chest infection and mtx

[Piglet007]

morning everyone

I am in the process of getting over a chest infection that accumulated from a flight to the ☀️ sun. I had to have a private gp to my hotel room who shot me in my bum and prescribed antibiotics and an inhaler, and no sunshine. I did however sit in the shade and felt the warmth on my body which is why I went! Anyway, I’m home almost a week and still barking away and wondering if I should try to see my own gp, as I have a pain in my left side of middle back area which does not feel related to muscle strain from coughing? I decided not to take mtx last week , I hate it and I’m sitting here wondering if I could give it another miss?…I did take my benepali…. I’ve just got it into my head that the mtx may be affecting my breathing etc? Am I being stupid? I’ve been on mtx 3years and I just feel it’s such a negative effect on my life in general, but I’m afraid I muck my RA up by not taking it and setting myself up for a fall. I’d appreciate any comments?

[helixhelix]

with that pain in your back you need to talk to your doctors as soon as you can. It is possiblethe chest infection hasn’t cleared.

If so, your doctors may want you to stay off both drugs until fully recovered.

(And yes MTX can affect the lungs, but not really like this)

(For future reference Benepali is more immune suppressing than MTX, so given a choice I would stop that over MTX)

[Piglet007 in reply to helixhelix]

oh, and thank you. I did wonder if I should have stopped the benepali but I reckoned for sake of my breathing mtx was the one that was affecting breathing issues. I appreciate your reply 😊

[Nyreedw in reply to Piglet007]

8enpali is more important to stop as it stops you recovering even more than mtx. You should have a red flag on biosimilars stating if ill with chest infection you need antibiotics same day. Any sign of infection they must be stopped.

[nomoreheels]

I would go & see your GP. Pain in that area could be related & better to get it checked out. If he's unsure about what to do about your meds do try to contact your Rheumy team, they will advise what's best.

I hope it didn't spoil your holiday too much. Such a shame you succumbed on the way out & not coming home, if it was to happen at all of course.

[medway-lady]

Please go to A&E as it just might be something not related to your infection especially if you’ve been on a plane. I think I’d not even go to GP as they will send for an X-ray or CT scan. Good luck and I hope it is nothing but get it checked out.

[Piglet007]

thanks to you all 😊. I saw my gp this morning who feels it’s a strain, from the hard coughing?…they took a pee sample as they thought it may be my kidney, and antibiotics?…. However it was all clear. I have a rheumy call tomorrow to discuss my meds….

[nomoreheels in reply to Piglet007]

Can I ask. In drawing his conclusion did he listen to your chest, & from the back too, with a stethoscope?

[Piglet007 in reply to nomoreheels]

morning….yes that’s exactly what the gp did 😊

[medway-lady in reply to Piglet007]

Did he know you’d been on a plane journey? I hope so and you’re feeling better today but please don’t hesitate about A@E it doesn’t cost anything to get a blood test to check for other stuff.

[ageddancer]

So sorry your holiday has not proved a real break for you. My similar problem turned out to be costochondritis but the X Ray showed some lung fibrosis for which I am still waiting for an "Urgent" hospital appointment. So any problems you experience need to be followed up just to ensure you are chest/lung clear. I hope you get sorted now quickly. Gentle hug

[Piglet007 in reply to ageddancer]

I’m sorry to hear you have this, I have a friend who was diagnosed with costo….. it gets her down. I’ll keep an eye on this, I’m back at work!…yeuk 😊

[ageddancer in reply to Piglet007]

I hope "work" doesnt turn out to be too much of a trial. I am just compiling a letter to send to PALS as I am not satisfied with the long wait for a Respiratory appointment and Rheumatology are waiting for a report from them before deciding what route to take. It is so hard getting the attention we need these days and the stress of waiting adds loads to how we re act. Hope all proceeds well for you. Gentle hug

[Runrig01]

I agree with Medway lady that you should get checked out at A&E or minor injuries. Given your recent flight there is the potential this could be a clot. I’m also on benepali and MTX and was always told to stop both when I had infections, and not restart till I felt better. Taking either one will delay your recovery.

[medway-lady in reply to Runrig01]

I thought the same I’ve had PE’s and it was sheer luck that the GP heard a crackle and off to A&E and a week in hospital and that was without any real symptoms as I thought a cold and stayed on the sofa for a couple of days with an ache and bit of a cough. That GP saved my life sending me for a scan xx

[KASHMIRI1]

Good morning, l was told by my rheumy and a chest specialist that methotrexate can cause a major lung issue. The chest consultant said he had only seen three cases in thiry years but that if it happened l would know about it as it was extreme. I think it's listed as a side effects on the leaflet that comes with the drug. I have also read that you need to avoid being in strong sunlight while on meth or use a very high factor sun cream.