Always poorly!!! Grrrr

[CeriR]

Morning - anyone else constantly suffering with infections and colds and blah blah due to their suppressed immune system!? So fed up with it now!! Wondered if anyone else felt the same?

[hawker955]

Ceri. Not constantly but too often, yes. I seem to get them after going to things with a lot of people around, eg once after a pub quiz; another an annual dinner. I am paranoid about hand-washing etc but somehow the germs get still through sometimes!

[CeriR in reply to hawker955]

Yes I was defo using hand gel a lot more and actually I noticed I hadn’t been using as much and then realised I was getting ill again - I think I need to get bang on with the hand gel again!

[Ruth12345]

Sorry you feeling that way. Yes, im fed up with feeling rubbish all the time. Cancelled seeing friends today for lunch. Im washed out. I am so much better than this time last year though. I have to think positive otherwise I will sink, but would really like the old me back. Quiet resting day today so I can go out tomorrow. Hay ho.

[CeriR in reply to Ruth12345]

Oh Ruth ☹️ i totally get what you’re saying - never feel just ok! Yes positivity and exercise keeps me going. I know it can be hard to exercise sometimes with the pain but I found just a small amount really can help. And defo helps my sanity!! Good luck with your day out tomorrow!

[Barrister]

I’ve been extremely lucky. Since I’ve been diagnosed (5 years) I’ve only had the odd cold, one bout of bronchitis and, the last couple of weeks, a bout of flu then a chest infection.

Clemmie

[CeriR in reply to Barrister]

You must have a fantastic immune system clemmie!

[Barrister in reply to CeriR]

That would be nice, to have something that works well, lol! I just think that my body realised that it couldn’t cope with anything else - I was diagnosed with Adrenal insufficiency/Addison’s in November and was so ill leading up to it, if I had become unwell with something else I would have probably gone into adrenal crisis with all that entails. But I do think that I’m rather fanatical about hand washing so I’m sure that must help.

Clemmie

[Kai--]

.

Just saw your profile ("34 year old mum of a beautiful 4 year old boy. Diagnosed with juvenile ideopathic arthritis after hospitalisation when I was 11 - now self injecting biological therapy for Sero negative arthritis. Would love to chat to others in similar circumstances!"), CeriR. 😌

Don’t know if you’re interested in connecting with Katy 👱‍♀️ ( healthunlocked.com/jia/post... ), Cole’s mum Christine 👩 ( naturalcurejia.org/ ), as well as, Jess 👩 & Joseph 👱‍♂️ ( healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... ), CeriR? 🤔

Wishing you & your beautiful 4 year old boy 👩‍👦the very best. 😌 🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

.

[CeriR in reply to Kai--]

Lovely thanks Kai! 👍🏻

[Kyriew]

I am the same. I work in a Children's Nursery and deliver First Aid Training so constantly surrounded by germs and infections. Winter is always worst for me. Colds, sore throat, upset tummy then the chickenpox start doing the rounds just before Easter. I have always had a strong immune system (30 years looking after kids does that for you) which I am grateful for now as without that I feel I would suffer more. I wash my hands a lot and make sure all my FA equipment is sanitized. Still go down with everything. I have on occasions said I am not going into Nursery due to high levels of various infections. Doesn't go down well especially as I was always the one that never got anything prior to starting my meds 2 years ago.

xxx

[CeriR in reply to Kyriew]

Blimey nursery’s sound like my answer to building up my immune system! Xx

[lornaisobel]

winters are worse for me - ive been off and on antibiotics for 3months now and of course ive now got thrush - hate the whole bloody disease xx

[CeriR in reply to lornaisobel]

Oh no that’s awful. Such a long time! Hope you start to feel better soon. I do too - every day of life it pops up somewhere xx

[KT37]

I've only just started mxt today so haven't had the experience yet of constant infections. But something I have always done since having my boys is salt water gargling and can honestly say I never get colds or respiratory infections. Before now I always waited until my boys or myself started showing symptoms before I did it but I think I might now start doing it a couple times a week in the hope of catching anything before it starts. It apparently works by osmosis, literally sucks the water out the bugs and kills them. l put a good tsp sea salt in a small mug of water, dissolve it, gargle the whole cup, gargling each mouthful for as long as possible. If you are coming down with a cold do it as many times in a day as you can manage. I'm really hoping this will continue to be my first line defence.

[CeriR in reply to KT37]

Hi KT37

Now that sounds like a good idea I am defo going to try that! I hope methotrexate works for you xx

[wishbone]

I've had RA for 15 years and a bladder condition for the past 3-4 years. Was getting frequent UTIs when taking medication for my RA, which started to get serious so had to stop all meds that suppress the immune system. Result being that infections have ceased, but, and there's often a but...my RA has got worse the result being that the increased inflammation has damaged my lungs. I'm also concerned about inflammation causing heart problems as well, especially as I had a heart attack, albeit a mild one, approx 13 years ago. This heart attack was not thought to be RA related and no obvious cause was found. Been to see my rheumy today and we've decided rather reluctantly, that probably the best option is to start a low dose of a DMARD and keep fingers XXXX that it works and doesn't result in an infection. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!..bloody hell!

On a more positive note, and surprisingly perhaps, I haven't had a chest infection since my lungs were damaged by RA over 2 years ago. Would have thought I'd be more prone to one....something to be thankful for I suppose!

[Rembrandt2nd]

Washing your hands is fine but I kinda go the extra mile. How many ATMs or similar pin pads, keyboards, phones do you touch throughout the day? I use my knuckles to touch the pads. I use my fist to push open doors. When I see someone cough or sneeze it front of me, I hold my breath untill I'm long past the area. Otherwise, I catch everything.