How do you deal with the compromised immune system?

[Guest guest]

Hell says,

As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk about it

causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in spaces

or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom wants

me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal with

it.

in St. Louis

[Guest guest]

I'm on prednisone and methotrexate right now. Pretty much, I wash my

hands a lot - an awful lot. With soap and warm water, for at least 30

seconds. Try not to touch my face anymore than I have too. Take my

vitamins, including lots of C. Get a flu shot every year. Try to

stay away from people who are sick (like, don't play with the

grandkids when they're sick!) The only limitations my rheumy has put

on me is no live vaccines, and use common sense around other people.

Since I started that routine, almost two years ago, I've only really

been sick twice despite traveling a lot, including a trip to China.

And both those times, I picked up whatever it was on an airplane - the

worst kind of enclosed space.

If I had to be around small children a lot, though, I might worry.

They do seem to bring everything home from school!

On 6/18/06, kuehnlej <kuehnlej@...> wrote:

> Hell says,

>

> As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk about it

> causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

> seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in spaces

> or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom wants

> me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal with

> it.

>

> in St. Louis

>

>

--

South Pasadena, CA

See my galleries! - http://www.pbase.com/arenared986

[Guest guest]

No mask needed, friend. Common sense seems to be just fine. I was very

healthy while on immunosuppressant meds--had two short colds in 2 years.

I was surprised at how quickly I recovered from them. Like you, I was

very nervous about getting sick and what it could lead to. Funny, I had

to go off my meds recently because of liver problems and I promptly got

a sinus infection and then a UTI!

Sierra

>

> Hell says,

>

> As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk about

it

> causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

> seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in

spaces

> or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom wants

> me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal

with

> it.

>

> in St. Louis

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/18/2006 2:17:24 AM Central Standard Time,

kuehnlej@... writes:

Hell says,

As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk about it

causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in spaces

or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom wants

me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal with

it.

my goodnes you dont have to wear a mask in the stores! LOL Honestly

i havent changed my habits much.Just wash your hands more especially after

going in public places. I also carry those clorox wipes for the handles on

grocery carts, ect. or i use that hand sanitizer stuff. Just use your own

judgement on this.

[Guest guest]

>

> Hell says,

>

> As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk

about it

> causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

> seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in

spaces

> or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom

wants

> me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal

with

> it.

>

> in St. Louis

> I am on alot of meds I also take Enbrel and I go about

my everyday life and I have not had any prob. good luck to you..

Janet IN IL

[Guest guest]

Tell your mom I t am prone to pneumonia. Yet I have taken Humeri for over a

year and only had one sinus infection. You do have to be careful if you have a

fever or catch a bad cold, you need to contact a doctor, and if you KNOW someone

is sick, avoid them, and just use some common sense. in WI

N2kids@... wrote:

In a message dated 6/18/2006 2:17:24 AM Central Standard Time,

kuehnlej@... writes:

Hell says,

As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk about it

causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in spaces

or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom wants

me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal with

it.

my goodnes you dont have to wear a mask in the stores! LOL Honestly

i havent changed my habits much.Just wash your hands more especially after

going in public places. I also carry those clorox wipes for the handles on

grocery carts, ect. or i use that hand sanitizer stuff. Just use your own

judgement on this.

[Guest guest]

Changes I made, one before getting RA, stopped smoking, made a big

difference to start with. After RA, a flu shot every year, pneumonia shot

every 5 years, a good multivitamin, vitamins B,C,E, Calcium, more frequent

hand washing, and staying out of crowds. That one is not necessarily for

immunity, more because I don't like crowds to begin with. I thought I would

get lots of colds and viruses from kids my wife dealt with on a daily basis,

but I assume the combination of our efforts worked. I haven't had a cold in

almost 20 years. This works for me, find out what works for you. I don't

think you need an allergy mask.

Dennis

[ ] Re: How do you deal with the " compromised immune

system " ?

>

>>

>> Hell says,

>>

>> As I read about remicade and the other similar drugs they talk

> about it

>> causing a " compromised immune system " . I am just wondering how

>> seriously you take this. Do you stay out of crowds and closed in

> spaces

>> or so you go about your life and just hope for the best. My Mom

> wants

>> me to wear an allergy mask in stores!I'm just curious how you deal

> with

>> it.

>>

>> in St. Louis

>> I am on alot of meds I also take Enbrel and I go about

> my everyday life and I have not had any prob. good luck to you..

> Janet IN IL

[Guest guest]

,

I'm on mothotrexate and prednisone for lupus. When I started on the

methotrexate, I kept getting extremely sick, to the point I had to go

on disability due to a lengthy infection.

My PCP recommended I start taking a " mushroom extract " supplement and

I thought he was nuts, but I tried it anyway, and it's actually

helped! I take extracts of miatake, shiatake, and reishi mushrooms.

I also take olive leaf extract. Since starting these supplements,

I've only gotten sick a couple of times,a nd each time have fought it

off in a few days, without getting really sick. I have a 4 year old

who attends school, so this says a lot!

The real test will be when I return to work in a few weeks. But,

based on my experience, I think it might be worth discussing these

supplements with your doctor. (My doc says that there is scientific

research out there to support the use of the mushroom extracts, but

I've neer taken the time to track it down.)

Best of luck and feel good,