Haven't posted for a while....PMR still gone but.......

[suzieh]

No pains but have had a dose of flu! In spite of flu jab.

Started with a 3 day "tight band "headache and slightly sore throat. Then l became so conjested I could hardly breathe, alternated with a running nose. (3 boxes of tissues later)! have been coughing badly for 2 weeks so far. Lots of chills and staying in bed, hot baths,steaming my head.....anti conjestants, now on lozenges and loads of watery drinks - sick of the honey and lemon! At least it should've gone by Xmas.

Guess my immune system isn't functioning too well even though I've been off the Pred for a couple of months. Think I picked it up on a plane ( journey usually 4 hrs, took 12hrs due to a suspect traveller with a fake passport....he was removed before take off but then we had to evacuate so plane could be thoroughly searched by police and sniffer dogs...lots of hanging around then diversion as pilot ran out of flying hours. Very stressful)

On a lighter note....friends have been juicing and feel great, and have lost weight. I decided to try juicing for breakfast, soup for lunch then protein, loads of veg/ salad for dinner. Lost 6lbs in 2 weeks - although feeling ill meant I wasn't tasting much or hungry

Always a silver lining in the black cloud. Worth a try if you can do it.

Happy Xmas everyone and hope the flu doesn't get you.........!

[PamelAnneCT]

Hugs coming your way! Hope you are on the mend. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. The flu jab is a gamble, some years they get it right, some they don't.

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

What rotten luck to succumb to flu in spite of having had the vaccine, Suzie.

I don't have the vaccine, I just cross my fingers....and hope that Manuka honey and daily fresh garlic proves sufficient! Although I'm not advocating that anyone else does this, of course!

You've probably hit the nail on the head in saying that your immune system may not be functioning at its best at present - it can take up to a year for our bodies to return to 'normal' after coming off steroids. But it sounds as though you're doing all the right things, so good luck and I do hope you will shake it off in time to enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Or you could think it might have been even worse had you not had the jab! To be honest, the single times I and OH had flu (not at the same time) we couldn't have got into the bath to have one! Nor could we eat at all!

What a great excuse not to have to do much for xmas - remember to leave get well cards up amongst the seasonal cards so people know you were ill

[J-I-L]

You have given me hope that PMR eventually leaves! What a blessed gift!

[suzieh in reply to J-I-L]

Yes I have been lucky....I did struggle at times to do things, and also to reduce the steroids. It took me about 3 years in all. You can probably read my posts from when I joined the support group - if you search my name - I hope they encourage you. This site helped me so much.