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

[V.R.T.]

I wonder if it is common for the runny nose/snot/wet cough symptoms to correlate with the severity of the PEM episode. That would certainly be the case for me—though perhaps it is only a distinction I can make being mild and lucky enough to have had some PEM episodes that were milder than an average cold.

The times I’ve gotten the upper respiratory symptoms, I also felt absolutely steamrolled by PEM even moreso than usual.

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 it tends to occur when my PEM is worse

 

[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]

I wonder if it is common for the runny nose/snot/wet cough symptoms to correlate with the severity of the PEM episode. That would certainly be the case for me

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.