Ok I think I've got a manflu (again), the last one being a couple of months ago. Been having high temperature, chills, weakness, sore throat and loss of appetite for the past couple of nights. Luckily no runny nose, yet. I'm nearly 18 months post tx and been taking paracetamol, ibuprofen (rarely) and drinking plenty of water, tea and lemon water. Not eating much as I have no appetite. Paracetamol takes ages to bring the fever down and when it does, the headaches kick in 😭. Anyone have any suggestions what else I should be doing as I feel like I'm dying 🤒. Don't want to waste time with 111 as unless you're bleeding from every orifice, they're never much help.
So frustrating as I didn't have as much as a headache for over a year post transplant, now it seems everything is catching up with me!
Sorry your feeling so crappy but my advice would be to ring 111 they should be able to get you an appointment with an emergency GP they usually at your local hospital... I am the same hate mithering but we really can't afford to take any risk with our health and especially if your feeling so bad and if you have had a flu jab you shouldn't be feeling as bad as you describe x
Thank you for the reply jojo. I never had a flu jab, figured I wouldn't need one after being complication free for over a year. Guess that wasn't the best idea 🙄
What's the deal with ibuprofen?
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Never mind, quick Google search shows ibuprofen combined with tacrolimus causes kidney damage. As if Advagraf wasn't toxic enough.
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Sorry you're feeling so rough. It's just good old plenty of rest and fluids I'm affraid. But I would just ring nhs 111 and explain your circumstances to be on the safe side. Hope you feel better soon. Flu is so miserable 😢
L xx
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Thank you Laura. I'll see how I get on today but I think I'm slowly getting better. Last night certainly wasn't great but not as bad as the previous 2 nights xx
And sorry to say but you really shouldn't be having any iboprufen at all
I have to say that it does not sound like the flu to me. Sounds more like a fairly standard cold. In the light of your medical history, however, I would ring 111.
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I did call 111 in the end, just waiting on a call from the out of hours GP 👍
On the way to A&E to have bloods taken to ensure the liver is not being rejected 😬
In my recent experience NHS 111 are actually very effective in dealing with a situation similar to yours.
As soon as you mention your transplant and the immunosuppressant medication, the call takes on a very different form. They take the call very seriously and in the last three weeks, with symptoms very much like yours, within a couple of hours I was talking to a doctor who called me as an 'urgent call back.'
Twice, I was given an appointment for the same day to see an out of hours doctor at the local hospital.
For me 111 have never been that helpful. They didn't do much when my cirrhosis symptoms worsened 2 years ago. Luckily I was able to get hold of my hepatologist at King's who arranged an appointment in a few days. Last summer I called them again after getting food poisoning while on holiday hours away from the nearest hospital and no emergency services to speak of, only to be told we can't offer any assistance unless you're in the UK. Even today no appointment was arranged to see a doctor at the local hospital, I was instead told to go to A&E and explain the situation.
They did however arrange an appointment with an out of hours GP for my daughter once so I'm sure they're efficient sometimes, just not for me.
Did you ask your doctor before taking these drugs?
Don't take any drugs/medications without asking your liver doctor's advice first. Even if your doctor says yes, I would advise you to look up the drug and its side effects on the internet just to be on the safe side.
After liver transplant, the immune system tries to attack the foreign body(new liver) which causes the body to reject the new liver. Therefore, drugs that weaken the immune system are prescribed so that the body does not reject the new liver. Because the immune system is weak, there is a high risk to catch infections.
Have you taken vaccinations against hepatitis, flu, pneumonia etc. Please ask a good, trustworthy doctor whether a vaccination might be beneficial for you to fight off these infections. Also ask if there are any side effects of these vaccinations that you should be aware of.
Before taking any drugs for flu or pneumonia, see to it that these drugs do not clash with your liver medications. Tell your flu doctor beforehand that you have had a liver transplant and that you are taking medications for your liver so that your doctor recommends the correct medication/s. Consult both your liver doctor and flu doctor,if possible, about whether you're taking the right medication.
The struggle doesn't end after getting a new liver. Do you have any idea what caused your flu? I've listed some points below to prevent infection:
#Keep your home clean and hygienic.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.
