Help- the flu!!!

[Happy Camper]

Ok my 2yr. old just started throwing up-actually threw up all over me. I have been on pred. for a month and cytoxan for just over a week. What am I to except when (b/c I'm sure I will) get the flu. My 3 and 5 yr. old were drinking after her this morning before she got sick-this should be interesting.

[andrew]

Well here's the thing....at least this is how it was explained to me some time ago and I'm happy to take correction on this. You feel sick because of your immune system's response to whatever you have. You may not feel sick at all because your immune system is so smashed at the moment. I don't have kids, I have dogs and I can throw them outside. I guess you can't do that to your kids huh :-) What I do when I can't keep away from sick people is try and follow as strict hygene as I can e.g. washing hands and encourage others around me to do the same. I also take vitamin C every day but whether that actually helps or not I'm unsure.

Well, that's either helpful or confusing or a bit of both :)

[Jack]

If it is any comfort, I've never noticed any increased susceptibility to catching colds and flu even when I've been very immune suppressed. However, I know it can cause problems, so don't let anything develop too far without letting your docs know about it.

[Happy Camper]

Have you guys gotten the flu while immunosuppressed? and was it worse then when you have had the flu when you were "normal"

[andrew]

Oh yeah baby! Certainly have. I have lung involvement so at times it has freaked me out if I get a lung infection but that's more mental than anything else. Usually for me it's the garden variety flu/cold and it goes away eventually after hanging around longer than it should.

[Sangye]

You won't necessarily get the flu just because your daughter did. (And it might not be flu--just a regular bug)

Vitamin D is specifically effective at preventing flu and lessening its severity. Take a sizeable dose for the next few days-- 6,000 IU per day is not unreasonable. Supermarket brands are lousy and you'd have to take a whole bottle just to get a proper dose. Don't stay on this dose for longer than a week or two without checking with a physician-- holistic or medical.

[Happy Camper]

THanks Sangye I'll try the Vit. D

Unfortunelty even when healthy I get the flu every single time my kids do. I think I have literally had the flu at least 7 time in the last 5 yrs. My husband never gets it just me and the kids. But we'll keep our fingers crossed!

[Sangye]

When's the last time you saw a chiropractor? Your kids, too. None of you should be getting sick that often.

[Jack]

Have never had the flu. I get the very occasional cold, but nothing worse than when I was fit.

[pberggren1]

Happy Camper,

I have had a continuous rollercoaster of a sinus infection for the last year. I also have a lung infection right now as well and they have narrowed it down to the same type of bacteria as Leprosy and TB.

I have been on Cellcept for the last year and a half. I may be a rare case getting sick like this.

[Happy Camper]

I have never seen a chiropractor. We get the flu 1-2 times a year. With 3 kids that small it's pretty common. Esp. they do gym/sports or whatever. All my friends with kids also get it about once a year. The only difference seems to be that I always get sick. Most of the other moms don't seem to get everything there kids do. If my kids get croup I get it, cold/flu you name it. Esp. in the last year I feel like I have been constinelty sick-which I think was part Wegener's and I didn't know it. Maybe I should check into a chiropractor?

[Lightwarrior]

I have never seen a chiropractor. We get the flu 1-2 times a year. With 3 kids that small it's pretty common. Esp. they do gym/sports or whatever. All my friends with kids also get it about once a year. The only difference seems to be that I always get sick. Most of the other moms don't seem to get everything there kids do. If my kids get croup I get it, cold/flu you name it. Esp. in the last year I feel like I have been constinelty sick-which I think was part Wegener's and I didn't know it. Maybe I should check into a chiropractor?

Make sure you are not loading yourself with remedies that boost the immune system to stay well. It will have the opposite impact on us, our immune systems need to sit down, not be stimulated.

