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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Upper resipatory lock down

trishcorsi
trishcorsi
My husband & I came down with a little plague we picked up at a reunion dinner. It's crappy and this is our 3rd week of sounding like we belong in a TB ward; but the bad part is NO mtx and NO steroids until its gone. And this little disease just waits until you can't take anything and then pops its ugly head back up. I've done antibiotics and its still hanging in there; my rheumy is on vacation so I can't email him about how soon I can get back on steroids. Frustrated to the max right now. My question to anyone is have you taken steroids while still having chest congestion? Trish
mary-k
mary-k
Oh, I am sorry to hear this, I hope you can get into your Dr soon. I have been prescribed predisone many times for respiratory infections in the past(before RA, have not had one since being diagnosed) and I am assuming it would be Ok then. It helped to clear lungs and breathe easier. I hope you feel better very soon. Take care, Mary
Sistahbear
Sistahbear
I always experience them giving me a lot more steroids (Prednisone) when I get upper respiratory infection, bronchitis, etc and for if I have an asthma flare. It helps bring down the painful inflammation in the lungs. I hope u feel better soon. I know it takes awhile to get over this. I'm sorry it's being so hard on u.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Awww I hope that you both feel better soon !! And definitely steroids would be effective in treating the congestion, its usually the first thing the doctors give, an inhaler might help you also
Be well
depotblue
depotblue
for my pneumonias they just pour the solumedrol into the vein. but I don't know what you have. pneumonia? virus? sinus infection? how do your lungs sound? what are your O sats? not sure why your primary care took you off the steroid. i know why she took you off the mtx. I hope that your lung infections clears as soon as possible.
did you taper? what was the amount of steroid you were on before getting your chest cold and visiting your primary care?

Depot
trishcorsi
trishcorsi
My primary gave me the antibiotics, an email from my rheumy before he left, said no steroids-because they lower the immune system. He won't be back till 7/7. So color me confused! So very tired of everything hurting; I have splints on my fingers and wrist braces on both hands, I just want to run screaming into the freeway.
mary-k
mary-k
Oh did not realize a upper respiratory infection, is now maybe going to be completely different from here on out due to RA. Are the steroids you take same as predisone? I know lots of steam using distilled water helps clear lungs. Should be safe with RA??? I hope.
carrottop50
carrottop50
Trish, so sorry you are feeling so bad... hope you get to feeling better real soon ... there is something going around here also it seems some of my friends have it. I guess a doctor that one of my friends goes to is calling it crud... my friend is really feeling bad and has been fighting it for 3 weeks now... so I know you must be feeling really bad with RA pain along with it. Rest and get well soon. Sending a gentle hug your way.
trishcorsi
trishcorsi
Carrottop; crud is a great word! Mad me laugh anyhow. We've had 3 days with no grandkids, so resting is good. The only problem seems to be sleeping at night, I am up till 2 or 3 just trying to get comfortable. Good news is I get to sleep in. I don't take prednisone per se I take Medrol (Methylprednisolone), the other caused too many side effects. Night all, hopefully I'll get some good sleep tonight. Trish
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi Trish. So sorry to hear you aren't feeling too great. I usually forgo all RA drugs when I am unwell. I really hope you get well soon. Take it easy.
sammyo1
sammyo1
Had a few infections while on Enbrel & my Dr always kept me on the steroids.
In fact if I came off Enbrel at all she would prescribe a small round to take. I'm thinking to help avoid flares.
What a bad luck huh, infection while your doc is out.
Lots of doctor offices closed last couple week here.
Never remember that occurring in the past.
Well good luck & take good care.
Sammy