@zenk - my understanding is the same as yours. ie. that RA is caused by an over-active immune system and therefore the treatment is immuno-suppressant medication. The result can be weakened or compromised immunity. I think everyone is individual, though. For me -- even though I'm taking a bucket of drugs -- my immunity has pretty much just come back to what would be considered 'normal'. I don't seem to catch colds or illnesses any more easily than anyone else. The biggest issue I have is that if I DO catch something I have to stop my biologic and so am doubly miserable! 🙂 That's the main reason I avoid places where catching something is more likely (public transport, hospitals, large crowds, kids with bugs).