did your family-doctor give it to you?

Augmentin I know...
I've had it prescribed before...

I am feeling much better than I did in August and September. I will be on it for about another year or so. I have never been on it. The most worrisome side effects are toxicity to the kidneys and ears. My Wegs doc prescribed it to me.

[chrisTIn@]

Good to know that you feel much better now, pberggren (I believe they call you Phill?).
A year seems kinda long, but then again, I'm taking co-trimoxazole for months already...

Psyborg, I sure hope your rough edges are gone soon! :smile1:

[pberggren1]

Some people call me Fill or Batman.:wink1:

[Psyborg]

Can't figure this out...still getting fevers every night. I don't actally feel bad other than the effects of the fever. Even the stuff I'm coughing up is back to just clear, rather than yellow. Stomach is a bit upset too, but I think that might be the Augmentin to be honest. Just curious are there any side effects to going off of CTX? I just thought about it and the fevers started when I went off the CTX.

[elephant]

Do you think it's wegeners? What other symtoms are you having?

[Sangye]

The only side effect of going off ctx is Wegs.

I'm thinking that maybe the fevers are hitting at night because the pred has worn off by then and isn't masking them. Just a theory. Are the fevers lower and shorter each night? If so, it would mean your body is moving in the right direction and fighting off the bug.

[elephant]

If these fevers continue you may need to get a blood culture, just to rule out another bacteria infection brewing.

[Psyborg]

I was afraid it might be a flare, but I'm experiencing no symptoms other than the fever really. I'm hoping the fever won't be back as intense again tonight.

[manalolana]

Fever is no fun either. Hope you feel better soon! I just got over my first cold that started in July. Was just taken off antibiotics two weeks ago. What other medicine are you on?

[Sangye]

If it was a cold, antibiotics wouldn't have helped. You must have had a bacterial infection that took time to resolve.

[flana]

There have been times when I have coughed up green, yellow/golden, brown phlem... but lasted only for a few days... No fevers or anything else. Hope you feel better soon Psyborg.

[Psyborg]

Think it's finally kicked...crossing my fingers.

[flana]

I am glad it did. Keep it that way!

[Psyborg]

Well after today I'm about 95% sure the infection is done. No fever, and now I've figured out the my fatigue was definitely CTX related, this is the best I've felt since before I started it :). Not sure what the side effects of MTX are...hope it's less severe overall. Dossage seems low...but pretty sure that doesn't mean much when comparing two different things :)

[elephant]

That is good news Psyborg. Glad you are feeling better!

[Psyborg]

Thanks to everyone for the concern btw :)

This has given me a whole new respect for avoiding germs again ;)

[Sangye]

Good to hear you're feeling better! Now go wash your hands.

[DEE]

glad to hear your feeling better i only felt tired for a couple of days when taking mxt good luck DEEx

[Psyborg]

Good to hear you're feeling better! Now go wash your hands.

I'm back to washing a bunch and using the hand sanitizer...I got less strict in the regimen. But how I got the cold...I got a drink on the way to work one morning and the cashier coughed before handing me back my drink. I thought "I bet I should was that off" then proceeded to not and drank it. First reaction is usually right :)

[Psyborg]

glad to hear your feeling better i only felt tired for a couple of days when taking mxt good luck DEEx

That's very good to hear, I actually felt like a million bucks yesterday...I'm hoping that I can maybe get back to more normal a schedule at work. As weird as it might have seemed to me before, I actually like being in the office better for getting anything but the heads down tasks done.

[Geoff]

If you are anything like me then its having the attention span of a butterfly, i.e flitting from one thing to another.

[Brooke]

Hi Psyborg - my doctor put me on Augmentin too! I am feeling better and the green is clearing up! I'm glad you are feeling better too :)

[DEE]

Augumentin works for me too also had seasonal flu jab today
, mine feels fine hubbt had jis thursday and moaned all weekend about it :rolleyes1:

[elephant]

I am allergic to augumentin, and I think I have a sinus infection that is not responding too the Bactrim??? I probably need another med!

[Brooke]

I bet a lot of us can not get the flu vaccine right now? My B Cells are still gone from my Rituxan Infusions ealier this year and so I have to wait for them to come back my dr said. Is this what some of the rest of you were told as well?

[Psyborg]

I am allergic to augumentin, and I think I have a sinus infection that is not responding too the Bactrim??? I probably need another med!

I imagine you are allergic to all penicillin type antibiotics? I assume there are stronger sulfa based ones than bactrim to try maybe?

[Psyborg]

Hi Psyborg - my doctor put me on Augmentin too! I am feeling better and the green is clearing up! I'm glad you are feeling better too :)

Thanks, glad you are feeling better too :)