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Autoimmune disease

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Winter bugs, need to rant 😖

3 replies

bloodyannoyingpsa · 06/01/2026 10:35

Sorry I just need to have a rant, I’m at the end of my tether 😢 I’ve had psoriatic arthritis for about 7 years. Generally, lifestyle changes and medication have meant that it’s ok most of the time. Bit of a pain in the arse but I can manage.

But this winter has absolutely kicked my arse. I came down with a cold at the beginning of December and ever since then it’s just been a revolving door of illnesses. The second I start to feel better and try to restart my normal activities, I come down with another virus. Or bacterial tonsillitis, which I’ve had twice in the last couple of months.

My DH and DS have also been more ill than usual (I think it’s been a bad winter for germs) but they seem to just get reasonably mild sniffles, while I struggle to get out of bed because I feel so unwell.

I’m absolutely covered in psoriasis, which is unusual as it hasn’t been much of a problem since I started treatment a few years back, and my joints are awful. I take sulfasalazine, which as far as I am aware is not too strong and only makes me ‘mildly’ immunocompromised, so I really don’t understand why bugs are suddenly hitting me so hard. I’d say that previous years have been challenging, as I definitely do get ill more than an average person, but this year is something else entirely.

I’m self employed, which is generally a good thing as it isn’t stressful and stress is a big trigger for my PSA flares. But I’ve been so constantly unwell that it’s becoming a struggle to pay bills, and I’m beginning to feel a bit desperate. DH very supportive but we’ve got a six-year-old DS and none of this is fair on either of them.

Sorry for whinging if you’ve got this far. I’ve sent an online request to my GP to get some advice so I don’t know what I’m hoping for out of this post really. I just feel tearful, useless, desperate for some relief. Grateful for any advice, tips, anything really 😔

OP posts:
MissMoneyFairy · 06/01/2026 18:42

Oh dear that sounds thoroughly miserable, it has been so wet and cold which doesn't help and so many bugs about. Are you under a rheumatologist who you could see, make an appointment with the GP for a medication review, bloods, creams and have they given you steroids before which helped. Do you get any relief from a bath using emollients.

gingercat02 · 06/01/2026 18:46

It's been a bad winter for infections as it has been so mild. Hopefully this cold snap will help. DH and DS have been full of colds and coughs for about 4 weeks, just pulled round with the Christmas hols as we hardly saw anyone but family and close friends.

bloodyannoyingpsa · 07/01/2026 10:57

Thank you both. Yes I’m under a rheumatologist, I’ll call the nurse helpline in a minute. Spoke to the GP yesterday who thought it would probably be best to take a break from sulfasalazine to give my immune system a chance to rally, but recommended speaking to rheumatology first. Sorry to hear others have been so run down as well- I’ve just never known a year like it. I’ve been going back to bed to sleep after the school run, I really feel like I could sleep for a week 😆

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