HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Sick since Early February.

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/6/2011 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
I have an autoimmune disease. While not confirmed lupus; I have lupus symptoms, low white counts, low compliment C4 & a few other indications. No positive ANA. I go to a rheumy & take generic plaquenil. In Feb I got bronchitis & a sinus infection, on antibiotic & got over the bronchitis. What followed was the worst sinus infection I ever had. It wasnt draining and I had to be put on a steroid & another antibiotic. Since then, I just haven't been well. Sore throats, achy, fatigued, etc.

I know I've had problems getting over sicknesses but this is the worst ever. I'm just wondering if there is anything to help get over the slump. I read taking echenacea & zinc can be bad because they boost the immune system & mine is probably over reactive. But boosting the immune system helps build up white blood cells. After being sick this long, I'm assuming mine are probably low. (I possibly had the flu during this time- my kids had it, luckily I had a flu shot & symptoms were mild).

Any suggestions for getting better faster? I work full time and have 3 children of my own & 2 step children that I care for 1/2 time. I'd like to take time off from work but I can't. I just started the job in February after leaving an extremely stressful job because it was wearing me out.
Posted 4/6/2011 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Has your doctor considered the possibility that you may have an underactive immune system (immunodeficiency) instead of it being overactive, since your ANA was normal? Is your white count low during an infection or just low all the time like a blood disorder? Mine only gets low during an infection. The C4 could indicate an infection that keeps recurring. 
Posted 4/6/2011 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
I don't think I've been been checked for low immunity. My white count does go up at times. I have tested positive for something with clotting- something "anti-lipid" also had positive ANA for anti-smooth muscle- then was normal after starting plaquenil. That's why dr felt it was autoimmune. Had problems with 3 pregnacies- preeclampsia that was worse each time. 3rd time had toxemia- clotting issues born 8 weeks early & abrupted placenta. Sun sensitivity, joint pain, etc.
Posted 4/6/2011 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I did go to hematologist who said it appeared to be related to autoimmune. I asked my rheumy about being sick all the time & she said sometimes people with autoimmune just take longer to get better. She didn't seem concerned- that was a month ago.
Posted 4/6/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Often people with auto-immune diseases take longer to heal. The best things to do are to make sure you get plenty of restorative sleep, eat a decent meal, have meals at regular times, and avoid stress as much as possible.

I've also found a B-12 supplement and making sure you are getting enough (non-processed) protein help a lot with healing.

Over-the-counter aids for boosting the immune system are a NO-NO! If you are taking any lupus or auto-immune medications they probably include an immuno-suppressant. You *don't* want to take something that fights with that.

"Normal" rules/usages for over-the-counter meds no longer apply. Always check with your doctor about any and all otc meds (and/or drastic diet changes) -- they are carefully studying your body and its particular reaction s- everyone is different -- you don't want to interfere with their trail/error observations.
Posted 4/6/2011 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'd be a little concerned of having hepatitis too with those test results. Have they ruled out a liver problem? An ANA can go negative when your taking plaquenil, that happened to me once, and because of, I was told I could not have an autoimmune disease, and that it was just fibromyalgia. 10 1/2 yrs later of repeated tests show my ana is 1:640 now and RNP is pretty high. All my past tests, my ANA was high, except that one after I took plaquenil. It was always the same, 1:320.

I don't have trouble getting over a cold so bad, the trouble is that it just drags me down harder because I'm tired anyways. I don't get sick alot. Your immune system can weeken even if it is overactive. I'd say you have a better chance of that if your taking antibiotics regularly or immunosuppressive medications, plaquenil will not cause that. Maybe ask your doctor if a low dose of vitamin c would be safe.

If you drink a bottle of grapefruit juice down pretty fast, it can help a bronchitis infection. Moonshine will clear up a sinus infection right now, so I've heard. lol..
Posted 4/6/2011 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the info.
Hepatitis was ruled out. That's when they found the positive anti-smooth ANA.
Stress definitely wears me down. That's why changed jobs. I took a significant pay cut to reduce my stres. I've had a lot of changes since August. I got married, moved, selling a house, changed jobs twice and blended two families. I'm pretty easy going but it still wore me out. I'm probably in a flare of some sort.
Posted 4/9/2011 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
I've had so much stress since I got sick. A divorce, mental abuse, severe depressive disorder, losing my home, not being able to work, my immediate family is so dysfunctional, it would make a dog sick. The drama is more than I need. I'm moving away as soon as I get the chance. Hopefully starting over somewhere else will do me some good.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply