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A common Cold Question

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Posted 4/16/2010 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone! I am writing to you in the interim of waiting to hear from my rheumy on this very question....How long should I wait with having a "cold" before going to see my GP. First off, I am on Imuran. Secondly, I don't get colds all that often. In fact I haven't had one for quite a while, probably a year. I have had a LOT of other issues, but colds have left me alone for which I am so thankful. I am just not sure how long to let my body try and fight it on it's own, as Imuran's a new for me and it brings with it a lot of new questions and things to consider for my health. I believe that I caught this cold from my family in the apartment, or possibly friends at an open house last weekend. So, I've had it for almost 1 1/2 weeks now, or maybe just a week. Not too long, but I just like to try and be proactive and not ignore things. I also don't wanna be visiting the GP unecessarily, ya know? I see her enough as it is. She's so kind. My symptoms are very light runny nose, had a tickly throat at the beginning and just generally stuffed up quite often. I also feel it's causing my body to lack in a bit of energy. So here you have it:) Any comments are appreciated. Thanks. I
Posted 4/16/2010 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ellie,

I'm like you, I don't get colds and stuff very often, but when I do it's awful. I had a cold in February that turned into a really bad bronchitis virus. Lasted 7 1/2 weeks! I saw my doctor after 5 days of having it. I wouldn't wait any longer. You don't want this morphing into something much more difficult to treat.

Hope you get better quick!
Posted 4/16/2010 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
My thought to this is Are you running a fever? Are you feeling run down? Are you coughing up stuff? It honestly depends on how you feel? If the cold is affecting your day to day activities and has lasted this long, then Yes, I would make for a visit to the PCP.

Hope you can get over this without it lasting forever!
Posted 4/16/2010 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks ladies:)  I guess I don't feel aweful or anything...just bothered by this pesty cold.  I don't want it morphing into anything else for sure, that's kinda why I asked the question, "at what point do I see my GP?"  I don't believe I have a fever now, although at the beginning I think I did.  I'm like some others here who's possible fevers aren't above 37 degrees.  I think my "fever" is at 36.8 degrees give or take.  I usually run at 36.3-36.6 on a normal day.  The days when I feel way off I'm at 36.8 or 36.9.  Only once have I been at 37.1 since I've started checking my temp on a more reg basis to see where my "norm" temp is.  Anyways, maybe I'll wait longer and if I get a sore throat then I'll go, or am having trouble coughing stuff up.  And still wait for the reply from my rheumy via email.  Thanks for the input. 

-Ellie

Posted 4/16/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
how do your sinuses feel and what color is coming out of them. I use that as my guide. Yellow or green or other colors indicate infection clear or white is cool. no one else brought up sinuses so I thought I would throw that one out there.
Posted 4/17/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Redrose,

My sinuses aren't bothering me I'm happy to say...I've had way worse..I'm not complaining, just wanting to play it safe with my first cold since being on an immunosuppresant, ya know? As for booger color *L* it's been yellowish at the beginning, but now for the last 5 days just clear. I guess from what you say, that's a good thing. Thanks. I think what everyone's input is telling me is that, unless I get a really sore throat, darker colored boogers, a high temp, or bad sinus pain I should just put up with the common cold till it goes away or gets worse...I will wait:)

-Ellie
Posted 4/21/2010 11:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Ellie, I was reading your post and was wondering how you are doing? Did you ever see the doctor? I have very bad lungs so if I sneeze I have to go to the doctor. My body is in such bad shape that I have no way to fight off anything so a cold will turn to pneumonia within a few days if I don't get to the doctor or ER. I'm not even allowed to be around children.sad So I guess it all depends on you. Also even if you got over it without the doctor it's not a bad idea to give them a call and ask them on the phone what they believe is the right amount of time to wait.

anyway I hope you are doing better now.

hugs

carol

Posted 4/22/2010 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Okie! You're so sweet to ask. As far as my cold goes, I believe it's almost gone. I still have some sniffles (caught the cold before April 9th ish..) but nothing to write home about. I am thinking/hoping it will go away completely on it's own. I'm pretty sure it's got 95% of it's ugly head out the door. heheee...I did end up writing my Rhuemy and he finally wrote me back 5 days later and told me to go and get an antibiotic. I don't really think that I need one. If my cold gets worse than I'll call my GP. I am really hoping that there's a chance of my body fighting it off. I want to use the as a last resort if necessary. No coughing, sore throat, mostly no fever (I think I had one yesterday), and other symptoms. So, we'll see. Okie, that sounds that you get pneumonia within a few days. That was my concern. I know that being on Imuran I'm WAY more susceptible to catch things, and I could possibly have that problem down the road. It makes me sad to hear that you're not allowed to be around children :( I really feel for you. Do you have a fondness for them? They light up my world. I don't have any of my own, but I love anyone's children, and I take my role of auntie very seriously ;) I definatly will be asking my GP what the timeline should be for going in to get antibiotics for colds though, next time I see her (in a few weeks). I did ask my Rheumy, but I think he missed that question.

I guess I have to admit that part of me just has a problem with going into my GP for a cold...it's very humbling, ya know? Anyways, gotta get my body into bed to rest. I hope while you're writing all these recent posts that you are feeling alright yourself? (relate to your normal of course). Take care.

-Ellie
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