Biologic caused infections

Posted by apopson @apopson, Dec 12, 2023

Recently hospitalized 3 times. Each time for a week. Infection in hand that extended to elbows.
A week later infection in knee then left rib area that is very painful. Infection control physician said may need to remove the fluid from this area. All of these infection areas are on left side. Dr said from biologic
Has been on Vancomycin for almost a month.
Has anyone experienced this from the biologic
depressing there immune system. He stopped it 6 weeks ago.

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@lmoross

I totally agree about infections due to biologics. I was on Actemra for a year and referred to it as a miracle drug. It put my Polymyalgia Rheumatica into remission. Then I developed influenza A (even though vaccinated), pneumonia, sepsis and Afib. Nearly died. Then back to the hospital for 19 days with pleural effusion, a collapsed lung and mysterious infections leading again to Afib, severe anemia and liver damage due to antibiotics.
Needless to say I am off the biologic and feeling good. However the sepsis caused damage to many organ systems.
Recently my rheumatologist wanted me to go back on a biologic. I said no. I will deal with the arthritis in my hands. At least it won’t kill me.
My belief is that doctors seem to be pushing biologics for every malady. It makes sense to suppress autoimmune diseases, but to suppress our immune systems leads to potentially fatal infections. No more for me!

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So sorry to hear of your infections.
I too agree with you about dealing with your diagnosis and not taking biologics. Too much immunosuppressant.

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Yes, the vancomycin. I was on it for a couple weeks. Then they ran some liver blood test and found it had done damage to my liver

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@lmoross

Yes, the vancomycin. I was on it for a couple weeks. Then they ran some liver blood test and found it had done damage to my liver

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I’m sorry to hear this. Since then have your liver numbers improved?

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Yes, most have. I am lucky the damage was mainly reversible.

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Good morning..hope you are feeling better..Which Biologic where you on? My physicians were pushing them, Entyvio was the one they were pushing on me and I kept saying no way, so glad I did. I have other medical conditions and when you watch the ads on television and they list all the possible side effects , it is like no way. Praying that you will feel better. I was on a high dose of steroids for over nine months and has caused numerous health problems that I never had before taking Budesonide . That drug is awful. Please get well. Sincerely Kitty2

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@lmoross

I totally agree about infections due to biologics. I was on Actemra for a year and referred to it as a miracle drug. It put my Polymyalgia Rheumatica into remission. Then I developed influenza A (even though vaccinated), pneumonia, sepsis and Afib. Nearly died. Then back to the hospital for 19 days with pleural effusion, a collapsed lung and mysterious infections leading again to Afib, severe anemia and liver damage due to antibiotics.
Needless to say I am off the biologic and feeling good. However the sepsis caused damage to many organ systems.
Recently my rheumatologist wanted me to go back on a biologic. I said no. I will deal with the arthritis in my hands. At least it won’t kill me.
My belief is that doctors seem to be pushing biologics for every malady. It makes sense to suppress autoimmune diseases, but to suppress our immune systems leads to potentially fatal infections. No more for me!

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I'm sorry that happened to you.

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@lmoross

Yes, the vancomycin. I was on it for a couple weeks. Then they ran some liver blood test and found it had done damage to my liver

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Vancomycin is a tough antibiotic. How many IVs did they restart because it is hard on the veins too.

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@dadcue

Vancomycin is a tough antibiotic. How many IVs did they restart because it is hard on the veins too.

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Every couple days and was infusing it too fast so had red man’s syndrome.

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@kitty2

Good morning..hope you are feeling better..Which Biologic where you on? My physicians were pushing them, Entyvio was the one they were pushing on me and I kept saying no way, so glad I did. I have other medical conditions and when you watch the ads on television and they list all the possible side effects , it is like no way. Praying that you will feel better. I was on a high dose of steroids for over nine months and has caused numerous health problems that I never had before taking Budesonide . That drug is awful. Please get well. Sincerely Kitty2

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You were on Budesonide for 9 months??

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@pb50

You were on Budesonide for 9 months??

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Thank you Kitty. Humira for 5 years then stopped working. Then Taltz several months, then all the infections started. Off all biologics now. It seems the rheumatologists push them. Take care and God Bless.

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