Chest infections

[grannyouch]

Hi - this is my first post but I have been reading all your posts for some time now and always with gratitude for the shared experiences and good advice.

Recently my husband and I moved from south West London where we'd lived for 40 years to North London to be near our grandson and daughter. Since we moved at the end of August I've had 4 bad chest infections which last for about 10 days and have almost identical symptoms - bad cough, temp up and head cold. I've never been that concerned until this time as it's just getting ridiculous now!

Is this a common thing with PMR? I was diagnosed at the beginning of last year and am now on 7.5 mgs of Pred. I've had a lot of extra stresses so I'm guessing it could all be linked?

I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this!

[SheffieldJane]

I think you are right that your illness is to do with the huge stress of uprooting from your home after 40 years and all the other stresses you’ve been under. You also have a compromised immune system with this disease. If you haven’t already, I would request a chest x Ray. Your body is definitely trying to tell you something. Personally I find the level of Pred that you are on quite challenging in itself. I wish I could offer more comfort, it must be horrible. Perhaps spring will bring improvements all round. I hope so. Take care.

[grannyouch in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much for your lovely reply. I'm guessing most of us feel very alone with this horrible condition,even if we have support at home. I did have a chest xray about a year and a half ago which was clear but as an ex smoker I'm very nervous. Thanks so much for replying about having another one!

[SheffieldJane in reply to grannyouch]

🌷 Be brave and let us know how you get on. Have a nice peaceful Easter.

[grannyouch in reply to SheffieldJane]

And to you!x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Totally agree with Jane - immune system awry and lots and lots of stress! Plus around 7.5mg your adrenal glands are having to think about working again, and sometimes they’re a bit slow off the mark!

Just stick at your dose for a while.....and try and give yourself plenty of TLC...rest is the best!

This wet and gloomy weather does nothing to lift the spirit, but as Jane says ..spring is just around the corner!🌹

[grannyouch in reply to DorsetLady]

Good advice as always! Thank you DorsetLady. Hope your weekend is a good holiday for you!

[1Purplecrow]

Hi Grannyouch... just another thought on the chronic chest issue...last year I had a serious cold, which developed into pneumonia. Antibiotics helped me, and by spring, I thought I had recovered. Except, I had retained a pesky sinus/ inner ear congestion, which lasted all summer.

Well, long story short, in August, I developed another bout of pneumonia (second in 7 months).

After seeing a pulmonologist, the determination was that the leftover head congestion had “kindled” another bout of pneumonia. Apparently the sinuses had drained into my lungs (?). Anyway, big dose of antibiotics and repeated xrays showed it took about 3 months to heal completely.

Keep looking for the cause... do know that stress contributes to all this stuff. With PMR, we have a lowered tolerence for even the little stressors we used to roll with... happy and sad ...like changing houses...and grand babies ...and a whole bunch of others...they all challenge us , and kick us about as we struggle on this balance beam of PMR.

Keep pushing for a clear diagnosis...too much illness in such a short time...there is a reason. 😷

Kind regards, Jerri

[GerriMc in reply to 1Purplecrow]

Gosh Jeri, that’s given me a bit of a start! I’ve had about 4 chest infections since last November. Just finished my second antibiotic, I fought off two infections without one. Apart from the hacking wheezy cough, my sinuses are permanently full. I’m on 6mgs now. I had hoped that my body was returning to normal as the PMR symptoms have not been bad. But I’m wiped out with colds etc. My GP did say ages ago that it might be worth getting the pneumonia vaccine but I never followed up. Maybe I should.

All the best you guys and thanks for the info.

Gerri.

[1Purplecrow in reply to GerriMc]

Hi GerriMc, heres a thought for you to consider...

the pulmonologist I saw for my last bout of pneumonia, cautioned me to avoid using the high powered antibiotics (zithromaz, cipro, etc) , for ordinary illness. He recommended amoxicillin- type drugs, which are the older, cheaper abx that have been around for long time. Those are usually adequate for common infection illness.

He said we should save the “big gun”- type abx for the serious illnesses, for which there are fewer options. I presume pneumonia falls in that catagory??

All that said, consider your sinus problem might really be the cause of chest infection. i was shocked...but it was true!