Disinfect ASAP. Germs can live on surfaces for up to 24 hours. “Wipe down all surfaces in the house where germs can live, including telephones, computer keyboards, and counter surfaces, with a disinfectant,”
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. A sick person should also skip cooking and dish-washing duties, since these are easy ways to spread germs.
#Wash your hands regularly, particularly after going to the toilet, before handling food and after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
#Always wash your hands after handling waste material
#Foot-operated bins are more hygienic because they reduce the risk of getting germs onto your hands from touching the bin lid
#Throw rubbish away carefully to avoid attracting vermin and insects
#Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
#Trash tissues. Cold and flu germs can spread through used tissues. Make sure to throw out any tissues after use and wash your hands after disposing of them. “If possible, dispose of tissues in separate plastic bags that are sealable to help prevent the germs from spreading in the garbage,"
#Cough into your elbow. Don’t cough into your hands, says Fornof. “Cough into your elbow crease or sleeve and encourage your kids to do the same to help prevent the spread of germs.”
#Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. [when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his face, the germs get into the system through the eyes, nose, or mouth]
#“ Social gatherings are one of the easiest places to spread germs, and in the case of holiday parties, they take place during the time of year when colds and flu viruses are rampant,” Horovitz says. So be sure to keep your distance when greeting your loved ones over the holidays. “You can be exposed to germs when kissing someone on the cheek. An air kiss is safer,” he adds.
#Breathe in steam.
Technically, “steam” is bad, but mostly because it is too hot. Warm water vapor, however, (may look like steam?) is pretty good. OK, don’t inhale vapors forever — do it intermittently.
Breathe easy with steam. Pour just-boiled water into a large bowl. Drape a towel over the top of your head to trap the steam, and breathe in through your nose for five to 10 minutes. Don’t lower your face too close to the water or you risk scalding your skin or inhaling vapours that are too hot. To make steam inhalations more effective, add five to 10 drops thyme oil or eucalyptus oil to the water. Keep your eyes closed as you breathe in the steam, since both essential oils and steam may irritate your eyes. On the go? Dab a few tissues with eucalyptus oil and hold them under your nose whenever you feel congested.
#Stay home and get plenty of rest.
#Drink plenty of fluids.
Flu Diet: 9 Foods to Eat When You Have the Flu and 4 Things to Avoid
Eating these foods might boost your immune system and you are probably taking drugs to weaken your immune system so that your liver doesn't get rejected. I'm not sure if eating these foods will benefit or harm you so please ask your doctor before you eat these foods.
Remember to take your medications on time.
Eat your food at a regular time and go to sleep at a regular time.
Article links from which I got the above information from:-
Most importantly don't take any risk with your health. Other users have already advised you to ring 111 and it seems that you have already done so. Hope you get better.
I've checked at the liver clinic and paracetamol is safe to take within the recommended guidelines. As for catching the flu (assuming that's what it was), I did go to an indoor swimming pool with a jacuzzi and steam room a couple of days this week. I must have picked something up there as the symptoms started within a couple of days of going there. I would normally stay away from places like that as I don't feel they're hygienic enough but from now on it's a definite no no.
Maybe because that place might have been moisty or something, it must have accumulated bacteria or fungus or whatever. I guess steam rooms can be bad too. Point to be noted. I'll edit my answer and remove steam rooms
Still not great darling but I think I'm slowly improving, thank you for asking. At least I haven't had a fever since early Sunday morning. With a compromised immune system, even the smallest things tend to take much longer than usual to sort out.
Take care
Klodian xx
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Well you look after yourself. It does seem you're on the mend xx
Hi, others have already said, always now err on the side of caution. Just ringing 111 causes no problems and they would prefer you did that. Ibruprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) which are not good for the liver, so irrespective of their combined affect on the kidneys the advice is not to take them anyway. Make sure you keep having your flu jab too, lol.
Thank you for the replies everyone. The nurse who initially saw me thinks it's very unlikely this is rejection. Just waiting on a doctor to take bloods and confirm it's nothing to worry about.
Haven't had a fever since 4am today and generally feeling much better so hopefully that was it. Still got a sore throat and feeling weak but nothing like it's been for the past couple of days. Booking that flu jab first thing tomorrow 😊
Hope you continue to improve KLDN, i make sure i have a flu jab every September! Can't remember the last time i had a cold .. please take care of yourself and always ring 111.. that's what they are there for..better safe than sorry. 😊
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