Does anyone else get a runny nose, sneezing, coughing etc during PEM?

[OrganicChilli]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

I've never paid attention to it so I'd say no.

 

[forestglip]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

Probably, but I can only definitely say that's the case (really bad PEM plus sore throat and runny nose) for the time it happened a few days ago. I didn't think to track it in detail previously.

 

[Kitty]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

No, for me it's part of the definition of PEM. I get it even when I've not breached my limit by very much, and the resulting symptoms are so mild they've often improved by mid-afternoon.

They are worse when the PEM's worse, though. In the situation above I'd only get a runny nose and neck glands that are visibly lumpy but with no sore throat.

 

[Trish]

No significant runny nose or significant sore throat for me in PEM.

 

[Peter T]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

Yes and no. The cough and runny nose used to be only when going in to severe PEM, however now it is less clear in that I get a runny nose after eating and after I first get up in the morning.

 

[JemPD]

Yes
plus swollen glands & a sore throat but like @Kitty not as sore as with a virally induced sore throat.

Also sometimes I get a dry-but-deep barking cough which gets quite sore. But only for physically induced PEM & only at the start of the episode, lasts couple of days then disappears.

 

[JemPD]

Yes and no. The cough and runny nose used to be only when going in to severe PEM, however now it is less clear in that I get a runny nose after eating and after I first get up in the morning.

I have had that - after eating & 1st thing since about 15yrs before I got ME It’s very odd.

 

[Tia]

Yes often it's impossible to tell if it's the start of a cold or PEM. Like @Kitty said, if it really develops into very chesty cough or very phlegmy runny nose and sore throat it's a bug. If it just stays as sore throat, tight chest and slight cough, it's 'just' ME.

 

[JellyBabyKid]

sometimes I get a dry-but-deep barking cough

I am getting this a lot when i first get up lately. Also new.

 

[Peter T]

I have had that - after eating & 1st thing since about 15yrs before I got ME It’s very odd.

I think this is relatively common outside the context of ME/CFS and with me I wonder if it is an aging thing. The drip on the end of the nose whilst eating a meal is stereotypically an elderly person feature, I can still picture my grandfather in his eighties at meal time with the rest of us round the table wondering if we should point it out or not.

 

[JemPD]

I am getting this a lot when i first get up lately. Also new.

I imagine you already thought of this but just in case ... If it new check to make sure its not dust mites build up or an allergy to bedding.

 

[NelliePledge]

I do get sore throat right to laryngitis but not runny nose. I’ve tended to differentiate having a bad cold or PEM on whether I get a runny nose or not.

 

[Steppinup]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

For me it does

 

[hotblack]

Question for others—if you only sometimes experience these upper respiratory symptoms, does it tend to occur when the other symptoms of PEM are also relatively worse?

Difficult to say for sure but my gut reaction would be no. I get it during what for me are milder periods. If I’m generally at the better end of the scale and have a ‘little’ blip I may get this. If I’m bad the problems are different, or maybe I just don’t notice because of all the other issues which are more stark. Maybe it’s a severe thing, maybe it’s a me thing.

 

[T&O]

Ive had a drippy nose since my late teens and was diagnosed with chronic rhinitis (and dust mite allergies amongst others) before my ME diagnosis. (My mum had allergies, was anaphylactic).

Agree its a relief of sorts re catching up on this thread as apparently swollen glands, and that tight chest feeling (needing to sleep propped up with PEM) can be ME related.

Ive def (also) had 2 or 3 day bouts of full blown cold-like symptoms that had me questioning whether it was viral… though changing again in a matter of 2 days I assume not .
(Have tested myself in the past re Covid after the second or 3rd day re involvement with others but never tested positive).
(Might that be a whole other “can of worms” re fresh anti-virals ?/Covid boosters etc.)

So far Ive reacted strongly to Flu Vaccines and boosters, even the Infusion for bone health had my nose more fluid with heightened body pain (youre too uncomfortable to sleep).

And yes, crashes (PEM) have involved a runny nose, but my throats not raw (just a little sore from all the phlegm if it continues for more than a day). Its the body pain and weakness, a jitteryness , along with fluctuating gnarly thumpy heads and nausea that demand my attention.

 

[Maat]

Yes it tends to occur when my PEM is worse

Me too, everytime. I'll have streaming eyes and nose 24/7 for 2-3 days at the start of PEM and then that symptom stops. This is a relatively new symptom for me (last 5 years).

 

[Evergreen]

Yes. Not with every episode of PEM, but often enough that I have christened them: pseudo-colds.

 

[ChronicallyOverIt]

This is one of my “sentinel” symptoms that I’ve pushed to hard. Runny nose and messed up sinuses, especially at night the day of, into the following day of PEM. Never colored always clear discharge.