Help, risk of infection on Abatacept

[LesBev]

Hi everyone. Any help,out there please?

I’m due to go away for a few days with my partner, who does not live with me, and he had had a chest infection with bad cough for a week. He is still coughing,

[allanah]

I know we are more prone to infection on these drugs so it's sensible to avoid as much as we can .

However this is my personal view, not a medical View. We are not completely or shouldn't be as low as some people who are immune compromised , so we should not be excessively low (if the Rheumy gets it right) we should still have some protection.

However I don't put myself at risk, I avoid chicken pox, I wash my hands all the time and use hand gel. I avoid people with cold.

But if I have to be around people with cold or infection I just try to stay less time and wash hands. You could walk past someone in the street and catch it.

Has he been on antibiotics as they would have got rid of the infection? I think you can still cough for a while after its cleared.

But personally I don't want to be wrapped in a bubble, I just use sensible precautions . I however, would hate to think you got poorly from a chest infection!

I'd be intereted in everyone's opinion. As I say that's just a personal opinion, always check with your GP what they think. Xxx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to allanah]

Well said and that's exactly what I do Allanah .. Be sensible and still go places but give a wide berth to those who have drippy colds or tell you their children have got chicken pox, etc. My hubby has to use public transport briefly from the park and ride into the office and he's had all sorts of colds since doing this and I don't usually get them. The last one I got last March which was the first in years was from a taxi driver sneezing all over me. (Grr. Really is time soon for a new car I think!) If your partner has had the cold for a while then is he likely to be still germy? I agree with Allanah that you can walk past someone in a shop or anywhere and they can sneeze on you. Smittle you. 😣 I'd also ask to speak to your GP maybe on the phone and see what they advise. Hopefully you can go on your holiday. We all deserve a nice getaway but I understand you are cautious. x

[helixhelix]

I'm with Allanah, you have to live your life....

The drugs compromise our immune system to a greater or lessor extent depending on the individual, they don't suppress it. If they did we would have to live in plastic bubbles.

If you aren't someone that catches every little sniffle that passes by then you may well be fine.

So just be a sensible as you can, and make sure your partner coughs into a hanky. With your partner you can't help but have close contact, but try not to fret and ruin your holiday. And when you return if you start to feel that you are coming down with anything then pop off to your GP. Again a personal opinion, but I value time with my partner moreover than risking a bit of an infection.

[LesBev]

Hi everyone and thank you for replying, sometimes it feels hard to make a balanced decision and to know you are all there to offer support is wonderful.

I’m going today and will just be sensible but sooo looking forward to a short break. After 4 years of battling - Abatacept is the first drug to make me feel like me again so I was apprehensive of catching anything to stop my next infusion.

Be happy and as pain free as possible , we all deserve that!

Lesley x

[Neonkittie17 in reply to LesBev]

You deserve it .. I understand entirely after years of missing out on hols. I'm able to go now too and enjoy. Have a great time Lesley. x

[Mandalou]

Hope you have a great time Lesley, you deserve the break. It is totally understandable to feel the way you do and be apprehensive but the others who have replied have given you great advice and I agree wholeheartedly. I also believe it is better for your health and well being to live as normally as possible despite our frustrating and time consuming drug regimens we all adhere to.

So have a fabulous break, wash your hands more than normal and if you do come down with the lurgy get yourself checked out if it goes on longer than you would expect.

All the best

Mx

[allanah]

Enjoy ! 💋💋😷😷😂😂