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!