After three years of of this hell, I recently caught my first cold - stuffy, runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc.
Is this odd?
Posted by rmsfnc (Member # 27539) on :
got the sniffles last night. It sucks. I figured with all the herbal immune stuff I am taking I would fight the colds/flus off this season. Guess not.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Nope, normal, not odd. When I started getting better and my immune system started working better, I got sick all the time. I even remember saying, "What's the point of being better from Lyme if I'm going to be sick all the time?"
Take it as a good sign. A lot of us who got better had that happen.
Posted by steve1906 (Member # 16206) on :
I can't agree MORE with sixgoofykids!
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
But why do I still have ALL of my pain symptoms.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Posted by blinkie (Member # 14470) on :
When I first was diagnosed, I got every illness anywhere within 200 yards of me, I swear. Then, for many years, I NEVER could get a cold if I tried.
Now, I get colds like a normal person. well, maybe a little more often than a healthy person.
I think it;s a good sign although, I have no idea why.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
I don't buy any of it.
Posted by RESOLVED. (Member # 24991) on :
It's true. I don't really understand it either, but my LLMD says that you know you're getting better when you catch your first cold.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
I won't buy it till I feel better, meaning symptoms bye bye. I still have mucho symptoms!
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I think it could mean that your immune system has begun to work in a more normal fashion.
My opinion is that while fighting lyme at its most serious, our bodies go into a sort of over drive/autoimmune type state, therefore we don't catch as many colds or we cut them off at the pass, since our bodies are fighting in the over drive state.
Once you begin to catch colds, etc, maybe your immune system is beginning to calm down and behave more normally, which may be a good sign that the lyme is gradually diminishing and your body can then in turn begin to slow down the over drive or autoimmune reaction.
This actually makes a lot of sense to me. It might not mean you are well; but maybe that you closer to getting there.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
No, I think we are even more susceptible to colds when sick with Lyme and friends. Difference is our immune response is suppressed...so even though we caught a bug, we don't know it other than maybe having a bad Lyme day or two.
sutherngrl...on your theory, I will take the opposite stance. Maybe the body is giving up on the infection and is now acting more normal.
Posted by desertwind (Member # 25256) on :
I agree with richedie. When I am loaded with lyme I catch everything that is going around and other old opportunistic infections show their ugly face. No immune system for me when I am having a flare up of lyme. Low white cells - low immune system.
When I am feeling better in regards to lyme I rarely get sick. Immune system fights it off - because I actually have a healthy immune system when it is not bogged down with lyme.
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
So Richedie, you are saying that we may catch a cold, but we don't recognize it as such, since we already feel so crappy? I haven't really thought of it that way.
I sometimes feel like a cold is wanting to start and then it fades away within 24 hours. I considered that the reason for that was my over drive shot it down before it really got started.
Both theories are interesting!
I haven't had a cold in the 4 and 1/2 years since I have been ill with LD. Not even a cold sore(herpes simplex, which I use to have several times a year before LD). I have had strep throat several times, but each time it only lasted 2 days and was gone. Thus my theory!
My body won't run a fever for more than 2 days, whereas before LD, strep would put me down for a whole week.
Would love to hear more opinions on this!
Posted by feelbetter (Member # 21957) on :
I have been ill for 2 years and never have a cold during the past 2 years,I always wonder why.
Because the lyme bacteria stronger than other bacteria..??
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
my white cells are way up for first time in three years and I have my first 'noticable' cold in three years. I still have lots of symtoms. Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Colds and stomach bugs feel distinctly different than Lyme Disease. The flu feels much the same.
I did not catch colds or stomach bugs when I was sick. When I was getting better and my immune system was acting more normally I got sick all the time.
I think that when we're really sick our bodies don't even recognize the viruses. My experience was that when I got well and my immune system started functioning again, I seemed to go back and fight old bugs, plus caught everything that went around.
In between bugs, I would feel absolutely 100% ..... though I was not fully well the first time I caught a cold. I COULD tell the difference, just as you are telling the difference.
Believe it or not, whichever you want, but I personally think your immune system is starting to work again. That is a good sign, even if you're not 100% well.
