LymeNet Flash: First cold since starting treatment...a good sign?

This is topic First cold since starting treatment...a good sign? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by lymephobic (Member # 17556) on :

So Sat. evening I started to get chills. Thought it was just the lymie stuff and would be fine after a good night sleep. No such luck!

Spent the entire day in bed on Sun, fever on and off, stuffy nose, cough the works.

I have read some of your experiences that for the most part, when treating Lyme and co you generally don't get sick.

So do I take this as a positive sign?

Are Lyme & Bart going into remission? Does Bart go into remission or is that actually curable?

Feeling better as of this afternoon, just stuffed up.

Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :

Lymephobic,

When my husband got his first cold after 3 years of treatment, I did a search on Lymenet, and many folks said this WAS a good sign that the immune system was functioning more effectively.

I asked his LLMD about this, and he said he would interpret it in the same way.

So perhaps it is a good sign (though it's still no fun to have a cold).

Regards,
Viva

Posted by SForsgren (Member # 7686) on :

I wish I understood this better. If you don't get sick, but you have the cold virus, then what is it doing that you are not getting symptoms?

Would be great if it were true that if you start to get sick, you have a more functional immune system. Maybe it is.

I have had a cold/cough for almost three weeks and have been told the same, but I still don't see the logic behind it.

Can anyone explain this in more detail?

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

hi,

i recently had what appears to be a flu or a cold, runny nose, sneezing, runny eye and very cold feet...

asked my llmd, and he said it could be the flu or could be lyme itself.

since lyme & coinfections can mimic just about any cold or flu like symptom and usually does.

also since lyme disrupts our immune system and weakens it,
it is then just that much harder to really know which is which...

i guess there is no way to know for sure.

i have actually asked same question here before, and got similar replies where some thought it could be lyme while others a cold.

but staying optimistic is perhaps the best thing and keeping the immune system strong is best.

hope this helps.

best regards,
eric

Posted by liesandmorelies (Member # 15323) on :

I have been in treatment since last May and I have not had a cold, flu, or been on any abx in years(except for treating Lyme) and all of a sudden over Christmas I got a tiny cold(passed qucikly) and now just this past week I got another head cold.

It stinks, but I am hopeful that something positive is going on in my immune system. Perhaps it's not working as hard against the Lyme all the time, so it was able to let down its guard, hence the colds.

Not sure, but just my thoughts.

Posted by lymephobic (Member # 17556) on :

Thanks all for your responses.

This was a doozy of a cold. I am still stuffed up. But definitely on the mend.

My husband made a point that it must be a virus because the antibiotics are apt to kill a bacteria. I'm not sure how many bacteria rifampin is likely to kill.

I also don't understand the logic behind if you get a cold, you are getting better, but you are right eric...trying to stay optimistic here!

So to my other question, does bart go into remission or can it be cured? Any thoughts on that?

Posted by Tabby (Member # 13917) on :

The reason that a cold is a sign of a strong immune system...

Anyone can get the virus, but things like coughing, sneezing, etc are the ways that your body and immune sytem are working to get rid of the virus so that it can't stay in your body.

If you have a really low immune system, it can't do any of those things.

Hence if you are having symtoms of a cold, your immune system is up and running!

I hope that makes it a little clearer [Smile]

Posted by lymephobic (Member # 17556) on :

Tabby...thanks that does make it clearer.

Here's to me having a cold! [woohoo]

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

so then me having a cold or flu like symptoms with very cold feet, all last week is a good thing ???

i would rather it be that than anything else ofcourse...

[Smile]

Posted by venus (Member # 16991) on :

I have my first cold in a year and a half. It is a doozy. My fiance has it as well. I am looking at it as a good thing. It does stink to have a cold on top of lyme symptoms.

Hurray for our potentially work immune systems.

I also have gone to sleep before 10 the last two nights. That hasn't happened in a year and half as well.

Maybe there is truth to this.
Kathy

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

Hello Deb (relative)

How are you doing ?
Or should I just know how you're doing by simply looking at myself ??? hehehe

[Big Grin]

Posted by dguy (Member # 8979) on :

We lymies don't get many colds because our immune system is in overdrive, wiping out infectious agents before they can replicate. Unfortunately, this overreaction is also the cause of our inflammatory symptoms, such as joint pain. Catching a cold means your immune system has calmed down, back to a normal level. For more info, search Th1 disease.

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

Deb,

If these folks are right,

and us having a cold or flu is a good thing,

then our immune systems are working Good eh ???

knock knock knock on WOOD

[bow]

Posted by Judy G. (Member # 18498) on :

This was very nice to hear! since I just had a dosey of a cold -- had just started adding Zith and thought it was a herx -- but then my husband got the same symptoms, so I know it was a virus.

This illness is so weird -- if you don't have symptoms, you're sick; and if you do have symptoms it means your treatment is working and you're getting better.

Posted by eric555 (Member # 18343) on :

i really hope thats the case...

since this darn lyme thing can act up, and mimic any flu or cold like symptoms...