A cold that does not want to go away

[hasta]

Friends, I have had a cold for three weeks now. Not COVID, I got tested several times. This cold gives me congestion, cough, body aches and on top of all that I lost my sense of smell and taste. Does any of you experience a similar situation? If you do, could you please share it? Thank you

[Red49]

Hi there, in August I had what started as a sore throat, moved to my chest and nose this lasted for almost five weeks. The congested chest and cough lasted the longest and was quite difficult to get rid of even have a course of antibiotics. It took a few weeks after before my full sense of smell and taste came back. It was not Covid either. A coworker of my sisters had this cold as well and it too lasted for a month and they have no health issues. Sorry to hear you are suffering with it.

[hasta in reply to Red49]

Thank you for responding. I guess this is a stubborn variety that I have to suffer through. Best Regards

[Ghounds]

I'm afraid so yes, the first two winters after my diagnosis I had horrible colds and was unwell for eight months each time.

I hope yours clears up much more quickly.

[hasta]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[hasta]

It makes sense. Thank you for responding.

[CycleWonder]

My grandson has a cold now (he’s in 2nd grade and lives with us). So colds are circulating again.

[Big_Dee]

Hello hasta

After several years of covid shots, CLLers have now realized that none of the shots we take are a cure all for our greatly compromised immune systems. Sad as it sounds, washing hands, using hand sanitizer, wearing masks and staying away from crowds may be the best thing we can do for any respiratory infection. Each must do their own risk management.

[hasta in reply to Big_Dee]

I agree 100%. Thanks

[IRN83]

I didn’t see if you are being treated or with what. But I was on Ibrutinib and had the same symptoms. Ended up I was basically allergic to it and it put me in the hospital.

Hope this isn’t what you are experiencing

Get well soon

[hasta in reply to IRN83]

Currently, I am not being treated. Two years ago I gad Gazyva (obinutuzumab) treatment.

[garyherm]

Unfortunately, the bad news is it seems simple colds just hang on and on with CLL. My most recent started with a runny nose for 2/3 days (late August), proceeded into a cough (tested negative for COVID) and feeling quite unwell that just hung on until about a week ago. So the best part of two months and after a brief respite (felt so good for a few days) my nose is running again today.... I didn't lose taste or smell but certainly did not feel hungry. Hope you are feeling better soon.

[hasta in reply to garyherm]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[Wishing1202]

My brother and his family currently have RSV, perhaps it's that. He had it for 3 weeks, it went away for 2 weeks, and came back. cdc.gov/rsv/index.html

[hasta in reply to Wishing1202]

Useful information. Thank you

[Nama-8]

Hello,I live with family including an infant. We all had a cold for about three weeks. We thought we must have given each other our colds as I was traveling out of the country when I came down with mine. It sounds like others have been dealing with the same thing.

[hasta in reply to Nama-8]

Than you for responding. Best Regards

[hasta]

It has been pretty tough. Good luck to you too.

[hasta in reply to hasta]

Thank you. Best Regards

[Poodle2]

Sometimes your viral cold turns into a bacterial infection that brews very slowly. It might be worth seeing a doctor. Colds should not linger for three weeks. As a general rule, you should be over it within 7-10 days. Speaking from experience. If a cold draggs on for weeks, I almost always end up on antibiotics.

[hasta in reply to Poodle2]

Unfortunately, nothing helped much so far. Best Regards

[Marisa]

have just got over a cold, caught from my husband, with loss of taste and smell and sinusitis and chesty cough. It started with a bit of a sore throat and escalated into high and low temperatures as well. Was told I should go to A and E by the clinical nurse specialist as I am having treatment (Rituximab and Venetoclax). Was seen in 15 minutes and spent the whole day there and given fluids and antibiotics and sent home at the end of the day with a week’s supply. Was expecting to be Ill for at least six weeks but pleasantly surprised it was only two. Poodle 2 is correct that should a cold drag on, it can turn into something more nasty (in my case it was pneumonia).

[hasta in reply to Marisa]

This is exactly what I am experiencing. Unfortunately in my case, antibiotics and fluids have not helped much so far. Thank you

[Suzieinwv]

Hi, Hasta. Today makes exactly 1 month since I got sick. It started with a sore throat, low grade fever, slightly runny nose, body aches, then it went immediately to my chest.

I went to the doctor the 2nd day. I had done a Covid test before I went to the doctor, then they did a rapid test, that came out negative. The extended result Covid test also came out negative. I also tested negative for the flu.

My sister has had this same virus, and she now swears we had RSV. In fact, we both came very close to going to the hospital on the very same night of being sick.

I am still battling a cough and chest congestion, but feeling much better.

I was diagnosed with CLL 5 years ago this past October...and still on watch & wait.

I have heard of lingering chest infections and other illnesses that take longer to recover from, due to our diagnosis. I am now back to wearing my mask in public, & washing and sanitizing my hands.

I hope you start feeling better very soon.

Warm wishes,

Suzie

[hasta in reply to Suzieinwv]

Hi Suzie, thank you so much for your informative reply. I learnt my lesson for not wearing my mask in public. I hope this cold will go away soon and I feel close to normal again. Best Regards

[Imua]

I had a respiratory infection for 6 plus weeks this summer. Assume caught it from the grandkids. Got checked out after a month to ensure had not developed pneumonia. Doctor gave me antibiotics and said to take if not cleared up in two weeks so ended up filling the prescription. Not sure if virus finally wore itself out or if it was bacterial and the drugs helped. Hang in there!

[hasta in reply to Imua]

Thank you for your kind reply.

[AndreaJo]

Hasta, my husband is the one with CLL but I got a cold in August that went on and on AND I lost my sense of taste and smell. I was sure it must be COVID, but all testing said no. Began with a sore throat, then congestion, then runny nose and cough and it lasted three weeks. My husband never got it. I did isolate from him for most of the three weeks. I really feel like it was some kind of COVID-cold hybrid that doesn't test positive.

[bennevisplace]

In the US the RSV season has arrived a month early according to CNN cnn.com/2022/11/03/health/r... but in the UK I caught one last May, giving me a chesty cough for 8 weeks, in which time I lost 15 lb in weight. There was a summer spike in RSV cases both sides of the Atlantic in 2021 and 2022.

I hope you get over your "cold" soon. Are you checking your oxygen sats?

[CoBubby]

I went to Urgent Care last Monday and diagnosed with a cold. Had fever and cough. No Covid. Then saw my doctor on Friday, who requested more test. I have an infection in my lung, and started on 2 different antibiotics. I’m on Ibrutinib. Still have fever today. Scheduled to go back to the doctor on Thursday.

I had covid last spring, and developed pneumonia, and fractured a rib from coughing.

[skipro]

hi

Do you have low immunoglobulin, IgG?

I did and had chronic sinus and upper respiratory infections. once I started on regular IgG infusions 5 years ago I haven’t had one since.

Good luck

Skipro

[hasta]

Hi Skipro, yesterday I got my blood test results. Yes indeed, I have low immunoglobulin, IgG. The doctor contacted me and they will start me on infusions on Tuesday. How many did you have and how quickly did it work? Thank you very much!