Anyone having the flu or cold/body aches

[irish]

Just wondering how many people have had the cold/body aches or the flu this year. I had not heard all that much about it around the state of mn. My one grandson missed 3 days of school 2 weeks ago when I was up there with slight cold, low grade fever and loose stools. But my other 4 grandkids haven't had that much as far as illness.

I have felt so lousy for the past4 months and don't know if I am having an increase in autoimmune symptoms just for the heck of it or if this is from the 5 months of the solumedrol 1000 mgm IV I had once a month for 5 months. Seemed like I sort of fell apart after that or maybe I was on my way to falling apart anyway.

I was in for my second and last iron infusion yesterday and ended up coming home afterwards as I felt too tired and weak to do any shopping----this is the way it is going lately. I felt weird Wed night and fell asleep with my clothes on in my recliner, computer in my lap and glasses on. I made it through 7 hours without breaking anything or hurting myself. Couldn't believe it. But, I woke up feeling quite ill. Really congested with a cold. Tonight my eyes are even watering at times and I have had to blow my nose a whole lot today for a Sjoggie. I haven't had a cold for about 12 years.

My lungs and sinuses have had this really, really thick mucus for the past 4 months and with the cold it is really miserable. Thankfully I don't have any infection yet. The nurse at the clinic says that the world is full of colds right now. Imagine picked it up at grocery store or clinic..where else does a sjoggie go for fun!!!!

Just curious how many have had this and how long it lasts. I am not being a very good patient as I am sick of being cooped up with winter, Good luck all. Irish

[Nymph]

Sorry that you're sick, Irish!

Colds, flu, and strep throat have been going around here (SC). It seems like a bad year for it and the flu shot isn't working too well. I had the flu shot and I think I still got a touch of it.

Hope that you start to feel better very soon!

[irish]

I have heard that the flu shot didn't work as well this year. There may be a big influx of flu in March and April cause the flu shots are wearing off and any protection we do have is about gone. Hope everyone stay health. Irish

[quietdynamics]

Granddaughter had something that took turns with the rest us in early Dec of last year. Then over.

Just brought DH home from hospital stay Friday. 4am Tues he could not breathe, he has just seen GP who wrote script for iron due to labs showing anemia.. so off we went. ER Drs labs showed iron had fallen more and he had pneumonia. Endo and colonoscopy, blood transfusions, then iron infusion, antibiotics and steroids, oxygen in ICU. EKG showed ischemia so when rested a catheter will be done as he has has multiple by-passes and stents.

So Irish I would take a trip to GP and not let things slide.. stay on the side of proactive. Even though DH had just seen GP the prior Thursday at least there were labs. Suspect to iron---> low red blood cells (was same as last year when he started a new drug and had stomach ulcers for 1st time required blood transfusions.) Last year they blamed other meds.. only one new and remaining was for platelet clots... so that has been stopped now.

Myself I have been dragging for months.

Hope you feel some improvement soon.

[irish]

My heart goes out to both of you as I know how exhausting and worrisome it can be. This type of illness you describe is overwhelming for you both and hard to snap back from.

I hope that you are able to get some much needed rest and that hubby turns the corner and better health is in store,=.

I will tell you that I am feeling some better tonight and even cooked myself a good supper. I had my last iron infusion on Thursday and I am feeling stronger and that really helps.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and hubby in this recovery. Irish

[DarleneB]

My husband had this..they said it was viral and it lasted almost 2 months. ..he sounded like he smoked and and  had tuberculosis. .which.he never smoked. .it wore him out...he does not have sjogrens...

[irish]

My son is on methotrexate for autoimmune disease and got this bug about a month ago and he had a terrible time shaking it. He is on 25 mgm of Methotrexate and catches everything that seems to come around now. I am better today but the dizziness still lingers and bugs the heck out of me. Be glad when spring comes and hope it is a long spring. It has, indeed, been a hard year for many people with so many illness worries plus other things. Good luck. Irish

[Judie P]

I got the same crap.  My husband caught this nasty cold and gave it to me.  Because of the Sjogren's, my mucus was double thick.  My wonderful doctor (who I just found out I am losing) put me on an inhaler, mucus thinner and antibiotics for either a sinus infection or acute bronchitis.  I have never been that sick in years.  For the first few days, I ran a low fever at night, had no sore throat, body aches and chills.  Then the nasal part started.  I had to stay home from work, and I am self employed, and lose two weeks of paid clients.