[Happy Camper]

- Thats what I've been reading on here about the boost of the immune system- That with WG it's not a good thing. I have not been using anything though now or in the past- so thats good I guess. I have just been following Dr. Weils diet. I am refusing to gain weight on the prednisone-if that is possible. So far so good. I have been trying alot of new foods and working hard at figuring it all out. It's alot to learn

[Sangye]

I have never seen a chiropractor. We get the flu 1-2 times a year. With 3 kids that small it's pretty common.
I'm a pediatric chiropractor (50% adults, 50% infants and kids) and that is not normal for any of you to be sick that often. It's common, but not normal or necessary. Same with childhood ear infections, chronic sore throats, strep, chronic "need" for antibiotics, most allergies, etc.... I didn't have a single kid in my practice living like that. Either I treated them from birth and prevented it, or they came to me in bad shape and we corrected the underlying imbalance. Now, I'm not bragging about my skills. Any chiropractor sees the same thing. Chiropractic fixes the actual problem and doesn't merely shift symptoms and imbalances around.

Exposure to germs isn't the problem, it's the status of the immune system. Before I became a chiropractor I taught school for 8 years-- kindergarten through high school-- and never even got colds, much less flu. In my chiro practice, parents were advised to bring their kids in even with high fevers, vomiting, etc... because that's a great time to get on top of the bug. I was constantly exposed to virulent stuff. but until I got Wegs I hadn't even had a cold in 6 years.

Treating Wegs holistically is a different thing altogether. I've started other threads about it because there are things you have to know before seeing a holistic doc.

[Happy Camper]

Thanks I'll have to look in a good chiropractor in the area.

My kids are very prone to the flu and croup. Not one of my kids has ever had an ear infection which seems strange I know so many people that deal with those. We definelty avoid anitbx except when neccassary.

[Sangye]

Good for you! If you tell me where you are, I might know someone to recommend.

[Happy Camper]

I live in a south suburb of Chicago. We are very close to the city.

[Sangye]

Poo. I don't know anyone close by. Ask around at places like health food stores and Mom's clubs for someone who's great with kids. I'm sure there are excellent ones in Chicago.

[Happy Camper]

thanks, so far no flu for me YAY! we'll see what tommorow brings

[me2]

30 years ago my doctor told me that a strange side effect of having Wegener's was being LESS likely to get colds or flu. I can say without doubt that I have FAR less colds and flu even though spending much of the time immune suppressed. The last time I caught the flue was from kissing someone with the flu and even though on Rituxan and prednisone I got better a few days before she did. Go figure. I don't know about this subject in general (for other people) but this has been my experience. I take good care with hand washing and not touching hand to mouth or eyes when possibly 'contaminated'. I'm not OCD just a bit prudent and I have done well to not get sick. Kissing is hard to avoid when it is available.

[Jack]

me2 - that is my experience too even though it goes against all the usual stuff about immuno-suppression. However, I do get the odd mild fungal infection and had other random infections before starting on Bactrim.

[andrew]

Kissing is hard to avoid when it is available.

LOL!! Amen to that :-)

[me2]

Me2 Jack. I have had mild fungal infections (although the last one was a loooonnnng time ago) and I suffered horribly from sinus infections until eventually ending up on bactrim. I believe also that using a daily sinus wash (sometimes with Alcholol. ALWAYS with Alcholol if infected) has helped end sinus infections for me. I suspect also that structural changes inside my sinus's over time (which are dramatically seen on x-ray) have helped them to avoid infection although I have never had an ENT confirm my theory. During the time I DID have infections Bactrim was very helpful. I would have traded the normal flu and cold rate for all the sinus and eye infections (due to Wegener's scarring) I have had. But, no tradsies in Wegener town.

[drz]

me2 - that is my experience too even though it goes against all the usual stuff about immuno-suppression. However, I do get the odd mild fungal infection and had other random infections before starting on Bactrim.

I am allergic to several antibiotics and some of them are related to Bactrim which might be why they give me the Pentamidine instead.

[Happy Camper]

Me2: You have had Wegener's for 30 years?

