Effects of the Common Cold

[beingmindful]

My husband with MS has caught a cold. Typical symptoms: runny nose, cough, fatigue. But BOY it seems to have caused an exacerbation. Extreme fatigue, depression, cog fog, more pronounced limp, and other symptoms I can't notice and he won't tell me about. I have suggested steroids. What do I know? Anyone else with this? Any suggestions?
P.S. He did get a flu shot about 2 weeks ago. Don't think it's related, but if this is what happens with a cold, I am sure glad he doesn't have the flu!

[golfore]

I have rarely been sick. When I am, I feel horrible for a long time. I'm not sure why, but I have felt the same way. Like I was gonna die!!!

Maybe our body temperature goes up. I have never had a flare when flu sick. I hope he's feeling better soon.

[beingmindful]

Thanks golfore. Helps me to understand.

[Seasha]

I think for many of us that anything else added to our MS can tip the scales! Fighting MS sometimes takes so much energy - that in itself can be a energy zap - add a sickness and it's a double whammy. For me, sickness can cause worsening of sx .

I haven't had a cold in a very long time, but I remember when I did, I could hardly walk or do anything! Fatigue and cog fog was worsened.

I hope he get's though this cold flu quickly.

[MSer102]

Pseudoexacerbations can occur during illness. They are caused by the disruption of nerve signals due to a rise in body temperature to fight off an infection, the same as happens when there is a rise in body temperature for any other reason.

Pseudoexacerbations are not real inflammatory exacerbations so there is no treatment for them. Steroids won't work if it isn't a real flare, and the last thing you want to do is give steroids to someone and suppress the immune system when the body is trying to fight off an infection.

Because illness can cause pseudoexacerbations, the definition of an attack/flare/exacerbation in the McDonald criteria specifically excludes the onset of symptoms during an infection:
An attack (relapse; exacerbation) is defined as patient-reported or objectively observed events typical of an acute inflammatory demyelinating event in the CNS, current or historical, with duration of at least 24 hours, in the absence of fever or infection.

There isn't really anything for your husband to do except take symptom-relieving medications for his cold and his MS. He just has to ride it out. I hope his cold passes soon and he feels better.

[jjs]

MSer 102 - I appreciate your response. Well said.

[MSer102]

jjs I hope you start feeling better soon, too.