Since the beginning of October, after my dilation procedure, I have had a wonderful 'era' whereby LS withdrew. Fusing melted. The whole area started to practically look clean. Giving me feelings of being liberated from LS.
Of course LS never goes away.
I had a period of late nights in a row, making me fulnerable to, yes, a flue bug. This was already telling me - resistance is down!
With the flue almost over, a big flare up came. I had to take the shot-gun out. (Globetasol) and used it for a couple of days in a row now. The newly dilated area looked angry flaming red and thousands of "needles."
Are there people who can compare notes with me - the flaming red?
Mine is more like a dark plum colour. This is probably my worst flare up. Hopefully it will settle down for us both for Christmas!
Hi hanny and deb, have you both tried to calm things down with a soak in bicarbonate of soda treated water? 1/3 cup to a whole bath or pinch in a sitz bath. I hope you both manage to calm things down for christmas. Merry Christmas.
Being ill does make things worse for me too. Take plenty of rest and use your steroid ointment when you need it, usually works for me 
I've also found that certain foods, mainly sugary ones like chocolate make things worse - plus it'll make your flu worse. Been aiming to drink only 3L water a day - massive improvement, haven't had to use the cream in a few days! hope that works for you also
Hanny, I wonder if the fever of the flu dehydrated you so your urine is especially irritating? My husband and son have both just had it – a nasty one. Sweats were awful! Good tip for anyone who has LS and this virus – drink buckets of water.
This was 'pins and needles' encircling the entire open area, as I have experienced when I had LS for the first time. Only then I didn't know what it was. Now I 'daused the fire' with globetasol. Immediate result. And as usual the bicarb was very soothing. (Almost all the fusing is gone, so it took me totally by surprize.) It started out with strange pains in the groin far away from 'the centre'. Have you ever experienced such?
I think that I was 'being off guard', less alert due to fever, may have forgotten to do certain routine.
And yes, I think that perspiration contributes as well.
But my main suspician lies with susceptability, probably caused by a number of late nights, not sufficient rest, that gave this flue bug a chance. Weakening of the system that gives then ever present LS a chance as well. To compare with getting the shingles, it somehow sits in the same league, so are my thoughts.
Enough sleep is extremely important, I'm convinced. I'm very strict with my diet, you see, so it couldn't be caused by that. Started with drinking yet more water. Did herb tea.
All has calmed down due to using Globetasol ointment and baking soda baths, again very soothing. For a moment it went totally out of hand. It took me totally by surprize.
I hope for you too. Mine has settle down again. But to be honest, it gave me the hebejebees. (ha) In future I will make sure that I get: a) Sufficient rest. b) Make sure that the immune system is in check.
Perspiration with those flu sweats would be a major culprit.
Honestly, I think I'm relatively lucky. I haven't had a really uncomfortable flare-up since I had the cyst and got my diagnosis. Since I gave up coffee and cut out the big doses of sugar ( maybe six months ago) I don't get sore red areas and I don't get itchy at the front. I've had the tear in my perineum return a few times over the past year and a half. So, discomfort just isn't my problem. I get a bit of irritation the day I'm due to use clob and then I'm good for three days or so. My real trouble is the hardening of the rim of my vagina and the strange globs of hard tissue that are building up just inside. I can't say I actively worry about this. But it does make me wonder what's in store if I should live another thirty years.
We're still having a lot of questions. I live like a monk, so it seems. But was a bit reckless with the sleep. Too much to also look after a nasty flue, on top of LS. All is more or less 'under control' again. Extra knowledge gained as to what also to take notice of - enough rest. And that can not be neglected.
WIth MS, the flue also weakens us. It can help to take extra vitamin D to help your body fight off viruses.
Thanks Kate for mentioning vitamine D. I was taking that all along, but perhaps the doses should at such a time be increased.
Whenever I have the flu or a cold, I double the vitamin D and it halves the duration (as compared to my husband and son). I read severeal research papers on D helping our bodies kill bacteria and viruses before I decided to try this.
I agree. There's even a protocol for flu that uses huge amounts of vitamin D for a short period of time to drive it into remission. I haven't been brave enough to use such high doses, but like you I do double my 5-6000 iu's to stave off a cold or flu.
Thanks, Kate and Suzanne, I'll keep this in mind for the next time. Or rather, I hope there won't be a next time.
I have MS so I take 15000 IU D daily, and 25,000 when sick. You can get a blood test to see ho much D you might have. High dose can lead to thyroid damage so only do that protocol when working with a doctor.
Sounds like you're on track, hanny!
For short term use, elderberry is great but it can make soome things like MS thrive. However, for getting rid of a cold it's tops.