Two things:

1: This totally explains why I was feeling so lousy for the past couple weeks:

"Feeling fatigued can be a sign of the flu, often preceding other, more identifiable symptoms. It can also linger after many other flu symptoms have disappeared. This is because of the amount of energy the immune system uses combatting the virus, meaning you may feel exhausted or lose strength in your muscles."

2. Rheumy just told me I need to stop my Resuvo and not get my Orencia infusion due this Tuesday. Stop both until I am down with the Tamiflu and feel better...

Trying to stay calm...but this is an exact repeat of last year....so scared....

WARRIOR Gal

It's so hard dealing with one health issue and then another one coming along. Sorry you aren't feeling well. Sending well wishes!!

Thank you. I feel like crap today.

Nooooooo, oh, I'm sad to hear this. After what you went through last Feburary, your Flu quota should be met for life! Boo, rats, darn and, oh, so much more. I hope you can rest, drink lots of fluid, ask for help, like home made chicken soup, etc. When I get the Flu, I get it bad, so the doc started prescribing Tamiflu, and it does work for me, reduces the severity and duration. Again, so sad to hear you got it again. Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way

Thanks journey. What do I do to protect myself from this happening every year??? I'm not around any children. I feel like I need to live in a bubble! Any suggestions??

So sorry you are going through this nightmare again. As I told you, I am not going off my three RA meds for anyone, including a doctor. The only time I will go off is to get rid of a side effect, like raised liver enzymes with Arava in the past, and maybe mthx sometime.

One thing that helped me with colds and flus is taking a lot of supplements. I don't know where you live, but in Canada, everyone is supposed to be taking Vitamin D supplements, October to May. I also take zinc, which really helps the auto-immune system. My mom does not have auto-immune diseases, and Vitamin D and zinc have resulted in her hardly ever getting colds or flus. And she is 87.

Sorry to give you some alternate therapies, but really they aren't. Our bodies have requirements for vitamins and minerals, and if it doesn't get enough, then our bodies get sick. And of course, this has nothing really to do with RA, except we all have it! LOL

Of course, you are going to reply you are already taking them! My bad, if that is so!

Yikes! I'm sorry to hear that you feel so terrible. I am on Methotrexate and Embrel and I was told not to get vaccinated. I do run around like a huge gremaphobe, I Lysol everything and constantly use hand sanitizer. Everyone thinks I'm nuts! I still picked up a stomach bug about a week ago and my stomach still seems a little agitated. I do take some supplements they do help as well. I just hope you feel better soon, I'm in PA so I know the weather must be driving you crazy as well.

Nice - The injectable flu vaccine is RECOMMENDED for people with RA. It's the nasal one that contained live disease that we were always cautioned against. Next flu season, I'd discuss this with your rheumatologist. We just cannot take any LIVE vaccine. No shingles vaccine.

This is from the Arthritis Foundation: http://blog.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/flu-shot-arthritis/

"People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus, psoriatic arthritis and other autoimmune forms of arthritis face an elevated risk of infections, including influenza (the flu) and pneumonia. The increased risk may be due to the disease, which changes how the immune system functions, as well the medications used to control the disease, many of which suppress the immune system.

"And while the flu is miserable – and potentially dangerous – for anyone, it’s especially so for people with inflammatory arthritis, whose infections may be more severe than those who don’t have an autoimmune condition. If you have inflammatory arthritis and you get the flu, you’re more likely to have complications, including pneumonia."

THOUGHT I was getting better - but my fever is back up to 100!!

I find it concerning that a rheumatologist said you should not get any vaccines.
Immunizations are extremely important (for you and for those around you) and I agree with WarriorGal to discuss vaccinations with your PCM and rheum.
The flu vaccine (shot) is not a live vaccine. Many people still get the flu (like WG), and this is usually due to the ability of the flu virus to "mutate" and the fact that the vaccine is made based on the strain(s) that were dominant in the prior season. Also, it is just not 100%, so some people still get the flu. The expectation is the illness will be less severe if you got the flu shot. Unfortunately, add in other meds and chronic illness(es) and your course of the illness may be still bad.
In another post I mentioned that I received the pneumococcal series (due to my increased risk for pneumonia) and shingles vaccine but that was PRIOR to starting Humira, knowing live vaccines cannot be given when on these meds.

I got the pneumococcal vaccine as well.

I also,got the pneumococcal vaccine, while on a biologic. My husband has no spleen, and almost died a few times before it came out, and then when the protocol in Alberta was one shot forever, not every five years. It certainly has also been good for me, and didn't hurt or cause any problems.

Shingles is live,and should not be taken! Not that there is any proof whatsoever it works. Because just because you don't get shingles, doesn't mean you would have anyway. I've had shingles four times, but the key is to get on antivirals immediately.

WarriorGal, how are you feeling? I hope better. Is your fever down?

Thanks for asking! has a chest X-ray today to eliminate walking pneumonia... Got a new script for a decongestant with codeine that costs $149!! With my insurance it was only $22, Thank goodness.

Every day I seem to be getting a little better. Haven't had a 3-hour straight coughing jag in a couple of days now!!

Hoping to be able to get back onboard with my Orencia and resume soon!!

(Al.so broke a filling last night, so had to go to dentist and need an oral surgeon for an extraction and then a bridge!)

Well, it's not enough you have the Flu, but, now, your filling falls out, and you need an extraction, geezzz. Let's hope all of this is happening now, so that Spring and Summer are just a total blast of pain free and high energy days.

So have you heard if the x-Ray ruled out Pneumonia? I certainly hope so.

Good news the coughing has settled down.

Rest, bite gently, bubble wrap yourself, anything and everything it takes so you can heal.