I finally am back to work but the stress is getting to me of not having those two weeks of money, so now I am dealing with Sjogren's flares and possibly a UTI or bacterial vaginosis or IC.  Who knows.  I cannot see a new doctor until next Monday.

To answer your question, Irish, we live in Northern California.  It has rained here so much that we are no longer in our drought.  Everyone has been telling my husband and I that this "thing" lasts about a month to five weeks.  I am still working on it with all the new crap.

[Carebear]

I am sick with the flu now as well.  It has been at least 15 years since I've had kind of flu or cold (as I have often bragged to my loved ones), so I have been hit pretty hard thanks to my smart mouth!

Thick mucus, is right!  I am choking and coughing on that stuff all the time.  In fact it has been quite scary on occasion because of my airways being nearly closed up.  Coughing, aching everywhere (if you can imagine the body part, it hurts!), fever, chills, sweating, sore throat, congestion.  Sleep has not come easily.  I just felt unwell and uneasy for about a week prior it making its appearance obvious.  I haven't moved from the bed for 5 days now, and counting.

Irish, our weather here is all over the place.  Freezing cold temperatures of around -35 degrees Celsius, windy, then it warms up to as high as 16 degrees Celsius.  We can have snow, lots of melting, rain, then icy when it gets cold again.  My stress level has been off the charts this winter as well, which may be why I have gotten so ill...selling the house, building a new home, packing and moving, my granddaughter has been diagnosed with congenital myopathy, and in the midst of that my precious little dog passed away.  Can I PLEASE have a break for the rest of the year??? 

Ugh!  Sorry for making this all about me. 

[irish]

Sounds like people are getting hit hard with this bug. I admit the thick mucus is terrible. I choked a lot too, not so bad now but still a problem especially in the morning. This is the first time that I could honestly say that Mucinex does help thin my mucus.

And, yes, the weather doesn't help. Right now it is about 30 or so but the wind is really blowing, Some places are to get snow. Yesterday it wad 66 and the sky was that terrible color that tells you store are coming. It was so muggy and then tornado watch was out and a town about 30 miles from here had a storm go through and take down a big elevator. I saw on line about the airport in Olathe, Kansas that was wiped out pretty good.

So, we will just drink fluids, eat as good as we can with out crazy appetite with the cold and pray for the best. It is going to be a crazy spring I think, weather wise. I hope you all can get rested up and feeling better and that nothing stressful happens to you in the next week. Good luck. Irish

[quietdynamics]

Irish it is so good to read that you are feeling better. Hopefully the dizziness will abate, perhaps as you are able to move about more now. I know you are a "Tough Old (young) Bird", said with love..from another Bird.

Weather drastic changes this year, there was a CDC warning about the flu strains this year, medications, plus holidays + sill dealing with them without your husband and you are still in flux with your move= "Lady you should be wiped out and susceptible to bugs, and cooties"  If it wasn't for the reuniting with a cousin and doing holidays at her home, I would still be in not very holiday feeling space. Although this year the flu hit us and proceeded like dominoes, myself being the last to fall. So I missed Christmas at cousins, but insisted DH and daughter go. They had a great time and I happily to food and "CHEESECAKE' yum.

I take half of the Methx dose + plaquinel that your son does. Still with all hospital, Dr. appts. I am careful of what I touch and wash my hands there. I will use my clothes/fabric if I need to open a door. Really. At home I mix bleach and water in a spray bottle to clean and disinfect (work with students taught me this). I prefer to get my germs and microbes in the garden..lol.

DH is much better. Needed to go to another pharm to get  Stiolto Respimat for pneumonia. Co-pay $130+ .. so pharmacist signed me up for program, co-pay $0. My feet did a happy dance. Pharm is in large grocery store... I bought them a bag of Hershey kisses.  Waited for next discharge med. Entresto 24/26.. no call from pharm.. so I called and got P**sed. Ended up go to new pharm Co-pay $220..said go do some shopping while we research. Got back co-pay $0.  And those co-pays are with Blue Cross. So a more diligent pharmacist makes a huge difference. Just shocking.

I got a really good, sound sleep finally last night so feeling 'charged' for me..lol Weather here is 65. Just Friday we had a strange sleet/snow storm that lasted only 10 minutes go through.. could not even see across the street as it flew, fast, furious and horizontal. Only one side of car covered as I went to pick-up DH from hospital. Weird.

So hope that everyone is on the mend.