Head cold that won't go away

[Bryan B]

Remember last weekend I was debating whether or not to go to the ER because I had a fever for a couple of days? Well, I haven't had a fever since then but I still have the head cold. This is day 10 with the head cold, but I only had the fever for a couple of days. I've been on antibiotics the whole time. When I first came down with it I was on PenVK 500mg 4 times a day. That therapy ended last Sunday, and since then I've been on Cipro 500mg once a day for chronic prostatitis. I don't know what to think. It reminds me of when I first got sick last June with bronchitis, except my lungs have very little congestion (maybe due to the fact that I'm not smoking).

Mostly I'm feeling like I'm in a no win situation. I'm still waiting for the surgeon at Duke to evaluate my latest echo tapes and get back to me. My PCP seems to think I'm over reacting to everything, and my employer...well missing any more work before surgery will not help my situation.

I just need to vent. I've been working through this and figured it was just a head cold that would be a nuicance that would run its course. But it's not going away and I can just feel it dragging me down. I don't know how much more of this I can take before I go into a serious meltdown mode...again.

 

[Karlynn]

Just a shot in the dark - I wonder if you are dealing with an allergy to something that was thrown into over-drive with your cold?

I'm sure this is very frustrating for you.

 

[Abbanabba]

Sorry to hear you're still feeling so bad Bryan. It really is such a fine line between needless worry and genuine concern - especially when you are so near to your own surgery.

As far as "over reacting to everything", your PCP needs a good kick up the "Khyber Pass". Obviously you are still feeling unwell and that needs to be addressed, regardless of what may (or may not) be the cause.

I really sympathise and hope you start to feel well again soon.

All the best
Anna : )

 

[tommy]

Bryan,

Congratulations on the

except my lungs have very little congestion (maybe due to the fact that I'm not smoking).

There are some nasty bugs going around. I had a sinus "thing" in December that had me "down" for several days and congested for several weeks. I never had a fever, but had the body aches.

Get as much rest as you can and drink lots of water. Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Bryan B]

Thanks Tom.

It's definitely a sinus thing. That's why I'm worrying. When I get the sinus thing I tend to end up with a sinus infection. And as you all know, I'm a tad paranoid of the "I" word right now.



Mostly I'm just frustrated about everything in general right now, and I needed to vent since I have no control over any of it.

 

[tommy]

Bryan,

Having allergies for years, I'm all too familiar with the progression from the common cold to an infection. Your immune system likely isn't in top form. Hopefully the antibiotics will keep you out of harms way.

Keep venting, that's what we're here for.

Rest and fluids. Hang in there.

 

[McCln]

I have sinus problems all year round, but it goes into overdrive when I am stressing out. I fell and hit my head the other day and my sinuses went into hyperoverdrive. Am better know and hope you are better soon. Take care and take all the meds to get better.

Caroline
09-13-01
Aortic valve replacement
St. Jude's valve

 

[Ross]

Move over and make room for me Bryan, I'm getting it too. Cough, congestion, itchy throat, but so far, very little in chest congestion. Just a nice deep bronchial cough. You know, the kind that vibrates your sternal wires loose.

My wife brought this home from work about 6 days ago, so I guess I'm lucky it didn't hit me sooner, if you consider it to be lucky.

 

[Harpoon]

Who the hell prescribed antibiotics for a cold???


Just wanna know because colds are viruses which are not affected by antibiotics...



Anyways, I've been getting harrased by some kind of a sinus thing... I'm not sure exactly what's going on by it's ben going for lmost two months now. I think it might be some kind of overactive sinus/sinusitis type infection....

Basically, I get a tickle in my mouth (usually the right side of my tongue, it's NOT the tickle from the lisinopril) which progresses into a heavy cough. When I can get a break from the coughing, I'll blow my nose a few times and the cough tends to go away.

It's DAMNED annoying too.


Did you get your flu shot?


If not, WHY not? =)

 

[Karlynn]

It seems that any time I get an aggressive cold virus - I then get a sinus infection and end up on antibiotics for that.

