Re: Infection risk in school settings~Deborah

[Guest guest]

Deborah,

This was my experience- I used to teach a Bible study and

music/humanities ed thing for kids in a homeless shelter.(Just

volunteer stuff, I'm SO not a pro!) I was on plaquenil and MTX, and

started remicade during that time. I kept sinus infections, had

pneumonia, etc. I just happened to tell my rehumy about my volunteer

work. After they got through having a cow, they strongly suggested

that I quit ASAP, since all the meds tend to zap your immune system.

Sure enough, within a few months the infections were not as frequent,

or as severe. I got brave & tried volunteering at a mission for a few

months again here this past year, but it was the same story- I caught

every kind of " kid cooties " that came by. And I really do miss it.

But aside from being sick as a dog, the financial aspects of missed

work, high dollar meds, really were getting to me..my sis in law has

been a teacher for 30 years, and she uses that hand disinfectant gel

a lot and keeps Lysol spray at school. God bless you, sweetie,

teaching is not a job, it's a calling. I can thank 3 different

teachers for my love of art, music, and literature. Good luck and

blessings to you & yours.

Jane

>

> My question has to do with germs and in particular bacterial/fungal

infections. I've had RA for about 3 years I'd guess, and I am an art

teacher in an elementary school. I see close to 300 K-5 students a

week. I have been on MTX (.6mg) and Humira (every 10 days) for close

to two years now. This year (Sept-now) I have had 2 diagnosed sinus

infections and have been generally sick a little more than in years

past. (I was actually sick more the first two years I taught [which

also happens to be when I developed RA], but seemed to have built up

an immunity to most of what was going around. My husband and I are

discussing whether I should continue to teach or find another job. I

don't know if my fears re infections are founded or unfounded...

anyone know?

> Thanks so much,

> Deborah

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Deborah,

This was my experience- I used to teach a Bible study and

music/humanities ed thing for kids in a homeless shelter.(Just

volunteer stuff, I'm SO not a pro!) I was on plaquenil and MTX, and

started remicade during that time. I kept sinus infections, had

pneumonia, etc. I just happened to tell my rehumy about my volunteer

work. After they got through having a cow, they strongly suggested

that I quit ASAP, since all the meds tend to zap your immune system.

Sure enough, within a few months the infections were not as frequent,

or as severe. I got brave & tried volunteering at a mission for a few

months again here this past year, but it was the same story- I caught

every kind of " kid cooties " that came by. And I really do miss it.

But aside from being sick as a dog, the financial aspects of missed

work, high dollar meds, really were getting to me..my sis in law has

been a teacher for 30 years, and she uses that hand disinfectant gel

a lot and keeps Lysol spray at school. God bless you, sweetie,

teaching is not a job, it's a calling. I can thank 3 different

teachers for my love of art, music, and literature. Good luck and

blessings to you & yours.

Jane

>

> My question has to do with germs and in particular bacterial/fungal

infections. I've had RA for about 3 years I'd guess, and I am an art

teacher in an elementary school. I see close to 300 K-5 students a

week. I have been on MTX (.6mg) and Humira (every 10 days) for close

to two years now. This year (Sept-now) I have had 2 diagnosed sinus

infections and have been generally sick a little more than in years

past. (I was actually sick more the first two years I taught [which

also happens to be when I developed RA], but seemed to have built up

an immunity to most of what was going around. My husband and I are

discussing whether I should continue to teach or find another job. I

don't know if my fears re infections are founded or unfounded...

anyone know?

> Thanks so much,

> Deborah

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh my goodness, Nina, I can only imagine how awful that must have

been for you.....not to mention being a secretary to 33 people!

Yikes! My crew is tough enough and not even one third of that number.

We're off to East Texas Baptist next week to talk to the financial

aid folks. It's such a pretty drive through east texas- then we have

a powderpuff football game that night. The boys dress up like drill

team girls and cheerleaders- what a hoot. Have a great weekend.

Jane

--- In , " Nina " <ncampbell@t...>

wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: JANE

>

> >This was my experience- I used to teach a Bible study and

> music/humanities ed thing for kids in a homeless shelter.(Just

> volunteer stuff, I'm SO not a pro!) I was on plaquenil and MTX, and

> started remicade during that time. I kept sinus infections, had

> pneumonia, etc.

>

> I used to work as a secretary for 33 English professors in a

college. The first year I worked there I was sick as a dog. I got

mycoplasma pneumonia and have not been healthy since. I figured it

up one day and decided that being around that many professors

multiplied by all the students each one had every day that I was

probably exposed to at least a couple of thousand people's germs

every day.

>

> Nina

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Oh my goodness, Nina, I can only imagine how awful that must have

been for you.....not to mention being a secretary to 33 people!

Yikes! My crew is tough enough and not even one third of that number.

We're off to East Texas Baptist next week to talk to the financial

aid folks. It's such a pretty drive through east texas- then we have

a powderpuff football game that night. The boys dress up like drill

team girls and cheerleaders- what a hoot. Have a great weekend.

Jane

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: JANE

>

> >This was my experience- I used to teach a Bible study and

> music/humanities ed thing for kids in a homeless shelter.(Just

> volunteer stuff, I'm SO not a pro!) I was on plaquenil and MTX, and

> started remicade during that time. I kept sinus infections, had

> pneumonia, etc.

>

> I used to work as a secretary for 33 English professors in a

college. The first year I worked there I was sick as a dog. I got

mycoplasma pneumonia and have not been healthy since. I figured it

up one day and decided that being around that many professors

multiplied by all the students each one had every day that I was

probably exposed to at least a couple of thousand people's germs

every day.

>

> Nina

>

>

>