Is a cold worse with RA?

applerose

I did ask my rheumie a while back but he said RA didn't affect colds one way or the other. I've been laid up for 2 weeks now, coughing a great deal, sneezing, blocked nose etc. Never had a cold this bad. I was just wondering if anyone else felt their cold was worse after starting with RA.

dreamdaisy

Oh there's nothing worse than the sniffles, I do empathise. If I begin a cold I stop my immuno-suppressant meds (as I was told to do by the hospital) and it normally clears up once the immune system fires up a little. What are you on for the RA? Here, have a box of soft tissues! DD

applerose

Thank's for your reply DD. I'm not on anything at the moment. Thank you for the tissues. I'm almost out.

stickywicket

Some colds are just worse than others and I do remember an old GP once telling me that we are more susceptible at this time of year because it's a long time since we got any quality sunshine. (He prescribed oranges and long walks but then he prescribed that for most things :roll: ) I did used to find, when my RA was less well controlled, that anything that raised my temperature made it worse.

You are not on any meds ? How do you manage?

applerose

Hi Sticky. I was thinking it would probably be just as bad without the RA but wondered if anyone had found it worse with RA.

I did try sulfa and hydoquloraquine (that's not right, is it. Terrible with remembering the names) but one messed with my liver and the other covered me in a rash. My rheumie has told me to thik about meth. I'm a bit scared of the side effects but am on the point of going for it. Just been diagnosed with IBS so want to try and sort that out first.

I work as a housekeeper. My rheumie has encouraged me to keep working although now, I collapse in a heap when I get home and just sit there other than getting up to get a drink or something to eat. Housework gets done on Friday afternoons, if I can be bothered.

I might try the oranges and long walks when I feel more up to it.

stickywicket

I get the picture. Not so much 'once bitten twice shy' as 'twice bitten third time shy'. I can understand your reluctance. Unfortunately it is a bit of a lottery and what is perfect for one is no such thing for another. We can only suck it and see, safe in the knowledge that we will be well monitored.

I imagine yours isn't an easy job while juggling with RA and IBS. I can well imagine you will be fit only for the armchair when you get home. Meth can give the odd 'exhausted' day but, for me, nowhere near as exhausting as rampant RA.

applerose

Hydroxichloriquine, that's what I meant.

cthornley

For me its the meds that make every little sniffle turn into something more
I just about coped when I was just on the MTX but now I dread general coughs and colds circling ,as the Humira always turns it into something more serious and I end up on Antibiotics
I'm in the process of recovering from yet another chest infections which has led to a flare because i've been off the Humira & MTX - yes its making me grumpy and miserable

Chrissie

applerose

Hope you're soon over your chest infection Chrissie. It's just awful feeling miserable. (((hug)))

Rallymad

Unfortunately I think the fact that we have an auto immune disease makes things like coughs and colds last wee bit longer (well thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it ) Hope you feel better soon x

applerose

Thank you Rallymad. I'm feeling a little bit better.