Colds, flu and MS

So I am wondering....I know that with MS your immune system is in "overdrive" if you will - so many here have said that they don't get the flu or colds as often as they used to.

I would say that in the last 5 or more years, I would agree that I haven't gotten many colds or flu - certainly not every year/or flu season.

Ok so here's what is going on:  I got the flu(body aches, fever/chills etc.) the week before Christmas.  2 Weeks later, I got a humdinger of a sinus cold that lasted for more than 2 weeks.  Now as of last night, I am fighting something new - my tonsils are swollen & sore, as are my lymph nodes in my neck.  The skin on the left side of my face & scalp is sensitive (this is common for me when I am getting sick - different from the tingling/burning or numbness that I get).  I feel like I am trying to catch...something.

So in the last 6 weeks or so - assuming that I get sick from this current thing - I will have had 3 different viruses make me sick.  Here's what I am wondering:  If you have MS, and get sick, does it take longer for your body/immune system to recover?  Or am I just unlucky??  :)

Hugs,
Chrisy
undx'd

[Lulu54]

Hi Goofymom, that is an excellent question.  My very first thought is that perhaps you have not yet recovered from the first illness and each of these is actually related to the previous round.  You know i'm no medical expert so that's just my instinct talking here.


Even though our immune system is in hyperdrive, when we do get sick, we really can take ill to the extreme.  I'm not sure how that works - perhaps someone out therre will have an explanation for you and me.

It sounds miserable.  Have you discussed this with your doctor  ?

feel better,
Lulu

[goofysmom1]

I have wondered if the flu set me up or made me more susceptible to the other viruses.  they are definitely different in their symptoms.

This will definitely be a question for my doctor too but I hope others will chime in with their thoughts/experiences.

Hugs,
Chrisy

[Prettymomma]

I got sick a few day before Christmas and never really recovered. I ended up in the hospital because I had a horrible flare up. From what I have noticed you have to be real careful of colds and flus because it can lead to a flare up

[mistylee]

I have had MS symptoms for 4 years and have had no colds /flu up until my Dad died ayear a go and then bang.......sick with flu three times, one after another!!  And shortly after that a big flare!!

Mistylee

[goofysmom1]

Bumping this up for Quix!

[Quixotic1]

You nailed it on the head.  While we get fewer colds in general, when "anyone" gets a really bad cold or the flu it does suppress the immune system for sometime - maybe several weeks.  So, once any of us, with or without MS, go down with one, we can start catching everything that runs across our front yard.  It really doesn't have a lot to do with the MS.  A bad bout of the flu can change you for many months.

quix