I hope I get less colds/flu's- that would be one positive :)

[me2]

HC, yes , this is my 30 year mark this year. Before WG I would get colds every year and usually the flu. I have only had the flu once in umpteen years.
drz are you familiar with desensitization to Bactrim? I shared my long story somewhere else here but the short of it is that I too was allergic to Bactrim and did a desensitization course of Bactrim successfully. The success rate of people desensitizing is 80%. It is safe and easy. It is just taking very small measured liquid doses and working up to a full dose. It takes about a week as I remember. Bactrim is uniquely helpful to those of us with WG so I thought it was well worth the try. If nothing else , you end up with another good antibiotic in your tool box. I am allergic to other antibiotics (I used to be allergic to none) so having Bactrim available is important to me for that reason too.

[Jack]

I am allergic to several antibiotics and some of them are related to Bactrim which might be why they give me the Pentamidine instead.Yes, I can understand their caution because an an adverse reaction to Bactrim can be very serious indeed. However, me2 raises a very good point - it is a uniquely useful drug for Wegs patients and it may well be worth trying to desensitise so that it is available to you.

[Happy Camper]

me2: Wow 30yrs. Did you have long periods of remission? I'm so nervous being only 29yrs old that it's going to be hard to live a long life with Wegener's and drug side effects? I was just diagnosed on June 22nd ( my oldest daughters 5th bday) this year. Still trying to cope with the diagnosis and the deniel? Is that common to have a very strong sense of deniel. They had a hard time giving me the official WG diagnosis due to my negative ANCA and the dr. at Mayo said my pathology look more like an infection vs. WG due to the non-nectozing and nectrozing granulomas. Dr. Langford is my Dr. from Cleveland clinc though and said at this point WG is really what it is, just not a very common case.

Did anyone else have a negative ANCA when first diagnosed? They have repeated it 4 times.

I have been on pred for a month and Cytoxan for lil over a week. Within one week of the Pred. my ESR, SED RATE and CRP were within normal limits. Is that common to respond so quickly to the steroids. My xray also showed some improvement in the nodules.

Physically I feel better then I have in months and I am back to my old self. A lil shaky/jumpy at times (from the pred) I think, but otherwise I chase 3 kids around all day and feel "normal"

[Jack]

Happy Camper - I've had Wegs for 25 years, diagnosed at age 30. During that time, I've held down a good job and raised a family with the Wegs held in remission (that's not to say that there have not been a few problems along the way). It is only now that the drug side effects are catching up, but treatment is much better now than it was then if you are seeing the right doctors.

When I started treatment with Ctx and Pred I went from death's door to feeling fine in a few days. Unfortunately, a lot of permanent damage had been done by that time.

[me2]

Happy Camper I had a remission of 20 years with no drugs. I had no idea what I was really dealing with and how lucky I was until relapse about ten years ago. That was the beggining of my new education on Wegener's. The internet changed my life, it saved my life. Doctors gave me almost NO information on what I had .
Its a very long story but it is like much of what you hear on this site. ANCA had not been invented I think when I first was sick. Like Jack says elsewhere a nasal biopsy is definative for diagnosis. At least it was for me. I asked my doctor to do the ANCA for me a few years ago . He agreed reluctantly and said that he didn't think my illness would register. He was right. I was tested again later by a different doctor while extremely ill and still it was negative. We now do not even try to use ANCA to track my disease.

This illness is very hard to wrap your head around. Denial is very easy to fall into. Even now for me all these years later. Part of the problem is that the disease can keep changing. For example, it almost killed me thirty years ago due to attack on my kidneys. I had zero lung involvement. In this latest episode I have no kidney involvement and it has affected my lungs and I have had dilation for sub-glottic stenosis.
The illness is a trickster. Just when you think you have it under control something else can pop up. I'm not trying to scare you but just to boost your awareness and readyness to take care of yourself.
Hey, the odds are very good for remission and you may not need to have this awareness. But, if something does come up, you want to be well informed and ready to act. I remember when I first started reading about what the illness could do and was doing to other people it scared the day lights out of me. I even quit reading about it for a while because it was too depressing. Then I started to realize that I was reading about ALL the possible things that can go wrong not the things that WERE going to go wrong with me. Many of us here have been very sick but nobody has had every single thing Wegener's can do. I gradually got over my fear that I was going to get whatever it was I was reading about.

