Common cold and transplant

[Brightsky69]

Ok....so over the last 24 hours I have developed a scratchy throat and a bit of a phlegm cough. I am not coughing up a whole lot of phlegm. I am sneezing some. I have no fever nor watery eyes etc.
Since my transplant is just about 2 months old and I am on big time meds.....I called the Neph on call this evening. It wasn't one of my usual doctors. I don't know this doctor nor does she know me.
Anyway....I just basically asked what would be a safe over the counter cold medicine I could take...you know safely.
This doc asked me a couple of questions...like if I was allergic to anything. Then she says she was going to call my pharmacist and prescribe an 5 day antibiotic for me. I already took Dapsone today. And would an antibiotic even help with a possible developing cold? Or is this normal for a newly transplanted person?
I don't know  .....I was just looking to take some Tylenol cold medicine so I could get a good nights sleep tonight.
I have labs and clinic on Tuesday. Ya think I should check with my usual transplant team before I take this antibiotic. 

[monrein]

The antibiotic sounds crazy to me...I'd definitely ask the team.  Then rest, drink lots of fluids, (I like Vicks Vapor Rub in my nose and on my chest when I have a cold) and get some throat lozenges like Cepacol which can numb and help with a cough.

Antibiotics always leave me with yeast infections. 

[Brightsky69]

Thanks monrein I guess it doesn't matter anyway...I went to the drug store to pick up my usual refills and asked if anything was called in for me. They said I didn't have anything...nothing called in for me. No antibiotic
I ended up picking up a cough and sore throat OTC medication. All it has in it is acetaminophen and a cough suppressant. I have been sucking on cough drops and using chloraseptic spray.
Now I think I will have some hot tea.

[chris73]

Brightsky...i had the same thing as you..The  Tx clinic told me to take only Robitussin DM and zicam,felt much better after a 2 days of use.They never did suggest antibiotics..Hope this helps  Chris

[Brightsky69]

I have been drinking hot tea.....2 cups in a row so far.  I have clinic on Tuesday...I'll survive till then. 

[rsudock]

i usually took tylenol cold and flu, drank hot tea, and used vicks vapor rub. i also take hot showers and used those shower soothers. then rest, rest, and rest...all the things u are doing!    i wouldn't take the antibiotics...

xo,
R

[cariad]

I have been chastised for not mentioning colds to my nephrologists because it is standard to load you up with antibiotics at any sign of trouble, virus or bacteria. I forget how far post-transplant you are, but I seem to think you have not had your new kidney any longer than I have, and I would probably take the antibiotic in these early days. I skipped the antibiotic before a dental appointment once and came down with strep that sent me into acute renal failure (I recovered). I am actually surprised that others have not been told to take antibiotics with colds. I think any hit that your system takes, even a cold, leaves you open to other infections, and thus the antibiotic. Are you on any antibacterials at the moment (Bactrim?)

I take antibiotics with a probiotic - my mother has some exclusive formula that she purchases directly from one of her doctors, and she sends me cases of it - so that the good bacteria is not killed off. An over-the-counter one from Whole Foods or similar works just fine, too.

[RichardMEL]

Just goes to show how different doctors can be doesn't it. I mentioned I was coming down with something a bit chesty when I was in clinc last Monday and all the doc said "Well we'll just monitor it and let us know if it gets worse" - I've had a bit of coughing, but not coughed up anything, a bit ogf sneazing and a runny nose(but I've prettty much had one one and off since the transplant - which nobody can explain but they don't seem to really worry about it - I have a feeling it's due to high cyclosporin levels). So.. go figure.

[monrein]

Do all of you take antibiotics before dental appointments? 

I have never been told to do so and I see the dentist every 6 months. 

[Brightsky69]

I always..alway take an antibodic before going to the dentist....even when I was on dialysis. My dentist always asks me if I took my premeds.  I forgot once and they made me reschedule my appointment.

That doc I called last night never called in the antibiotic for me.....thanks alot. This morning my cough is full on. Got some watery eyes and a stuffy nose. No sneezing and no fever. I used my netty pot to clear out my sinuses. Now everything is really runny.    I guess I will stay inside and rest all weekend....drink my hot tea and suck on my cough drops.

