remicade& imuran and colds

When you're on immunomodulators and biologics then you should see your doctor upon first signs of an infection like a sinus infection, bronchitis, or a UTI. As your body isn't as capable of fighting it off on it's own. As a consequence, the symptoms might be more severea, appear more quickly, and thus you need treatment sooner (don't and that infection might spread elsewhere in the body causing nasties like sepsis).

You're also on allopurinol (a third immune system suppression med), so i wouldn't delay very long.

Yeah antibiotics suck, but when we've got infections then they're very necessary and we must take them.

It's much better to go to the doctor with a false alarm then let an infection spread within your body. Play it safe and get it checked out asap

Good advice from ipoop. I feared antibiotics after being diagnosed but after an unrelated surgery, added to my biologics and steroids my immune system was shot. I got a uti and ear infection, neither of which responded well to antibiotics. After 4 different antibiotics I finally felt better. Fear was for nothing and my gut was fine in the end. I did double up my probiotic.

I've found I don't get sicker on biologics but I'm sicker longer.

Good luck!

Phew glad it was nothing, so no antibiotics needed. Certainly no need to fear antibiotics with UC, just make sure they're necessary before taking them. Just know antibiotics are at times over prescribed, and we don't want to fall into that. They're not a guarantee of a flare, just an increased risk.

I'm glad you posted about this and are not seriously ill. I have been having symptoms of pneumonia/flu since Monday night but started a new job today. There was no way I could not go in. I was able to get an appointment with my PCP on Thursday night so I am hoping it is nothing serious. These meds make my immune system suck so bad. I have actually been wondering if I should've had my colon removed years ago just to avoid being so immune suppressed all the time.