Jack is not from our neck of the woods so I can answer his thought- Yes, you are seeing the right doctors. You are very , very lucky in my opinion to have Dr Langford.
The fact that you are feeling so much better so fast is really great. I am happy for the Happy Camper. I think your odds of continuing to feel good and managing this beast are great.

[Happy Camper]

Me2: Thanks for all the advice/info. It really helps hearing from other people going/gone through the same thing. As much deniel (and how good I feel) I am definetly educating myself and prepared to do whatever it takes to get and stay in remission. My kids are really driving me to fight this with everything I have in me. I have completelty (and very strictly-for the most part-LOL!) changed my diet. Dr. Weils anti-inflammotory diet basically and a few other things. I'm also trying to continue exercising and watching and keeping my weight the same.

It makes me feel better that your ANCA has also never been positive so I shouldn't focus so much on that.

I'm a nurse which I think helps a little because I understand at least some of all this medical jargon. Alot of my family members are very overwhelmed with WG and all the info. Although when they told me I might have WG I could barely remember hearing about it from nursing school. In the 9yrs I have been a nurse I have never even had a patient with WG as a history.

WG is so scary, it was very hard for me to read all the bad things about it at first. But I'm just trying to be as educated as possible, but not obssessed with it. My kids also keep me so busy that I forget about it alot and just don't have much time to be sad/ or think about it.

I can't believe how fast it attacked my lungs like that. One small little pea size nodular and then 4weeks later my left lung had huge nodules all over, ground glass apperance, massive inflammation, etc... Crazy scary. So it's going to be hard to find a balance of when to see a Dr. and when to take action on a symptom. Or when it's just nothing

I'm glad everyone on here thinks I made the right choice with Dr. Langford I did some research while at my local hospital and was able to get an appointment with her the day I was diagnosed. I was able to get in only 3 days later. They discharged me from the hosptal and I left the next morning for Cleveland. They actually let me adminster my 3rd dose of IV Solumedrol 1000mg in the car ride. I had the bag hanging from the hook in the car. It was pretty funny.

Jack: I'm glad you were able to work and raise a family. That gives me hope that I can kick this thing in the butt and me the mom/wife I intended on being. Thankfully I only worked very part-time as a nurse so if I need to take a brake for awhile I hopefully can. They said they don't want me working in the hospital at least while I'm on Cytoxan and I probably should find a job were I'm less exposed to infection. I take care of pt.'s with c-diff, mrsa, the flu, fungus etc... pretty nasty floor at the hospital

Thanks again for everything.

[Sangye]

me2, You are a real gift to this group. I'm so glad you joined. I keep forgetting how long you've had Wegs and how long you were in remission. If you're okay with it, would you mind adding it to your signature on your posts? (There's a way to make an automatic one.) I'd sure like to be reminded of that potential on a regular basis! Your experience and advice is much appreciated.

Happy Camper, Dr Langford is one of the VF Wegs specialists. You're in excellent hands with any of them, have no doubt at all about that. It's like falling into a pile of gold to have one of them caring for us. The denial comes in waves and probably never really goes away. You're so newly diagnosed, please don't expect yourself to have your mind around this so early on. Four years (and a lot of therapy) into it, and I still struggle. One day at a time. :)

[me2]

Sangye thank you for the kind words. I feel very lucky to be here - and not just in that "Oh , I have Wegener's" kinda way. You have been helpful to me in the past as have others here in so many ways. I am feeling better now that I just finished 4 months of Cytoxan (this last Monday) and I am enjoying being able to contribute to some great discussions here. I have struggled for a long time to finally be having some days strung together where I am not fighting for my life. I am taking a soul-deep sigh of relief and trying to adjust to new found health. Its tough, but somebody with WG's has to do it once in while - why not me today. Somebody else tomorrow.

