Sjogren's Symptoms and Having A Cold

[sissyjane]

Another question oh wise people...

I have a cold virus happening, and my Sjogren's symptoms seem much better? Is it just because I'm so miserable otherwise, or does having a cold decrease the SJ symptoms? I'm very confused, and can't decide what the heck is going on...

[Shani]

I have seen a few people mention this too.That their symptoms seem to improve when they have a flu or a cold.I haven't really experienced it myself, as far as I can remember that is.My memory is not the greatest!:) But curious to see what others have to say to this.Great topic!

[navydad]

catching a cold with all this ging on isl ike a walk in the park,, my sister has ne now and you swear shes at deaths door

[Dolly Dimples]

  I have the dry issues, so I hate having a cold.

   It makes me soooo much more dry,   my throat and nose blocks up,

           and I cannot sleep at all, as I feel I can't breathe,.. so the less colds I have the better I like it!
                                    Dolly                                   
                           

[Pegasus47]

Hi:
Potentially it could be when you have a cold, your immune system gets diverted to fight the cold, instead of fight your own mucous membranes.  Does that make sense?

My autoimmune symptoms do not seem to decrease when I catch a cold.  I take mega doses of Vit. D, Vit C, L-Lysine and Zinc lozenges to fight the cold.  Seems to work for me.

pegasus

[chelle]

Hi,

I've found the same thing. Whenever I'm sick my dry eyes feel better. I'm not sure whether its my immune system off fighting at another campus or that I feel so miserable with whatever infection I'm fighting that i forget my eyes!

Chelle

[sissyjane]

My eyes don't feel as dry, and I don't hurt as badly. The rest of me feels pretty rotten...I probably don't hurt as bad, because I'm a total vegetable.

[newhorizons]

CHAPTER OF SJOGREN'S YEARS AND HOW I HAVE LIVED AND LEARNED SOME POSSIBLE HELPFUL TIPS FOR YOU...

Well All, The time of this post should indicate my immune system is screwed... 2:30 a.m. and I went to bed at 11 p.m.
Decided to check board as have been preoccupied with doing what I can to help hubby get ready to install new carpet in his bedroom and mine.

If you have problem reading long post, please free free to 'fast forward' As times flies at 67,I learned by trial and error to lessen the affects of cold symptoms.

He was kind enough to paint my room... which to sleep on couch one night nearly did my back in. Then floor next night and neck and shoulders joined in.  We have been working to get all the furniture moved in my room. Thank goodness we have had nice weather and my double garage has accommodated all my 'stuff' as hubby refers to it.

Started having congested sinus and a nasal passage one at a time a month ago. GOT OUT MY TRUSTY GUAIFENESIN and took up to 1200 mg a day plus using Nettie Bottle first thing in morning and at least an hour before retiring as recommended.  Had to use some Neosynphine to open closed side of nasal passage or Nettie Bottle Rinse did not get to sinus areas.(deviated septum)

Second week hubby finished painting room and we left my outside door open all day and fans running and seemed to alleviate smell. Moved my bed and two nightstands back in with humidifier and all my music and white sounds,little pillows, cold packs and my Sleep Comfort Mattress? Have adjusted it several times lately to get comfy.  Tempur-pedic replaced my small neck pillow as it was breaking apart and it had a 3-year guarantee. To keep what little moisture I get from pilocarpine (Salagen) moving on nights when mucus is really thick and no moisture, hubby puts 4" blocks under head of bed. Helps keeps me from having the chocking? sensation. Though shifts lower back and can only do a couple of nights then back down! then up! Vicious cycle!

Had began to think since I had only seen clear discharge from sinuses that it began to feel like last year's bout that ended up being bronchitis, lung involvement and finally, which had never experienced, wheezing with asthma! Took 40 + days of Biaxin 500 mg. x 2 a day and it with inhalers and much other "homey" stuff, I got better after 4 months.
Am trying to head this off this year!

Will call GP tomorrow and go Friday to get her thoughts on issue. Biaxin has been taken three times in the past to clear up lungs, etc.  First time, ended up on O2 for over 2 yrs. Live and learn.

