WG and a heavy cold

[pwc51]

I have contracted a heavy cold, my first illness since my WG diagnosis about 9 months ago. The question I have is do I let it run its course or should I be taking some other action / medication? I am currently on 20mg mtx per week and 7.5mg pred per day.

[Jack]

I would not do too much about it - a couple of Paracetamol perhaps, but many of the other cold remedies should be avoided with Wegs medications.
You'll just have to suffer like everyone else. ;)

Keep an eye on it and take action if it does not seem to be getting better. It would be bad if it turned into a lung problem or the first signs of a Wegener's flare.

Hope you feel better soon.

[pwc51]

That's great thank you Jack - puts my mind at rest. It was not so much the suffering (according to my wife I always have 'man-flu'), I can cope with that, but concern over complications with the WG! I am still on that learning curve of what to worry about and what to ignore.

[elephant]

I still worry about that too! Drives me crazy!!

[jola57]

If it is just your garden variety cold, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids and vitamin C. Oh and Chicken soup does wonders. If you have a fever and chills, and can't shake them go and see a doc antibiotics may be needed. Hope you get better.

[coffeelover]

because my WG affects my airway...my mayo weg specialist ENT doctor tells me that if I contract a cold that I should immediately go on antibiotics to ward off any other infections that may arise. My breathing could be adversely affected so that is the concern there. I tend to get inflamation easily in the tracheal area
coffeelover

[jola57]

Are you feeling any better, and are you on antibiotics

[pwc51]

On day 3 I spoke to my consultant. He thanked me for calling and said that if I was not feeling any better the following day to see my GP. Fortunately I felt considerably better and am almost over it now, thank you.

[pwc51]

Oh, and by the way, I am not on any antibiotics. I have not had any since the early days of diagnosis when I was advised that they were affecting my liver and was told to stop taking them with immediate effect!

[elephant]

Glad your feeling better!

[jola57]

Glad that it is all over for you