There's nothing like having a viral sore throat on top of a recently irradiated throat! I had to start taking my oxycodone on top of ibuprofen (for the additional swelling). This upsets me because I finally was tapered off my methadone last week. I was able to deal with the pain with OTCs, for the most part. My ears are killing me. The entire house is sick...again....except for Laurelin, who I'm fairly certain will become sick soon due to the way her brother is sneezing all over her. Poor Tristan has bilateral ear infections and is miserable.

I just want to sleep it off and wake up when it's over, but you can't do that when you're a parent! I know all parents go through this, it's just been 3 months of one illness after another and before that I had just started turning a corner after chemo/rads ending on Halloween.

I'll ask my doctors this on Tuesday, but does anyone know how long it takes for your immune system to get back to full capacity?

Thanks for listening to my pity party...sorry. I know that there are people here with far worse problems, and I don't mean to minimize that in any way. I was just there recently, so I know.

LOve to all of my friends.

KErri

Infections are serious, and can get out of control quickly, especially with a weakened immune system, so it's best to go to the doctor, have blood work, and get proper treatment wether it be bacterial, viral, fungal infection or combination. As far as time, it may take a while for your immune system to bounce back, and should be monitored with blood work, usually by your oncologist. There are immune boosting foods, vitamins, having less stress, adequate sleep may help, even "light" exercise, yoga, meditation. Too much exercise drains the immune system.

I hope you, and your family feel better.

Ugh, Kerri, Sorry to hear that you are feeling so awful with this.
I think Paul has given you very sound advice.
Any chance of the Grandparents helping out for a few days?
Tammy

Kerri, so sorry to hear you are sick again! Poor thing!!! Having young children will bring more germs into the house. When my kids were little they brought home everything.

When someone has cancer it can take a year or sometimes even 2 years to fully recover. Most patients are doing pretty good about 8 months after finishing treatments. Dont be surprised if it takes a very long time for your bloodwork to settle down and go back to normal. Its not easy recovering from everything you have been thru.

Hope you feel better very soon! Same with the kids, wishing they will be better quickly.

Thank you, friends, for your sound advice.

I expect to get my blood drawn on Tuesday, which is my monthly visit. Paul, I literally just finished a 10-day course of levaquin for a bronchial infection. It's a very strong, broad-spectrum antibiotic that has the potential serious side effects. I am allergic to many antibiotics, so I have limited choices. I've been on it many times before, but this time I had a bad reaction from it, and I'm still recovering. It's one of those abx's that makes your susceptible to tendon rupture. Well, I had a major flare up all over my body, with musculotendinous and joint pain. I could barely move. Things are better, but I'm not out of the woods yet. You are very correct in getting all things checked out at this point.

I'm nearly 5 months out and have rarely left the house since treatment ended because I could not drive. So, yes, every time I have gotten sick it's likely been brought into the house from the outside. I am a nut about infection control, but there's only so much you can do. When friends wanted to visit, they would never do so while ill. My 19-month-old has been sick since we put him in daycare 2 days a week in the beginning of January. I know that's what happens to all kids, then they bring it home...and so the cycle goes.

One of the last times I was hospitalized, I asked to look at my labs. I was at my local community hospital, because it was the weekend and it wasn't "cancer" related. I got all backed up from the pain meds and couldn't keep anything down. So, they got me straightened out,but my regular PCP was covering me. When I got my labs, I cried...everything was a mess! I used to be so healthy before this...perfect labs most of the time. This time, everything was flagged. I knew what some of the lab values meant from when I was in school, but that was a long time ago, so I asked my PCP to come to my room and explain them to me. Well, she breezed in and barely gave me an explanation and was backing out the door as she was still talking to me. This is why I prefer to see her NP when I visit her office, and not her. She is so cursory in her examinations, it's pathetic. I don't know what happened to her. I've been going to her for years and she wasn't always like this. Anyway, that's why I'm glad that my medical oncology team and surgical oncologist never make me feel rushed or like I'm taking too much of their time. They always make me feel like I am the only patient on their schedule and that takes a special clinician to do that when they have a full waiting room. I write my questions down in my notebook and make sure they all get addressed at each visit. I make my own notes or have a family member (if present) take them for me.

Forgive me for getting off topic like that. I guess, I just share my experience for those who might be reading this and are having similar problems or are new to the big "C" and these forums.

Thanks for listening,
Kerri

kerri

it is just not fair. you have suffered enough already and you are so young. Sorry I have not posted earlier on your troubles but I'm still having issues myself. Hang in there
Charm

Kerri,

I had the same thing happen to me about 6 months out. It really knocked me down for a few days and then lingered for a few weeks. I used to be able to shake a sore throat in a week or less but this last one took just over two weeks. I was already week going in so I did not move much for those two weeks. I did get past it and got back on my feet but its just not a very nice time getting through.

My local GP is great and helped a lot but there is just so much they can do for viral infections.

Thanks Charm and Kelly.

Charm: I'm sorry that you're having issues. I haven't been on the boards that much, so I may have missed some of your posts if you are sharing on it. I hope you feel better very soon.

Kelly: Thanks for relating your past experience. I really do feel like I've been kicked in the butt this past 3 months. I waiting for it to end! I have my med/onco team visit Tuesday and I'm getting the anxiety pangs. I'm going alone this time. My husband would come with me in a heartbeat, but he has already missed so much work. I can go it alone this time. It's not like I'm getting scanned, then I would definitely need him there!

I've gotta try to get to sleep. My schedule has been royally screwed up this past week, with sleeping during the day in spurts and taking turns with Dan on childcare duty. Now, the poor guy is spiking temps of nearly 102 and has the chills. Bring on Spring!