PS for Clora and group, further thoughts..winter coughs and biologics

[Guest guest]

Just a PS after my last post.

Message: better to be safe than sorry!

(This general advice is from retired doc, non rheum)and would be similar to

advice we gave to patients with impaired immunity due to chemo)

Hope it might help someone avoid pneumonia etc.during coming winter months.

I Try to clear secretions by coughing, so they don't lie about. Bugs just love

those moist warm conditions!, especially if resistance is low.

Stretch up and forward to take deep slow breaths. This will also open up the

passages and parts of lung (at bases, that get squashed when we lie around when

we are poorly and sleeping). It can help to lean the forearms over a desk etc

with cushion, so the chest is slightly forward and feel 'tall' Remember Sigh out

as well as in!!! Think of them as exercises.

2 (very important) See primary doc earlier rather than later to question

starting antibiotic especially if you are on DMards or biologics . Respiratory

infections, although these often start viral,(just like the common cold which

antibiotics don't help) may then develop into bacterial infections (colour goes

yellow/green from clear sputum)and this is more risky when immunity is

impaired.Also take a raised temp seriously at this time and get urgent medical

attention .

Good luck,

Chris

UK

[Guest guest]

Chriss and group;

Gotcha doc. Already made an appointment to see primary for Wed at

1:30 pm. Have taken some deep and slow breaths during the day

causeing phlem to cough up from lungs. I had pneumonia last year and

don't want it again. So far temp has been normal. Thanks

gentle hugs

Clora

*********************************************************

>

> Just a PS after my last post.

>

> Message: better to be safe than sorry!

>

> (This general advice is from retired doc, non rheum)and would be

similar to advice we gave to patients with impaired immunity due to

chemo)

>

> Hope it might help someone avoid pneumonia etc.during coming

winter months.

>

> I Try to clear secretions by coughing, so they don't lie about.

Bugs just love those moist warm conditions!, especially if resistance

is low.

> Stretch up and forward to take deep slow breaths. This will also

open up the passages and parts of lung (at bases, that get squashed

when we lie around when we are poorly and sleeping). It can help to

lean the forearms over a desk etc with cushion, so the chest is

slightly forward and feel 'tall' Remember Sigh out as well as in!!!

Think of them as exercises.

>

> 2 (very important) See primary doc earlier rather than later to

question starting antibiotic especially if you are on DMards or

biologics . Respiratory infections, although these often start viral,

(just like the common cold which antibiotics don't help) may then

develop into bacterial infections (colour goes yellow/green from

clear sputum)and this is more risky when immunity is impaired.Also

take a raised temp seriously at this time and get urgent medical

attention .

> Good luck,

> Chris

> UK

>