Sore throat, neg LFT x 2, should I take my tocilizumab?

[Brushwork]

I think it’s just a cold I picked up from one of my grandsons on Sunday.

The sore throat appeared on Monday evening, I was due to inject Tocilizumab on Tuesday but was concerned about COVID so wanted to get at least a couple of days of negative tests, which I have now done. Could I now safely take Tocilizumab?

Look forward to some advice, please.

Go gently

[Mmrr]

If in doubt about taking your tocilizumab maybe you should ask your rheumatology nurse for advice. That said I always take my meds, DMARDs and a JAK inhibitor if I have mild symptoms of a sore throat / cold.

[Brushwork in reply to Mmrr]

Thanks Mmrr, I was thinking that myself. Didn’t want to bother the team if I could avoid it. I’ll take Toci today, just a day late. 😊

[Mmrr in reply to Brushwork]

From what I have been reading, and on the advice of the neurosurgeon, who operated on my slipped disc 8 weeks ago, whilst staying on all meds , including daily prednisilone, I think there is the beginning of a tide change on the risk of infection with some of these meds. The risk is actually very small (but real).

And, something that seems not to have been taken into account much .....the negative effects on loss of control of RA whilst off the meds. Uncontrolled RA, creating and contributing to ill health in itself.

This last point was a big focus of the neurosurgeons advice to me prior to surgery. A flare of RA will not only hamper wound healing, but hinder your ability to mobilise post op and effect long term recovery. I stayed on all meds.

I had 2 surgeries within 3 days, the same wound being opened up again. I've healed up well, if a little slow, no infections at all.....no problems and no RA flare as my oral prednisolone was doubled for a few days around the surgeries.

Each to their own and I'm not suggesting that people ignore rheumatology advice, far from it.

[Brushwork in reply to Mmrr]

Gosh that is really interesting. My only concern is that my temperature doesn’t rise when I have an infection making it difficult to detect. This was borne out by a UTI where I had all the symptoms but no raised temperature - very odd.

Certainly something to think about and I must say, I get more worried about RA than I do an infection.

[Mmrr in reply to Brushwork]

I hope you stay well 🤞

[Marionfromhappydays]

Did you take it in the end ?

Its quite hard to make the call to take or not to take isn't it.

Hope your sniffles go soon

[Sheila_G]

You need to ask rheumatology about that. We are not medically qualified to advise you. Sorry.

[Brushwork in reply to Sheila_G]

I did not consider a cold and sore throat serious enough, and wanted to hear what others would do under the circumstances. In the end, I took the Toci a day late.

Thank you for taking the time to reply

[Hidden]

I think that the Delta variant can represent itself as a sore throat. If you have symptoms a lateral flow test won't help with a result. You should do a PCR test at your doctors for a true result.

[Brushwork in reply to Hidden]

The LFT have been effective at picking up the virus in all it's variations.I did check the symptoms. I did 3 LFT's on consecutive days.

I have a cold.

Thank you for taking the time to reply