What to do with colds ...

[wiwada]

This is my first winter and I have no real clue  how I should deal with the normal winter stuff. Do have have to see a doctor for every runny nose or sore throat ?  Is there some sort of guideline ?

[jkinatl2]

I stock up on Nyquil, but call my doc if I run a fever for more than three days or if it goes well over 100 (f).

Other than that, you know, avoid touching your eyes and nose, wash hands, and all that. But don't sweat it.

Especially with numbers as good as yours! Will you still get colds? Yeah, prolly at the same rate as you did pre-HIV. So long as your numbers are good, with or without meds, you will likely recover at the same rate as you did before.

[Ann]

In addition to what JK said, you would be wise to get a flu shot if you haven't already. I'm not sure about how it works in Germany, but here in the UK people with hiv can get the shot no problem.

[jkinatl2]

In addition to what JK said, you would be wise to get a flu shot if you haven't already. I'm not sure about how it works in Germany, but here in the UK people with hiv can get the shot no problem.

This! And from what I hear, this year the scientists got it right Last year we all got the flu anyhow, but this year's shot protects against "normal" flu and h1n1.

[mecch]

If I were to get the flu I wouldn't bother my HIV doc / ID specialist.  A few years post diagnosis I have once or twice just called my regular doc when I felt a regular problem needed attention.

[jkinatl2]

If I were to get the flu I wouldn't bother my HIV doc / ID specialist.  A few years post diagnosis I have once or twice just called my regular doc when I felt a regular problem needed attention.

Exactly.

And if you get the flu, and become severely dehydrated, don't worry that the meds you might be on may be messing your kidneys up. Don't think that you  need to be seen or given saline as a precaution, or be diagnosed properly. Just another day.

Sheesh.



JK
(who has been there, done that, and lived to talk about it)

[tednlou2]

I keep reading that HIVers are no more likely to get colds and flu or for them to be any more severe.  I know some disagree.  I know we are much more likely to have something like the flu to turn into bacterial pneumonia.  So in that regard, it would seem we are more likely to have complications from the flu, but not for the flu, itself, to be more likely or more severe. 

In Dr. Gallant's book "100 Questions and Answers About HIV", he says, "...colds and flu are controlled by the humoral immune system and not the cellular immune system that uses CD4 cells and is damaged by HIV."  He does say one of the complications we are more prone to get is the flu turning into bacterial pneumonia.  People who smoke are at greater risk.  Having said this, I know there have been many who say they get colds and flu much more frequently now that they have HIV.  So, I remain confused as usual.

[leatherman]

And if you get the flu, and become severely dehydrated

are u suggesting then to contact the doctor if you get the flu? or only if you're dehydrated from the flu?

the "sheesh" and "don't worry" stuff makes your reply sound a little sarcastic, so I'm just looking for some clarification especially since meech didn't insinuate a severe dehydrating flu scenario and your initial suggestion was nyquil. LOL or am I missing something here or totally misunderstanding what you meant?

Personally, I don't contact my doctor with every little illness either. After dealing with this for nearly 20 years, I learned that poz people with UD viral loads get sick just like normal folks do - and thankfully it usually isn't the end of the world - just the flu or a cold.

I think the general rule of thumb is that you have to base contacting your doctor on how your health has been in the recent past, how severe your current ailment is, and how long the effects have persisted without being alleviated by any of the regular methods. However, my personal rule of thumb from experience is: if I puke every hour for 6 hours in a row, I should immediately go to the ER (for me that was the sign, more than anything, of having PCP )

[jkinatl2]

For a cold? No need to call a doc. But if you have access, and if the cost is not an obstacle, then calling a doctor when you are running a high fever and risk dehydration is important. There is a level of care - perhaps multiple levels of care - one can summon between Nyquil and the ER.

[mecch]

Exactly.
And if you get the flu, and become severely dehydrated, don't worry that the meds you might be on may be messing your kidneys up. Don't think that you  need to be seen or given saline as a precaution, or be diagnosed properly. Just another day.
Sheesh.
JK
(who has been there, done that, and lived to talk about it)

Gee if I were that sick of course I'd see my regular doc, who would presumably be professional about treating all these grave complications you are imagining.

This response is carry over from the "no big deal" thread where you mistakenly put me in that camp and weren't content when I declined membership.

[Assurbanipal]

Wiwada

You, like all of us, have a serious chronic illness.  That's why you need to have a good doctor that you see on a periodic basis.  But how many doctors you see, how often, what triggers a visit vary depending on how sick you are, whether you are starting a new drug regimen, what shape your immune system is in, any other conditions you may have.... 

Frankly, while we can tell you that most of the time a cold is still just a cold, its not always clear what to do for other conditions, and whether they might be a concern or not will vary based on a lot of other factors.

So the best person to ask this question of is your doctor.  (S)he knows your current condition, other diseases and conditions.  If you don't do this already, you might want to start a list of written questions to take with you to your next appointment.  And on it should be, When do you want me to call for an appointment if I feel sick? Cold symptoms, fevers? rashes?... How is that different from your non-infected patients.

Be well
A

[J.R.E.]

Hi,

I get the flu shot annually. I think,overall, I've been lucky.  My last cold was around the end of July.( which also was ruined my first week of vacation)   I may get one or two colds a year, nothing that I've ever gone to the doctors for, and nothing usually that severe.

 I work in an environment, where there can be a lot of sick people, so plenty hand washing, is always a must do. I like Alka seltzer cold medication, and perhaps some low dose aspirin, and make sure to get plenty of rest, and fluids, and juices.

Ray

[sfbayjeff]

As I'm sitting here sniffling, coughing, and sneezing, this question is quite relevant to me as well.  I'm curious to know what role CD4 count plays in all of this, if any.  On my last labs, my CD4 count was 14.  I'm supposed to be taking prophalytic antibiotics to prevent PCP etc., but haven't been due to other health complications and drug interactions. 

Do any of you respond differently based on your labs?

[mecch]

sfbayjeff
Gee I don't mean to be alarmist - but does your doctor know you have this cold?
With that low CD4 and no prophalytics, sounds like some doctor should be watching you closely.

PS - Welcome to the forums.