1st remicade appt coming, Q about being sick.

[Worried mama]

Ok, so my son has his first remicade appt scheduled for Thursday. It seems like everybody around us is getting sick, flu, stomach bug, strep. So, if my son gets sick this week, can they still do his remicade treatment? Will it matter?

As a side note, I'm so afraid of the flu this year, the media scares me. He Also has asthma issues, we did all get flu shots but they are saying the shots don't offer much protection this time. And now with remicade starting, I'm even more worried....

 

[my little penguin]

Only issue we were told was fever or infection requiring antibiotics or flu then we have to hold off for twenty four hours
Never have had to do that in three years of biologics though

 

[my little penguin]

We just tell the infusion nurses /Gi office if he is still sick the night before

 

[Lisa]

We have the flu all over too, I'm due for my next infusion in two weeks.....the biggest thing is to wash hands, and practice good hygiene all around. I just got over some type of respiratory crud, still have a cough but I'm hoping it goes away soon!

If your son is running a fever, no, they would not do the infusion. I have had it done while battling pharyngitis, but I did not run any temp, plus I had been doing infusion for a few years and was getting them done in an anapharesis (infusions) center at the hospital versus my regular infusion clinic, and the nurses there were pretty clueless......If I had a temperature, I would not have gotten the infusion though.

Good luck, hope he stays germ free!!

 

[FrozenGirl]

Mine wont do it if there is any fever or the flu. A cold is iffy. For me, I have to get medical clearance from my docs before they will do it, but I have done it. Like everyone said practice good hygiene, consider carrying mini hand sanitizer when you are out.

 

[crohnsinct]

Yep! I have seen some pretty sick kids in our infusion center. Fever is a definite out but kids were hacking up lungs, snotty disgusting noses and overall dish rags but they still got infusions. At first I was a little unsettled because it is a small room and my daughter was being exposed to all their germs. However, honestly even with Remi and mtx my daughter is the healthiest in the family. She has escaped stomach bugs, flus, cdiff and even an out break of mono on a youth group mission trip.

 

[Jmrogers4]

Hubby and I both had the flu over New Years and week after (even though I had the flu shot), Jack had his infusion on Dec. 23 and he has stayed healthy even though all his friends have been sick. Wash hands and don't touch your face has been my mantra to him. We were told no infusion for systemic infection/fever. Jack had infusion during the summer when he had MRSA and has had it with a cold with no issues.

 

[ChicagoMom]

We were also told that they would not do it if L was running a fever. They always take her temperature first thing when we get to the hospital for the infusions.

I'm worried about influenza too, but so far L has been the healthiest one in the family this year. She had Cdiff in the fall, but hasn't had so much as a sniffle since she started Remicade in October. We just talk a lot about hand washing and she avoids kids at school who are visibly sick, and so far so good.

 

[Maya142]

My daughters both have been fine on Humira/Remicade -- they really get sick less often than my husband and I do! I would give your infusion center or GI a call if he does have a fever the day before his infusion - most likely they'll want to postpone it. We've had infusions with colds but not a fever.

I bother them a lot to wash their hands (doesn't always work!) but besides that we don't do anything special.
Good luck!!

 

[Tesscorm]

I would always let the infusion nurses know if he's sick pre-infusion... just to be on the safe side.

But, I had a horrible flu over the holidays and S had his infusion Dec. 30. Day after infusion, he started to show cold/flu symptoms... I was worried given how bad my flu had been and that he had just had his infusion! But, his symptoms were much, much milder than mine and went away much quicker. My daughter also became sick about a week later and had symptoms even worse than mine. In the end, S, being the one on remicade, was less sick and for less time than anyone else!

 

[awmom]

I was also very worried about my son catching viruses when he first started remicade. I always tell him to be extra careful with hand washing especially the first week after treatment. When he had cdiff, he did have to postpone his treatments, but otherwise, unless he is running a fever it's pretty much a go. Best to check with his doc or nurses at the infusion center. I hope the remicade brings really good results for your son.

 

[Momtotwo]

My son had the flu recently- 10 days before he was due for Remicade. He recovered and had Remicade as scheduled. They gave him Tamiflu. I was scared when he was diagnosed since he is on both Remicade and methotrexate, but he didn't have any flu-related complications. I think it did increase his Crohn's symptoms. But he didn't have the complications I feared.

The Remicade fears decrease with time as you survive the bumps in the road. I still worry about exposures (and with good reason) but I don't panic as I did 6 months ago.

What lead to the switch to Remicade from Pentasa? I must have missed a post from you.

 

[Momtotwo]

If you ever suspect the flu and you are agreeable to using Tamiflu, get an appointment ASAP as it must be started within 48 hours. Starting earlier is ideal.

 

[Worried mama]

Well he's getting his first infusion as I type this....we switched to remicade because dr didn't think he was gaining weight as he should be. That's really his biggest symptom. And his blood work still showed inflammation...

 

[Momtotwo]

Good luck! I really hoped Pentasa would be the answer, but it's good to have other safe options. Hope your son thrives on Remicade!

 

[Worried mama]

Momtotwo, I was hoping Pentasa would work for both of us too. Thanks for the support!