Have RA but No flu/cold in 5years
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi, new member here. Im 28 and was diagnosed with RA in 2011. Since then i've only had the flu 2 times which was in january/july 2012. I am on methotrexate and take 20mg once a week. Im wondering why i don't get sick anymore? Don't get me wrong i certainly don't need the flu in my life, have enough with the RA but I've read that getting the usual cold every now and then is good health as it shows that your body and immune system is working properly to fight off infections. I am not overly hygenic just do the normal usual hygiene/cleaning requirements a human being should do on daily basis. Reason why i mention hygiene is because i also read that OCD hygiene helps some people to not get sick. But in my case everybody around me and family gets sick and i could be around them coughing and sneezing and throwing germs around to compromise my immunity and i just don't get anything. I also had a 2nd degree burn last year on my arm and surgeons were concerned i would get an infection easily because of my RA and methotrxate so they did skin graft surgery in a matter of 2days. After that burn surgeons were impressed everything healed nicely and fast. Im not complaining and i do see it as a blessing, but my curiosity just won't leave me alone, why have I become "immune" to the flu? ??
0 likes, 5 replies
lorraine74484 natalie24505
Posted
Hi Natalie
That is a really good question. I am also methotrexate injections and knock on wood, I haven't gotten even a cold. I am normal hygiene
Wise and around a lot of people. I got bit by a dog a few days ago and the Doctor said to be careful of infection, but everything is OK. I am just going to chalk it up to luck.
natalie24505 lorraine74484
Posted
Definetely must be some sort of luck, its just so odd and ironic because while we are on methotrexate it suppresses our immune system which makes us easy targets for flus and colds. I actually had to tell my mum a few months ago to not bother getting the flu shot every year anymore, as she was doing it for my wellbeing if she got sick she wouldn't pass it on to me and now i just laugh because, first she gets sick anyway and second i am immune to it so it's pointless. I touch on wood too, you never know if the jinx game decides to come out to play.
shirlee86000 natalie24505
Posted
That's really weird as I am the same, so many people around me have been ill this winter and I haven't, I was just thinking about that the other day, our immune system is suppose to be lowered so why is this. I am not complaining in the slightest it just seems a bit odd.
I take 6 methotrexate a week and folic acid for the other 6 days I was wondering if it's anything to do with that
shirlee86000
Posted
Mind you the rheumatologist did point out to me that methotrexate ever so slightly lowers the immune system obviously depending on the amount one is on, mine is classed as quite low 6 a week, so I don't know
natalie24505 shirlee86000
Posted
It sure is odd 🤔 our immune system is obviously and literally confused and crazy, its as if it thinks "hey i'll do you a favor and give you this but not that" haha 😂 i don't know, I've come up with so many theories about RA and my immune system that i just laugh, RA has consumed my life quite significantly, sometimes it's hard topretend i don't think about it.