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Please help - is low immunity a lingering symptom?


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I have been sick with the flu and bronchitis for over 6 weeks now. Went to the doctor, he didn't do anything but prescribe me antibiotics (as always)... that killed the infection but symptoms remained with a very bad cough which then led to a bruised rib. Finally felt like I was healing and felt ok for about a week, although the little cough never went away. Then I think I pushed myself too hard with a workout, and all of a sudden it's started all over again. My fever is really high, i'm weak, can't breathe, taste, smell, etc...  I called the same dr. He said I should have a refill ready for me on those antibiotics again. Grr! So I'm taking them, and they're not doing anything.

 

Reading online of people who've had flu symptoms last for only two weeks say they "want to jump off a bridge," really makes me feel great  ::)

 

I've also been trying:

 

vitamin d

garlic

b vitamins

colloidal silver

.... cuz I can't stand feeling so bad!

 

Anyway,  I'll get off the pity pot to get to the point of this post. Can benzos really affect your immune system so bad that it still hasn't healed at almost 14 months out? Because before benzos, I was never sick. I mean never... maybe I'd get a little cold once a year, but it was gone quickly. On benzos, I was sick constantly... I'm talking months at a time, just like I am now. I still catch every little thing going around. Is this still withdrawal?? Has anyone else had these problems with low immune system in wd?

 

 

Still struggling to finally be ok...

Holly

:'(

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I have been sick with the flu and bronchitis for over 6 weeks now. Went to the doctor, he didn't do anything but prescribe me antibiotics (as always)... that killed the infection but symptoms remained with a very bad cough which then led to a bruised rib. Finally felt like I was healing and felt ok for about a week, although the little cough never went away. Then I think I pushed myself too hard with a workout, and all of a sudden it's started all over again. My fever is really high, i'm weak, can't breathe, taste, smell, etc...  I called the same dr. He said I should have a refill ready for me on those antibiotics again. Grr! So I'm taking them, and they're not doing anything.

 

Reading online of people who've had flu symptoms last for only two weeks say they "want to jump off a bridge," really makes me feel great  ::)

 

I've also been trying:

 

vitamin d

garlic

b vitamins

colloidal silver

.... cuz I can't stand feeling so bad! Yeah, I know, I'm a huge baby when I'm sick.

 

Anyway,  I'll get off the pity pot to get to the point of this post. Can benzos really affect your immune system so bad that it still hasn't healed at almost 14 months out? Because before benzos, I was never sick. I mean never... maybe I'd get a little cold once a year, but it was gone quickly. On benzos, I was sick constantly... I'm talking months at a time, just like I am now. I still catch every little thing going around. Is this still withdrawal?? Has anyone else had these problems with low immune system in wd?

 

 

Still struggling to finally be ok...

Holly

:'(

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[00...]

Hi Holly,

 

Yes a temporarily compromised immune system is common during this time. Its somewhere in the Ashton Manual and readily available info online. Add to that the fact that stress decreases your immune system.

 

Are you sure that your bronchitis is bacterial and not viral? If it is viral there is no point in taking the antibiotics.

 

Hope you feel better soon  :)

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mandala, I am sure that it is viral... but, there was/is also an infection to go along with it. That was what the dr's antibiotics cleared up. So basically, at the end of the ABs my nose and chest didn't feel as "infected" if you know the feeling (feverish, congested, colored mucus not to be gross..), but the cough and all that fun stuff was still there. I have no idea, maybe I have bird flu or something lol.
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[00...]

Hey Holly,

 

I was just asking re viral etc b/c I was wondering if the antibiotics were making you feel crappy. Our body is so busy putting all its energy into healing from the benzos that the immune system is spread kind of thin.......thats how i look at it anyway.

 

Sending good energy your way, mandala  :) Feel better soon

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Hi Holly, I get bronchitis about once a year. I have found mucinex to be beneficial in clearing the stuff out. Not the DM type though, too many side effects. Once the infection is gone, the lungs/bronchial tubes take awhile to heal, due to so much coughing. The mucinex is an expectorant, but makes your coughs more productive with less strain. Alot of water is important too.  I had pneumonia about 8 times when I was a kid and bronchitis many times, so I definitely understand the lingering frustration. Take care, hope you feel better soon. :)

 

snoball

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Sorry to hear that.  I know that people mention low immunity.  I can't say if it's directly due to the benzos or indirectly just a matter of our bodies being under so much stress (which is probably the more likely, to me).  Either way, I'm wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

Best wishes.

 

:)

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Agree - Ashton Manual speaks about low immunity.

 

One other thing I've noticed recently - my body seems to experience exaggerated and prolonged reactions to things that ordinarily would have passed within a day or too. For e.g. I used a neti pot incorrectly and my sinuses became inflamed. Well, that junk lasted three months. I have not been able to find another instance of this anywhere on the net. I really think it's just w/d causing my body to experience lingering reactions.

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Thank you for the replies. Didn't know the immune system was apparently so badly damaged by benzos.

 

I'm going to go to a specialist tomorrow, at the recommendation of a family member. My sinuses are just completely swollen shut. Feels like someone is literally pinching my nose shut. Horrible feeling!!

