Colds

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ashton2005

New member
I really hate colds although i shouldnt be complaining Ashton went all summer without getting a cold.. Well 2 days before our 3 month check at the CF clinic he started coughing runny nose fever whole nine yards.. Well this was tuesday and they started him on AUgmentin and we were to see the Dr on Wednesday.. Well wednesday they listened to him and said he sounded clear and cultured him and we are waiting on those results.. I really hope its not PA that makes me a little nervous.. They told us to call them on Friday if hes still got the gunky cough.. Well i was hoping it would be gone but nope its still here and im doing 4 treatments a day and one with pulozyme... i really hope that they dont admitt him today if i call.. they are trying to be really agressive with it as he is supposed to have surgery in a few weeks.. Sorry this post really has no meaning just venting.. I will let you know if we end up staying in the hospital they mentioned possibly IV's due to the surgery coming up... The one good thing is that his fever is basically gone only there every once in a while..

I guess i do have one question at what age did your little ones culture PA and did the TOBI do the trick or did they need more.. I know everyone is different with treatment just want to read some experiences...
 
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folione

New member
Ugh - I know how you feel about everything being fine until it's time for a clinic visit. My son (3 years old) first cultured PA at 14 months and went in for a 3-week hospital stay for IVs, etc. and did not culture it again until he was 2 1/2 at which time he went on Tobi. Cultures during the off-cycles all came back clear but 4 months later it showed up again and he did a round of home IVs. A culture and bronhoscopy after the IVs all came back clean/clear - the also CT'd lungs and sinuses and did not see anything alarming. All of which is to say that I think these intermittent culturings of PA might be red herrings - maybe it never even made it into his lungs each of these times and the drugs were helpful to keep it that way - so even though hospital time is a pain, the aggressive approach seems to be making alot of sense for my boy.

As for it maybe just being a cold, we've found that our son's colds take almost twice long as our colds to go away, but so far they've not turned into anything ugly. The augmentin is not really doing anything for the cold virus - our Dr. says it's just to make the environment less hospitable to bacterial infections that might take advantage of all the mucus.
 
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julie

New member
I'm sorry christi, I hope he starts feeling better soon. Has he cultured PA before (I can't keep up anymore <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) or has he had clean cultures thusfar? Just curious...

Keep us posted, and keep venting if you need to
 
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ashton2005

New member
No PA yet and his preliminary culture is clear... They have faxed and xray order to the radiology dept at the hospital in case i want to go get one today or they said monday so i think ill wait it out until monday.. although if its not one thing its another now his BM have turned to water(sorry kinda gross) so ill have to keep an eye on that..
 
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folione

New member
If he's been on augmentin for a few days and starting to get bowel troubles, you might want to add some OTC probiotics. My son often has trouble from antibiotics and adding a 1/2 capsule twice a day of Culturelle (brand-name lactobacillus) always gets him back to normal within a day.
 
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ladybug

New member
Hello,

I just wanted to put in my 2 cents on using augmentin for a cold... augmentin is an antibiotic (which are not supposed to be used for things such as colds, cause it is just asking for resistance to form). That being said, I was nearly always put on augmentin after having a cold that "just wouldn't go away" as a child, cause the worry was that the cold would move into my lungs (as folione alluded to above).

Well, partly because of this, I became resistant to augmentin within a few years of taking it maybe a handful of times for colds. I was still resistant to its effects when I turned 20 and ended up with severe strep throat and they wanted to put me on it. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

Either way, just be leary of using antibiotics for things like a cold unless they do in fact turn into a lung infection. I wish my parents would have refrained from putting me on antibiotics (oral) as often as a child for things such as a cold (I probably could have fought it off on my own, since I wasn't culturing PA and it often didn't move into my lungs at all). They also put me on cipro a lot as a child for colds and I'm completely resistant to that too. In fact, every oral antibiotic they could put me on nowadays, I am resistant to (I think its due mostly to being on such meds for colds, etc. as a child). So, just something to think about.

IMHO, if one's immune system can kick a cold or flu, there should be no reason to do antibiotics (unless of course it moves into the lungs or PA IS involved and a sputum culture verifies this). I do understand why some docs think, "better safe than sorry," but one must look at the bigger picture and how this may effect us down the road. I guess that is why I don't do IV antibiotics as "maintenance" either unless I'm sick and really need them. I want to be sensitive to as many things as possible as I get older. I know some will strongly disagree (doctors and patients), but that is how I feel.
 
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damiensmom

New member
Damien has had a cold to they put him on augumtem (whatever) also. This is the first time I have heard Damien cough like that. He also Coughs so hard in the morn hes face <img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">turns red And hes eyes water. Maybe hes Crying I know I am. sucks so bad. Pcp also gave him robotussin cough suppressent. I cant reach my cf nurse till monday *Ill hold off on the robotussin cause suppressing Damiens cough doesnt sit right with me does anyone else have experiance with this? I do cpt and treatments but it still there.
 
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damiensmom

New member
Damien has had a cold to they put him on augumtem (whatever) also. This is the first time I have heard Damien cough like that. He also Coughs so hard in the morn hes face <img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">turns red And hes eyes water. Maybe hes Crying I know I am. sucks so bad. Pcp also gave him robotussin cough suppressent. I cant reach my cf nurse till monday *Ill hold off on the robotussin cause suppressing Damiens cough doesnt sit right with me does anyone else have experiance with this? I do cpt and treatments but it still there.
 
