What flu is going round?
 

Does anyone know which species of flu is currently doing the rounds? My sister traveled in the car with me for four hours last Saturday, coughing and sneezing the fulltime, and now I have a horrible cold and an even worse cough. Can't stop coughing (this bug combined with herceptin cough) and can't sleep as it keeps me awake. So if anyone else has had this (my sister is still sick almost a week later) and knows how long it lasts, I'd love to hear from you. Any ideas on stopping cough would help too. I'm using Airborne lozenges at the moment but they don't seem to be helping.

I certainly can sympathize with you on the cough. I had what I thought were alergies since I'm in Oklahoma and the wind comes whipping down the plain but it turned to a kind of pneumonia. I coughed so much and so hard, I'd almost wet my pants. I couldn't sleep and my ribs were sore. My doctor finally prescribed Tussinex and it helped immensely. I no more than got over it and got it again the next week. I went through 2 rounds of antibiotics and a multi-pak of steriods. Probably not the same thing but the cough sounds as bad. Good luck in stopping your cough.

Horrid Cough
 

Had it. Lasted 2 wks + another wk of generally feeling wiped out. Called doc and got a prescription for something like Cheritussin. Worked magically. I had a sore throat from coughing so much. Had clogged sinuses, used Ayr in nose (OTC), which clearing my sinuses but dripped into my chest. Thought I might have pneumonia, but at my cardiologist's checkup had him listen and he said all was clear. Why didn't you call your onc? I never "pester" but when I have a problem I call. I get a call back the same day. That's as it should be. YOUR A CHEMO PATIENT! You deserve that. Feel better. (I caught mine from my 9 mnth old grandson who I couldn't resist kissing multiple times.) Love is beautiful, but a compromised immune system means washing your hands constantly and some Purel. I this case, that plus all my supplements just weren't enough. My husband, also exposed, was fine. Didn't catch anything, from little Ari or from me. Though I did not kiss him and told him to stop reaching his fork in to my plate, as is his habit. We blew kisses... ANDI

Thanks Ora and Andi,

It sounds very similar to what you both had. I've been holding my ribs when I cough, trying to hold them together I just called my oncologist's nurse, but it's 3:30 Friday afternoon so I'm not counting on much help. I have herceptin on Tuesday so I can find out then if I don't get a call back.

My sister, not on herceptin, is still sick ten days into this. It's a tough one.

Interesting - I have had a nagging, annoying light cough for about 4 days with a tiny bit of heavy chest. Not constant, almost like I have something that just won't completely kick in... almost sick, but not. I thought it was related to all of the molds and pollens in central Texas, but it might be a bug that is going around instead of allergies. Will definitely keep an eye on it and let the doc know if it doesn't clear up over the weekend.

The Bug
 

Your oncologist should call you back even if it's 3 o'clock Friday. Chemo patients are a 7 day a week responsibility oncs take seriously. At least mine 5 do! You should expect a call back. You're sick. All that coughing is miserable. It gave me a sore throat, kept me up at night, made me feel like I was gagging for my last breath. It hurt. You shouldn't hurt. And your doc can mae a quick call to your pharmacy. Have the number handy! FEEL GOOD soon... ANDI