do you feel better or worse with a cold or flu?
Symptoms feel much better when sick with a cold - 33.3% - 1 votes
Symptoms feel somewhat better when sick with a cold - 33.3% - 1 votes
Symptoms feel about the same - 33.3% - 1 votes
Symptoms are way worse when sick with flu or cold - 0.0% - 0 votes
Posted 12/6/2011 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have been suffering now for 3 years. My doctor said Fibromyalgia first, but is now leaning towards Lupus despite largely normal blood work. I have so much swelling, occasional heart arrythmia (sp?), traveling numbness and tingling in extremities, the tell-tale rash on my face which comes and goes, losing hair and thinning eyebrows as well as really bad fatigue and pain which spikes around my menstrual cycle.
Here is the weird thing and i would love to know if anyone else experiences this too. i find that if i am flaring up badly but then get a cold (or like now - the flu) that i feel BETTER. It's almost like my immune system is attacking me but when i give it something else to tackle, it backs off of me. It's insane that having the flu feels BETTER than how i felt just two days ago. Anyone else experience this?
Posted 12/6/2011 6:34 AM (GMT 0)
I come up as a new member but i was on here for awhile 2 years ago... but i don't have access to that email address anymore.
8D
aimsgirl16
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2008
Posts : 1470
Posted 12/6/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome janesosquare, I don't think I have welcomed you yet. Hope you ask lots of questions and we will do our best to give our personal experiences :D!!!
Yes, I feel better when I get colds or viruses. I have not had the flu so not sure how I would feel on that. A little bit ago when I was in so much pain for about 15 months, I welcomed colds with opened arms because it made the pain bearable.
Are you on antibiotics? The odd things...I was having to get blood work every 2 weeks for awhile and each time I would go on antibiotics, my bloodwork would improve for a few days before it went south again.
Posted 12/6/2011 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome and the reply. Good to know that i am not imagining things, and thanks for the tip on the blood work. i think for me too that because i have to walk to the hospital for blood work, i tend not to go when i am in really rough shape. i am sure that influences my blood results. i have to just bite the bullet and go when i am completely messed up i guess.
My doctor is really supportive and isn't dismissive despite the lack of confirming blood results. even though he is not pro drugs, he is suggesting that i try plaquenil at a low dose and see if it makes a difference.
Lynnwood
Forum Moderator
Joined : May 2005
Posts : 8160
Posted 12/6/2011 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like trying the Plaquenil is a good idea. While it can take up to 6 months to affect an improvement, it is usually well-tolerated and does inhibit Lupus progress. Most of it find long-term use very helpful in controlling the intensity of the disease.
However, there are other meds that are more proactive in calming your symptoms, and that will work faster, such as prednisone. Or more serious options, such as Imuran, Cellcept, MTX -- Lupus is so mysterious, different meds work for different people.
I have to say that when I get a cold I feel like I've got a cold! I've always figured other symptoms were lessened only in perception -- ie I was so focused on trying to breathe that the regular lupus symptoms just faded into the background.
Hope you feel better soon,
Reyn
New Member
Joined : Jun 2012
Posts : 1
Posted 6/2/2012 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hello :)
I'm new to this forum and just found this thread. Just recently I got a cold and felt the best I've felt in 6 months! I thought I was losing my mind (a common occurence), but reading about people's experiences here settled that! LOL Seriously though, Janesosquare, I agree with you - it almost feels like my immune system had something else to keep it amused and left me alone for awhile.
R
PS - My diagnosis at the moment is inflammatory arthritis but am seeing a new rheumatologist soon for a second opinion, so we'll see what happens...