How do you manage infections?

Hi . I'm so sorry to hear that you've been dealing with increased infections and are sick so often. You are right that certain medications can lower the ability to fight infections. Have you had a chance to speak with your doctor about how the constant illness is impacting your life? It definitely could be worth a conversation with your doctor, especially as there are a lot of different medications and treatments available for PsA. Aside from the frequent infections, how are you finding the Rinvoq to be? Are you feeling that it's adequately managing your pain and symptoms? I'm not a doctor, and I obviously don't know your case, but perhaps a different treatment would impact your body differently? In the meantime, I do hope that you can get some feedback and information from other community members! Wishing you a gentle day. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)

I'm on Xeljanz, which is the same type of medication as Rinvoq, but not as selective. The one advantage JAK inhibitors like Rinvoq and Xeljanz have over biologics is that they have a fairly short lifespan in the body. So you can pause the medication the moment you begin feeling symptoms of an illness coming on. Unfortunately, you're still looking at about three days before your immune system begins to bounce back from the suppressant effects of the Rinvoq, and with the common cold, that's the prime incubation period. My best advice is to inform everyone around you of your weakened immune system so that they can be more aware of taking greater preventative measures themselves; wear a good three ply surgical mask, or KN95 type mask, when in public during cold and flu seasons; scrupulous hand washing and sanitizing; stay away from sick people.

Thx Christine for your comments. Rinvoq is the 4th medication I've tried, and it finally gives me good control of the pain and fatigue, so I'm reluctant to try another one since most of them all have the same action, acting on the super duper active immune response. Currently, I stop my medication when I feel I'm sick to let me immune system go crazy and fight the infection, not sure if it's good thing! I will contact my rhumatologist. I go both the flu and covid shot on top of that 🙁