Are we more susceptible?

Does having FM make us more susceptible to develop other ailments or develop them more easily? I only ask because I also have HS (hidradinitis suppurativa) that has mostly been under control for a couple of years. But in the last year I am having more outbreaks, and the one I'm experiencing now has lasted almost 2 months, which is abnormally long for me. Plus, I came down with a cold a couple of weeks ago, and within a week it developed into pneumonia. I was diagnosed with pneumonia last Thursday, and I'm almost out of my antibiotic, Levoquin, but don't feel much better. The last time I had pneumonia I was six years old. And while I've had bronchitis too many times in my life to even count, I never counted on getting pneumonia. I go back for a follow up chest X-ray in the morning, and was told I can't return to work until the X-ray comes back clear. The doctor also informed me last week that now that I've had adult pneumonia, I am at high risk for re-occurance, especially with my health history.

I don't know if she meant my previous bout with pneumonia as a child, that landed me in the hospital for 4 days, if it's because of the infection I fight with my HS, or from FM. I don't want to be paranoid about getting pneumonia again every time I get the sniffles. Does anyone else find they come down with other stuff more readily because of what FM does to us? Or am I making a mountain out of a molehill?

Have you had a pneumonia shot?  I think you need one every 10 years to help protect you from pneumonia.  I used to get "walking" pneumonia and had chronic bronchitis but I was a smoker back then and this was before I developed fibro.

 

I keep Mucinex in the house and also take it with me when I travel.  If I start any coughing from a cold, I start the Mucinex.  The one I take has a cough suppressant in it and it has kept pneumonia away from me and I'm 61 years old.  Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about that.  It's over-the-counter medication but you want to make sure it doesn't interact with any other medication you take.

 

Sherrine

Shannon I do not catch everything that goes around, knocking on wood. I can't even remember when I had my last cold. Okay, I don't get out that much which probably helps and when I am out I do not touch my face with my hands, I use antibacterial gel on my hands and I always wash my hands very well when I get home.

 

However, I have had pneumonia several times in my life, the last being four years ago. I only remember when that was cause we were living in a nasty rental while our house was being built. I have noticed after having pneumonia that everything does seem to go right to your chest for awhile afterwards so you do need to be more cautious. I've heard other people say the samething but I have never asked a doc why.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

The "dry" cough can do that.  I let a dry cough go and ended up with a lot of lung congestion.  So, if I start coughing a lot, I dig out the Mucinex.  It is an expectorant with a cough suppressant.  I had never heard about it until my doctor told me about it.

 

I came down with a head cold a couple of weeks ago.  I started the coughing and it was a dry cough.  I started the Mucinex, even though I had no lung congestion, I couldn't believe the phlegm I was coughing up once the medication took hold.  I'm still taking it because I still cough occasionally.  But, my lungs remained clear and the cold is nearly gone now.

 

Sherrine