Bronchiectasis and biologics

[Shonkie]

My RA is currently very active with lots of pain and damage so my very good and careful rheumy is starting me on Abatasept. I have had a number of chest infections in the last year and was given a rather scary warning about the dangers of this while on Abatacept. What experience have other people had please?

[peege]

Hi, I just want to say that I'm sorry you've not had any replies yet. The forum is a bit quiet at weekends so hopefully members with similar experience will be along soon. In the meantime you could write relevant words or simply the title of your post in the search barfor past queries & experience. Good luck. P

[Mooka]

I have had rituximab a biological, in the past. This was originally used to treat RA. I had a lot of chest infections which coupled with my vasculitis led to me having Bronchiectasis rituximab left me with very low immunoglobulin levels and so even more chest infections. It did however put my vasculitis into remission. I would have this conversation with your doc if I was you. Plus look on reputable sites for the side effects of Abatasept. Good luck hopefully you have a good respiratory doctor who can help you with this.

[Shonkie in reply to Mooka]

Thank you. My rheumy is very good but was careful to warn me of possible problems with chest infections. I am in general risk averse for good reason but the RA is very damaging just now. Fingers crossed!

[Shonkie in reply to Mooka]

Thank you. I am a bit apprehensive about the biologic as I have had a number of bad chest infections lately but the RA is really out of control. I will take your advice and exercise extreme care .

[davannh]

Hi, they are often cautious with Bronchiectasis about adding to the dangers of infections whilst on Biologics. However as long as you manage your Bronchiectasis carefully (lung clearance, nebulisers and having back up antibiotics at hand) it is worth the risk. Far better to try and control your RA with drugs that work. Otherwise you could end up with severely damaged joints and if you don’t remain active your Bronchiectasis will be more difficult to handle. I have had Bronchiectasis since I was a baby and RA since I was in my early 30’s. My Consultant s have always been comfortable prescribing me with biologics whilst balancing the risk re gain.

[Sabie2]

Hi, I have been using Abatacept for approx 6 years and it has been a game changer with regards to RA -so that is a plus point however over a similar period I have developed Bronchiectasis. This may not be a cause and effect result as I do have respiratory issues but my understanding is that there could be a linkage between them. So far they are manageable if one acts sensibly, avoids stuffy rooms with lots of people etc. I haven’t needed to resort to antibiotics for over two years now, I think largely by being careful and rather unsociable.

[Shonkie in reply to Sabie2]

Thank you for your comments. I have RA, currently through the roof on pain also bronchiectasis. I am about to start Abatacept and my ra specialist has carefully warned me of possible problems. My respiratory specialist is keeping an eye on potential lung infections. Fingers crossed!

[Amelia2024]

I have suffer RA, for 27 years, I have try from corticoids to biological. I just did 3 times the biological because the side effects, I blame them for my bronchiectasis, my lung specialist told It was a mistake from my reumatologist to prescribe them because I had TB as a kid. Lots of infections, painfull urine, sore dry mouth with blisters, and the list goes on.I will tell you my story, in my case I have achieve remision many times, now I am stable, I have many deformities in my finger and toes, but I am not in pain, many of my joint are damage but they dont hurt unless I put them under to much activity. I have 2 knees replacement and 2 hip replacement.

I have discover many things about RA in my 27 years. One is you need to quit sugar, bread, some dairys and junk food. Sun is important because I learnt 25 years ago that your body is full of mycoplasm a bacteria that sits in your joints but it is resistance to your inmune system attacks. One of my remission was a treatment of mynocicline 100 mg 3 times a week. I did the mycoplasm test and it was positive. One of my dog died of RA he use to kill rats that where maybe full of bacterias, years later I develop RA.

My first rheumatologist told me once, is better sometimes yo suffer a bit of pain than going into poison medication. But depends how well you manage pain.

It is hard the first year of cutting medication, but one way to quit is start with prednisone in the morning and at night and then deplete it with a file metal nail little by little, that is the way I did it plus some pain killers.

I visit a good natural practitioner doctor who put me on ozone and many vitamin c and other supplements to reduce the side effects of prednisone. I manage to be free of medication in a year. That remision last 18 years, but I came to Australia and the stress of travel, living my native country and food change trigger the RA again. I battle again with many things, but I am back in my foots again, but I live with very healthy life, the problem now is Bronchiectasis, and believe me I prefer the pain of RA, than bronchiectasis that is an exhausted illness, and there is no natural approach for it so far.

This are my experience and my opinion, I believe in natural things because my experience with RA and always visit good natural practitioners.

I will suggest to research about biologicals so you will know more about them

[Al1954 in reply to Amelia2024]

What are you on now?.i have tried everything i have had cancer lung fibrosis sjigrens Nph i take 4mg of prednisone but i am going threw a nightmare.i also have RA.Thankyou i am from Argebtin

[Al1954 in reply to Al1954]

I am 69 years old.Sorry inglish spelling terrible

[Al1954 in reply to Amelia2024]

Sorry ingl8sh terrible i am from argentina 69 years old