[Sangye]

Congratulations on getting your head above the water. :)

It's funny, whenever I think of you and those many years of remission I think, "Your body already knows how to do it. It can do it again."

[drz]

Me2 Jack. I have had mild fungal infections (although the last one was a loooonnnng time ago) and I suffered horribly from sinus infections until eventually ending up on bactrim. I believe also that using a daily sinus wash (sometimes with Alcholol. ALWAYS with Alcholol if infected) has helped end sinus infections for me. I suspect also that structural changes inside my sinus's over time (which are dramatically seen on x-ray) have helped them to avoid infection although I have never had an ENT confirm my theory. During the time I DID have infections Bactrim was very helpful. I would have traded the normal flu and cold rate for all the sinus and eye infections (due to Wegener's scarring) I have had. But, no tradsies in Wegener town.


I went out for dinner tonight and the restaurant was located on WEGENER DRIVE. I just thought it rather ironic to be having a such an enjoyable meal at a location with the same name as the horrible disease that is not at all enjoyable .

[pberggren1]

I find that quite funny and ironic that you had a meal on Wegener Drive.

[Sangye]

ROTFL-- just wondering if the restaurant had a circular driveway. " 'Round and 'round and 'round Wegs goes, where it stops, nobody knows" :D

[drz]

ROTFL-- just wondering if the restaurant had a circular driveway. " 'Round and 'round and 'round Wegs goes, where it stops, nobody knows" :D

How did you know? Both roads into the parking lot were off WEGENER DRIVE and you could keep driving around the restaurant onto WEGENER DRIVE.

[Happy Camper]

ok I didn't escape the flu. Been puking all night. Called Dr. Langford she said skip Cytoxan this am, but get my pred. in me (which I did and kept down). Now just resting which is new to me LOL. I don't think I have laid in bed till 12 in about 5yrs.

[Hammy8241]

Sorry about that Happy Camper. I hope you get the support you need and are feel better quickly.

You do realise that if you had just said NO! 2,3 or even 5 years ago you wouldn’t have the flu now……..:D

Get well soon

[Sangye]

So sorry you're sick, Happy Camper. But Hammy's last comment is a riot. :D :D :D Just say NO! LOL

drz-- Love the Wegener Drive loop. Ain't that the truth.

[elephant]

I agree with me2. Happy Camper I was thinking the same thing that your chances of getting damage from WG are less....and the fact that Dr Langford is our Doctor. You will do fine, and so glad you have a great doctor. :)

[pberggren1]

This talk of eating on Wegener Drive with this loop stuff is making me hungry. By the way, I was able to taste and smell a little bit yesterday and today. I hope this is a trend.

[drz]

Yes, I can understand their caution because an an adverse reaction to Bactrim can be very serious indeed. However, me2 raises a very good point - it is a uniquely useful drug for Wegs patients and it may well be worth trying to desensitize so that it is available to you.

I haved never heard of such procedure till now but will ask about it at future medical appointment's.

[Sangye]

By the way, I was able to taste and smell a little bit yesterday and today. I hope this is a trend.
Yay Phil! I hope it is, too. It's about time for you to feel better. :)

[elephant]

Phil are you taking a differnt antibiotic. was it the WG that caused the loss of taste/smell? OR infection? Are you feeling better?