 

Hope everyone else is feeling better than I am at the moment lol

 

Holly

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Thank you for the replies. Didn't know the immune system was apparently so badly damaged by benzos.

 

I'm going to go to a specialist tomorrow, at the recommendation of a family member. My sinuses are just completely swollen shut. Feels like someone is literally pinching my nose shut. Horrible feeling!!

 

Hope everyone else is feeling better than I am at the moment lol

 

Holly

 

Holly, I'm curious to see if your x-ray and exam show anything. I had the same feeling but with a clean x-ray and the scope up my nose revealed no problems at all. I concluded it was w/d

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Princezz, I will let you know. I'm going tomorrow. I really don't think it is wd - I have so many other symptoms, like fever, dizziness, congestion, cough, fatigue, etc. I do, however, wonder if it's wd that's simply both lowering my immune system AND making my body overly-respond to the virus?  ???

 

I am actually getting kind of scared. I am only feeling worse and worse. Especially tonight, I just about felt like I might faint or something. Really scared that someone might administer a benzo or quinolone without me knowing if something were to happen. That's just the anxiety talking though. 

And my body just feels so burned out. Wd, and now more than 6 weeks of this. How much can one person be expected to take?

 

 

:'(

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Holly

Since .this I feel like I've developed super allergies my nose is either running or stuffed up and my eyes itch constantly. Now for over a wee its like I have bronchitis which started with a sore throat.

 

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Well I went to the ENT doctor, and I was very dissapointed as usual. The guy saw me for a total of 2 minutes, he didn't even listen to my lungs or feel my throat or any of that usual stuff. Just sat down and pretty much immediately began writing out some kind of prescription. He gave me Flonaise spray, Augmentin antibiotic, and prednisone. I will not be taking the prednisone because it's just an antiinflamitory and lowers your immune system even more. And the side effects are horrendous, I cannot bear the thought of them.

 

I have a feeling he was under the impression I just had a lingering sinus infection, when I was trying to tell him no... I feel very much like I have had the flu VIRUS for about 7 weeks now. Seriously, it's like I can feel this virus still living in me and moving to different parts of my body this entire time.

 

Been taking the spray and antibiotic for 3 or 4 days now, and today I woke up only feeling worse. I can barely keep my eyes open. Thinking about going back to my regular doc again. I just don't know what else to do. Still coughing up crap, dizzy, can't hear from congestion. Feel like this is killing me. Help  :'(

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Be careful with the corticosteroid...I can't say for sure, but I was given Nasonex and after one day I developed severe eye pain.

 

I'm sorry the doctor wasn't more helpful but then again we should be used to it by now. Sigh.

 

Honestly you sound so much like me in March/April. Horrific sinus issues - pain and throbbing by my nosebridge and cheeks, blocked ears, feverish feeling, malaise. I went through a course of Augmentin which made me worse - it intensified the sensations. It was 2 months or so before I had a break from the sxs and realized it was withdrawal. Well also my doctor was kind enough to do a face x-ray and it was completely normal despite me feeling like I had the world's worst case of sinusitis.

 

Is there someone else you can go to and have them order an x-ray? A proper ENT should at least put a scope up your nose and look around.

 

What color is your spit up? Lol.

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I dont know where to go for an xray. But if by tomorrow I am still feeling horrible, and kind of delirious even from this fever, then I am going back to my general doctor.  The stuff I'm coughing up is mostly a yellowish green. Yuck... I know that signals infection, but I'm doing all I'm supposed to do with the antibiotics, so id why it's not working?
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Yes, yellow green signifies an infection. If the Augmentin is not helping, it could be

 

a) anaerobic bacteria

b) a virus

c) fungus

 

Have you tried saline nasal rinsing? The Simply Saline one works best for me - white bottle, not blue. Costs 6-7 bucks from any drug store

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Hi Holly,

I read a lot about the immune system and adrenal glands during my taper. Hypochondria. Anyway, our adrenal glands are very taxed during this process and they help regulate immunity so yes, we are prone to infections as well as feeling like crap.

I got sick once then began taking zinc, vitamin D, B6 and vitamin E. I couldnt take vitamin C or the other Bs as they gave me symptoms. I think it helped since I didnt get sick again since.

Oh, I also took probiotics and coconut oil pills.

It seemed to help.

 

I hope you feel better soon...

 

Christina

 

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Holly,

 

You should be able to have a chest x-ray at any walk-in clinic.  These work for the most part in seeing congestion in the lungs; however, a chest x-ray with contrast (dye) is much better for the doc to evaluate your condition and put together a treatment plan for you (this method is also preferred for ruling out blood clots in the lungs).  I've dealt with all of this and had the contrast which revealed that I had pneumonia a couple of years ago.

 

Regarding your use and tapering of Trazodone - something that happened to me while I was tapering Traz - I had the worst sinus infection that I have ever experienced in my life, which ultimately turned into bronchitis (just over a year ago).  I was extremely sick for several weeks.  Interestingly enough, I haven't had any respiratory or sinus infections since (I use a neti-pot).  I have always wondered if the Trazodone caused some sinus issues for me, as odd as that might sound.

 

I hope you get to feeling better soon,

 

Rico   

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