Sero neg and a blimmin cold!!

[Hels1989]

Hiya ladies sorry I’ve not posted in a while. Still tryna get my head around my new life I suppose! Ok so I’ve had a cold and cough for 3 weeks. It’s not necessarily on my chest so would a doc be able to do anything for me? Just with me having it for 3 weeks with no signs of it going! Also I’ve felt like I’ve been in a flare whilst having this cold (still a newbie so guessing it’s a flare as my pain has gone a bit crazy) can a cold like this cause a flare? Any ideas? As I say I’m still a newbie so I’m unsure of these things. Any help would be most appreciated. Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas 🎄 xxx

[Hels1989]

Also presumably so long because of my DMARDS

[allanah]

Hi Hels. Hope you had a great Xmas despite your cold.

Docs can only help if it's an infection not a virus. So if you have an infection you may also have a temperature or nasty phglmn. But obviously if you're poorly see a doc.

Also my Rheumy suggests some dmards are stopped if an infection but not so much for virus, again tho call the helpline.

Yes I flare when sick so luckily rest and keep cool and take painkillers as normal xxx

Hope u get well soon x

[Hels1989 in reply to allanah]

Thanks Hun at least I know I’m flaring for a reason xx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

Yup hon, you can feel much worse with colds when you're on these powerful meds and it takes ages to shift but as others say, antibiotics won't do much if it's a cold. If it feels like a bad temperature and develops further then go to your doc ASAP. I carry hand gel and move like the wind if someone sneezes etc! I trod on hubby's foot recently 🙀 trying to escape someone sneezing!! Try avoid touching public bannisters and door handles etc and wash hands immediately after. 😷 One of these might help too! Hoping you soon feel better. Hugs. xx

[Hels1989 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Hi Hun nice to see your name pop up!!! Literally bought hand sanitizer today 😂 haha poor hubby!!! I couldn’t move that fast. To be fair I’ve passed it on to my partner and both kids 🙈 I’m sure il be fine! Just gotta ride the storm!! Hope your well sweetie! P.s we booked Disney about 4 weeks ago 🙂 I have to have something to aim for xxx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

Hellooooo! I'm so pleased you have booked Disney! It will be fab. 😍 I would not have been able to shoot off, away from the sneezers a few years ago but I'm a bit more agile now. You will be again soon. I was near a woman in a cafe today sneezing without covering her face. People are clueless at times. You can't help giving your cold to your family. It's usually kids giving colds to parents bringing them home from school isn't it?! I rarely get a classic cold but tend to get sinus infections. So how are you feeling aside from the cold. Any change? I'm using a steroid spray for my sinuses as winter tends to make them bad but apart from Christmas tiredness I am feeling not too bad thank you. 😘 xxx

[Hels1989 in reply to Neonkittie17]

I’m on week 8 of Mtx and week 10 of hydroxychloroquine. Before this 3 weeks where I feel my cold is causing a flare I’d say yes I feel a little better, not sure my dosage is 100% right so gonna see how I feel once the cold has gone and speak to the nurse. But I’ve only cried once in about 2 months about my condition and that is since having my cold so I musnt be doing too bad!!! 😂 as I say though I will see how I am after getting over my cold as ask my rheumy nurses advice, she may say wait till the 12 weeks or maybe suggest an increase of dose age as I am only on 7.5mg Mtx so quite low I think. We shall see!!! I hope one day I can run from coughing people who don’t cover their mouths 🤢 your replies always make me feel more positive Hun thankyou so much for that it means a lot xxx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

Aww thank you and if I can encourage you then I'm very happy 😘. I am glad you seem stable and not getting worse even if it seems a slow worker with the Mtx added, but it is still early days too so they might up it a little you're right. You are allowed to cry when you feel pants but I'm glad you've got such a positive attitude and you're a lovely girl who will get back on track and control your condition rather than it control you. Gentle hugs and hope you and your lovely family had a great Christmas and still enjoying the holiday season. xxxxx

[Hels1989 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thanks Hun so much. You have a lovely Christmas too xxx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Hels1989]

😘😘xxx

[nomoreheels]

Yuk, sorry you're feeling rubbish Hels, I hope you had a good Christmas in spite of it? Like A says docs can help if it's infection (bacterial) but not if it's viral like a cold or flu. I rarely get colds nowadays as I'm super careful at avoiding anyone sneezing, that said I've had one this winter but it's the first one for ages. I carry hand gel with me too to use if I need to go to a public loo, or need to open or close any door really, you'd be amazed how many people don't wash their hands! I find a normal cold tends to last longer & usually goes on my chest, then I ask for a telephone consultation with my GP & she prescribes antibiotics. A flare is also normal in my experience. Your remaining defences are down so it makes some sense. You'll get used to understanding your body with RD so don't worry.

I hope it doesn't hang around too long but if you start to feel really poorly, you get a temp or it does go on your chest do see your GP. X

[Hels1989 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks Hun. Sounds silly but I feel relieved that I know it’s the reason I’m prob flaring. I’m not too poorly with it, just driving me mad coughing now haha. I think I’m gonna see my GP anyway even if it’s just for him to listen to my chest then to say it’s clear and to just suck it up haha.

Thanks for your reply Hun and seeing my children’s faces on Christmas Day made it special 😊

Xxx

[Louis-]

Hi I am in the same boat as you .I have has a cold for 3to4 weeks now I am sero neg diagnose in Apr this year I am still finding my feet . I am on mtx and was told that my colds will last longer because of this . so I am just getting on with it I don't feel very ill but like you i am haveing a flare i think my hands wrists and feet are the worst at min. If your worried call you doc never hurts to ask questions. Happy Christmas x

[Hels1989 in reply to Louis-]

Ah that’s good to know Hun. Not that you are poorly but to hear someone who is in exactly the same boat. I am lucky at the moment in that only my knees are affected but they’ve been really sore the last couple weeks. I’m still managing to get about so I’m thanking god for that. Hope you are coping ok and had a nice Christmas xx

[Magymay]

Hi hels I've PSA and had a cough since end-of- October ! Soo fed up with it I've also got costochondritis which is really flared becausecof the cough .Think I'm taking heart attack sometimes .Don't know what meds your on but bin on metoject every week .but fonder a massive improvement .Hope your cough subsides 😊