Chest infection again

[Beatrice66]

Hi all, I'm off work again with another chest infection, is this to do with Lupus or a separate illness . It just seems one illness after another.

[Bronagh2015]

Hi Beatrice, sorry to hear you are going through a tough time. Unfortunately steroids and other lupus drugs really lower the immune system leaving us more susceptible to all sorts of Infections. What drugs are you on and how are your bloods? Are your white cells low?

[Beatrice66 in reply to Bronagh2015]

Taking hydroxychloroquine , last saw consultant 3 months ago was going to give me another steroid injection but B/P to high, said they would send me appt for 3 months haven't received one yet so not sure about white cells. They were going to give me details of specialist nurse to call but have no details yet. Gp given me steroids and antibiotics for this chest infection . On b/p meds as well and asthma tablet and inhalers .

[Bronagh2015]

Beatrice if I have learned anything over the last 20 years with lupus is that you really have to fight your own corner which I know is not easy when you are feeling miserable! You need to follow up on your appointment and push them to give you a date and get the info on the specialist nurse. I would imagine your asthma alongside the lupus leaves you very prone to chest infections, you really do need more advice and support from your rheumy.

[Beatrice66 in reply to Bronagh2015]

Thank you I will follow it up. All so new only diagnosed end of last year so much to take in. Doesn't help I work in a Gp surgery so have contact with unwell people lol

[Bronagh2015]

Yes Beatrice you are right it is a real learning curve, at the beginning I was so afraid of annoying anyone even to the detriment of my health. Life was so simple before lupus. I can only imagine the germs that invade your space at work! I wish u well with everything and hope you get seen soon 😀

[Whathappned]

Hi Beatrice

How bad is your asthma? What tablet are you on as these are not usually first line meds and used when inhalers are not controlling things enough. It could be your asthma making you more predisposed to chest infections. Working in a place such as GP's and schools doesn't keep the risk down either.

Make sure you get the flu and pneumonia jabs, having Lupus and asthma means it's really important for you.

Also wondering how long you have worked at the GP's as when I first started working at one I had quite a few illnesses including pleurisy and pneumonia. This year (fingers crossed and touching wood) I've had a slight sore throat only even on the methotrexate and occassional steroid injections.

You will need to be rid of the infection before they will give you the steroids but start hassling them and chase up your appointments

[Beatrice66 in reply to Whathappned]

Take montelukast tablet at night for asthma. Have worked at gp surgery 14 years. I have chased appt, just waiting to hear back. I just don't like having time off work, since dec this will be the third week I've had to have off.

[Whathappned in reply to Beatrice66]

I hope you get sorted soon. Montelukast is what I thought you meant. It's so hard to tell what's caused by what. Have you had a spirometry. Hopefully someone will suggest it.

I hope your making sure your 'well' before you go back to work, especially if you don't want to be off and have had to take so many breaks in such a short time.

Good luck

[Chris21]

I too get quite a lot of chest infections, antibiotics help although I tend to need an extra week than most to completely clear the infection.

I was told I had asthma because I kept getting chest infections and problems with getting out of breath. Every time it came to an asthma review I could never answer their questions correctly as I didn't have symptoms of asthma but continued to use inhaler as this is what the doctors recommended. Eventually I was diagnosed with lupus and then it changed, I had a scan and few other tests. I'm no longer asthmatic but have mild lung fibrosis.

You do need to chase your appointment as when you start on hydroxchlorquine it takes a little while to start seeing an improvement and it's important to have regular blood tests so that they can build up a picture as to how Lupus is affecting you and which medication will help keep it under control.

I've been diagnosed for 2years and still learning how it affects me and looking at this site shows how we are all different with the way it attacks our bodies and we all have various medications.

Hope with the warmer weather you begin to feel better. 💐