Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives Anti TNF and other biological medications I wonder if I am I already dead?

I am on a new treatment plan which includes Simponi for AS. I also will get acute gout attacks from time to time, like now. So here is the problem, I am on the tnf-blocker and a corticosteroid for the gout and I just confirmed I have H1N1 swine flu. My immune system is in very bad shape even for someone with these diseases. As many, I suffer severe Intractible pain, it never goes away. Even more worrying is I will not accept any treatment as Deep down, I don't want to live like this anymore. My wife and Mother are always abusing me psychologically insisting its not as bad as I make it seem. The truth is, that its worse, much much worse. I have had this 7 years, I am 41yrs old on medicare and ssdi, married w/2 Kids. My Temp. is 103.7

Can this kill me?

Thanks, sorry my post is so morbid but thats how I feel and I am honest.

Warm Regards,

Michaels

So sorry you are so sick!! Please, don't give up. Have you seen a dr? Tamiflu an option??

You know, chronic disease and pain are so very hard on relationships, especially if those immediately around you are not as supportive as you would like. I know thing are not going how you imagined, I know exactly, but hang in...

Maybe a pain mgmt dr might help you? I have been going for years due to car accidents and I don't know 'how' I would have gotten through without these empathetic, caring people who look me in the eye and say we will do everything we can for you to ease your pain. It might be worth a try!

Best wishes, Jess

Hi Michaels,
If it were me I would insist on postponing taking any medications that lower the immune system until the flu clears up. I hope you start feeling better *very* soon.
Take care,
James

I would stop taking any meds that affect your immune system and get to a hospital. There are a lot of new drugs coming down the pipeline. I don't believe you will have this for life. I don't believe this disease will be around as long as you. Please don't give up!!

Craig

Sorry your being "abused" but you are only abused to the degree you allow that to occur. Take charge of your life and your health.
My main concern with Simponi is the fact you get all the medication at once and cant retract it or control it like enbrel if you get sick. My biggest fear was the H1N1. I am an RN in the hospital. A lot of people are coming in with it. They say those with pre existing conditions are more suspectable to the worst scenario's. But understand this. All most everyone is getting through it. I have worked with the sickest of people on TNF inhibitors for 8 years and rarely get sick.
I know you feel terrible right now but keep fighting through it. Imagine the illness leaving your body. Use your mind. Imagine yourself health again. DRink a lot of water. I drink pure carrot juice with one apple in a juicer to keep from getting infections. I recently got one when I started simponi and just rested a lot and drank plenty of my carrot juice. Carrot juice is great for preventing infection in the lungs. And BTW I had H1n1 in august. It passed through just fine. I was on ebbrel at the time and stopped taking it.

Michaels, I'm so sorry to hear you're going though such an incredibly rough time. And you have so many issues complicating it all... you need and deserve all the support you can get right now.

You need to be under the care of a doctor right now; immediately.

Do you have one that is willing to keep tabs on you, even if you don't want treatment? I know it must be very difficult to muster up the energy to even think of seeing another doctor, with such a fever and I expect, extreme fatigue and pain. The doctor who confirmed your H1N1 - is he/she a family doctor? Did he/she suggest you go to the ER for treatment? I'm not a doctor, but I think in your case, you really must go to the ER as soon as possible. I know you understand that your underlying conditions and medications require extra care when dealing with such a serious virus.

If you don't mind my being presumptuous, it seems like you may be dealing with depression as well, and rightly so with all your medical complications and lack of emotional support from your family members. Along with everything else right now, this probably isn't helping in choosing whether or not to accept treatments or help from doctors? It must be so difficult for you right now, but please see a doctor as soon as you can. The chronic pain you've been dealing with for so long can be dealt with after you recover from the flu (and there are pain management specialists and effective painkillers that I suspect you might not have tried yet).

But first things first - go to the ER, please. You need to be seen.

Many, many hugs.

I think an ER or doc visit asap is a good idea. I doubt it would kill you but hey go get some care and professional opinions.

Get through this flu and then hopefully the simponi will kick in and life will get better.

Michaels-i hope you got to a doctor. If you are only 41, then your kids are young enough that they still need and want you around. Be strong for your kids and fight through this. But get to a doctor. I hope you feel better physically and emotionally. Hopefully the simponi will kick in, if it doesn't then try something else. Hang in there...

Michaels - I support everything that has been said so far. Get some medical help and hang on tight. There is a better future ahead of you and you need to do this for your kids if for no other reason.

Oh - and welcome to KA, by the way. You will find lots of fabulous supportive people here who will have good ideas you can try.

Michaels, I think I can relate to what you are experiencing with your family. It is almost impossible for many people who have not experienced severe chronic pain/illness to be able to relate or understand those of us who have to deal with it on a daily basis. I almost lost my marriage over this issue, but today am very happily married. It took getting the family educated on the disease to begin with. I printed out other AS people's stories and 'testimonies' from other websites for my family to read, so they could see that it wasn't just me, and that others experienced the same things I was. Depression does go hand in hand with chronic pain/illness for many people. It did for me, and I ended up checking myself in to a hospital one night when I started crying and couldn't stop; and had thoughts of not wanting to go on....please seek help it is worth it. YOU are worth it! You are not alone even though it may feel like it right now. I can almost feel your agony, both emotional and physical and I will be praying for you. For the right now, if you have a fever you need to go to the hospital. If the staff doesn't know about your condition, demand they call someone who does...especially if you take anti-TNF blockers and have a fever. Many dr's don't understand the implications and complications, so I have them call my prescribing doctor for clarification. Please don't give up; keep coming back here and let us know what you are feeling, how you are doing. We CARE!