PghGuy00
01-08-2008, 03:52 PM
Hi all, Since the holidays, it seems as though everyone has developed some sort of cold/flu/viral thing and I usually don't get them, but I have this time!!! ( I have this theory that those of us who have highly-elevated immune systems shouldnt get sick, but maybe thats not the case, sorry to digress) I've had this for 10 days now and the usual cold symptoms of running nose, cough, etc are pretty much under control. My worst feelings are every muscle and joint in my body hurts. Not just aches, but hurts to move. Also, my fatigue is unbelievable. I'm barely able to type here. GRRRRR.
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MSJayhawk
01-08-2008, 04:22 PM
While my illnesses due to non-MS origins is virtually ZERO (Praises and Huzzahs for these blessings), they are not ZERO. When I do get sick, I believe that MS plays a role in the ensuing reactions toward the illness. I get a flu shot each year as a precaution and because I had pneumonia twice in the past. With a compromised immune system, precaution should be maintained IMO.
MSNik
01-08-2008, 04:45 PM
Hey PghGuy00. Although it is true that we have compromised AND elevated immune systems, we DO tend to get these things worse when we get them at all. Because I work in healthcare, I am ALWAYS getting things which are "going around". Im truly surprised (and grateful) that I havent been hit with this latest bug especially since Im having surgery on Thursday! The MS Society does OK flu shots for MSers- however, the jury is out on that. Some Neuros, including mine, feel that injecting the flu shot into us can actually cause more harm than good and give us horrible reactions...not having ever had the flu shot, Im not 100% positive of what it would do to us.... I know others who have always gotten the flu shot, continued to do so after being dx with MS and have had no problems, and one person who never got it before who got it this year (he has MS) and got horribly sick for a week afterwards...
As for can colds and flu aggravate symptoms? DEFINATELY! Your going to feel worse then if you didnt have MS to begin with, especially since muscle aches and fatigue are such a huge part of our everyday lives to begin with. Take over the counter stuff, Motrin, Aleve and/or cold meds to try to treat the symptoms and get more sleep then usual to try to fight off whatever is going on in your system. Stay extra hydrated and with this nutty weather we are having, try NOT to be in extreme temperature changes...tough this week, I know, but keeping your body temp consistent will also help.
Feel better soon!
Nikki
As for can colds and flu aggravate symptoms? DEFINATELY! Your going to feel worse then if you didnt have MS to begin with, especially since muscle aches and fatigue are such a huge part of our everyday lives to begin with. Take over the counter stuff, Motrin, Aleve and/or cold meds to try to treat the symptoms and get more sleep then usual to try to fight off whatever is going on in your system. Stay extra hydrated and with this nutty weather we are having, try NOT to be in extreme temperature changes...tough this week, I know, but keeping your body temp consistent will also help.
Feel better soon!
Nikki
Hanksmom123
01-09-2008, 09:25 PM
My Nuero said the same thing that the verdict was out about the flu shot. But he said the chances of the flu shot causing a flare up are very minimal, the chances of the flu causes a flare up are almost 100%. I got the flu shot and had no problems. He did say not to get the mist that goes up your nose. So i am praying i don't get the flu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good Luck;)
glamour girl
01-10-2008, 04:19 AM
Same here.. I get the flu shot every year.
Does nothing for sniffles and general colds, but better that than sick
in bed with a high fever.
Does nothing for sniffles and general colds, but better that than sick
in bed with a high fever.
PghGuy00
01-13-2008, 10:09 AM
Hi all, Just a follow-up, This "bug" going around has been intense and still suffering from it. 2 days this week, the legs locked up and incredibly painful. Throughout this MS venture, I have never experienced anything like that pain b4. It has eased up, but still aches. Neuro said it would go back to normal. GRRRRRRRR I hate this disease.
cyprian1
01-13-2008, 11:23 AM
Hey PghGuy00. Although it is true that we have compromised AND elevated immune systems, we DO tend to get these things worse when we get them at all. Because I work in healthcare, I am ALWAYS getting things which are "going around". Im truly surprised (and grateful) that I havent been hit with this latest bug especially since Im having surgery on Thursday! The MS Society does OK flu shots for MSers- however, the jury is out on that. Some Neuros, including mine, feel that injecting the flu shot into us can actually cause more harm than good and give us horrible reactions...not having ever had the flu shot, Im not 100% positive of what it would do to us.... I know others who have always gotten the flu shot, continued to do so after being dx with MS and have had no problems, and one person who never got it before who got it this year (he has MS) and got horribly sick for a week afterwards...
