Keeping getting illnesses!

Hay

Hi I’ve been diagnosed with RA since February and been put on MTX and ever since it has really effected my immunity and I’ve seem to have come down with one illness ( colds, sore throat , teeth problems, flu like symptoms etc ) ever since. As a result it has really effected my quality of life ( or should I say lack of it). I have pretty much felt rubbish ever since. Obviously I want to feel well again. Are there other medications that don’t make you at risk from such, increased infections?

Any advice would be appreciated as this is all new to me.

Many Thanks

Poppyjane

Hello @Hay welcome to the online community,

You have RA and have been prescribed Methotrexate but feel that this has reduced your immunity. It is affecting your quality of life and wonder if other members have experienced similar situations. Also whether other medications affect your immunity as much . We are here to offer you a friendly and safe place to share your experience of living with arthritis and hope that you will find the information and tips from our members useful.

I attach some links which I hope you will find helpful

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/november/ask-the-expert-newly-diagnosed-with-arthritis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/methotrexate/

May I suggest that you talk to your Rheumatology team about a possible alternative medication. It may well be that it is early days and your body is still adjusting to the RA and Methotrexate. The regular blood tests should provide an opportunity for them to monitor your disease progress and for you to note with the GP practice the side effects of sore throats etc . All this helps build up a picture of your health and is useful when you next have a consultation.

This link is to conversations around methotrexate among some of our members which you might find interesting

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/53767/dealing-with-diagnosis

Once you have had a chance to look at all of this I hope you will let us know how you are getting on. Give yourself time to adjust .

Take care

Poppyjane

stickywicket

There are other DMARDS but, given that the point of all of them is to lower our overactive immune systems, I'm not sure how useful a change would be. I've learned to keep well away from anyone coughing, sneezing etc and friends and family know not to come near me if they've anything infectious. Of course this isn't foolproof but covid has taught us all a thing or two. Masks do protect. Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoor. Frequent handwashing / sanitising is very helpful.

Sometimes, though, I think we are apt to blame the disease or the meds for everything. I've never heard of meth affecting teeth. As for ' flu like symptoms' - if you mean the occasional day of fatigue, that can be caused by both meds and disease. I get the odd day the day after I take my meth but not every week. I try to take it into account and not push myself on those days. It's a steep learning curve.

Hay

Thank- you, all for getting back to me. It’s definitely a learning curve but really appreciate group’s advice. X