1. < Transplants

fighting off a minor condition, like a cold

Posted by JK @contentandwell, Mar 31, 2018

I have had a miserable cold for almost a week now with no improvement whatsoever -- my throat is sore, I have a headache, I cough all night. It occurred to me that taking immunosuppressants means I have no defenses to fight this cold off like regular people.
This may seem very minor, but what do people do when they have something like this? Antibiotics don't help with a cold of course so what can a person do to lessen the severity and length of time of the cold or whatever else a person may have? I think it may be premature to call my transplant team but my head is killing me. Things do tend to improve in the afternoon, as typical with a cold, and then they worse again at night.
JK

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jodeej | @jodeej | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @teresatopeka "I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my..." + (show)
@teresatopeka

I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my family was freaking out because they just got me back and then I catch this deadly flu. I started with symptoms that I thought were allergies...runny. Law and excessive watery eyes. The minute my throat started to tickle, I went immediately to my PCP for a flu swab as well and respiratory panel and chest X-ray. I had influenza B. But they didn’t take any chances and I was started on a 10 day. Purse of Tamiflu and a 5 day Z-pack. I made sure to get plenty of rest. It when I was awake I made sure to keep moving so nothing would settle into my lungs. I stayed super hydrated and had orange Airborne twice a day. Also had Throat Coat Tea and Breathe Easy Tea by Traditional Medicines. Also tried to keep my protein levels up by making mixed berry smoothies with Greek yogurt and protein powder and orange juice. (felt great on my throat and has lots of vitamin c and antioxidents)...it took about 2 weeks to get over it since I was on such high doses of immunosuppressants. I was also on an additional antibiotic for some cellulitis that developed under my incision. Despite all that I survived. The key for me was nutrition, rest, gentle exercise, and proper medical management! Feel better soon. I also took OTC sudafed, Tylenol, Claritin, and mucinex.

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@gaylea1 it is an herbal tea that soothes sure throats.

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jodeej | @jodeej | Apr 1, 2018

@contentandwell I'm home today too. I woke up with an upset stomach this morning. I just had some tea and toast. Everyone else is at church. I am so sad to miss it, but a nap is sounding really good.

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5 replies
gaylea1 | @gaylea1 | Apr 1, 2018

@contentandwell I can so relate with you today. Happy Easter and remember we are at church virtually in our thoughts and hearts. Best to you on this sunny Easter Sunday.

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2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @contentandwell "Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. I know my problem is pretty small in the..." + (show)
@contentandwell

Thanks to everyone for their helpful suggestions. I know my problem is pretty small in the scheme of things so I really do appreciate that it was given as much consideration as it was. I really feel better about it all now. I had visions of having to go into the hospital again, something I really do not want to have to do.
JK

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@rosemarya I am pretty sure it has evolved into bronchitis at this point, but with that too there really is nothing that they do except relieve symptoms. If it goes further and becomes pneumonia then I would need to go to the doctor but I am thinking that won't happen -- not for any logical reason, just my resolve! The cough from bronchitis can last much longer than bronchitis because the bronchial tubes take a while to recover.
I am peacefully at home alone while my husband, at my insistence, has gone to his son's home.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @jodeej "@contentandwell I'm home today too. I woke up with an upset stomach this morning. I just..." + (show)
@jodeej

@contentandwell I'm home today too. I woke up with an upset stomach this morning. I just had some tea and toast. Everyone else is at church. I am so sad to miss it, but a nap is sounding really good.

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@jodeej I too missed church today, I was not happy about that but it was the right thing to do. Now that you mention it I think I will make myself a cup of tea too!
Enjoy the day, whether alone or with family.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @gaylea1 "@contentandwell I can so relate with you today. Happy Easter and remember we are at church..." + (show)
@gaylea1

@contentandwell I can so relate with you today. Happy Easter and remember we are at church virtually in our thoughts and hearts. Best to you on this sunny Easter Sunday.

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@gaylea1 You are right, being physically in the church at times is not necessary. I do find a sense of peace when I am in church though.

