help- terrified

[Fiddlemum]

hi- 2 years into pmr. Travelled to Salzburg end of October- got col/virus this year. Developed cough- on second antibiotics. Down to 2mg pred- no aches 🎉. However mental health not good. Being sent for chest x ray day after I finish antibiotics. I have convinced myself I have lung cancer. Gave up smoking 10-12 years ago. I’m frightening myself to death. Need to vent……

[piglette]

Worrying about something such as lung cancer is not going to help you. You are lucky that you have a chest x ray booked so you will know the situation very soon. Worrying beforehand causes a lot of people to be sicker than necessary. The chances are you will be fine. I know it is very difficult not to worry.

[Fiddlemum]

thank you for your response- I need to put my big girl pants on and get on with it. As you say I’m lucky to have one…….💗

[SnazzyD]

Yes, these thoughts take hold and they take a life of their own! There’s nothing we can say that will make them vanish, so vent away!

If you need any positive thoughts, I’ve seen many a ‘decent’ viral cough go on for a few months in people. It might also be that the antibiotics you have had aren’t quite right for this organism, if it is a secondary bacterial infection, and if it is viral the antibiotics don’t work at all. In the absence of a sputum sample, they usually try the most likely useful antibiotic to start with and often a second course in case the first wasn’t quite enough. It may be that you need something more specific. It is good practice that they are doing an x-ray at this stage and not just because the only next stop is cancer.

What you need now is answers because the unknown is worse isn’t it?

[Kendrew]

I agree with piglette....I've just had a 6wk wait for a colposcopy result involving a biopsy of my cervix because abnormal cells were detected. I was extremely anxious for the first few days but then I realised that firstly, I couldn't change the outcome, whatever that might be.

Secondly, I could potentially waste 6wks worrying about something that might never happen (a diagnosis of cervical cancer) instead of enjoying life.... and thirdly, it's normal and ok to feel a little anxious sometimes, but constant worrying would not serve me well or change anything....so I just needed to deal with life one day at a time and literally live in the moment.

So for instance......

......"Right now, in this moment, I am okay. I'm enjoying relaxing on my sofa with the fire lit and a hot cup of tea."

I try not to think about tomorrow or next week because if I do, I'm completely missing out on the the present!

It's hard not to be anxious sometimes, because the fear can become more of a problem than the problem we fear!

One day at a time, and if you can...try not to worry till you've got something tangible to worry about.

PS. My husband was told by his GP that there's a new post viral phenomenon called 'the hundred day cough'..... a persistent cough that people are experiencing following the bad cold virus that currently seems to be doing the rounds! He recovered from the cold almost 6wks ago but still coughing! My son had the same about 3mths ago and was sent for a chest x-ray...everything was clear, so you're not alone.

[Fiddlemum in reply to Kendrew]

Thank you all. My pmr journey has been a roller coaster. I feel lucky to be at 2 Mg. I perhaps should’ve gone up when I first got the sore throat etc but didn’t- thought I would hold out- dreadful fatigue now gone- so think adrenals must’ve got the message. My mental health on occasion over the 2 years has sometimes overwhelmed me. Anyway a good result of all that is that I’ve finally managed to be alcohol free and lost some extra weight- low carb method.

I read health unlocked every day and you have been a great support through it all.

Thank you

😘😘🌲🌲💗💗

[Bcol in reply to Kendrew]

I've been very confused about this "100 day" cough that is being talked about. It is made to sound as if it is something new being diagnosed, when in reality it is Pertussis or as usually known "whooping Cough" which is nothing new at all. Not sure why or who gave it this new name which seems to have led to this confusion. It doesn't make it any less unpleasant though.

[Kendrew in reply to Bcol]

I've actually had whooping cough in my twenties...I caught it off a child in my class. It was very different to hubby's persistent cough though, as I had a temperature and I experienced coughing 'episodes' that would almost make me physically sick and would last for anything up to 10mins. In between I would be fine. I also required antibiotics...the standard treatment for pertussis .

Hubby's is just an annoying & irritating constant cough aggravated by changes of temperature, talking, and lying down at bedtime. He's also now developing catarrh. He definitely doesn't have whooping cough.

My son was eventually given an inhaler and this has definitely improved things vastly. Seems he was left with an asthma type cough.

Who knows though. These are such strange times aren't they?

[Bcol in reply to Kendrew]

I had whooping cough when young, think I was around 13 and had it at same time as my dad. I remember he was more poorly than me but we both had the typical whoop. The hundred day cough that seems to be doing the rounds, sounds different to the usual whooping cough symptoms so I don't understand why it is officially called whooping cough. Perhaps whooping cough has mutated, hey ho as you say these are strange times we live in.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

I also I had it as a child -aged 2 and quite badly apparently-not that I can recall.

Now where have I heard that comment recently?

[Kendrew in reply to Bcol]

😄 Haha!..... I must admit, I haven't heard it referred to as whooping cough yet. I'm obviously not reading the right literature!I was shocked when I was diagnosed with it because I didn't experience the classic whoop, but nasal swabs definitely confirmed it was whooping cough.

Life can be mad at times.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

According to nhs - ‘young babies and some adults may not whoop’

[Bcol in reply to Bcol]

Just an edit to my post, on thinking about it I think I might have been in Primary school at the time so would have been 11 years or less. I remember it was a bad year as Dad and I also had Mumps together.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

I bet you got the blame for bringing it home 😉

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Probably, and the Mumps obviously more worrying to Dad than me at that age!!!

Vaccinations for Pertussis came in in 1957, MMR was 1988 so as I would undoubtably have been vaccinated if was available I must have been under 8years then. Long time ago!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

But many of us didn't get them that soon, or they didn't work that well. I caught it at school and gave it to my brother who was about 6 months old - wasn't left alone day or night for 3 months. My husband also got it at that sort of age. Neither were expected to survive it.

[Bcol in reply to PMRpro]

Think I was fairly lucky I do remember that Dad had both a lot worse than I did.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

But adults do when they get ‘children’s illnesses’ …

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bcol]

"Not sure why or who gave it this new name which seems to have led to this confusion."

Probably someone who doesn't want to admit that not having children vaccinated against whooping cough has resulted in its return.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As Snazzy says - post-viral coughs can go on for ages, especially the Covid variety. It is easy for me to say I know - but absolutely no point in worrying about crossing a bridge you haven't reached - and in fact don't even know if there is one on the route! You do have a reason for the cough - it isn't as if it has come out of nowhere. Hang in there until the chest x-ray.

[Holycow2]

I really feel for you as I think the older we get the more we tend to worry about health issues and it’s normal. You will have your test and I’m sure all will be fine however nothing anybody says will change how you are feeling in the build up to it. It’s good to rant and to know others are here to listen and support you. Mental health is horrible and exhausting in itself but you are doing so well, looking like the PMR is under control and stopping alcohol itself is no mean feat well done you!! Rant away 😘

[whitefishbay]

Hard not to worry but as Mark Rylance says in The Bridge of Spies 'would it help?'. Maybe distract yourself with deep breathing and something on Netflix. Best of luck.

[Tractor_Fan]

Hard to believe that I beat PMR yet now have a cough and back on Pred!