Cold infection and temporary improvement

[Treeman]

Hi, I recently caught 2 cold infections within 3 weeks of each other. Both times at the start of the infection I noticed an improvement of energy and general well-being despite the growing negative symptoms.

Ha anyone else noted this and does anyone have an explanation, thanks.

 

[Tammy]

Yes, I've experienced that. No guesses as to why.

 

[Wishful]

There have been other threads about this. It works that way for some PWME, and not for others. Some of the hypotheses might apply for some people, and for other people a completely unrelated mechanism might be in play. Thus there probably isn't 'an' explanation to be found; there will be many, and only one of them might apply to you. Confusing disease.

 

[hapl808]

Yes, definitely experienced that. When my cold symptoms are bad, some of my ME/CFS symptoms improve. But it's a short improvement and possibly gets worse when the cold dissipates. Guessing that the immune system change is responsible, but no idea in what way or how that information could be used.

 

[Treeman]

The strange thing is I'm not sure I've ever experienced it before, just twice in the last month?

I assumed it was immune related, but as always, who knows?

 

[Seadragon]

I have asked two immunologists and also several doctors about this phenomenon but they could not explain why this happens. There have been quite a few threads about this over the years - nobody seems to have any idea about it.

 

[Seadragon]

Also I had been wondering recently if this phenomenon happens in any other illness or is this peculiar to a subset of PWME?

 

[Rufous McKinney]

I assumed it was immune related, but as always, who knows?

This totally just happened to me....after getting acutely ill with a severe gastro shut down...that might have been a viral flair up (as I never went out anywhere to obtain a new virus).....

After about 7-10 days of post acute awfulness, some of the ME symptoms just sort of subsided...

my gut was almost perfect for the next 10 days.

I had far less mast cell-derived inflammation

I think I might have even knocked out the SIBO I likely have....

Aches and swellings were far less, and other ME pain was way less.

Now its sort of gradually reverting maybe...10 more days later.

THEORY:

body had to attack something in a big way. My immune system was entirely taxed, and major demands were given. I think it got temporarily AMPED UP somehow.

Then also the gut shift....my gut had no food for 7 days. What happens in the gut when that happens? No way can I fast for even one afternoon.

 

[keepswimming]

Yes! When I have a cold, my CFS symptoms improve. But it's short lived because afterwards I have a relapse