covid and return to benepali

[Piglet007]

morning all

Following my last post of chest infection for over 3 weeks I then contracted covid, my first time, last Saturday. I hadn’t taken my benepali last week as I felt unwell with the chest infection and I was taking 5 days of antibiotics….so I then had to take paxlovid which I took Monday to Friday (yesterday). Surprisingly all last week with covid my joints were amazingly grand? I finished the antibiotics on Wednesday too. Now, I can feel my body stiffening up, with returning joint aches and I’d like to get my benepali back on track but I’m unsure when I should restart this. At the moment, I’ve missed two weekly doses? And I’ve missed the mtx but if I’m honest, I hate taking mtx and want to try and get off that! The rheumy nurse was a bit vague, but she thought a week after paxlovid? Your thoughts are very welcome. Thank you.

[KittyJ]

I would do what your nurse says, we can’t give you advice like that. I’m sure your nurse has had hundreds of people asking this so please take her advice. As for the mtx you need to talk to your rheumy before stopping it, you risk the Benepali failing too if you stop as we take mtx to help prevent us forming antibodies against it. No one likes taking these drugs but the consequences of not doing so can cause much worse things. Talk to your rheumy 😊

[nomoreheels]

I'm afraid this counts as medical info so it's not for us to say. I would follow your Rheumy nurse's advice, even if it was vague. That would also include the MTX as it's helping to get the best out of the benepali, to help stop anti-med antibodies fighting it working properly. I know if I need to halt my MTX for longer than a couple of weeks nowadays (it used to be 3 weeks) I know about it. However, if it's tablets that are causing issues maybe ask your Rheumy if you can change to injections? It's a double edged sword really I'm afraid to say, you need one for the other to keep you as well controlled as possible, & so you don't need to keep trying different meds which none of us relish.

I hope you're back on track soon & feeling better.

[Leics]

When I got covid I was told to pause mtx for two weeks. I also had paxlovid. So technically miss two doses but I developed a rebound covid infection so had to pause for three + weeks. So even if your nurse was vague or seemed to be I think two weeks is standard. So one week with covid and one week after paxlovid. You could always ask again if you’re beginning to suffer and I too had the mother of all flares after covid but I think right now your immune system needs a break. Just my thoughts but I’d go with the nurses advice I hope you feel better soon.

[Jackie1947]

Follow medical advice. I know what you mean as I'm on Beni 5 weeks off it now and ouch. I can't restart if I can because I've been diagnosed with pancreatic disease and they are looking into whether the Beni was the culprit.

[Angels54]

yes I would say if you can get if methotrexate would be good