On Wednesday I developed a sore throat. Thursday my throat was feeling a little better but now I had a head cold. Friday it moved from my head to my chest and by Saturday I had pneumonia! I have never seen an illness come on so mild and end up so serious in such a short period of time! My family Dr's words came back to me once he learned what my Rheumy prescribed for my RA medications. He said I needed to be very careful to not expose myself to people who were sick because a cold is no longer just a cold in immune suppressed people. Now I know what he meant.
Immune suppressing medications make dealing with things like the common cold a very slippery slope. I truly needed to go to hospital but I was so scared of the germs that I would be exposed to there that I settled for the walk in clinic. They suggested I go to the hospital but when I expressed my concern of being exposed to worse there he agreed and prescribed powerful antibiotics and I told no methotrexate or plaquinel until my chest is entirely cleared. I was warned that this could take a month or two to clear up.
What will I do without my RA medications for a month or two? How badly is my RA going to flare? What damage will be done while I wait to return to my medications that are supposed to slow down my RA as I have a very aggressive form? I hope and pray that the pneumonia will clear up much more quickly than the Dr. expects!
How do you handle winter cold and flu season? How do we keep ourselves from getting sick in the first place when we are taking medications to destroy our immune system. It appears that I need to spend more time on prevention than ever before. I had my flu shot a week and a half ago...too bad they don't have a cold shot!
Any tips for prevention are greatly appreciated.. What do you do to keep healthy?
© 2011 Rhonda
Sending you warm wishes for a speedy recovery. Do be careful because unfortunately once you get pneumonia once, you will be prone to it again. Did you let your rhuemie know what is going on? Maybe a prednisone pack if things get really bad for you in the next month. I just want you to know I am thinking of you, sending you as much get well energy as I can spare.
ReplyDeleteHave you had a pneumonia shot? I think that is one that you can get every 10 yrs or so.. but again, not sure how it affects someone taking the meds that you are taking.
ReplyDeleteI read you blog here Rhonda, and I really wish I had some tips, or words of wisdom for you.. but as you know, I don't :(
I am glad I stop by here as often as I do.. I was going to call you this afternoon, but after reading this now, I'm glad I didn't disturb you.
Just know that you're always in my thoughts, and a phone call away.
I pray to that this clears up fast.
{{HUGS}} my friend.. we will talk again soon