Posted by rmsfnc (Member # 27539) on :
Very distinct cold symptoms for me. Wake with a scrastchy throat from nose being stuffed and breathing through mouth (when the wife says I snored all night it is a tell tale sign for me), drippy nose during day and heavy head feeling. Typical first cold of season for me.
Posted by rmruss (Member # 11409) on :
Could it be allergies and not a cold? This is the time of year when allergies really start to kick in.
Posted by nellers78 (Member # 26774) on :
All very interesting! I haven't been sick much at all in over a year. I didn't even get the strep bug that went through my house in the spring. I thought it was odd that I could be so sick with Lyme and not get colds as frequently. Food for thought.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
If your body didn't recognize the virus, you'de be in BIG trouble.
This is a cold...not allergies! I have had more testing for allergies than anyone should be allowed in this lifetime.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
This is an excerpt from Dr. K.'s 2004 publication "Lyme Disease: A Look Beyond Antibiotics".
Viral infections as a number of others are always a part of Lyme Disease, sometimes stronger, sometimes weak.
"The Three Components of Lyme disease Lyme disease has three components, which should be recognized and addressed with treatment: Component #1:The presence of spirochete infection and co-infections The co-infections are bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic. Since the spirochetes paralyze multiple aspects of your immune system, the organism is without defenses against many microbes. Many -- if not most -- of the co-infections are really a consequence of the spirochete infection and not truly a simultaneously occurring ``co-infection''. For treatment options, see below. Component #2: the illness producing effect of microbial exo- and endotoxins and toxins produced by the host in response to microbial trigger Most of these are neurotoxins.Some appear to be carcinogenic as well; others block the T3 receptor on the cell wall, etc. Decreased hormonal output of the gonads and adrenals is a commonly observed toxin mediated problem in Lyme patients. Central inhibition of the pineal gland, hypothalamus and pituitary gland is almost always an issue that has to be resolved somewhat independently from treating the infection." etc. etc.
It is easily tested with the Klinghardt ART method, whatever dominates at the moment; different infections can raise their ugly head at different times during the disease process. I have had it happen many times.
Take care.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
quote:Originally posted by GiGi: This is an excerpt from Dr. K.'s 2004 publication "Lyme Disease: A Look Beyond Antibiotics".
Viral infections as a number of others are always a part of Lyme Disease, sometimes stronger, sometimes weak.
Since the spirochetes paralyze multiple aspects of your immune system, the organism is without defenses against many microbes.
Thanks, GiGi, this is exactly what I experienced.
Posted by deerose (Member # 27484) on :
ok I get the rationale but I'm with Richiedie "If your body didn't recognize the virus, you'de be in BIG trouble."
Granting we are already in trouble...
How do we keep from them overwhelming us? or is that the point...they are just yet another thing arising in the course of disease? in th emix of the pot of misery?
I certainly have experienced viral flares of other kinds. Which only show up when immune is suppressed not doing better. Prelyme.
And I was fussing this morning with the scratchy edges of a cold and recalled this being said elsewhere on here. "Getting better".
I am getting better after three years that I know of but why does that make me sick? On a level makes no sense.
So I am only "sick" when there are symptoms of the fight?
so the differentiated virus is the signal? versus it being drowned out by lyme symptoms?
A cold feels very different to me than neurolyme symptoms and it's relatives.
I still don't quite get it.
Posted by D Bergy (Member # 9984) on :
When the immune system is not working properly, as in weak or dysfunctional, it does not respond aggressively to colds or Flu.
I learned that from having Crohn's. I rarely ever had any kind of cold or flu that would cause me to miss work, or be anything other than a minor inconvenience.
I always thought I had this great immune system that stomped out these viruses quickly, before I would get very sick.
I was completely wrong on that. I had an immune system like a Cancer patient. My immune system was too weak to respond much to these viruses. It is the response that makes you ill, more than the virus itself.
Once I started taking Low Dose Naltrexone, I caught the Flu. Not thinking much about it, I kept taking the LDN while getting the Flu. I seriously thought I was going to die. I missed three days of work. I was ten times sicker than I had ever been from the flu.
I will stop taking LDN if I get the Flu again. It makes my immune response too good for some viruses.