Has anyone tried, or heard anything, about Air Born? It's been advertised on TV a lot. Apparently it was developed by a teacher that was tired of getting sick from her students.

Is it another zinc related product?

 

[Bryan B]

I was put on chronic antibiotic therapy for my chronic prostatitis (this was done by my PCP at my cardio's request until I can be evaluated by my surgeon...still waiting), not for the cold.

I had my flu shot.

Really...the only problem here is that I feel like crap and I'm tired of waiting for ANY hint of forward progress on getting my surgery scheduled. It's been SIX weeks, and it feels like it's been SIX years.

 

[tommy]

Harpoon,
With the allergy history, it doesn't take much for an allergy "irritation" to go to bacterial infection when a virus strikes.

Karlynn,
I've taken cold-eaze, seems to work, but frankly I can never be sure.

Bryan,
Waiting is the PITS! When you last contacted the surgeon's office did they give you response time? Try to get them to commit in some fashion. It often expedites them. It also makes it more palitable to for you to call back for a follow up if they pass the deadline. You don't like to be a pest, but have a right to know what to expect.

 

[Karlynn]

Regarding flu shots - seems like everyone I know that got the flu shot, has gotten the flu.

I heard on the news that they missed the boat this year on their "flu shot cocktail". They, basically, take an educated guess on which viruses will rear their ugly heads and pick the top 4- 10 (I've heard different numbers). Unfortunately, most of the flu going around wasn't covered in the shot.

This isn't to say that you shouldn't get a flu shot, it just means that it's not a guarantee and washing hands, etc. is our first line of a limited defense.

Bryan - keep that liquid flowing through your body and get LOTS of rest.

 

[Granbonny]

Bryan

Bryan

Chicken soup.. My sister has a had cold for 6 weks. Nothing helps..I had the flu shot and not a sniffle all winter. But, then I am a whimp and stay inside most of the bad weather time. Did you get the snow in Tennesee over the weekend? Bonnie

 

[Bryan B]

Bonnie,

I need some "chicken soup for the soul" right now. I appreciate everyone letting me vent. And the snow just missed Nashville to the south. About 30-50 miles south of us they got anywhere from 5-11 inches.

I don't know if ya'll remember the guy from the movie "Airplane" who throughout the movie kept saying "I picked a bad time to...", but that's how I feel. I picked a bad time to quit smoking, I picked a bad time to have problems at work, I picked a bad time to get a head cold, I picked a bad time to get a double crown done, I picked a bad time to get endocarditis, I picked a bad time to need heart surgery, etc. But that's life, and I reckon I have to deal with all of them at once whether I want to or not. Like Bunny likes to say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

 

[Bryan B]

Tom,

As for the surgeon it's been frustrating. I wasted two weeks waiting on my cardio to make a referral which never happened. Then I made contact on my own with a surgeon at Duke. As of last Thursday they had gotten my records but not the tape of my echo. The hospital where I had the echo done said they mailed it out last Monday. I didn't hear anything from the surgeon on Friday or today. I'm hoping and praying (and have all fingers and toes crossed) that I will hear from him in the next day or two. I've got one more dental appointment and my mouth will officially have clearance for surgery (got my permanent crowns today). I was going to finish up today but they would have had to numb both sides of my mouth which would have made dinner impossible, so I have one little ole filling left and I'll be done. I think I could handle one or two different stresses going on at the same time...just feeling overwhelmed by all of them happening at the same time. Too bad they sealed up Saddam's hole, I sure would like to crawl into it for a bit.

 

[Karlynn]

Bryan,
Keep your sense of humor. It's good medicine!

 

[Bryan B]

Update:

Day 12 with the head cold. I made an appointment to see my PCP on Thursday. Still no word from my surgeon.

Oh well, I'm getting a lot of practice saying the serenity prayer.

 

[tommy]

Bryan,

Sounds like you are hanging in there. Keep it up. This too shall pass.

 

[Abbanabba]

"I picked a bad time to..."

Hey Bryan.... let me know if there's ever a good time to do any of these things!!!

Hope you start feeling better soon and things start moving along for you.

All the best
Anna : )