Coronovirus and methotrexate (Sorry more Coronavirus!)

[movewiththetimes]

Hello! I currently take 20mg of methotrexate, weekly. I'm about anxious at the thought of getting coronavirus. How do others on immunosuppressant meds feel? And what extra precautions are you taking?

I’m on it and it worries me. Wish consultant would send out some advice. I’ve heard nothing.

I feel a bit forgotten and unsure. I'm going to ring my rheumatologist tomorrow but I feel like I'm being hysterical which is stupid because I'm genuinely worried

I don't take it myself but I'm in a Lupus fb group and people on it have been told to stay on it.
It would do no harm to ring, not hysterical in the least

I'm on a few RA Facebook groups and the advice from rheumatologists is to stay on your meds unless specifically told to by your own rheumy.

Mine said the same about 3 weeks ago. I'm just getting more panicked and don't know when to self isolate, if at all

It makes sense to self-isolate if you are vulnerable and can do so.

Taking precautions seriously and deciding in what ways you can minimise risk but still live for the next 6 months (or more) is not a panic measure; it is good planning.

(If 20% of the population manage to avoid the virus... it would be good to be in that number rather than the other 80%. Swing your odds in anyway you can manage. It isn't cheating!)

Some useful links:

www.nras.org.uk/news/coronavirus-what-we-know-so-far

www.ronankavanagh.ie/blog/information-for-rheumatology-patients-about-novel-corona-virus-covid-19/

I’m on it, as well as Humira and work in primary health care.

No chance of self isolating for me. 😕

I'm on it and work in a supermarket. I'm worried.

Like other posters on here I wish we were being advised on what to do.

I have an appointment with rheumatologist on Friday (has been changed to a telephone appointment) so am hoping for some advice then.

Thank goodness I've found you all. I'm on methotrexate too and I work in a school of 1500 kids!

I have no idea what to do! Here they are saying vulnerable people, but what constitutes vulnerable!

Exactly! I’m on it and asthmatic. So what should I be doing? It’s clear as mud.

Anyone understand what the latest announcement means for us? Are we meant to be locked down for 12 weeks now?

Supposedly anyone who is eligible for a free flu vaccine.

Guess that's us then.

So kids too? Are they closing schools??

I'm currently in remission so not on meds (yes I know how lucky that is, believe me) but my mum is still on treatment. Her consultant has said to stay on the methotrexate. Must admit if I was still on it from a personal perspective I'd probably stop but I'm not recommending anyone does that when the health professionals counsel otherwise.

Schools still aren't on the hit list for closing, but tbh, we had a student percentage of 83% today and if we'd have had another 2 teachers off, we'd have had to take action, regardless of Government rules.

I had a meeting with the Head this morning and he said we'd be lucky to make it much passed Wednesday, purely for health and safety reasons. He was on a Whatapp group of dozens of Head Teachers in South East and they were all saying the same.

I spoke to my consultant about this last week. He said the immuno suppressants are designed to bring your immune response back to a normal level and not wipe it out completely. He said many patients had asked if they should stop taking Methotrexate but it wouldn't help if they stopped now as it takes three months to leave your system and a flare up of the treated condition could be more damaging to health. He said if I contract Covid-19 I would be taken off the immuno suppressants for two weeks and put on high dose antibiotics. So basically he's saying stay as you are for now.

@Gemma2019 thanks for sharing that. My consultant knows what I’m on and I figure if they want me to stop it then I will be contacted.
Not sure how I will be getting the regular necessary blood tests as the GP surgery is closed for all but phone appointments.

I am on 15mg for eczema. Keeping on it, to avoid flares

Here's the official Government paper.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

It says, 'weakened immune system, as a result of things such as ... '. It doesn't actually say RA, which is what I've got, so guess I'll carry on with the masses, with maybe an extra bit of care.

Anyone with RA and frontline nhs?

I don't know if this will be reassuring, but like a pp says, my GP explained to me that my immunosuppressants (Azathioprine) were designed to bring my immune system down to a normal level rather than to actually compromise it.

I'm no longer on immunosuppressants but in the 5 years that I was I honestly did not contract more viruses or get them worse than I have at other times. My brother was on stronger drugs than me for an autoimmune condition and says the same.

Yeah me @rainydogday

Primary care nurse and on methotrexate and a biologic.

Usually I’m pretty resilient, don’t seem to pick much up. I’m hoping that the measures we’re taking in work will give me extra protection (I.e. closed now to all but essential work).

Just spoke to someone at England public heath I think (can't remember exactly I was routed there after call NHS direct) and he told me he has no clue about any 12 isolation and he doesn't know where I got that from. I felt like saying....did you listen to the press conference yesterday? He made me feel like crap! I hope he see it on the news and remembers making me feel a bit neurotic!