Dan
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Dr.K. is the doctor who chronics see after they have seen most everybody else. When I had the luck to find him, I arrived with the same comment --"I don't know why I feel soooo ill - if I ever wanted a day off work all the years I worked, I had to fake it with I don't feel well! The only cold or sore throat I could remember was 40-some years ago." "Exactly that is what 99.9% of my patients tell me" is what he answered. "The body due to increasing overload is unable to respond any longer to a virus, etc. It simply packed it away causing more of an overload. Then when the tickbite hit or the infection was passed on, that was the straw that broke the camel's back."
That is why unloading all the accumulated toxins from bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite, toxic metals, chemicals and clearing the allergies is a must - and that is what will get you well.
I followed this advice and regime and got well. It cannot happen any other way. And the older we are, the longer it will take. And if seriously ill, it will never happen without a serious toxic metal detox --- after eliminating the allergies to the metals which are almost a given with everyone I know with Lyme and/or other neuro symptoms.
Take care.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
quote:Originally posted by deerose: ok I get the rationale but I'm with Richiedie "If your body didn't recognize the virus, you'de be in BIG trouble."
It's known that Lymies tend to carry around viruses, and I was already in big trouble.
The sick feelings you get when you have a cold or flu is your immune response .... the inflammatory cytokine response. If no immune response, no symptoms, other than perhaps the drain on your body from one more virus moving in.
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by GiGi: Dr.K. is the doctor who chronics see after they have seen most everybody else. When I had the luck to find him, I arrived with the same comment --"I don't know why I feel soooo ill - if I ever wanted a day off work all the years I worked, I had to fake it with I don't feel well! The only cold or sore throat I could remember was 40-some years ago." "Exactly that is what 99.9% of my patients tell me" is what he answered. "The body due to increasing overload is unable to respond any longer to a virus, etc. It simply packed it away causing more of an overload. Then when the tickbite hit or the infection was passed on, that was the straw that broke the camel's back."
That is why unloading all the accumulated toxins from bacteria, virus, fungi, parasite, toxic metals, chemicals and clearing the allergies is a must - and that is what will get you well.
I followed this advice and regime and got well. It cannot happen any other way. And the older we are, the longer it will take. And if seriously ill, it will never happen without a serious toxic metal detox --- after eliminating the allergies to the metals which are almost a given with everyone I know with Lyme and/or other neuro symptoms.
Take care.
Followed this advice and regime? What regimen? Do you mean to get a cold? Is that the regimen> You lost me. Posted by cleo (Member # 6646) on :
I used to get cold sores yearly until I got sick then not a one. All I would have to do is look at someone with a coldsore and wham. Now I get a flare when I look at someone with a coldsore. My husband with ra in remission would never get a cold when I or the 3 kids did he would get a flare instead. I believe our immune system is constantly boosted to fight lyme, if you have inflammation your body is fighting, when we start to recover we start getting normal things instead of a lyme flare. The heathiest people I know get a couple of colds a year. Every person that I have ever spoken with that has recovered tells me when they started getting normal things again they were getting better even before they felt better. Never getting sick does not mean your immune system is strong it means it is not working right. just my humble viewpoint
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Of course it is not working right. When we get a cold while sick with Lyme....our body fights the virus, it may take a lot longer...but the body can't produce the symptoms such as runny nose, cough, etc.
Posted by feelbetter (Member # 21957) on :
So I wish I can have a cold now which means Im on the road to recovery..
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
quote:Originally posted by feelbetter: So I wish I can have a cold now which means Im on the road to recovery..
We have no clue. This is just theory. I'll believe it when I see it.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
quote:Originally posted by richedie: I'll believe it when I see it.
What do you mean? When you see it in your body?
Dr. K, well respected in Lyme treatment says he sees it. RESOLVED's LLMD sees it. Those of us who are well on this thread have seen it. So I don't understand what you mean ....
Posted by Nemo (Member # 22783) on :
I was lucky enough to get H1N1 last year while being treated for Lyme. I was sicker than a dog. My doctor interrupted my Lyme treatment to treat the Swine flu. I got over it in about 3 weeks and immediately relapsed with the Lyme, developing a nice circle rash on my throat.
I had had mild positive results on my Western Blot so the doctor was treating me for "possible" Lyme even though I reported a bullseye rash. When he saw the circular rash pop up on my throat without provocation, he was a believer and immediately resumed my treatment for Lyme.
