Symptom Relief Followed By Getting Sick, Again

[wonko]

OK, I am a big girl and I can roll with the punches, but need to whine a little bit on this one.

Awhile ago, I got some great results from neurontin, and after several months of no relief, finally felt "normalish" for a whopping <2 weeks, then an ear infection came along and caused some freaky chain reaction that landed me back down in a hole with all of my symptoms waiting for me.

More recently, prednisone came in and took me for quite a ride (really difficult to stay on the course!) but in the end, it was worth it because, as I jovially shared yesterday, I felt FAN-freakin'-tastic.

Then, yesterday afternoon at work, my vision got all weird again.  I had not had any ghosting/mild double vision at all in days, so I went into yellow alert.  Then the sunburn feeling on my face and arms.  Orange alert.  Anyway, by quitting time at my desk, I was on red alert.

By dinner, I had a really sore throat.  Normally not something to be happy about, but I was really glad--This must be why my symptoms came back!  Sure enough, I must be coming down with something because my throat is still sore and I have a low grade fever--also consistent with the symptom return.

So I have an explanation.  But, (and get your cheese ready, 'cos here comes the whine), WHY am I getting sick again so briefly after getting some relief?  It is like my body's defenses drop as soon as I am not bogged down with symptom nonsense.  I suppose a 2nd incident of this is premature to cite a trend, but c'mon.  Really?  Right as I start my 4-day weekend, nonetheless.

To add insult to injury, I apparently lost no weight this week according to my scale, despite my rather excellent behavior while on my trip to CA.  I mean, every meal they were waving pastries in my face.  I had to bob and weave to stay away from the baked goodies, for which I've always had an extreme weakness.  Oh well, between the travel and this cold (or whatever I'm coming down with) maybe I'm just holding on to my fluids.  

I'm gonna go (slowly) walk to the store to stock up on carrots and celery.  I sense an impending pity party accompanied by Lifetime movies today, and if I'm gonna end up at the bottom of a food bag, best it be veggies!

Hopefully this is just a little cold and I'll soon return to my symptom reprieve.  

I know in the great scheme of things this is not so bad and I have a lot of luck and positive things in my life.  It's all cloudy this morning and maybe that's also affecting my mood.

Has anyone else had this sort of luck, where getting over symptoms seems to open the door for colds and infections?

Thanks, and sorry to be crabby.  I'm sure my walk will help.
~W

[wonko]

Quix:  Yup, I flew (from MD), 4 flights with all the layovers.  The week before I was up in Philly & riding the subway.  Given the immunesuppressant properties, if all I got is a cold, maybe I'm actually really LUCKY!  Thanks, I was starting to think I was totally unlucky!

I have off 'til Tuesday and am resting big time.  My symptoms are not nearly as bad as before the pred., and hopefully if I shake this cold, then I'll feel even better.  I think the day I came down with the fever was the worst.

Farrahlicious, a late welcome to you.  I've seen a couple of your posts so I know your feet are well-pampered and that you should have a radio show :-)  I don't have a dx, but I had been symptomatic for several months straight before getting the meds.  They (the docs) have not convinced me that they know what is going on, but we are still hopeful that this could go away.  We'll see.  I do like the idea of a slumber party.  Maybe a rousing game of "Pin the incompetent sign on the neurologist" is just what we need.  

Time for us American's to celebrate working in the fitting way of takin' 'er easy!

[Quixotic1]

Oh, hun, I was so hoping that you would have lingering relief after the 'roids!  Well, a couple things might be at play here.  One is that the steroids are immunesuppressants and may have set you up for another infection.

Two, did you fly to California?  If so, that is like jumping into a sewer.  The cabin air on plane flights is continuously recirculated and this ensures that everyone is exposed to everyone elses germs and infections within 10 minutes.

There was an interesting expose on this that showed that if a specific germ was released at one seat on a plane, that that germ could be found at all the other seats within 10 minutes.  Also, the air in the cabin is highly dehumidified.  The sore throat can occur just from this, but it sounds like you caught a full-blown cold.

Bummer.

Quix

[Farrahlicious]

Make some room and pass the chips. You can keep em carrots and celery.. who am i kidding, i need to lose the "cortico-fat" (that has been my excuse for the past three months! it works all the time!)
I am sorry, hun, but let's pray it's just that you're tired, hungry, whatever, just not a flare. Btw, i'm sorry if you have explained this before, i'm still kinda of a "newbie" (yeah, throw rotten fruit at me, like the rest of the forum has! LOL, no! everybody has been extra sweet. I'm thinking on just camping out here. I love it here!)
have you been dx? i see you were on a few meds, so i guess you have...
let's see what's on the TV Guide and have a Hallmark cry-a-thon!
SLUMBER PARTY AT WONKO'S!!!!
(it's the only way to know if it is indeed a cold... if we all come out with a sore throat, there you have it!)

[Want to feel well!!!]

I really hope you get some answers soon...it just seems exhausting to have to face another appointment or another test.  Personally I kept remembering what "wonderful" felt like and I would settle for anything less...and thankfully I do have it again.

And I wanted to comment on your slowed weight loss.  Do remember that you are building muscle as you continue to work out and it is common to kinda hit a plateau once in awhile.  If your clothes are getting looser and the inches still are coming off, then try not to be discouraged...you are still shrinking!  I know we ALL place such an importance on that stupid scale and its stupid number.  You are doing everything correctly!

Hope your cold is only a slight setback for you.

Wishing you wellness,
Wanna :o)

[wonko]

My PCP rx-ed the pred, and she said the same thing, that it was not SPECIFIC, but if I benefited, it was likely that some inflammation was going on.  Not much, but with my only positive test so far being a slightly abnormal brain MRI (some lesions, but non-enhancing, and unchanged btw. Feb and July of this year) EVERY little bit helps.  I'm still on neurontin, too, but only 800 mg/day since I get some weird side effects if I go up too high.

She did want me to come in and see her after the steroids to let her know how it went.  I just get so annoyed with the appointments, but your gentle nudge is probably in the right direction.

I think I'll chill for the long weekend and try to get in next week.  Even if it is just a 2 minute appt. to say "Yup, it worked!" it is a good thing to have in my records.

I really hope/think the cold is just a small set back.  The pred was TOUGH to take, I must have barely-beneath the surface OCD because I was really nutty on that stuff.  Like you, I had to go through a lot before it was even on the table, and in all honestly, I don't think I WOULD have gotten through the whole course had I not been feeling unwell for so long.

I'm back from the store just before a downpour started.  I've got the whole day to myself and hope if I take it slow and do little things 'round the apt. that I'll have a nice Wonko-centric day.

Thanks for your thoughts!
~W

[Want to feel well!!!]

In my journey in and out of limboland, the first rheumy I saw told me that if taking prednisone relieved my symptoms that in itself was telling and could help with a diagnosis.  (Since then I have been through a plethora of testing before being able to take prednisone and Plaquenil which has been marvelous!)

It might be wise to see the doctor who prescribed the prednisone and discuss what has happened.  Just an idea for you.  Having such good results while taking it might help you with an eventual diagnosis.

Disclaimer: I am not saying this as an authority, just by what I have experienced.

And I am sooo sorry your wonderfulness was short lived.  That really s u c k s.

Better health to you,
Wanna :o)