[Sangye]

How are you doing, Elephant In Remission? :)

[elephant]

I have been on two different antibiotics..sinus infection diagnosed June 14. Noticed less taste and smell still. I increased the prednisone to 8 mg .....didn't notice any difference...well except less pain in my left maxillary.... and had a few days of feeling talking inside my head...no I am not crazy! ;)
Today off antibiotics but start Bactrim DS every other day on pill( that is split).
I even been getting some weird bumps that itch ( but not mosquito bites).
These are the little things that get to me.....I really should just call my WG specialist and leave a message....Do I need to increase my prednisone to 10?
Sangye thanks for asking. How are things at your end?

[Sangye]

Are you spending time in sun or heat? You might be getting too much Fire-- results in itchy rashes.

Just call Dr Langford and get it over with. I'm sure she'll say things are fine, but you'll feel better if you hear it from her. :)

[elephant]

Sangye you caught me yes I have been in the sun. I should not be in the sun. How come you know this ( itchy rashes)??

[Hammy8241]

Sangye you caught me yes I have been in the sun. I should not be in the sun. How come you know this ( itchy rashes)??

This may help understanding elephant:


This is the meaning of SANGYE, which is the primary word in Tibetan for a Buddha. SANG means "elimination" and GYE means "development." What did he eliminate? The meaning of SANG is the absence of any stain at all. "Elimination" means there is absolutely no stain, obscuration, or fault. Because of this stainlessness--the immaculate nature of the enlightened being--there has never been a case in which the Buddha was unable to fulfill someone's wish or answer someone's question. The absence of these shortcomings shows the complete removal of obscuration and stain. Therefore, SANG also means the absence of such inabilities in the enlightened state of the Buddha. If someone has a weakness, he or she is not SANG, because all faults are not removed.

GYE is translated as "developing." This means that all the enlightened qualities are fully developed. Because of the power and strength of the full development of enlightenment, Buddha was able to understand the needs of each sentient being. This omniscience is the quality of full development. Not only did he understand the need, he was able to provide whatever remedy would fulfill the wish of every sentient being.

When we understand these enlightened qualities, we do not use the term Buddha or SANGYE lightly. We learn to respect what it means when we understand all of these qualities. Otherwise, we often fail to recognize the full meaning of SANGYE, and once we gain a little experience we think, "I am enlightened." When we develop a little power or strength, we think, "I am enlightened." We must understand the full meaning of enlightenment, and that there is no weakness in an individual who is fully enlightened, or SANGYE.

Personally I think its a lot simlpler......She's a woman!!:D

[Jack]

Err............
Was that a bit of ducking and diving around the ban on religious discussion? :rolleyes:

[Doug]

A DISCOURSE ON RULES AND WORKING OUT HOW TO APPLY THEM GRACIOUSLY:

Erm, I'm the former Rule Nanny, and I am only mildly concerned about this breach. It allows me to tell a story, in fact, that may have some convoluted relevance.

Once upon a time, I was a lad, curious about the worship practices of other churches. So were my fellow chums, a Roman Catholic and an Episcopalian.

"Let's go alternate Sundays to each other's services!" Seemed a simple way to examine the differences. Lads always come up with such schemes! As someone brought up in a Reformed domination, I was the only one who experienced something truly unique. And confusing. When it came time for the RC friend to come to a simple Reformed service, his family priest put his foot down.

Being a simple lad, I did the only thing that seemed an answer to my friend attending my church "to see how the other part" worshiped: Write a letter to the Pope! Ha! Some Cardinal associated with the Curia (whatever the administrative branch of the RC church is called) wrote the Archbishop of Grand Island, who wrote poor Father Tom. My friend was able, after months, to attend one of my church's services. He was under-whelmed! Ha! Presbyterian services are austere compared to the traditional Latin mass of that time.

"Why was it you were allowed to come to church with me, Tom [not the Father Tom!]?" I asked.

He related the whole business of my letter and the answer back to Father Tom.

"It must have been quite an answer! What did the Archbishop tell Father Tom." I asked.

"The Archbishop told him that if he'd done his job [i.e. instructed him in the faith, RC style], then there was no reason to worry about him attending one Presbyterian service," said my chum, Tom.