As for can colds and flu aggravate symptoms? DEFINATELY! Your going to feel worse then if you didnt have MS to begin with, especially since muscle aches and fatigue are such a huge part of our everyday lives to begin with. Take over the counter stuff, Motrin, Aleve and/or cold meds to try to treat the symptoms and get more sleep then usual to try to fight off whatever is going on in your system. Stay extra hydrated and with this nutty weather we are having, try NOT to be in extreme temperature changes...tough this week, I know, but keeping your body temp consistent will also help.
Feel better soon!
Nikki
mine said te same, no flue shots .. i do my best to not even get a cold because , as explained to me, MSer's take a longer time to "heal" from just about everything .. or at least when i was told this , it was the concession of all my dr's ...
and pghguy - i am so sorry you are ill, but rest , drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated and take whatever antibiotics or meds , if any .. maybe add abit of srectching out the muscles so they are a bit more flexible .. you can do them right in the bed .. my dogs enjoy that .. hope you get to feeling better real soon .. peace ..
As for can colds and flu aggravate symptoms? DEFINATELY! Your going to feel worse then if you didnt have MS to begin with, especially since muscle aches and fatigue are such a huge part of our everyday lives to begin with. Take over the counter stuff, Motrin, Aleve and/or cold meds to try to treat the symptoms and get more sleep then usual to try to fight off whatever is going on in your system. Stay extra hydrated and with this nutty weather we are having, try NOT to be in extreme temperature changes...tough this week, I know, but keeping your body temp consistent will also help.
Feel better soon!
Nikki
mine said te same, no flue shots .. i do my best to not even get a cold because , as explained to me, MSer's take a longer time to "heal" from just about everything .. or at least when i was told this , it was the concession of all my dr's ...
and pghguy - i am so sorry you are ill, but rest , drinking plenty of water to keep hydrated and take whatever antibiotics or meds , if any .. maybe add abit of srectching out the muscles so they are a bit more flexible .. you can do them right in the bed .. my dogs enjoy that .. hope you get to feeling better real soon .. peace ..
PghGuy00
01-16-2008, 05:14 AM
Hi all and thanks so much to you all. I am slowly getting back to being normal here. (I know normal is a relative term. no wisecracks.) The flareup caused by this bug has calmed, but still weak in the legs somewhat. Neuro said this will take time though.
I guess a word of advice, try be extra careful around others who may be ill/flu. I never realized how much of a bigger impact it has on those of us with this disease. (sheesh, Im ready to become Howard Hughes here now, but I dont look good wearing latex gloves to business meetings) Hugs all:cool:
I guess a word of advice, try be extra careful around others who may be ill/flu. I never realized how much of a bigger impact it has on those of us with this disease. (sheesh, Im ready to become Howard Hughes here now, but I dont look good wearing latex gloves to business meetings) Hugs all:cool:
MSNik
01-16-2008, 10:40 AM
Love the comedy, Pghguy! It is true..so many of us take for granted that because we have elevated immune systems, we dont get "bugs" or sick as easy...not true...and when we do, POW! It knocks us for a loop.
I work in medical sales - basically spending all my time in hosptials, doctors offices and nursing homes. In the last month I was exposed to MRSA (the superinfection), a ton of flu and also general viruses...there are warnings on every place that I go to that epidemics are breaking out....Ive spoken to my doctor at length about how he wants me to quit my job and take one where Im less likely to be exposed to this stuff. Hes right...but I havent been able to do that just yet...until then, I worry daily and pray often that I dont get sick. I have, and just like you, felt the same way...but once its gone- you seem to delveope some immunity towards getting it again...so if there is a rainbow at the end of this, your not likely to get sick again for awhile...
wash your hands OFTEN (i do about 100 times a day when Im working) carry Purrel or one of the gel disinfectants in your car and USE IT- drink a ton of fluids and stay hydrated and take as many supplements and vitamins as you are comfortable with...many of them DO help you to resist this stuff...but be VERY careful about taking the stuff to "end colds" ecchinasia products- those are actually bad for MSers....stay away from high doses of zinc, which is also in many cold rememdies, they can send our immune systems overboard...stick with tried and true vitamin C or multi vitamins, extra Vitamin D3 can help as well as of course the old Fish OIls, Omega 3-6-9s....all of these seem to be working for me...
