cold virus and CLL

[DogmomLM]

I have just finished my first month taking Imbruvica. It has been a bit bumpy, but I am okay.

My husband has been away for a week and is coming home today. He just let me know that he has caught a pretty bad cold.

I plan to mask and will ask him to mask, I’ll sleep in a separate room, and I won’t get within six feet of him until he’s better.

Is this what you guys do if a family member has a cold? I have a friend, who, early in treatment, caught a cold and ended up in the hospital for three days with sepsis. Pretty serious.

Thoughts? Advice? Thank you.

[PaulaS Volunteer]

I assume your husband has tested negative for Covid? However as you say, even bad colds can turn nasty for us.

Sounds wise to me that you are keeping a distance from him until he's better.

I too am taking Ibrutinib. When my husband got sore throat and cold symptoms, he isolated in another room in our house and I left food for him outside the door. It wasnt easy. We used the same bathroom but at different times and he left the windows open afterwards.

Paula

P.S. The room hubby stayed in is actually a cellar conversion and has its own loo, washbasin and door to the garden. We put a kettle, fridge and microwave in there. So it was easier for us than it would be for some people.

[DogmomLM in reply to PaulaS]

Thank you Paula. Yes - he’s Covid negative and I plan to also be on the lower level of the house. This sounds trite, but we host our beloved euchre club on Friday night, so I am hoping the coast will be clear by then. One day at a time. Thank you.

[Lawand1]

I’ve been on Ibrutinib for eight years this very month. It took my body maybe 4 months to get used to it, mostly acutely painful but manageable joints in the most random parts of my body. This always flared up if my diet was poor or didn’t get enough rest etc.

Makes sense about reducing risk of infection with your hubby, and although I don’t know your entire story I want you to know in the last eight yrs on this drug I’ve had the cold a handful of times, flu once and Covid three times! I’m still here to tell the tale of a life lived fully (gym, golf, work, family and faith) and well with CLL! I hope you can too.

[DogmomLM in reply to Lawand1]

thank you!!! You’ve helped me feel less fearful!

[Lawand1 in reply to DogmomLM]

stay smart but enjoy life!

[Timbee]

ive been on imbruvica 420 for 3 years. I had covid 2 times. Youll be okay i think with a cold if you get it . Chek with your doctor

[LeoPa]

Can you get a UV lamp if you don't have one? I got one emitting UVA, UVB and UVC. The full spectrum. Disinfect the corridor and common rooms regularly with it when nobody is inside. No plants in the room as the light kills them too.

[Sheilachalfie]

As long as your husband doesnt have Covid, you should be good! Like any person, nobody wants to catch a cold as it can get worse!

[Ibru]

A cold is spread by touch as much or more than by air. You should have separate bathrooms, separate towels, don't touch anything he touches, or he should wash his hands every time he touches his nose, mouth or eyes. We also have only one person touching the remote for the TV, or else if the other person touches it, they use gloves or cover it with a plastic bag.

[michaeledward]

Even before CLL, I used to get a couple of head colds each year. Nothing changed when I started taking Ibrutinib 8 years ago. But ever since the beginning of the covid pandemic, I haven't caught any head colds, probably due to the fact that I have been wearing a face mask whenever away from home and doing a lot of hand washing. I'm seriously thinking about continuing to wear a face mask even after covid is behind us. I'll probably get a lot of strange looks (particularly in red states), but It has been over 2 years and counting since I last had a head cold and I'd like to keep it that way.

[Wishing1202 in reply to michaeledward]

Don't believe everything you hear about Red states. It's freedom of choice and no one judges. Both Democrats and Republicans choose freely.

It's why Pelosi is purchasing a home in Florida and AOC vacations in Florida.

[michaeledward]

I've been there and seen it with my own eyes IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC. Even in Ohio, which may be a bit more purple, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDFEMIC, they looked at my wife and I who were wearing masks as if we just landed from Marsd.

[michaeledward]

Mars

[michaeledward]

I should note the obvious, but it wasn't 100% of the people. But there were enough of them to be quite noticable.