went from better to worse

[maria garcia]

Its me again! Well like you all know my daughter started MTX and PRED. She was doing better for the first two weeks, I assume its the prednisone, to soon for MTX to have worked. Well she caught a cold and it seems like its over but her eyes that had improved are getting red again and her cough is none stop. She has been dry coughing ,no phlegm. for two weeks non stop, especially in the morning but still coughs during the day. Im so frustrated bcse I Don't know what to give her. She goes to school and even though she doesn't complain, it must be hard coughing in class. So it's been a month 2good weeks and 2 bad ones. We have an appt with her eye Dr.(he diagnosed her) and the following week to her rheumy. I was about to take her to the hospital today bcse she couldn't stop coughing . She will be going to the primary tomm. Im not sure what they can do but just in case she needs antibiotics. She just had a chest ct scan and it was fine. She will be going in Jan to an ENT to get checked. I just want her to feel better so she can function without this cough. It just seems like the cold has gone away leaving the cough behind.

[freakyschizogirl]

Try not to worry Maria - when i get a cold the cough lingers for weeks. Its just a Weggie body takes longer to push the cold away.

[Psyborg]

Maria, have they confirmed whether there is lung or airway involvement? I ask because MTX was not successful in fixing my issues, I needed CTX or RTX to get improvement there. I don't want to cause you any distress here, I just want to make sure you are aware. The ENT can verify if there is Tracheal involvment.

[NicShaf]

Do you think it could be her cold lingering? Like Freaky said, it takes the immunosuppressed much longer to get over a cold, but it is good that you are monitoring her symptoms. And a chest x-ray is always good to do if she got sick while on medication.

Does she keep a daily log of some sort with her symptoms so you can look back and see if she is improving? If not, I would highly suggest it. That is how I have determined the difference between Wegs or a cold.

I haven't experienced a dry cough, usually with my Wegs and with a cold, I have phlegm that I'm coughing up. I'm sorry, I have no advice to give on what can help her.

Hope she feels better soon!

[Al]

Maria, you know that I am not an alarmist. But, once again, because Christina's situation--the persistent dry cough, coming out of a cold--sounds so close to mine I have to point out that is could be the disease gearing up for a flare, which is precisely what happened to me. Twice. And it is important to remember that, for weggies, there is no such thing as "just a cold". Even many doctors talk this way. Colds may be harmless. Then again, they may trigger a flare. I wish you well in tracking this down.

Al

[NicShaf]

Maria, forgive me because I'm sure you have mentioned this many times before, but are they starting your daughter on MTX first? Or has she been on CTX or RTX for a while before MTX?

[Thakator]

Hi Maria,
Since becoming isuppressed, I've had two colds. When each had finally run its course. I was left with the dry cough which wouldn't let up. Waited two weeks each time before giving in and going on a ten day round of antibiotics - - worked well each time. Not a flare like Al, more of a second-stage cold like Freaky. Once again, the variety of Wegs. Ron

[Chris G]

My opinion.....and this is just an opinion.....is that her doses for both the mtx and the pred are too low. You mentioned a while back that she has had a dry cough for severall months. I believe that cough has been wg all along. The cold she just had exacerbated the wg cough. Because she recently had a chest ct and the cough is dry, I don't think u need to worry about infection. And she hasn't been on mtx long enough to worry about mtx induced pneumonia. I notice on another thread that the pediatrician told u to try a 40 mg short taper. My opinion is that it's worth a try. If the cough subsides, that confirms that it's wg related AND you will know whether her current dose is too low.

[maria garcia]

My opinion.....and this is just an opinion.....is that her doses for both the mtx and the pred are too low. You mentioned a while back that she has had a dry cough for severall months. I believe that cough has been wg all along. The cold she just had exacerbated the wg cough. Because she recently had a chest ct and the cough is dry, I don't think u need to worry about infection. And she hasn't been on mtx long enough to worry about mtx induced pneumonia. I notice on another thread that the pediatrician told u to try a 40 mg short taper. My opinion is that it's worth a try. If the cough subsides, that confirms that it's wg related AND you will know whether her current dose is too low.

Chris it's only for a week is that enough to see a difference? Im so frustrated her eyes had cleared up. Now two weeks later there read again why? Im so sad, I don't want her to see me cry. I can tell she is upset and asked me today why she is not better. The eye specialist had suggested MTX alone and the RHEUMY added the prednisone. Im scarred of putting her on 40 for 5 days and back to 10 . How is her body going to react. I just want to scream and cry. Im sorry im putting so much sadness on you. You have always been so nice to hear me out.

[maria garcia]

Maria, have they confirmed whether there is lung or airway involvement? I ask because MTX was not successful in fixing my issues, I needed CTX or RTX to get improvement there. I don't want to cause you any distress here, I just want to make sure you are aware. The ENT can verify if there is Tracheal involvment.

Bob after reading many threads I have decided to take her To an ENT. She had a lung ct scan and that is ok. Deep inside I know that there is inflammation somewhere causing the cough. Tracheal involvement most likely. Im having a hard time having conversation with doctors infront of her. It brakes my heart. She doesn't know about the ENT.appt. She keeps saying the cough is a cold and doesn't realize she has had it for a year just not as bad as after this cold. Maybe she is on denial or just doesnt want to worry me.