[RichardMEL]

I never took an antibiotic prior to seeing the dentist while I was on D, but our infamous booklet has this to say about dentists:

It is recommended that you wait approximately 6 months after your transplant before you have a routine dental checkup, including routine cleaning. Due to the iummunosuppression medication you aretaking, you may require antibiotic medications if you are undertaking dental work. Please inform the medical staff and your dentist regarding your dental management. Make sure you tell your dentist about your transplant status.

[lola]

Otto has always had to take antibiotics before dental appts, as for taking them for a cough? Way to much, my God with 3 kids Otto comes down with stuff but they NEVER gave him antibiotics I always worry about the Dr's who give meds for common colds and flu's.

[cariad]

Do all of you take antibiotics before dental appointments? 

I have never been told to do so and I see the dentist every 6 months. 

Hiya, monrein. As I've mentioned before, I never paid any attention to that rule - I think it was after my time, and I was on prophylactic antibiotics for so long, it just never registered with me. I went to the dentist many times without any antibiotic, no problems. Then in 2005, I went to the dentist before a major trip to Africa. Some 10 miles away, there had been a strep exposure at my son's daycare. I had dropped him off that morning. I think the strep must have been in my system, and the dental appointment just drove it into my bloodstream as my teeth probably bled a bit during the cleaning. By going to the dentist regularly, I reckon you do not have a problem with bleeding gums and so are probably keeping yourself safer. I stopped at the market on the way home, and by the time I drove back to my house, I had to phone my husband for help. Strep hits really suddenly. So, I lost 3 weeks in Africa, had to take a week of antibiotics rather than just the single dose, found out I was allergic to Zithromax, and my creatinine spiked into the mid 3s. It eventually settled back down, but it had been 2.2 before the strep and was a solid 2.6 after.

So now, yes, I take the antibiotic even though it makes me nauseaus. (I am allergic to two classes of antibiotics now, so my choices are few). It sounds like if you've come this far without it, don't worry about it. Who wants to take an extra drug?

[Brightsky69]

Feels like I have a full on head cold. Coughing...nose runny...eyes watery. No body aches or fever. Ugh! I hate this! Had chicken noodle soup for lunch...now hot shower time. 

[Brightsky69]

I need to buy stock in Kleenex. I've been thru one box already today.

[rsudock]

Bsky sorry to hear this cold is turning into a monster...yuck! Try the Tylenol cold and flu...it works quickly. Hope you feel better quickly! 

Do all of you take antibiotics before dental appointments? 

I have never been told to do so and I see the dentist every 6 months. 

Hiya, monrein. As I've mentioned before, I never paid any attention to that rule - I think it was after my time, and I was on prophylactic antibiotics for so long, it just never registered with me. I went to the dentist many times without any antibiotic, no problems. Then in 2005, I went to the dentist before a major trip to Africa. Some 10 miles away, there had been a strep exposure at my son's daycare. I had dropped him off that morning. I think the strep must have been in my system, and the dental appointment just drove it into my bloodstream as my teeth probably bled a bit during the cleaning. By going to the dentist regularly, I reckon you do not have a problem with bleeding gums and so are probably keeping yourself safer. I stopped at the market on the way home, and by the time I drove back to my house, I had to phone my husband for help. Strep hits really suddenly. So, I lost 3 weeks in Africa, had to take a week of antibiotics rather than just the single dose, found out I was allergic to Zithromax, and my creatinine spiked into the mid 3s. It eventually settled back down, but it had been 2.2 before the strep and was a solid 2.6 after.

So now, yes, I take the antibiotic even though it makes me nauseaus. (I am allergic to two classes of antibiotics now, so my choices are few). It sounds like if you've come this far without it, don't worry about it. Who wants to take an extra drug?

Before the transplant I had to have all dental work uptodate to get on the transplant list. Then 10 years after the transplant I went to the dentist and the neph said no need to take antibiotics. Now that I am on D I have to take antibiotics...I don't want to take anything more so I canceled the appt. Even though I really like my dentist.