hmm interesting. I hadn't heard that one. I don't remember if I ever
got a cold or the flu during treatment. But, I was so sick I probably
wouldn't have been able to tell the difference anyway! lol

Josi

I am currently on tx. interferon/Riba. and I got a very bad cold for awhile. The leftover cough which is very persistant, has been with me for 3 months. thank god, 5 wks. left

Hi Mcslo.

I got the flu shot on my last week of tx when I got my last labs done. I did not want to take the chance since it was Oct and I did NOT want to be sick after spending 24 weeks feeling sick.

I got a little sinus infection, and I think I may had a touch of the flu for one day. (dh had it the flu for a week) I think the worse thing for me, was getting a tooth infection which ended up as root canal. The tooth infection kicked my butt for two weeks.

I have heard the same thing mcslo! I have 4 shots to go, had the flu shot, have extremely low neutrophils and HAVE NOT BEEN SICK ONCE ON TREATMENT. I have the same concern you do because of my WBC. Will be talking to doc about continuing neupogen when I am done to make sure levels get back to where they belong.
If I find out anything else from my doc I will certainly let you know.

I only got sick once on treatment and now after treatment I've gotten sick more in the last couple months than ever before. I think it's because our wbc is still so low.

What exactly is your question? you dont have a cold now but worry about catching one?
dont know about anyone else but on both treatments i felt like i had the flu 24-7
never heard about these drugs made for colds,,one of the sides is flu like symptoms and most people i think experience that,, good luck

I have gotten about everything else just not the cold or flu.

I have had a sore throat issue since beginning tx, but supposedly thats one of many sides. I thought I was getting a cold here recently, but now think its allergies. I've heard conflictly stories over whether or not it can keep you from getting sick (on top of tx). With low wbc's as well I'm shocked I haven't gotten everything in the book! Best of luck on your final stretch!!!

Talked with doc. Said WBC's should return to normal within 2 wks.
My only suggestion is eat healthy, take some supplements and stay away from sick people.

While on tx my daughter had bronchitus, after tx her immune system was totally wiped out & when she went back to school she caught everything going around, including swine flu. So I agree w/ jkbear, stay away from sick people!

I just completed 24 wks treatment during peak flu season. Prior to tx, took the seasonal flu shot, the H1n1, the pneumovac, the HAV, the HBV booster, the shingles shot...... If there was a vaccine out there, I took it. After starting tx:
Low HGB.
Low WBC.
Low Platelets.

Never got sick. Not once.

Wow Sarah, guess that would fall under an ounce of prevention............... I took the flu shot before Tx. What was odd in my case I've always been a chronic headache sufferer, Have not had one since I started treatment.

I never got the flu shot. After tx I got strep throat, a stomach virus and the cold within months of one another. I am finally starting to recover.

I didn't take any shots and people all around me were getting sick, I usually get one cold a year. This year nothing.

Sarah - now that you have low WBC and RBC and your not going to be on a drug that might of been preventing illness what are you planning on doing

I finished 48 weeks of TX on August 7th 2009. WBCs are still a bit low at this time. I had no illnesses on TX other than a short-lived urinary tract infection and since ending TX I've had no colds or flu and I hope to keep it that way. I just stay away from sick people and wash frequently.

I had the reg flu shot and the H1N1.

SarahRN2, my doc told me not to get the shingles shot while on TX because it's a live virus. Anything to that, that you know of?