Can't get rid of Cold now Brochial infection
Hi Friends,
I've had RA for 1 year. I had a cough for a couple of weeks turned into a bad cold and I have had it for about 5 weeks. No fever just bad congestion. I started Embrel a month ago and stopped the injections about 2 weeks ago because my immunity is way down and now stopped the Methotrexate. Cannot get rid of it. Very congested went to doctor 3 weeks ago and got nasoflex for sinuses. Take claritin D, and cough syrup. Ihave been taking airborne twice a day. Thinking about high doses of Vitamin C Anyone experience with having a bad cold and RA while taking these kinds of meds. I don't want to end up with pneumonia. 2) I took the winter flu vaccine 6 weeks ago and I was fine. Once I get well I am thinking about taking the Swine flu vaccine-anyone have any side effects? I read that they inject the live swine flu unlike the winter flu vaccine that is a dead culture. Thank you! Rita
Whoa, that's quite a bit in one post! I'm on Enbrel and had to stop several times for sinus infections as well. You think about (or talk to your doctor abou) spacing out the injections a little further apart. When I stick strictly to the 2/wk schedule I usually run into a problem, but if I wait 4 -5 days between injections, it gives my immune system a little chance to recoup. Especially if I feel like I'm coming down with something or I have a cut on my finger, etc.
As far as the swine flu vaccine, there are 2 kinds: the "Flumist" is the live virus (weakened) they put in your nose. The shot they do in your arm is not the live virus, just some proteins from it that your immune system can learn to recognize before it sees the 'real thing.' I had the seasonal flu vaccine about 4-5 weeks ago and I was kinda tired the 2 weeks after but the weather was changing as well, so I don't know for sure that it was the vaccine. I had the H1N1 shot a week ago today, didn't notice anything for about a day and a half, then started getting some back pain - but it's where I've had it before. Except that it seems worse than it's been in the past. But I have had to stop taking my Celebrex as of a couple months ago, and so - there's no saying whether it has anything to do with the vaccine. My rheumy always tells me to get the seasonal flu shot, but he left the decision about the H1N1 up to me, as long as I don't get the live vaccine. I'm over 50 so it would be automatic to get the shot instead (at least from what I was told). I don't know your age or what choices are available. They have been short on the vaccine around here and were restricting it to people with the diabetes or chronic illness and I said, yes, I fit into that, and got it at my doctor's office. My employer (a college) was due to have a flu clinic but they ran out of H1N1 while the students were still getting their shots, and they had priority (age, and the fact that they're away from home and their doctors...)
So that's my story - I don't know if any of that helps you - good luck!
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Ellen
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 03:34 PM
No, I'm on the 25mg shots 2/week. That would be normally every 3-4 days, but as I said, if I have any question, or feel I don't need it quite as often, I'll space it out to 4-5 days. Since you're doing the once-a-week shot, you'd adjust to another day or so (if you needed to, or your doctor thought). I did almost from the beginning, because every time I went 4 weeks straight with 2/week, I'd feel like I had, or was getting, a sinus infection. It doesn't help that Enbrel can irritate the sinuses, even without an infection. So taking the shots a little further apart helped me. and even my doctor suggested last summer (maybe thinking of the upcoming flu season) that I could/should do that. I was shocked actually, that he said so. He usually goes straight by the book! But - now he agrees with me, I'm not complaining, as long I get it when I need it!
Thank you! I'm on the click pen shots which only comes in 50 mg. Is that the dose you were on or the 25mg injection? Thanks Rita