OK you guys. The worries never cease. I just got back from an absolutely glorious swim in the creek with my dogs. While walking the creek I got two cuts from sharp rocks. I am driving home and I start thinking - OMG cuts, infection, immune system, BLAH BLAH BLAH
If you knew me over the past 10 years you would know, I always have some kind of boo boo. Partially due to my love of playing outdoors and probably even more attributable to my klutziness.
My question is to those of you that are on the biologics and other immune suppressors like mtx, pred. whatever.
Do you freak out when you get an open wound? Swimming in the creek, one of my favorite things to do, has all kinds of micro organisms that normally you would not even consider worrying about - Do I have to worry now?
Lastly, I always use niosporem if I am concerned about infection. Most of the time I just ignore my cuts and bruises. What do you use for an antiobiotic?
LOTS OF QUESTIONS. My mind is spinning these days.
PS The swim was just what I needed. I swam upstream against the current, looking at the trees overhanging the creek and a bank swallow came flying right past me and I thought - LIFE IS GOOD! My puppies were thinking the same thing.
I've had several that worried me; but my doctor has looked at them before and said not to worry...I just take longer to heal because of the medication I'm on.
Always keep a supply of neosporan (however you spell that) handy and watch for warning signs of infection. Make sure you wash any cut and keep it clean while it heals. I've never had anything get infected....but it could.
That can happen to anyone though. Be aware; but don't stop doing what you love.
I'm jealous!! I'm sitting at a boring desk all day....and you're enjoying nature!!
I've had a few problems lately with low white blood cell count, but have never had a problem with cuts healing or infections.
I have noticed that i take longer to heal, but nothing infected. I really havent changed my life due to the biologics, except that i can live it! I also keep Neosporin around and use it for the first few days. I still work in my yard and mow my grass, etc.. lately ive been fighting the weeds when i can stand being out in the 90 + degree heat!
Yeah a swim outside would be great... i cleaned my office...
Roxy, i know it seems like a big decision, but for some reason if my doc told me to take it, i trusted him and took it... didnt think twice (cept for the needle part) about any of them.. read the side effects after starting them! Im still alive and kicking!
I have never worried about cuts. I have worried when my daughter get strept throat which has happened twice this year and she even had mono. I never got anything so I'm probably being too paranoid. I think you should take care of yourself with normal care and not worry too much. I would use an antiseptic just because of the flesh eating stuff. Ugh... too much to think about! I don't worry about it too much. Just clean it up and put an antibiotic on it if I can. Like the rest said, usually takes a bit longer to heal but haven't had any major problems.Thanks you guys. I will get some Neosporin my next trip out. I just went shopping for a new outfit. UGH The things I do to avoid dealing with this thing...............Mimernote.....
I am one of the paranoids at times when it comes to being on immunosuppressants. My big scare was taking pred and MTX when Bastian had his shots. I wanted to make sure nothing was a live but diluted immunization or that if there was one I knew at least to know what to watch for in me on the off chance I got sick. My doc warned me of things like that. And I know my best friend had an outbreak of shingles after her kids got the chickenpox vaccine. At the time she was on MTX (fairly high dose though). I didn't care if I got sick, just wanted to know if it was possible. And his pediatrician said he'd never seen any case like that and that I was worrying needlessly.I do not know if this counts...or even pretains to your question really, but it was something that popped into my mind after I read your post.
I was on pred (5mg/daily) for the last 6 months of my last pregnancy. I had to have my son via c-section. The kid had a big head, he would not come out the other way.
I never worried about getting an infection due to being on pred or even when I was on pred & MTX. I just decided if I was going to get sick I was going to get sick. And at times I actually waited to get sick...lol...like when my daughter kept getting the stomach flu, she got it 3 times in less then 2 months, and then everyone else got it and I did not. I never get what everyone around here gets. I only have worries about germs...lol. I am a recovering germ-a-phobic. I say recovering because I still have to wash my hands after pushing the shopping cart or touching the handle to a public bathroom door. I would still be a BIG germ-a-phobic if I could clean and sanitize like I use to and I look forward to the day when I can get back to being like that again, so I can annoy hubby on purpose like he does me...lol.
Well, do not know if that helps. But last time for my mentioning of pred to ya...lol. I know it is a bad med, but I need it at this time until I get insurance again and think highly of it right now. Maybe it will be a short lived obsession with me. I will be happy when I will not have to take it everyday. I hope sometime before the year is over that will be true!
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