Poorly with the flu

[Thebutterfly]

My husband got diagnosed with stage 1 CLL about a month ago. He has since caught a horrible virus, probably the flu. It's been going around, but with how poorly he's been (fatigue, 'cotton wool head', nausea and coughing up phlegm a lot) it must be down to CLL.

Apart from rest and plenty of fluids, is there anything that can help with his immune system to help fight this virus? He's had negative Coronavirus tests. I've suggested talking to the GP to see if they can offer anything, but wondered if anyone else has been through the same?

Many thanks in advance

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Thebutterfly,

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With CLL we are all immune compromised and lung / upper respiratory infections are our worst risks since we can get bacterial, viral or fungal pneumonias easily and they can be more dangerous / fatal than our CLL.

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Many of the symptoms you mention are more common with one of the pneumonias or flu, and his CLL may keep his body from responding appropriately. So your husband and you should be actively insisting on a "differential diagnosis" from the GP en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffe...

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The doctors rarely like digging into these types of infections and some will dismiss them as "Upper Respiratory Infection." As his caregiver, you need to be an assertive advocate to get the doctors to treat these infections as very serious.

See: cllsociety.org/newly-diagno...

cllsociety.org/?s=advocate

cllsociety.org/2022/06/bein...

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As Dr, Brian Koffman says: Stay strong. We are all in this together.

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Len

[Thebutterfly in reply to lankisterguy]

Thank you, appreciate that.

[Sunfishjoy]

I’m experiencing the same long lasting nasty virus. Three weeks in. I thought I had pneumonia and had a chest X-ray. It was negative. Took two antibiotics which didn’t improve symptoms at all so must be viral. But get this: I started feeling better and was asked to help take care of my young grandchildren who have RSV. One spent three days in hospital with pneumonia. And my coughing has increased again. No fever this time and all the adults are coughing too. When will I have the courage to say no to my daughters about taking care of sick grandchildren?

[Kuucat2021 in reply to Sunfishjoy]

I have picked up long duration colds after watching my grand children too. They are frequently sick and I think I am more vulnerable to catching what they have than I have been in the past bi am stage 0 W &W. It is a dilemma si ce I want to see them as much as I can!

[hasta]

I suggest blood tests to check his WBC count, neutrophils and immunoglobulins.