Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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GinDawg27 01/17/2015

So I've been taking Cimzia since about last may and I've found the past 4 months or so I have been almost constantly congested. Like I wake up and I sound like I have a cold but I'm just congested. I don't have a runny nose or any other symptoms. And when I do get sick it seems to be for like 1-3 days of a light sickness, like I haven't gotten a bad cold while on this yet. Has this happened to any of you guys? Do you have any tips?

bcatz 01/17/2015

sounds like it might be a winter air factor since you've been on it for awhile. Maybe add a sterile vaporizer to your room to add humidity?

racerunner 01/17/2015

I am with you on this one. I was on humira enbrel and now xeljanz and i have nasal congestion. Sick and tired of it. It doesnt always come on right away. It may take a month or more. Then the nose sores start aling with headaches. Doesnt matter what type of weather spring summer fall or winter. Same story. Sick if it. I have tried it all. Humudifer nasal spray nasal saline. Done it all makes no difference. For me the cause is the damn meds

depotblue 01/17/2015

this is my normal, for years, on the biologics.

I am not like racerunner who goes as far as to have the nose sores. i really feel for you race. And I am taking the risk with the pneumonias having been hospitalized with every biologic for a respiratory but orencia. i really like chasing the flonase an hour later with saline and standing over a huge round bowl of water from the tea kettle at night with a bit of vicks in it.

i am sure you are doing these tedious homeopathic type things already :)

be cheered on that you are not going full blown to filled lungs. you must be doing something right :)

depot

nesbitt 01/17/2015

I'm a week on Ipratropium bromide, 0.06%, for chronic (non-stop) nasal discharge, post-nasal drip, lung congestion, breathing difficulty. Flonase (generic actually) made it worse. So far, I'm ecstatic. My nasal passages are dry, and I have some soreness in my throat in the morning. Also, my mouth gets dry at night (I sleep on my back, and that's not unusual), but I'm amazed at how the constant drip, nose blowing, coughing up junk has let up. This from my ENT.

racerunner 01/17/2015

Thanks depot. I have not been in your situation where i get pneumonias. But man i hate the congestion. I have pretty much everything. I think the meds allow the bacteria to set in then vomes the congestion and nostril sores nearly ulcer type sores. We try fix RA and we put up with so much other crap it is hard to decide what is worse. If course the RA is but the side effects are a close second. Feel better all of us!

thinksRAstinks 01/18/2015

I have always been a healthy person never getting colds and flu but when I was on Humira for a short period of time I got 2 sinus infections.

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