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Immune Systems are Shot?

Posted , 4 users are following.

bob73443
bob73443

I've had PMR since Marsh, and am currently at prednisone at 12.5 Mg/day.  I've been on prednizone for about 8 weeks.

I've recently contracted a cold that is lasting forever -- I'm also very weak and lethargic.

I'm wondering if there's anything I (we) can do when we do get sick to help our struggling immune systems cope with these nasty colds (or other viral considtions) while they are compromised by the prednisone?

Thanks so much,

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH bob73443

    Posted

    Funnily enough, several of us have found that we have had FEWER colds and so on whilst on pred. That said, when I do it is a humdinger! I had one such a few weeks ago whilst at a scientific meeting - I felt very sorry for myself! But it only lasted just over a week thank goodness.

    I think maybe we need to rest even more when we have a cold now to allow our bodies a fair chance to recover - the Brits in particular are very gungho about "it's only a cold" whilst the Germans retreat to bed for a day or two! It does appear to work though! 

    There are things that are claimed to boost our immune systems, yes, but they are often risky to take alongside pred or other prescription medications. Logic says that, since it is your immune system that is causing the PMR, using something that BOOSTS the immune system might be counter-productive. 

    Some experts used to suggest increasing the pred dose a bit when a patient had an infection or injury - because your adrenal system isn't responding as it normally would. That would certainly account for the feeling weak and lethargic and I know my granddaughter is given hydrocortisone when she develops an infection for that reason. That is something that would be up to your GP. 

    I think rest and lots of TLC is a good start, together with good symptom relief. I would be reluctant to try anything heroic though.

     

    • erika59785
      erika59785 EileenH

      Posted

      I agree with you, Eileen.  A BOOST of sort might indeed be counter-productive.  I tried this kind of thing and made me feel worse.  Rest and a good healthy food and lots of water would be the best....and no stress!
    • EileenH
      EileenH erika59785

      Posted

      I think it is echinacea (a herbal immune system booster) that does actually warn not to be taken with steroids. But it is the same with all so-called "natural" supplements: whether they are natural or not, they are still chemicals with a similar sort of effect to prescription drugs. They should NEVER be combined without great care and asking a pharmacist first. And even then, I'm reluctant.
  • tavidu
    tavidu bob73443

    Posted

    Hi bob, I have had PMR since May but unfortunately had to up dosage to 25mg of Pred last month. I then stupidly cracked tooth and within a week a small piece broke off. I had arranged to see my dentist but could not get an appointment for 3 weeks and in that time, due to a lack of a proper immune system the rooth got progressively worse and my face swelled massively over a couple of days. An emergency dentist gave me anti-biotics but advised that they may not work due to my immune system, luckily they did and I managed to last until I saw my doctor. All I can say is if you catch a cold or similar is keep taking the Paracetamol that most people take in the hope that eventually one of them works. Good luck.
    • bob73443
      bob73443 tavidu

      Posted

      It's unnerving to think that our immune system is shot.  I am in airports and airplane all the time.  And I'm with groups of 20-30 people in a closed room all the time also.  

      I'm not sure how to think about all this.  If my immune system is shot, then why don't I get sick all the time -- and why do I ever get better when I do get sick?

      I'm confused (but that's my normal state).

      PS:  Sorry to hear about your tooth, bu glad the anitbiotics worked

    • EileenH
      EileenH bob73443

      Posted

      It isn't that your immune system is "shot" - it has become over zealous. For some reason ( and no one knows why) part of it has stopped recognising your body as "self" and attacks bits of you as if they were invaders. Other bits of it work fairly normally - still recognising bugs and dealing with them. Taking pred changes some of that but not all of it. Pred at the doses we are taking doesn't make a lot of difference - it is at the very high doses and when you are taking other very much stronger immune suppressants (like those used in organ transplant to avoid rejection or the very strong drugs used in HIV) that real trouble arises when your white cell count falls very low - they are the police waiting for the bugs. Pred has an effect on one sort of white cell - but the others aren't that different. Sometimes you might not form a good response to a vaccination - but the dentist was wrong in saying the antibiotics mightn't work because of the pred. The mechanism is different. You might need a bit more or a stronger antibiotic - but there is no reason why they shouldn't work: they act on the bacteria causing the infection. If they don't work then it probably wasn't a bacterial infection. Antibiotics don't work against viruses.
  • lodgerUK_NE
    lodgerUK_NE bob73443

    Posted

    bob73443

    Buy some Manuka Honey (must have UMF on label) it comes in +5, +10, +12, +15 and +20.  The higher the figure the more  expensive. Take 1 teaspoonful a day in a probiotic yoghurt.

    This natural anti-biotic together with the probiotic helps boost your impaired immune system.

    You can get it in a cream for cuts and scrapes - developed by Addenbrookes and it used in open wounds with MRSA and that is also expensive but well worth it.

    For more tips and tricks, look at the last Spring/Summer Newsletter http://www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk/assets/pmr_resource_58.pdf and turn the pages till you reach Tips and Tricks.

    Whatever you do never ever take a drop in your pred when you are not feeling well.  Sit tight till it is all over.

    Emis Moderator comment: I've added the direct link to the newsletter, let me know via PM if this is incorrect.

    • bob73443
      bob73443 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Thank you lodger!

      I'll certain do it!

      I've also printed out the newsletter and thank you for that as well.

    • erika59785
      erika59785 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      This is a great newsletter with many good tips and "tricks"!  Thanks.
    • bob73443
      bob73443 lodgerUK_NE

      Posted

      Lodger,

      I just purchased Manuka Honey, and will follow your instructions.  But something about this doesn't make sense.

      Manuka honey is an ANTI-biotic, and you say I'm supposed to take this with a PRO-biotic yogurt.  Won't the two cancel one another?

    • erika59785
      erika59785 bob73443

      Posted

      I just bought Manuka Honey as well.  I "googled" the health benefits, and it does say that it can act as an antibiotic  I would think and hope, that a teaspoon a day would be well worth .....and maybe keep the doctor away.:-)
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE bob73443

      Posted

      bob73443

      Because it is has natural anti-biotic properties it helps your immune system which tends to be compromised with PMR and then pred.  You will have maybe noticed that small cuts etc take longer to heal, well that honey helps.  For larger cuts, varicose vein ulcers etc the cream is brilliant. Another natural cream to help healing is green lipped mussel ointment.  By the way I am not a homeopathic person, I just don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey bob73443

    Posted

    Couldn't agree more with lodger's reply.  I took Manuka honey in live (probiotic) yoghurt each day long before PMR struck, continued to take it throughout my years on steroids and ever since.  I did contract one chest infection and one throat infection during the 6+ years on steroids, and then just added in plenty of warm fresh lemon drinks with honey and sometimes a drop of whisky!  I then managed to shake off another sore throat before it developed by eating toast with fresh garlic crushed into the butter one evening before going to bed, and there were no signs of any problems the following day.  I now swear by garlic for keeping infections at bay - probably keeps everyone else at bay as well!!  I hope you feel better soon. 
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