Hi you lovely people

[Matilda_1922]

For the last 6 weeks I’ve had 3 lots of antibiotics for a lung infection. I’ve been told that I have pseudomonas and if the antibiotics don’t work I may need to attend the hospital for Intravenous antibiotics. I am coughing quite a bit as well

I also have RA too bronchietasis is all part of it. My concern whether to stop my RA medication or not while I’m taking the antibiotics. I will delay my medication and call the help line tomorrow. But I’m also quite reluctant to do call them as they may stop my biologic altogether like my friend. She is so bad now that she is virtually housebound.

[Hidden]

Hi, I too have RA and Bronchiectasis. I've been in hospital several times for IV antibiotics. Each time I was in for 2 weeks, but sometimes you can be trained (by special nurses) to give yourself the treatment at home. As for your RA medication, I should check with your rheumatologist. Depending on what treatment you have, you might be able to continue to take it. I'm on MTX and Leflunomide and I was supposed to stop MTX while having the IV treatment, but I could carry on with the Leflunomide.

[Matilda_1922 in reply to Hidden]

I am a retired nurse so can do them. The only problem is if the cannula stops working will need to go back to hospital for a new one.

[Mooka in reply to Matilda_1922]

The ivs you do yourself are slightly different from the normal ones you have in hospital. Inserting them is done by specialist nurses. One of mine stopped working and I got an appointment to have it replaced the next day. I have Vasculitis and have never stopped any of my meds while doing iv antibiotics but you should check with your doctors.