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ladybug

New member
Amy,

I guess we may just disagree on this. I feel that even people with CF can sometimes rely on their immune systems to get them over a cold. I often have colds and they rarely turn into lung exacerbations. I attribute that to the fact that I work out and maintain a good weight and get lots of rest and in turn, my body can fight off things like colds.

So, although I DO agree that many times CFers and children with CF may have a cold move into their lungs (which is no longer a cold), sometimes the cough just comes with a cold and it CAN get better without antibiotics... even for those with CF. Now, I <i>have</i> had colds that turn into an exacerbation and I can certainly tell when those times are and take appropriate measures (much harder for a child to be able to tell, which leads to another "better safe than sorry" with antibiotics. But, the point I was trying to make is that not every single time a CF person (child or adult) gets a cold or a cough does it mean its time for antibiotics. Sometimes, yes. But, my point was to be careful and choosy on when you use them. If you use them every single time you will run out of things to use. I've seen it happen to people. Some still feel they really needed the antibiotics when they got them, but others have not been so certain and often wish they hadn't gone in for every cold and cough. JMO though. And, of course, hindsight is 20/20. I wish I hadn't been on augmentin and cipro for every cold when I was young, but yet perhaps they did keep me from getting worse. One never knows for sure. I just know that NOW I can usually kick a cold without antibiotics, so chances are back when my lungs were much healthier I could have too.

I agree with you 200% that colds could easily be avoided (as could many many things) through handwashing. I bite my fingernails like a madwoman... its amazing I'm not sicker more often! lol

I hope Ashton is feeling better VERY soon! Antibiotics for flare-up or cold or whatever... Its NO FUN being sick!!! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
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ladybug

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amy</b></i>

yes! do NOT supress the cough. you have great instincts <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"></end quote></div>

And, this we DO agree on! lol

I actually was told the ONLY time to supress a cough for a CFer is if they are not able to breathe or sleep at all because of it and its <b>non-productive</b>... meaning, a tickle or the like. For sure if its congestion, I would probably go without sleeping just to get that gunk out!!!

I usually get a really terrible cough at the end of my colds and cough so hard I loose my voice and my ribs and everything hurts so bad I can hardly move. During those times, when its just a dry tickle and getting NOTHING up, I do take a lozenge or the like to get some relief. I still make myself do all my treatments though, no matter how painful or constant the cough. That is very important.
 
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anonymous

New member
Hi Christie,

My son Sam is the same age as Ashton! He cultured PA in April and we did choose to admit him for a week, and then did two weeks at home of oral and inhaled. He just had his second clear culture so we are feeling pretty good these days!!! Sam did have two colds this summer. Runny nose, deep horse cough, but they always said he sounded clear and they each went away in about a week. Hopefully, Ashton will do the same. They did say to increase the CPT to 3-4 times a day (we usually do 2). Good luck and let us know what happens!

Carrie
mom to Sam 10 months
 
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JRPandTJP

New member
NO on supressing a cough!

Sonia, I am with you on misusing antibiotics for colds (viruses). Not saying it is inapproprate for damien or anything. I just think we all sometimes jump the gun because of how helpless we feel when our kids are sick and coughing. A virus needs time to run its course and I do believe the CF body (PA or not) can have a strong immune system and respond normally to a cold/virus with cough. In fact, this should be one of the primary goals we have in helping our kids.

As you know there are many things we can do to help boost the immune system during colds and coughs (and keep it strong in between them). During, we use UMKA which helps him clear out mucus and seems to shorten the duration and severity of colds. We also make sure he gets lots of antioxident rich foods (berries, goji and acai juice, ect) which seems to help inflammation and lots of water to move stuff out. Other than that patience and trusting he can make it through. Lots of cuddles and lavender foot rubs are nice too.

Now, if it goes past 10-14 days and other things seem to be involved, get it checked out. I'd wait for signs of secondary infection before antibiotic administration and definately agree with probiotic support during (I think daily is important though for everyone).

Long term misuse of antibiotics is harmful and looking beyond CF is creating tougher strains of bacteria for all of us. I think CF docs need to be prudent just like traditional doc are finally. Just my opinion...I was placed on many antibiotics for colds and wish my parents had been more prudent as well.

Jody
 
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ladybug

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>amy</b></i>

No question that bodies fight off colds and viruses. Otherwise we would all be dead from them. There are no treatments to get rid of a cold or virus - except if it's the flu and that's TamiFlu.



so you are correct - almost every single CFer fights off colds and viruses.



the problem lies when viruses cause inflammation which can lead to PA overgrowth. or when the body's immune system is attacking the virus instead of keeping PA in check.



An exacerbation from a cold is a bit of a mis-nomer. Because the exacerbation is from bacteria that already exist in the lungs. They were just allowed to over-grow due to the body fight off a virus.



Some people with CF are fortunate and simply don't get PA or any other bacteria over growth when they get a cold. However, many CFers, after running the course of a cold or flu for 10 days, still have thick, purulent sputum and or a fever and or fatigue. Clearly the virus has run its course. But a bacterial infection has taken over where antibiotics can be appropriate.



Bottomline - Sonia I think you and I are on the same page.</end quote></div>


Excellent, Amy! This makes more sense to me. I just wanted to make sure people realize some people can fight off colds, but I agree entirely that if you're still running a fever, coughing up more than normal, or any other symptoms that are sure signs of worsening infections, then you should be on antibiotics in most cases. We just need to treat each cold as a different entity and not pass a blanket judgement that just cause a CFer has a cold its antibiotic time. They are all different and manifest in different ways, just as Amy explained.
 
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ladybug

New member
BTW... How are Ashton and Damien feeling??? Hope things are looking up!

<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
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