Immune-suppressing Drugs and Working In A School?

[TOBEY32]

Hope everyone is good.

Was thinking of volunteer tutoring, but with colds, flu - and even now measles - I don't want to get myself into something. I take a very low dose (thank you, Lord) of Immuran (25mg) which I guess does mean I might would have a better immune system than some.

Do you take an immunosuppressant and work in such an environment?

Thanks!

David

[Birdie]

Do you take an immunosuppressant and work in such an environment?

I worked with the public and was getting about one infection per month which required antibiotics. The infections became more difficult to kill until last march when one of them openly laughed at antibiotics. Can't work anymore, have not had an infection since.

Gary

[Dirty Don]

My pulmonologist explained that to me this way: you're ON drugs that help make you similar to peeps out there w/ all the infectious crap and whatnot, therefore, with exception of serious sudden infection (see Al for that) one can be treated just as anyone else. Gary showed that in his working with peeps...crowds equal infectious circumstances, but if on the correct drugs/protocols/situations, WGers can be treated the same ways too. Best to all.

[Debbie C]

Hi David,haven't seen you here in awhile.Sounds like you are doing well. That is a tough call to make,especially if you are around small kids, maybe if you were to tutor older kids that don't use their sleeve or hands for a hankie ! Good luck...keep us posted what you decide. Hopefully you can get more opinions

[Psyborg]

Hi David,haven't seen you here in awhile.Sounds like you are doing well. That is a tough call to make,especially if you are around small kids, maybe if you were to tutor older kids that don't use their sleeve or hands for a hankie ! Good luck...keep us posted what you decide. Hopefully you can get more opinions

Honestly I think it's probably ok for the most part until you start getting infections that can't be treated as easily. Certainly at some point our body stops responding as well to antibiotics as Birdie mentioned. But I wouldn't let that keep you at home until you hit that point. Also remember we are all very different. I've had no additional issues with infection since I've been suppressed, in fact probably less than before, but I think that's really kind of odd and a testament to the fact that I spend way more time trying to remember to do things like wash my hands regularly when dealing with people.

[LCL2013]

I've become a huge germaphobe since I was diagnosed. Actually, more so since this past Winter. I've suffered two bouts with bronchitis, the first about September of last year (managed to break a couple ribs from coughing - sooooo painful), and the second this past Spring. Unfortunately, after the first bout of bronchitis last year, my MTX stopped working and I've since been on Imuran (allergic), Cellcept (wasn't putting me in remission), and now RTX infusions. I have a 7 (almost 8) year old and I work outside the home in an office. I hear someone cough in close proximity to me and I want to start running in the opposite direction. Being immune-suppressed, I'm concerned that even a slight cold is going to set something off. My fears are probably completely ungrounded, but I'm still super nervous around small children (i.e. my daughter's day-care). Most of the time I do really well. That whole...nobody would even know I'm sick sort of thing. But, catch even a slight cold bug and my spoons are GONE!

Just like everything with this disease, everybody seems to experience things differently. Personally, I'm much more risk adverse now and, even though I wash my hands, use sanitizer, and have even worn a mask on some occasions, I still steer clear of sick people and especially sick children as much as possible. The potential side effects of getting sick just aren't work it for me.

Linda

edited to add a word I missed.

[Birdie]

I've become a huge germaphobe since I was diagnosed.

The potential side effects of getting sick just aren't work it for me.

At my worst, infectionwise, the hospital's infectious disease specialist (fantastic Dr) walked into my room and was so concerned that he forgot to introduce himself. He excused the oversight later by telling me had been outside at the nurse station trying to find a way of approaching me, and that was his focus so he forgot to tell me who he was. He walked into the room and said "Don't worry, I'm going to pitch a pup tent next to your bed." That's when you know you're in trouble.

[TOBEY32]

Thanks for your responses.
During my diagnosis hospital stay, one of my nurses said she was immno-suppressed. She didn't seem worried about her environment, but who knows about the particulars.

[whatthewhat]

Most pediatric Weggies continue in school. Just FYI. In our daughter's case, she was okay until she hit Cytoxan right in the middle of cold & flu season; then she was sick within 5 days... She did have another couple of weeks doing traditional school until fatigue did her in.

[Arleta]

I was a teacher in an elementary school when diagnosed in December of 2008. I was out for 5 months to recouperate, and then went back. I have been taking 150 mg of Imuran since I went off cytoxin and prednisone. I just retired at the end of the past school year. I did get pneumonia one year, but otherwise I remained mostly free of germ induced sickness---no more than before Wegener's. I'd say go for it!

diagnosed 2008

[TOBEY32]

Gee, Arieta, what a great testimony! Thank so much for passing that on!! David

[Pete]

I've had a couple of colds while on mtx. They had the same impact as before I got wegs -- minimal.

Just because we're immunosuppressed doesn't mean we have no immune system at all. We just have to be careful and practice good hygiene -- especially hand washing.

[annekat]

I am around the public, though outside, a couple of days a week and have only gotten one cold in the 4.5 years since dx. I do practice frequent hand-washing, and I always have hand-sanitizer with me, for when I'm in a spot where I can't immediately wash hands. I use that whenever I've handled money, shaken hands with someone, etc. I also try not to touch my nose, eyes, or mouth if I haven't recently washed hands or used hand-sanitizer. My sister is a schoolteacher, and her daughter is in high school, and they seem to get sick a lot more often than I do. They are around a lot of kids and others five days a week, and may not take the same precautions I do.

[Hannah]

I was on methotrexate for a few years while teaching. Now I am on Plaquenil and still teach. I try to wash my hands and use hand sanitizer frequently. At the first hint of a cold, I drink tons of orange juice and take medication. Most of my absences have been from doctor's appointments to manage the Wegener's, not from illness due to a compromised immune system!

Good luck!

[MikeG-2012]

Hope everyone is good.

Was thinking of volunteer tutoring, but with colds, flu - and even now measles - I don't want to get myself into something. I take a very low dose (thank you, Lord) of Immuran (25mg) which I guess does mean I might would have a better immune system than some.

Do you take an immunosuppressant and work in such an environment?

Thanks!

David


Yep, I'm completely suppressed! I work as an A/V professional at a community college, which has a very lively conference center too. So I am around students and the public all the time. I've been OK with doing this for the past three years since diagnosis. I am CAREFUL to wash hands, etc. regularly, but I am not by any means a germaphobic.