DEAR DR. ROACH: I came down with influenza A nine weeks ago, confirmed by a nasal swab. I had my flu shot in mid-November, but clearly, it didn’t protect me against this severe strain. Honestly, I don’t remember feeling this sick before, and I found COVID to be relatively mild in comparison. During my illness, I ended up with a sinus infection and was given an antibiotic, which seemed to work, but I still felt unwell afterwards. I even lost my voice amid all this viral chaos.
Now, nine weeks later, I’m still not feeling right. My voice hasn’t fully returned, I’m coughing, and my energy is low. It’s really frustrating. Last Sunday, I spent the whole day in bed with chills, and then woke up in the night drenched in sweat. My doctor prescribed another antibiotic, believing that my sinus infection might not have cleared up completely.
What’s going on with me? I’m 64 and have always been in good health, so this is concerning. Is there an underlying issue causing me to struggle with this virus? I’m just tired of feeling sick and of everyone asking me why I’m still unwell. — C.D.
ANSWER: It’s interesting how our minds, perhaps as a protective measure, allow us to forget just how sick we felt during the flu. As you noted, influenza A can be a terrible virus that leads to thousands of deaths each year in the U.S. It has actually taken more lives than COVID this year, yet there are still people who dismiss it as “just the flu.”
Similar to COVID, many people deal with lingering symptoms after having the flu, like cough and shortness of breath, along with impacts on the heart and brain. The virus can even dampen our immune and inflammatory responses, increasing the chances of catching other viruses and bacteria following a severe case of influenza.
Post-flu, bacterial infections like staphylococcal and pneumococcal pneumonia can emerge and can be quite serious when the immune system is compromised.
To be clear, I don’t think you still have the flu. It sounds like the initial infection weakened your system enough that you’ve encountered additional infections. For instance, when your nasal passages are congested, it hampers proper sinus drainage, making bacterial infection more probable.
As spring arrives and the risk of respiratory viruses diminishes, I expect you will gradually regain your previous good health.
DEAR DR. ROACH: I take Zepbound. I accidentally left it out for a day, and I’m worried it might be unsafe to use now. They weren’t exposed to any sunlight. Is it okay to take them? Should I put them back in the fridge? — T.Q.
ANSWER: The manufacturer states that Zepbound is safe if stored outside the fridge for up to 21 days. However, once it’s been kept at room temperature, it shouldn’t go back in the fridge and needs to be thrown out if not used within that timeframe. Apparently, fluctuating temperatures can cause more issues than just letting it sit at room temperature. As you mentioned, keeping it away from sunlight and extreme temperatures is best.
In general, expired medications or those damaged by heat usually aren’t dangerous, but there can be exceptions.
Dr. Roach regrets he cannot respond to individual letters but will incorporate them into his column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to
ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu
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