I'm two years into treatment now and finally symptom free. I'm always going to have issues with the nerve damage and joint problems from the Lyme but they are tolerable now and I am on maintenance dosages of ABTs (Augmentin)
I've lived with the end results from Rheumatic Fever for the last 35 years. I'm 57 now. I can live with this.
My energy levels are coming back up. I feel alive again.
I also caught my first cold in ages! I haven't had a real cold in years so I can really empathize with everyone. At least with a cold, I feel normal again!
Doxycycline 100 mg BID for 3 months Doxycycline 200 mg BID for one year Augmentin for 6 mo. .
Early detection, early treatment of symptoms, neuritis, neuralgia, arthralgia and arthritis, bulls eye rashes, flu symptoms, short term memory loss, word loss, extreme fatigue, motion sickness, visual floaters.
[ 10-12-2010, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posted by richedie (Member # 14689) on :
Nemo, what are your residual nerve damage issues and and joint issues? Most people say symptoms are 100% gone after treatment.
Posted by TN Kim (Member # 26729) on :
Just had a thought while reading through all the theories here. Could it be that when we are having a herx and truly FEELING sick with Lyme
that we stay home more and more cautious about germ control and staying away from others because we know we can't afford to catch anything else?
Once we are feeling better ... then we tend to throw caution to the wind and aren't obsessively always thinking about our illness?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
TN Kim, I have six kids in public school, I was exposed to everything even when I stayed home!!!
Posted by cordor (Member # 9449) on :
Dan is correct when he says:
"It is the response that makes you ill, more than the virus itself."
I believe I have heard this from more than one doctor.
So I think that while we have Lyme...our body is not responding to the cold or virus like it should be...therefore no "symptoms". We still have the viris or cold but no symptoms because our body is not fighting it correctly.
I don't know...that kind-of makes sense to me.
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
I haven't been sick with anything other than lyme for 20 years. I'll be happy when I get my first cold. I've always thought it was a sign your immune system was trying to get back to normal.
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
great topic, my two cents...
just got my first cold in a year and a half 2 weeks ago. it seems a cold is going around as tons of people have had it. im so hopeful that those who say this is a good sign are correct!!!!!! oh and one can clearly tell a cold from lyme. runny nose, coughing, itchy throat, mucus...its not hard.
as for why we dont get sick as often: 1. we are taking loads of abx. im sure this is fighting off many bacterial infections we use to get that we thought were colds. now we no longer deal with those bacterial infections. 2. healthier lifestyle. many people cut out sugar which feeds virus' and weakens immune system. also may take supplements which help against colds. 3. although mentioned earlier more precaution. washing hands, staying away from sick people, etc.
Posted by DoctorLuddite (Member # 13853) on :
People get colds at this time of the year because they are losing the natural vitamin D coming from sun exposure. Flu too. People in the Southern hemisphere excluded, of course, unless it's their rainy season.
[ 10-14-2010, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: DoctorLuddite ]
Posted by JunkYardWily (Member # 24271) on :
if heard that from several sources and it seems logical but i dont personally believe it. three weeks ago when i got sick i had at least 40 hours of sun exposure the seven days leading up to the cold. also i was in the sun four hours the day i got sick.
also people in florida, texas, and california get sick just as much.
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
richedie, Here's an interesting True Story for ya:
A friend's wife had contracted Lyme back in 2003 or so here in central NH. She started seeing Dr. D down in Mass. and continued to do so for a couple years. The doc was cycling her between ~3 different Lyme-fighting abx protocols every 4 months.
She was getting frustrated with the length of time it seemed to be taking to "just get over this" as she put it. She'd tried going off the abx after maybe a year, only to relapse within a month- i.e: needing a sweater on a warm June day.
Then One day she came down with either a bad cold or the flu and turned her attention to just taking care of that, during which time she discontinued her abx. As she slowly recovered over a week or so, she noticed that as she continued to improve, many of her remaining Lyme symptoms seemed to have cleared! She continued to take extra care of herself (extra sleep, good diet, exercise) & ended up feeling healthy & doing fine!
Now years Later, she Occasionally gets Tired more easily, but compensates with naps. (And she hasn't been on the daily antibiotics since she caught that flu. )
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