Second time waited through Thanksgiving and just before Xmas of 22nd called and  GP  RX 1st round of 14 days Biaxin, 2 wks. Later 2 round and inhaler for Synibicort (Bronchitis) and 3rd round of 14 days, inhaler for asthmas to be used 2 puffs twice daily as was with S.

Finally, in mid April I felt better and began to be able to walk twice around the outside of our home.  Went back to Wellness Ctr. and climbed what seemed a mountain to get to feeling well enough to drive and go do one errand a day.

THIRD TIME? Am not pleased we have ended up removing and installing new carpet but carpet had already been ordered and Lowe?s is tired of storing it. So, to end my rambling of an hour, and the installer will be here in 5 hours.
 
WHAT HURTS MOST?  Ended up calling PT and he worked on my back, shoulders and 'flossed' the sciatica nerve. Went to Ortho Sports Med. MD last week and started Halagen shots on R&L knees! Thought I could get by without DepMedrol shots but went back today and got shot in both knees! Now I'm wired and sleep will not be mine until after carpet installers come at 9 a.m. this morning. Took my 2 tablets .50 Zanax. Helped alleviate most of pain.

Hubby and I need to move my bed and two nightstands and all my belongings before installers come.  He moved all his bedroom items today and stored them on his screened-porch and is sleeping in basement with the three kitties. Sitting here in the garage and expressing myself has relieved a tremendous load of stress that would not free my mind up for sleep.
If you made it this far in reading my posts about heading of a COLD that with Sjogren?s doesn?t stop with just  S-I-M-P-L-E COLD? SEEMS TO PROGRESS WHEN IT TIRES OF YOU CALLING IT JUST A COLD OR YOU "TAKE TO THE COUCH OR BED" AND DO NOT KEEPING MOVING AND "PLAYING A GAME OF CHESS" WITH THE SYMPTOMS!!

Best Wishes to Each of You this Winter... HANG IN THERE...LOL, Joy

[BonusMom]

I have not had a cold in YEARS, so I have no idea how AI symptoms will be impacted.

[sissyjane]

Well, my cold is going away, and my Sjogren's symptoms are coming back with a vengence...

I answered my own question I guess...LOL!   

[Cricket]

Yes, it seems when I am sick my SS and fibro go away and then when better they seem to come back with a vengeance!!

[eyeamdry]

Since having SJS, I don't get many colds.  Used to get a couple of bad ones twice a year or so.  Don't want to brag, but I rarely get the beast now.  Lucy

[Kerrikins]

I think my body kills off bugs right along with attacking itself. Right now all other 5 in my family have bad colds. For 2 days right at the beginning my only symptom was parotid gland swelling. It may have even been unrelated to the cold but it hurt to open my mouth...now the pain and swelling are gone and i have no cold symptoms while everyone else is really congested. I guessmy immune system is ramped up even on low dose prednisone. I am having a flare of arthritis, I guess that's the trade off.
Kerrikins

[Blue Kat]

A couple of weeks ago I had something - I'm not sure if it was a cold since I had a low grade fever - that in and of itself was relatively mild, but my neurological pain was off the charts to the point that when my cat lightly brushed up against me it felt like a belt sander on my skin.  I assume it was a case of my already overactive immune system going overboard trying to fight whatever it was I had.

[irish]

I have been off work for 7 years now and today I think that I might be having some cold symptoms. I feel blah and have a headache in my left sinus. I have think mucus that is draining a lot. That is the key to my idea it is a cold. I always have terrible thick mucus, but it never drains like this. I am just laying around today and watching it snow off and on.

I do remember havaing a cold back in around 1998 or so cause it was such a doozy and then after that only infections.

I just finished 14 days of doxycycline and now am on biaxin one tab a day for 3 months. My ENT wants to try this as he says that the biaxin has the antibacterial effect plue anti-inflammatory effect. Time will tell. Do you remember that cruddy way you feel when you have a cold??? I have never had that feeling ever except with a cold. Irish