The point, convoluted as it is, I, as former Rule Nanny, see this as a major breach of the religion rule. As the newly-reformed me, however, read it with interest, but in the context of a Presbyterian elder: interested to learn of another faith, but not prosyletized in one way or other. The Pope would approve. Well, maybe not. Oh well!

ANOTHER STORY:

One day, I came across a column in the Jakarta Post [an English newspaper that's published in Indonesia] The author, a well-established Muslim scholar of unshakeable faith in Islam, admitted he had a taste for Protestant hymns and other Christian sacred music. He'd spent a Christmas of two with Christian friends when he was a child, and there was exposed to these happy, upbeat pieces (as he characterized them). They had a Jesus message, of course, and he felt uncomfortable with himself for singing and liking to sing these hymns. Could he be a good Muslim and still like this overtly Christian music? Oh... When I wrote him, I told him the story above! I also mentioned Wayang puppet shows tell stories from Hindu scriptures, yet they are a very popular evening entertainment in the villages of Indonesia, the country with the single largest Muslim population. My Muslim friend, Ircham, always said his favorite song was "Christmas White" (i.e. White Christmas"!), yet he tried to convert me....

A CONCLUSION:

A good story is one you keep coming back to to smooth your way- and the ways of others- through life.

[Sangye]

LOL-- Hammy, I'm impressed with your knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism. It's my Buddhist name, given to me by my Lama. It's an aspirational name, that's for sure!

Elephant, excess Fire (Pitta) is the cause of rashes, especially itchy ones. And the best way to get too much Fire right now is to be out in the sun. When I can get a little more focused I'll add to the thread I started on How to prevent some pred side effects-- it's all about Fire control. :)

Doug-- LOL. Loved the story. :D

[Hammy8241]

Err............
Was that a bit of ducking and diving around the ban on religious discussion? :rolleyes:

No Jack nothing to do with religion. Just looked the meaning of Sangye in google and thought it enhanced the one liner at the end.:)

Jack, not sure of your age, but were you involved with BL in the old days when Wolsey, Riley, Austin, Morris etc were producing cars like the Cambridge A60, 16/60 etc?

[Jack]

No, I started by working for Triumph in the last days of Triumph Stag and TR6.

(the religion comment was a little tongue in cheek, but I seem to have stirred the pot again! ;) )

[Doug]

Please don't, Jack! At this stage of my life, I'm like that archtypical British colonial administrator- retired: I've got a million stories, just waiting for someone to stir the pot to let them out! Ha!

[Sangye]

LOL-- What pot, where? :D Are there any muffins in it?

[elephant]

Diddo LOL to all! Thanks Sangye, I will refrain from the sun. My pot has muffins in it and I ate most of them...wiping crumbs off my chin. :) :o

[Hammy8241]

No, I started by working for Triumph in the last days of Triumph Stag and TR6.

(the religion comment was a little tongue in cheek, but I seem to have stirred the pot again! ;) )

They had already gone to ' pot' by then so you are not to blame. TR4a what a car! Last of the real sports cars IMO.

[Jack]

TR6 was a bit fat, but I would not mind a TR5, a very pretty car -

http://inbox.apana.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/tr5.jpg


and I loved the exhaust note of the Stag even though the engine design was seriously flawed.
I worked on TR7 which was not up to much until its final days when it became a drop head and evolved into TR8. That one was good fun!

[pberggren1]

I got to drive a TR8 once. It was a lot of fun.

Doug, keep that pot stirred and pour out some more stories for us. Those 2 stories I enjoyed. Which Pope did you write? Was it Pius XII or John XXIII?

[Doug]

Phil -It was in the middle sixties, perhaps 1964-5, when we were juniors in high school. It seems Pope John XXIII was pope then, but I don't recall what year he died. [>rustle< >rustle< he takes a moment to fact check....] Make that Blessed John XXIII (I forgot he was beatified...), and I must have written Pope Paul VI, his successor in 1963.