Best to you, and everyone on this Easter. It's sunny here today too, very pleasant day, finally, but they are actually predicting snow again this week! Arrrgggghhhh
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @teresatopeka "I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my..." + (show)
@teresatopeka

I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my family was freaking out because they just got me back and then I catch this deadly flu. I started with symptoms that I thought were allergies...runny. Law and excessive watery eyes. The minute my throat started to tickle, I went immediately to my PCP for a flu swab as well and respiratory panel and chest X-ray. I had influenza B. But they didn’t take any chances and I was started on a 10 day. Purse of Tamiflu and a 5 day Z-pack. I made sure to get plenty of rest. It when I was awake I made sure to keep moving so nothing would settle into my lungs. I stayed super hydrated and had orange Airborne twice a day. Also had Throat Coat Tea and Breathe Easy Tea by Traditional Medicines. Also tried to keep my protein levels up by making mixed berry smoothies with Greek yogurt and protein powder and orange juice. (felt great on my throat and has lots of vitamin c and antioxidents)...it took about 2 weeks to get over it since I was on such high doses of immunosuppressants. I was also on an additional antibiotic for some cellulitis that developed under my incision. Despite all that I survived. The key for me was nutrition, rest, gentle exercise, and proper medical management! Feel better soon. I also took OTC sudafed, Tylenol, Claritin, and mucinex.

Jump to this post

@gaylea1 I believe contracted Legionnaire's at my daughter's wedding reception! My daughter lives in NYC so we were there for a long weekend around the date of her wedding reception so it's possible I got it elsewhere but her reception was in an old warehouse converted to a trendy function place. Frankly I did not like it, but it was her reception -- the ceremony was two weeks prior, a very intimate family affair in our home. There was probably a low concentration of it in the air, which is how it spreads because to our knowledge no one else did get it. With my low immunity though I did.
About a month after I was in the hospital I got a call from the Board of Health wanting to know everywhere I had been in the 10 days leading up to my getting sick. They too thought the function venue was the most likely place.
I was very glad that I went to MGH because they are so thorough. Legionnaire's is a type of pneumonia but it is treated with a different antibiotic so the initial diagnosis was pneumonia but they continued to run tests and then got a positive on Legionnaire's. I think if I had been in my local hospital they would have stopped at the pneumonia diagnosis.
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @teresatopeka "I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my..." + (show)
@teresatopeka

I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my family was freaking out because they just got me back and then I catch this deadly flu. I started with symptoms that I thought were allergies...runny. Law and excessive watery eyes. The minute my throat started to tickle, I went immediately to my PCP for a flu swab as well and respiratory panel and chest X-ray. I had influenza B. But they didn’t take any chances and I was started on a 10 day. Purse of Tamiflu and a 5 day Z-pack. I made sure to get plenty of rest. It when I was awake I made sure to keep moving so nothing would settle into my lungs. I stayed super hydrated and had orange Airborne twice a day. Also had Throat Coat Tea and Breathe Easy Tea by Traditional Medicines. Also tried to keep my protein levels up by making mixed berry smoothies with Greek yogurt and protein powder and orange juice. (felt great on my throat and has lots of vitamin c and antioxidents)...it took about 2 weeks to get over it since I was on such high doses of immunosuppressants. I was also on an additional antibiotic for some cellulitis that developed under my incision. Despite all that I survived. The key for me was nutrition, rest, gentle exercise, and proper medical management! Feel better soon. I also took OTC sudafed, Tylenol, Claritin, and mucinex.

Jump to this post

@jodeej Is there a specific brand? I would like to pick some up.
Thanks.
JK

REPLY
jodeej | @jodeej | Apr 1, 2018
In reply to @teresatopeka "I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my..." + (show)
@teresatopeka

I caught Influenza B this last February , only 4 weeks after transplant. I think my family was freaking out because they just got me back and then I catch this deadly flu. I started with symptoms that I thought were allergies...runny. Law and excessive watery eyes. The minute my throat started to tickle, I went immediately to my PCP for a flu swab as well and respiratory panel and chest X-ray. I had influenza B. But they didn’t take any chances and I was started on a 10 day. Purse of Tamiflu and a 5 day Z-pack. I made sure to get plenty of rest. It when I was awake I made sure to keep moving so nothing would settle into my lungs. I stayed super hydrated and had orange Airborne twice a day. Also had Throat Coat Tea and Breathe Easy Tea by Traditional Medicines. Also tried to keep my protein levels up by making mixed berry smoothies with Greek yogurt and protein powder and orange juice. (felt great on my throat and has lots of vitamin c and antioxidents)...it took about 2 weeks to get over it since I was on such high doses of immunosuppressants. I was also on an additional antibiotic for some cellulitis that developed under my incision. Despite all that I survived. The key for me was nutrition, rest, gentle exercise, and proper medical management! Feel better soon. I also took OTC sudafed, Tylenol, Claritin, and mucinex.

Jump to this post

@contentandwell it's by Traditional Medicinals. They have several different teas for different things. I really like them.

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