Hi all, hope you are all ok and keeping warm, bbrrrrr roll on spring! I have come down with a cold, (havent had one for years so first one since dx with RA) Ive got a sore throat and runny nose and feel yuck! Had to speak to rheummy nurse today who said if I felt shivery or coughed up green flem (hope no-one is eating at the mo, if so, sorry!) then to go to docs as they may have to stop the mx) My question is, because of our reduced immune system, do colds necessarily hang around longer, become worse etc? Ive always in the past shaken them off really quickly.

Any advice would be most welcome!

Thanks

Heather xxx

ps doing a very passable impression of Rudolph at the moment!!

Hi Heather

I was on methotrexate for 7 years and in that time had very few colds! Can only think it varies from person to person as do so many things where RA is concerned. I always expected to be 'ill' more often, especially with four kids and all their friends passing through, but it just hasn't happened. In the 22 years since diagnosis I have far less common colds and other viral infections than I ever had before. Amazing really but perhaps I'm just odd!

Be careful with over the counter preparations which may contain ingredients (such as paracetamol) that you already take on a regular basis. An easy one to miss

Hope you feel better soon,

Lyn x

Thanks everyone for replying. Still feel yuck today but managed to get into work, it was better than ringing in sick and going through our manager Atilla the Hun who has to ask about a million questions as to why you are ill, why you cant get in etc etc!! Anyway, lasted half a day and then came home! I was between a rock and a hard place really, although my colleagues are sympathetic, they do not want my germs especially this near to Christmas!!!

Anyway, hoping that I throw this off, as in my previous life, I threw any illnesses off very quickly!! Its just a pity I can have a hot toddy really, that always works!!

Thanks again

Heather xxxx