Aspies how do you deal with cold/flue?

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When I was really young i contracted a Virus called RSV (Respitory Sinio Virus). Ever since then i have had no immune system. So now when I get sick with a cold or flue i really really know about it.
I know some aspies have Auto Immune disorder/disease and there bodies attack themselves when they get ill.
But for aspies like me who just have no or low immune systems, how do you deal with having a cold or flue.

I have had this one for 3 weeks, got over it and now got it back.
I know there other aspies like me, cause i have friends like me with little to no immune system.
But yeah, anti-biotics dont ever seem to work, they only make it worse. I was wondering if anyone has any natural cure (besides orange juice, i cant drink it).

but also I am curious how do aspies who have got Auto Immune, deal with colds and flues? I have one mate who is both Aspie and Auto Immune and he doesnt seem do do very well at all when he gets sick, it really knocks him down. like ive seen him sleep for two entire whole weeks, where as I may sleep for 2 entire days just to get over the initial symptoms and then use hayfever medication so i dont have a nose that keeps running, so i can try and be out in public. (im a really busy uni student).

Sorry for the leangth of this post but yeah I like to write ^-^

I also can't drink OJ. It upsets my stomach, but I like the smell. As for immunity, check with the health food store on things that will boost your immune system. And get some exercise, and plenty of rest. Also, try to eat healthier.

Some things good for the immune system are Vit C, and Vit D, but there are others. The health food store staff should be able to help you with that.

I treat it like anyone else as far as occasionally using a cold or flu pill, and drinking extra water, but I am opposite from most people about staying home/bed/resting. I feel MUCH WORSE if I stay inside all day, and worse yet if I lie down. So I go outside more, and walk around more, and that makes me feel MUCH BETTER most times. The exxeption being the stomach flu, with which I prefer to stay inside until the stomach upset danger passes off. Otherwise I just stay patient, and wait it out and try to keep from giving it to anybody else.

Charles

By not catching it ....but no I've seriously never had the flu, so I am not sure how I would handle it. As for colds Throat Coat herbal tea is nice as it sooths the throat and then if breathings an issue I might take an anti-histimine or I suppose cold medicine might not be a bad idea but yeah if anything my immunity seems pretty strong for some reason so usually if I get a cold its not even that bad......just a bit uncomfortable.

"Report Finds Swine Flu Has Killed 36 Children,” New York Times, Denise Grady, Sept. 3, 2009.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/healt ... .html?_r=1

“ . . . In children without chronic health problems, it is a warning sign if they seem to recover from the flu but then relapse with a high fever [emphasis added], Dr. Frieden said. The relapse may be bacterial pneumonia, which must be treated with antibiotics. . . ”

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And presumably this is the case with adults, too.

Okay, to me, this is good practical information. In poker terms, this is a playable hand! Meaning, there's enough texture to the pattern, that a person can actually do something about it.

And I think this would also be the case for someone with little or no immune system, probably even more so. And this is the real downside for the flu, and the reason that it's quite a bit more serious than a cold, that occasionally flu can lead to pneumonia. And this can be either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia.

And this would be an example why it's so valuable to have a regular doctor a person can halfway talk with. So, this relapse with high fever, a phone call in to the doctor, ideally be able to get a prescription and start an antibiotic in a couple of hours. (And I do hear you saying antibiotics typically don't help you. But in the case of suspected pneumonia, they might.)

Last edited by AardvarkGoodSwimmer on 04 May 2012, 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

i really like nyquil and dayquil (and their generics) for symptom relief. some medical studies show that zinc acetate lozenges can shorten a cold if stared early in the cold (first day).

I get sick very often, but mostly very bad colds, that leave me flemmy for days!! ! I just try to drink many liquids such as hot tea (I'm partial to Irish breakfast w/ lots of honey and like an ounce of milk!), OJ (though some of you can't drink it, because of your immune illnesses (but it helps!), and eating healthy soup, or ramen?!

Please keep track of your temperature.

Maybe the antiviral Tamiflu might help? It's recommended as most helpful within the first 48 hours, whereas for a possible re-infection, I just don't know.

And university health departments often are kind of crappy, but sometimes they're okay. The doctor certainly should listen that you have a baseline of RSV when really young and little or no immune system today.

There is a product in the US called zicam, it is a zinc based nasal spray that has been effective for me and other people that I know. I suspect you have this product or something similar over there.

I stay home, far away from people and get some bed rest.

Yeah, my colds normally last for two weeks or more. I absolutely despise colds. I recently tried that Cold FX stuff and it actually really works. Yes, it's expensive, around $50 but it's worth it if you hate colds as much as I do. The cold symptoms are less severe and the cold itself lasts much shorter than usual. I first got my cold on Monday and it disappeared completely today. All, week it barely even bugged me because my symptoms were so relieved by the medication. There's Echinacea in it which you can also buy separately from the store and it's a bit cheaper, with the same concept with as soon as you feel a cold coming in you take it. Cold FX has more stuff in it, I'd definitely recommend it to anybody. You get a huge bottle of it as well, so it can possibly last you for a few colds.

I sleep. I try to sleep it off, sleeping as much as I can. It tends to work well and I get over things really quickly if I can sleep most of the days.

Go to your doctor and tell him to stop dosing you with useless pills! Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, and there's no reason to take them for influenza. It's a virus, and antibiotics can't touch it. Some doctors will give you antibiotics because they are trying to prevent secondary bacterial infections, though: For example, you might get influenza, which might weaken you enough that bacterial bronchitis could take hold. Antibiotics prevent that, and if you have a history of bacterial secondary infections, it makes sense. But not otherwise.

Regarding natural cures: There's nothing complicated about that. Rest, hot drinks for your sore throat, and food that doesn't upset your stomach. That's all. Just give it time, let your body fight the flu on its own terms. And don't try to do physically strenuous things too soon. If you still feel tired, don't go out jogging even if you usually do. Go and take a stroll instead. (Sunlight is a great morale-booster when you are sick, if it's warm outside.) Don't force your body to do too much at first.

If you are immunocompromised, you should probably be taking flu shots, and so should your family. Getting the flu is more dangerous for you than it is for most people, and a flu shot has a good chance of preventing it entirely. Unless you want to end up in the hospital with pneumonia and a huge doctor's bill hanging over your head? Yeah, didn't think so.

Colds=I try to avoid people with colds, especially small children. Who knows what else they might have!
Flu=See above. But I also get a yearly Flu shot. Which has a mixed rate of success in all honesty.
Fever=Withdraw from everyone.
For All of the Above=Corrociden cold/flu pills because I have had BP issuse for the last twenty years.

Sincerely,
Matthew

I just try to ignore it as best as I can and just keep things routine.

I do have rheumatic, or auto immune disorder, and I get a flu shot every year and try to avoid people who are ill.