Jack - Ow! Ow! Ow! I'm not a serious car nut, but I want one! Those were beauties! Is there anything to the story that English car electrical systems always were quirky and apt to fail, or is that Yankee propaganda? That Fiat Spyder was seriously interesting except a friend had one, it was a disaster to fix (here in the middle of America), and it always needed fixing. But...! Man, was it pretty!i

[Jack]

I'm afraid that there is some truth in that. The electrics were usually supplied by a British company called Lucas and a common expression was - Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness! ;)

[Lola]

Reminds me of the red 1958 MGA Roadster I owned when I was 19. What a picture I have of myself, compared to the picture I now see in the mirror. Fun times.

[Doug]

I'm afraid that there is some truth in that. The electrics were usually supplied by a British company called Lucas and a common expression was - Joseph Lucas, Prince of Darkness! ;)

>snort< "Prince of Darkness"!

[Terri]

Oh you guys!!:confused: Earlier back in this thread I had a question but as I continued to read new posts.....
religion, cars meaning of Sangye (which I found interesting BTW) now I'm having a pred moment and I forget what I wanted to ask. It will come back I just have to go over what I've read.:(
That's it! The Bactrim... do most weggies stay on it for life? Towards the end of May my Dr. said I could quit taking it and I dropped from 7.5 to 5 mg of Pred. For the past week or so I've felt as if I've been run over by a truck and have been running a low grade fever. My Dr. put me on Ciprofloxin for 10 days because he felt I have a UTI. My symptoms started about the same time. Yesterday was the most tolerable as far as pain. Today I am doing ok but not where I'd like to be. I'm wondering if I should have stayed on Bactrim?

[elephant]

Terri if the Cipro should kick in with 24 hours, you should feel better by the second day. It could mean your having a small flare. I too was wondering the same question. I'm on bactrim DS every other day. I am wondering if I need to start taking it every day. I feel your pain!
How long have you been on Cipro? Mabey you need to increase your prednisone back to 7.5, but ask your Rhuemy first.

[pberggren1]

That doesn't sound good to me Terri. It could be a flare. If you don't start to feel better within 72 hours I would get a second opinion.

[Terri]

I have a tendency to drag my feet if I think I'm having a flare. Looks like I might not get out of it. Darn:mad:
The cipro I took for 10 days for a UTI. The Bactrim I had been on 3x a wk since I was diagnosed in 07 so I didn't know if that was a good move. I felt a little uneasy about it.
I put a call in to my Dr. this am phil but I won't get an answer until later today. He doesn't usually call back until the end of the day.

[pberggren1]

At least he calls back Terri. I have had doctors that never call back.

[Sangye]

I have a tendency to drag my feet if I think I'm having a flare. Looks like I might not get out of it. Darn:mad:
The cipro I took for 10 days for a UTI. The Bactrim I had been on 3x a wk since I was diagnosed in 07 so I didn't know if that was a good move. I felt a little uneasy about it.

It could be the Bactrim, a flare, or the Cipro itself. Cipro is in a class of antibiotics that is extremely hard on the body-- specifically the thyroid. It's a fluoridated drug, and the thyroid will selectively uptake fluoride instead of iodine. It can cause you to feel really lousy for some time. I had patients who took it and were "off" for up to 6 weeks after. They described it exactly as you did--hit by a truck.

Another common one in the same class is Levaquin, and a less commonly used one is Avelox. Unless an infection cultures for that class, it's good to avoid them. Fortunately I'm allergic to that class so I don't have to arm-wrestle with my docs about it.

[Terri]

I thought maybe all along that it was the cipro because that is when it (the truck) hit me.
I just didn't know why. I'm done with it now so we'll see what happens.

[elephant]

I can't take Cipro it cause me to have a very fast heart rate. I will not take levaquin or avelox unless I really have to.
Terry you probably need to get lab work done and get your thyroid checked.