Which foods or supplements are safe to take, to increase immunity when using anti TNF?

[Vonnie55]

Just wondering if anybody takes food supplements when using anti TNF.

I thought it may be a good idea to 'up' the immune system.

My Enebrel should be arriving Tuesday, just waiting for nurse to contact me for training of self injections.

[helixhelix]

Not sure about people on biologics, as I'm on the MTX cocktail, but I told not to take supplements that boost the immune system like echinacea. The problem we have is that we have an over active immune system, so the aim of the drugs is to calm it down to stop it attacking our own bodies. So if you boost it back again then you're back to square one (not exactly, but I think it's simpler to view it like that). What I do instead is to make sure I'm as healthy as I can be otherwise, so making sure I have a balanced diet with all the trace elements, that's rich in iron etc etc. And so far it seems to be a fine approach for me as I haven't had so much as a sniffle since I started the drugs 3+ years ago. Polly

[Vonnie55 in reply to helixhelix]

Hi Polly, thanks for your response. That makes total sense about our over active immune systems, i had wondered about that. I do eat fairly healthily, but need to have more trace elements as you said. Vonnie x

[Hidden]

Hi Vonnie,

I agree with Helix.....your immune system is the problem which is why you are now about to start on a drug that will suppress and calm the activity down. I only started on biologics four months ago and was concerned about getting more infections and bugs than ever....to date, by eating relatively healthily, not a murmur , not even a sniffle. The nurse will go over all the dos and donts when she comes to you...there are one or two foods you need to avoid, my nurse gave me a printed list, and basically it is avoiding the foods a pregnant woman would. I only take fish oils and no other supplements .....good luck next week and hope it starts to work for you really soon

Kate

[Vonnie55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Katie,

Yes, it all makes sense not to up the immune system.

As i said to Polly, i eat fairly healthily, but i do need to increase my fish oils. I eat salmon, but need some mackerel, which i do like.

That will be helpful, if the nurse goes through foods with me.

How are you feeling on your biologic after four months?

I'm just hoping mine runs as smooth as possible and i don't get too many side effects, fingers crossed.

Have to admit, i'm feeling a bit scared and apprehensive. But i know there are hundreds of people on these drugs and we get monitored very closely.

Vonnie x

[Hidden in reply to Vonnie55]

Hi Vonnie, I am on a different biologic from you. For me, it was simply a transformation.....almost overnight if I am honest. That was perhaps in part due to the steroid infusion I had the month before. Now it has settled , still hurt but nowhere near the same. And as the biologic builds up it will improve so am very optimistic about the future. Have so much energy it takes my breathe away sometimes, however, I have had a flare, lasted a few weeks and that was unpleasant, but it is so early for the drugs to be working.

I do so hope you get a fab response and get your life back.

I think being scared and apprehensive is natural, I know I was, but it has given me my life back and for me all the risks and the little changes I have had to make are worth it. No side effects either

There are thousands of people on these drugs now and this site only gives you a little snippet

Please stay in touch and let me know how you get on

Katie

[Vonnie55 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Katie for your inspiration, its so reassuring that you have got your life back. Would be great to get a snippet of what that would feel like.

Keep you all posted. Vonnie x

[Hidden]

Ditto what's been said but make sure that your GP puts you in the category to receive the Flu Jab in October and the one off Pneumonia Jab. This does help, I had a very bad attack of flu and chest infection last winter and was told that if I had not received these jabs it would have been a lot worse, it meant that I had to come off Enbrel for nearly three weeks, they were contemplating taking me of Leflunomide as well unless it cleared up.

Having said that don't be alarmed, if your body loves it, you will notice a real difference. Good Luck for your first injection, being relaxed is the best way. xxx

[Vonnie55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Georje. My GP automatically sends for me for flu jab, although I've not had the pneumonia jab, i had never thought about it.

I must enquire about it

You must have been very poorly when you had the flu last year.

Many thanks once again, vonnie xx

[earthwitch]

I've also been advised not to use any supplements designed to boost the immune system.