Btw, it took nearly 3 months to get a clear chest xray after last pneumonia🙃

Good luck, Jerri

[GerriMc in reply to 1Purplecrow]

Thanks Jeri, that makes sense regarding the antibiotics. I’m thinking the sinus problem may also be connected to my having to wear a mouthguard at night. I think it’s forcing me to breathe through my mouth. Or maybe that’s the sinuses. The problem started shortly after starting with the mouth guard. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation! 🙄

[grannyouch in reply to GerriMc]

Oh boy- yippy sound like you've had very similar experiences to mine. Colds and coughs going on and on though in between I feel fine. As I type this my temp is 38 and I literally NEVER get temps. My sympathies!!

[grannyouch]

Gosh you've had a horrible time - and all because of this wretched illness. I hope you continue to do well.

I went to an emergency doctor today who said my chest sounded clear and there was nothing to worry about but I if I carry on like this I'll go back to my regular doc and try to get an answer. I have been overdoing things and I had a particularly bad couple of days emotionally at the beginning of the week so I'm pretty sure that had something to do with it!

Thanks for your kind input 💐

[Hollyseden]

Nothing to add as all the wise advice has already been given, just wanted to say I love your 'name' I've christened myself grannycanny 😁 because so often I find I 'canny' do things. Hope you find a solution to be your chest infections.

[yogabonnie]

I can only add that grandchildren much as we love them are the source of many a viral infection...from all their pals at school. Plus you have the stress of moving and PMR. Give yourself a break, a nice hot bath, lots of tea and lots of rest. Any desire to increase the dose until this passes..or are you pretty pain free?

[grannyouch in reply to yogabonnie]

Thank you,yogabonnie - very comforting. There are other difficult things going on so I think you're spot on. One of the things I meant to ask was should I go up on my preds? I'm not in pain but tired. Would an increased dose help get rid of cough/colds etc?

Hope you're having a restful and fun weekend - in spite of the rain!

💐👍

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to grannyouch]

More pred won't help get rid of coughs and cold, for some people it might make them less obvious by reducing any inflammation, for others it may make them last longer as their immune system may be weaker. Unless you have PMR symptoms there isn't really any good reason for raising the dose - the fatigue of the autoimmune disease isn't combatted by the pred, you have to do that yourself by pacing and resting:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

[yogabonnie in reply to PMRpro]

Oh! I just said to ask you! and here you are!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to yogabonnie]

Like a bad penny - always turning up

[grannyouch in reply to PMRpro]

😟

[grannyouch in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you - makes sense as I've had a demanding week plus 3 pilates classes in a row. Relieved not to have to go up on the preds!😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to grannyouch]

MAYBE - consider reducing the Pilates a bit for a week or two? It is a very demanding technique and will tire your muscles, particularly with PMR.

[yogabonnie in reply to grannyouch]

alas... that I don't know. I'm pretty new here.. I think that's a question for PMR pro or Dorset Lady ... I don't think an increased dose would help get rid of a cold. but if you have any PMR pain it would. I know we aren't supposed to yo yo too much.... No rain here. We just got a pile of SNOW ! (Minnesota. USA. )

[grannyouch in reply to yogabonnie]

It was meant to snow here this weekend instead of which all at get is RAIN 😡. I sure we're all more than ready to see some warmth and sun! Do you always get snow at this time of year in Minnesota? Apart from the dangers of ice I think I prefer snow to rain!☃️

[yogabonnie in reply to grannyouch]

Oh so do I!! March is usually the snowiest month and there will probably be snow in April. But I'll be in Sweden in April so no snow there I shouldn't think!!! I love the snow. snow shoe and cross country ski. I figure if you get out in it it isn't so bad! But I walk with ICEBUG boots and shoes so I don't slip. and often use poles.! ..

[grannyouch in reply to yogabonnie]

Must look up icebug boots - they sound terrific! Anything but breaking or bones,right?

[grannyouch in reply to grannyouch]

I meant OUR bones! I envy you going to Sweden. Ever since I watched my first Swedish TV drama I've been fascinated in everything Swedish!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to yogabonnie]

Northern Germany is under a layer of snow currently...

[1Purplecrow in reply to yogabonnie]

Excellent advice!!! What she said......!!!

[yogabonnie]

they are pricey. but worth every penny and last forever. fit true to size and you must get the ones with BUgrip with the metal studs. be sure. the less expensive ones will have rubber studs and are worthless. they often have sales. !! TOTALLY wonderful .. have changed our lives. Husband wears them too. He's 80 .. no falls!!!! Also I get them new from outlets or on Ebay. think you can find better deals than icebug.com ... especially now the season is ending.

[grannyouch in reply to yogabonnie]

Useful - thanks! I'll look on eBay but after carefully checking the steel v plastic studs!