Remicade/Bladder Infection | Arthritis Information

Hi everyone, My wife was diagnosed with RA about 18 yrs ago. She is on Remicade, Celebrex, Folic Acid, Methotrexate, and Ultracet. This morning she thinks she is getting a Bladder Infection, of course we can’t get hold of the Dr. My question is how serious can a bladder infection be while on Remicade? I have been lurking here on & off for a few yrs and have gotten a lot of good info. This is the first time I could not find an answer using the search feature, as far as I can remember this is my first post.

Thank You

Walt

Good morning Walt and welcome. Any infection can be serious while on any biologic drug and MTX. Probably best, especially if she is running a fever or has pain to go to a doctor and get started on an antibiotic. Can you go to an emergent care facility? Does you RD have an on call? Can you call your PCP? It would be awful to suffer through the weekend with this. I am not on Remicade but on Humira. and they usually stop the drug for infections, though with an infused drug I guess they would just not infuse again until she is clear.

So sorry she is suffering and I hope for the best for her. Please let us know how she is doing.
Hello Walt, bladder infections need medical attention. I echo Waddie's sage counsel--go to the nearest urgent care center now if you cannot reach your wife's PCP. The longer she waits the more severe her symptoms will become.

Let us know how she is doing...and how you are as well.

Best wishes, Shug

Thanks for you response, no fever, only pain when she urinated and that's going away.

RD out of the office until Monday, PCP out until Monday but answering service would get hold of him if emergency. I guess I jumped the gun and hopefully its was just a false alarm.

Walt, I drink cranberry juice as a preventative... I found this article for you;
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/14367.php ...can't hurt.

Even at that, I would still consult a doctor. These drugs we are on are strong medicine and things can go from bad to worse quickly with a weakened immune system.

Take care.

That might be a urinary track infection. A bladder infection would be painful in her lower back. A UTI can turn into a bladder infection if not treated promptly....and a bladder infection can turn into a kidney infection there after. The infection just keep traveling up. I'd have her drink tons of water & cranberry juice. They have OTC medication that helps some to get her to Monday where she can see her doctor. I wouldn't panic and head to the ER or anything. It will have to be treated though. It's highly unlikely it will go away on it's own.

Does she feel like she has to pee all the time and when she goes it's almost as if nothing comes out? Definately a UTI if so. Burning definately another symptom.

I've had numerous UTI as well as Bladder infections on Humira and neither are pleasant.....but both can easily be treated.

Hope she's feeling better soon. Thumbs up to you for taking such an active role in her care. She's a lucky girl.

Suggest to her that she visit us here. She's enjoy our group.....and we're always happy to have new friends aboard.

False Alarm no symptoms at all today.

Thank You

Walt

Actually a yeast infection can be uncomfortable similar to a bladder infection. I have experience with both. She needs to contact her doctgor a get a urine test to see if it is the bladder and/or kidney infection. Don't let it wait--even before I was diagnosed with RA--it is not something you can let go. However, I was recently on 2 seperate courses of antibotics and I felt a "crinkling feeling" and a painful feeling similar to a bladder infection, It was a yeast infection and you can buy over the counter items to treat a yeast infection. Look for Monistat products. If it is a bladder infection, drink lots of clear water or cranberry juice and overdose with Vit C (makes urine to acidic for the infection to form) and hot baths. A bladder infection is serious and can be life threatening.

Another thought, if it is a bladder infection and they give her antibotics, remember all the tips of the yeast infection--cause that will probbly follow!