Feel 100% soon, okay?? Not good to see any of us down.
Hugs
Nikki
I work in medical sales - basically spending all my time in hosptials, doctors offices and nursing homes. In the last month I was exposed to MRSA (the superinfection), a ton of flu and also general viruses...there are warnings on every place that I go to that epidemics are breaking out....Ive spoken to my doctor at length about how he wants me to quit my job and take one where Im less likely to be exposed to this stuff. Hes right...but I havent been able to do that just yet...until then, I worry daily and pray often that I dont get sick. I have, and just like you, felt the same way...but once its gone- you seem to delveope some immunity towards getting it again...so if there is a rainbow at the end of this, your not likely to get sick again for awhile...
wash your hands OFTEN (i do about 100 times a day when Im working) carry Purrel or one of the gel disinfectants in your car and USE IT- drink a ton of fluids and stay hydrated and take as many supplements and vitamins as you are comfortable with...many of them DO help you to resist this stuff...but be VERY careful about taking the stuff to "end colds" ecchinasia products- those are actually bad for MSers....stay away from high doses of zinc, which is also in many cold rememdies, they can send our immune systems overboard...stick with tried and true vitamin C or multi vitamins, extra Vitamin D3 can help as well as of course the old Fish OIls, Omega 3-6-9s....all of these seem to be working for me...
Feel 100% soon, okay?? Not good to see any of us down.
Hugs
Nikki
cyprian1
01-16-2008, 10:40 AM
Hi all and thanks so much to you all. I am slowly getting back to being normal here. (I know normal is a relative term. no wisecracks.) The flareup caused by this bug has calmed, but still weak in the legs somewhat. Neuro said this will take time though.
I guess a word of advice, try be extra careful around others who may be ill/flu. I never realized how much of a bigger impact it has on those of us with this disease. (sheesh, Im ready to become Howard Hughes here now, but I dont look good wearing latex gloves to business meetings) Hugs all:cool:
c'mon , not even one little crack ? howard hughes had serious mental health issues ,, probably induces by the drugs his "following" provided for him .. lol .. see did that hurt ?
I love Pittsburgh , the Steelers and Philly too .. my family is from Jersey , but live so close to Ptts and Phil .. we sometimes go there , when it is warm of course ..
Another lives in N. Jersey , there we have the benefit of heading into the Big Apple .. home of the greatest baseball teams ... lol .. just joking ...
glad you are getting back to "normyl" .. lol .. and now it is time to be glad , get back to life ... good luck and stay healthy .. :)
I guess a word of advice, try be extra careful around others who may be ill/flu. I never realized how much of a bigger impact it has on those of us with this disease. (sheesh, Im ready to become Howard Hughes here now, but I dont look good wearing latex gloves to business meetings) Hugs all:cool:
c'mon , not even one little crack ? howard hughes had serious mental health issues ,, probably induces by the drugs his "following" provided for him .. lol .. see did that hurt ?
I love Pittsburgh , the Steelers and Philly too .. my family is from Jersey , but live so close to Ptts and Phil .. we sometimes go there , when it is warm of course ..
Another lives in N. Jersey , there we have the benefit of heading into the Big Apple .. home of the greatest baseball teams ... lol .. just joking ...
glad you are getting back to "normyl" .. lol .. and now it is time to be glad , get back to life ... good luck and stay healthy .. :)
Snoopy61
01-16-2008, 11:45 AM
The flu shot is recommended for those with MS. We CANNOT use the flu mist. Multiple Sclerosis is on the list with the CDC.
CDC. Go to http://www.va.gov/ms/ and look for 2007 CDC flu Guidelines.
I get the flu shot every year.
CDC. Go to http://www.va.gov/ms/ and look for 2007 CDC flu Guidelines.
I get the flu shot every year.
jlbrow7
01-17-2008, 01:04 PM
An annual flu shot is a must. My neuro insists.
Never had any symptom(s) from it and when I hear about the flu running rampant in my State as it is this year, it's one less worry.
Never had any symptom(s) from it and when I hear about the flu running rampant in my State as it is this year, it's one less worry.