Any tips?

[Hels1989]

So last year after starting mtx and hydroxychloroquin and being on them for a while, I got a cold and I’m presuming because my meds surpress my immune system I literally had a cold for a solid 3 months!!!! I’m on day 3 of a cold and I am dreading having it for so so long again!! Obviously a cold is better than having no meds and being unable to walk but does anyone have any tips or things that have helped them? I was ill all over Christmas last year 🙁 but at Least if it lasts so long this time then it will be over for Christmas haha. Any tips so so welcome!!!!

[oldtimer]

Although you can't avoid everyone else's infections, I use a gel preparation that you squirt into your nose when I first start any cold symptoms. Can't remember the name but it's available over the counter and various firms seem to make it - First defence or something like that?

And washing your own hands very frequently (I'm a bit obsessive about that now) does help with cross infection.

[NeonkittyUK in reply to oldtimer]

First Defence spray? I use that. x

[Hidden]

Quite expensive but I use sea buckthorn elixir. Extremely high in vitamin C. So far (fingers crossed) I've not caught any colds. Plus the usual hand washing.

[Hels1989 in reply to Hidden]

Sadly I’ve already got a

Cold I’m just worried how long it will last this time xx

[Hidden in reply to Hels1989]

The sea buckthorn would help.

[Hels1989 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks hunxx

[medway-lady in reply to Hidden]

I saw a tv programme about that plant and is still used widely in Russia for many things like colds. It was that Chinese Doctor on grow your own cures or forage for them.

[Hidden in reply to medway-lady]

It's very good medway-lady. I always look out for it along coastal paths. Bit of a fag to make though, but worth it. The other high vit c cordial is of course good old rose hip. I'll be collecting hips soon. Also a pain to make, but makes good jelly too.

[medway-lady in reply to Hidden]

My mum used to make rose hip syrup, ginger beer, chutneys and jams. I do a lot too and here we have a lot of fruit. Helps the church bazars !

[nomoreheels]

It could be this cold won't last as long, I hope anyway. Colds do vary in length anyway I find, not every one is the same & I'm not sure the meds you're on would make any difference in the length of time it stays around, they're not really suppressive, not like anti-TNF's & biologics are. I've been very fortunate & only had one cold that lasted longer than normal since we've returned to the UK. I'm careful with hand washing generally, using hand sanitizer when I've exited the final door of public loos, avoid people sneezing anywhere near me, you know the normal avoidance rules. It's not always possible, we can't live in a bubble, but just be aware. A hot water drink with Manuka honey & fresh squeezed lemon is lovely & soothing for a sore throat & eases chesty congestion.

If you think it's going on your chest check if you should temporarily stop MTX. x

[Hels1989 in reply to nomoreheels]

Ah you’ve given me hope hun 😊 yes I definitely will if it goes on my chest! Thanks for the message and the tips Hun xxx

[NeonkittyUK in reply to Hels1989]

Sorry to hear this Hels and glad you are doing well apart from the cold. As I became more active this last year and got out and about a lot more I started picking up chest infections and upper respiratory. Hand sanitiser and avoiding people with colds is a must. It is amazing the amount of family and friends who will come out and breathe all over you and say .. I've only got a little cold ... to me and others that can mean weeks of coughing and catarrh and antibiotics. Not needed. I go home if I am with someone who is sneezing etc. I didn't find Mtx alone gave me any colds tbh as I have never been prone to catching many in the past, probably just lucky, but since Ritixumab they have been easier to catch but then my B cells are being depleted. Hope you soon feel better and maybe add some grated ginger into your honey lemon hot drink. Love NK xx

[Leics]

Ditto something with high vitamin c black currants are good too. I am Severely immune suppressed but I find that if I go out at all which isn’t often due to pain and uncontrolled RA I wear gloves when I can and the 1st thing I do when I get home is blow my nose and wash my hands. Touch wood no colds for about a year so worth trying.

[Hidden]

Hi

This is so useful - thanks for the post as I have exactly the same problem. I'm on day 3 of a cold too after having one last November and December which was awful. However, last year my symptoms gradually increased over two weeks but this year I seem to have reached a peak much sooner and feel dreadful, so I'm hoping it's a totally different strain of bug and will go as quickly as it came. I'm taking complete rest over the weekend, lots of honey and lemon with a good supply of tissues. Fingers crossed I'll be back at work on Monday - that's the plan! It's already moved downwards onto my chest so it really is much faster than last years.

I hope you too can ride it through without too much trouble and pain. I'm definitely not stopping my meds just yet but if it turns into an infection, I'll need to take antibiotics so will need to break off methotrexate at that point.

What I find most difficult to cope with is other people thinking it's just a cold, when it feels 10 times worse with RA and the risks are higher. Most people just don't understand and maybe think I'm pulling a fast one! That's upsetting more than the bug itself.

Best wishes.

L

[LyndaKenny]

I take daily vitamin supplements and haven’t had a cold for over two years. I am convinced they help my immune system