Three years ago a friend with RA said that in future I would celebrate having a streaming cold. At the time I thought she was nuts, but she was right, because it shows my immune system is behaving at last, at least a bit! 
I came off Imuran six weeks ago, because it was wrecking my liver, and has given me dehydration problems too. It's a shame, because it was really beginning to show improvement in my joints. Sadly, my joints are stiffening up again, and I've had one short nasty flare, but because of the cold, my first in years, I think the RA isn't quite as virulent as it was a year ago when I started on it.
So, as I wrap up warm, and work my way through the tissues and hot drinks, I'm pleased, and definitely not feeling sorry for myself. An early Christmas present, I think.
good perspective, that. At least it'll make you feel better about being what I not so gracefully call snotlogged.
I hope you and your rheumatologist can find another medication that will work for you. Keep us posted, please?
I enjoyed your comment. I am on Humira and I have a runny nose. My doctor says it's just my allergies and my body's response to Humira. She gave me a prescription to dry it up. I did not fill the prescription because I try to add as little drugs to my regimen as possible. I was beginning to become embarassed about the wet nose. It's cold and flu season and most people thinks it a cold. Sometimes a runny nose is just that a runny nose. Thanks for reminding me to be grateful.
sound like a good assessment to me. It's allergy season (of course, it's allergy season all year round these days) and in my experience, Humira pokes at your histamine response, increasing your allergies a bit, especially for a couple of days following the shot. As well, the Biologics are notorious for messing with your sinuses, essentially increasing production of mucus. It's why sinus infections are a common side effect not taking medications like Humira.
Check out my post on managing side effects for tips on how to keep the sinus issues (and other side effects) from getting out of hand. By accident/experience, I developed a trick that has so far kept me from having to take antibiotics for sinus infection for three years so far. it's a combination of 100% pineapple juice, lots of garlic in my food - I happen to like garlic, but I suppose garlic pills do the same, although I don't know for sure - and drinking lots and lots of water. Even when I start building up to a sinus infection, I've been able to push it back by increasing all of the above.
Love your technical term, Lene!
You know better than anybody that RA is a journey, with ups and downs. I'm learning that it's good to try to accentuate the positive when things can be relentlessly down.
As for my next DMARD, my rheumy has just discounted Cyclosporin and Mycophenolate because of my consistent bad reactions, esp to my liver and kidneys. He says he wants me to have six months without, if I can manage it, to try and recover, which means relying on just Pred and painkillers. He's very good though, and said to go back as soon as it's difficult.
A number of the biologics - the next step in the UK, as you have to go through DMARDs in a certain order - also have the same side effects, and I'm clearly one of a small number of people who reacts consistently badly to most of them!
Thanks for the tips. I will read your article. I cook with a lot of garlic. I am a big fan of garlic and it's healing properties. I have started drinking lots of water because I noticed I don't feel as lethargic. Finally, I will start to develop a taste for pineapple juice. I really like the fruit but I am not that crazy about the juice. But I will change anything so I don't have take anymore medications.
Again, thanks for the great information.
although I've managed to stay away from antibiotics for several years, my doctor's given me a backup prescription that I can take if I lose the battle. Recent research shows that most sinus infections go away by themselves, but of course that's in people with a healthy immune system. Still, like I mentioned earlier, increasing the magic potion of garlic, pineapple juice and water generally enable me to get through it without having to take antibiotics. But they're good to have in your back pocket if things get really bad.
and yes. Garlic is good.
keep us posted on how it works for you, please?
Hi Sal,
it's the same way in Canada - because of public funding for the really expensive drugs, you have to prove that other medications aren't suitable for you. It's a pain to go through - sometimes literally - but given that you have such a severe reaction to some of these medications, might that mean that you can skip some of the steps?
I will do it!