Methotrexate and DH

[LollyPops123]

DH is on methotrexate. Last year, he was absolutely fine on it. No colds or sore throats, nothing.
This year his job involves working with large groups of kids and he has had heavy colds and coughs practically once every 2 months. He is mentally and physically exhausted.
Would just being around young kids do this? Doesn't make sense when he was fine last year.

Is he still wearing a mask and sanitising as he did last year?

I'm on immunosuppressants and been constantly ill for the last 3 months. I'm so drained, my body just can't fight the bugs off.

I can say I haven't been taking the precautions as I did last year or the year before, and I'm sure that is the reason I'm in this position.

I'm definitely going back to wearing a mask and sanitising all the time. It kept me healthy!

I hope your husband is better soon

This was why I stopped taking Methotrexate. It suppressed my immune system so much that someone would just have to sneeze near me and I'd be off work for several days. So yes, your DH working with mini germ spreaders is very likely causing him to pick up lots of bugs. I'd suggest he speaks to his consultant to see if there's an alternative medication he could take

I've been on MTX for over 20yrs and in theory it does make you more susceptible but in practice I don't get any more bugs than the rest of the family and actually often get less as I'm a bit more careful.
Generally I just find it takes me a little bit longer to get over stuff than everyone else and if I get a chest, sinus or ear infection I need antibiotics if it lasts more than a few days. My kids are the main source of infection especially the younger one as he's at an age (primary) when they are still germ factories. So yes I'd say that being around kids won't help.

However there are loads of bugs going round at the moment, loads of kids have been off with stuff in DSs class, loads of staff have been of at DHs work and my dad has just got over another really bad cold that laid him out for a few days. My fit and healthy brother and his wife have just been poorly again. You can't compare with last year as it just depends what's circulating each year

If he's been on and off poorly for a while it's going to take time to get over the exhaustion but exhaustion could also be a side effect of the reason he's taking mtx. Most autoimmune disorders tend to wipe you out.

He hasn't been wearing a mask but is almost obsessive about washing his hands. He's starting to get depressed as he has been so unwell this year.
I suppose last year, he was still wearing a mask a lot, wasn't working with big groups of kids and was happier in himself.
The methotrexate works well on his RA but he can't carry on like this. He has ulcerative colitis as well which complicates things somewhat.
Thanks for the replies x