NRAS has been receiving many calls from people with RA who are worried about the Coronavirus. We’ve issued a full statement on our website (last updated on 13th March) which can be found here: nras.org.uk/news/coronaviru...
For more information, you may find BBC1's programme ‘Everything you wanted to know about Coronavirus’ useful: bbc.in/2wVzSQW
Thank you for your timely advice and information Anita. There are so many ill informed people who are in fear about their health right now. X
Good article and I never had any intention of stopping meds. I'm also pleased to say fully vaccinated. Your reminder to be up to date with vaccinations is well timed as the herd principle may well apply to this virus. Thank you.
Just read this - thank you!
Just read it ,thank you for the update very helpful and fully vaccinated
Thanks for posting this Anita, I'm sure the advice and information offered in the article will reassure many people, but with my particular set of circumstances and following my own logic regarding the virus, I am not one of them. I will listen to my intuition to try and avoid catching this virus, though fully appreciate how difficult this will be if it becomes widespread. Stopping my meds is not on the cards.
Interesting to see what plan the government come out with tomorrow.....................
Very helpful thank you.
Thanks for the advice specifically aimed at the rheumatoid group.
Thank you for the information, really interesting discussion. I am worried and have just started back on humira after an operation and I am feeling persuaded not to continue taking it. I have read alot and do not want to be infected and if it does happen I want to be in the best health possible to recover.
Thank you for the helpful advice Anita. Sadly I watched the BBC's programme and didn't feel the same.
Forgot it was on! No good Pippy?
I thought it was going to be more about the virus but felt it was going on about the economy and potential for a global recession, then raced through a few questions viewers had asked.
Ah, I see. Was going to try and find it on catch up but probably won't bother now. How are you doing? x
Thank you Anita with watch it during this week.
Thank you for the helpful advice
Thank you for this, it’s really helpful. It had been playing in my mind. My doctor never offers me the flu jab, I get mine at the local chemist. I’ve never had the pneumonia one - wondering if I should get it?
Thank you for the advice but I would not recommend the BBC programme. The main piece of advice they gave but made little of, is that there is now a 111 website which has a form of triaging questionnaire. Using this will free the 111 phone staff to be making contact with those who need a call as a priority. Here is the link 111.nhs.uk/covid-19.
The triaging link doesn't work and asks you to phone 111, which from what I understand is also experiencing problems with getting through. What a shambles!
Thanks, but I dont find this very helpful.
There is no vaccine this strain...and if you are in a high risk group eg immuno compromised with respiratory issues then your going to be at greater risk.
The critical question most people want to know how much or, if their weekly dose of a DMARD compromises their ability to withstand this virus. If it does, then staying at home with a flare might be preferable to succumbing to illness.
I think my rheumatologist over all the scares and health issues that have been around since I got RA said," I check your bloods every month, if you were overly suppressed I would change your drugs. You are suppressed enough to help the RA but not to make you ill." That reassured me years ago. I have my flu jab too . Wipe down trolleys and plane tables and rarely even get a cold. If I got a flu / virus they are less severe than a full blown dose would be.
Hope what my doc said helps you.
Out of curiosity a couple of months back I asked one of my rheumy nurses if stopping my baricitinib, which leaves the body in a couple of days, would lower my chances of catching the normal winter flu. Her reply was not to stop my meds as it would make no difference to my chances of getting the flu?? 
I will continue with meds for now, but if things get really bad then I may stop taking them. Depending of course that we get some proper facts as to whether or not stopping meds reduces the risk.
As for the flu and pneumonia vacinations offering some protection or lessening the severity of coronavirus is simply not true, at least not according to all of the medical professionals I've heard on radio and TV, and I've heard quite a few. The only benefit from having the annual flu jab is if someone who has had the jab develops symptoms then it's odds on that they have coronavirus rather than normal flu......WOW!...what a big help that is!
Not to worry, the government think tank Cobra has met and announced their "Battle Plan" this morning, which I find ever so reassuring........not!
Hi thanks for that. I’m also up to date with my jabs. Ive not even though about stopping my pills. Also I always carry a hand sanitizer and also use hand wash. 🙂
Thank you for this helpful and timely advice. I'm on Rituximab infusions so can't reduce my meds if I want to. I'm thinking I will now have to restrict where I go and who I mix with ...
Same...
It appears that hydroxychloroquine is being used in at least ten active trials against the coronavirus 
Thanks Anita, I wanted to know whether to stop my biologic, though I don't really want to as I'm stable with that and 5 mg Prednisolone (last Depomedrone was in November so I presume out of my system).
My partner's firm suggested on their own volition that to protect me he worked from home as he has a daily commute.
This has relieved my anxiety somewhat.... though I have a wide circle of friends and they have a lot of holidays abroad between them.
I've just had hand, foot and mouth disease which I caught from my grandchild, my fault I ate his last honey finger! His mum had warned me he'd just recovered from it. I think being immunocompromised I've had it worse than otherwise, as my friends tell me their kids had it several times they never caught it.
My throat has been sore for over two weeks now and my tongue so sore from the blisters.
So I was concerned that lowering my immune system with meds would give me more change of getting Covid 19 worse.
Really appreciate updates.
Thank you Anita-NRAS ...This has been a comfort to have the right information for people like myself with RA and other associated problems 🤗
Coronavirus , Infliximab and work
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