I am about to start taking an immunosuppressant drug for my psoriatic arthritis. Next week I have to have multiple shots in order to protect me while my immune system is low, then the week after I start taking the drugs.
I will be on these for the foreseeable future, but for the first month, while we’re getting the levels right for my body, I may be extremely unwel as my body adapts. I will *also* be at much greater risk of infection during that period.
For that reason, I won’t be attending Lib Dem conference this year — “con crud” is a thing. When I went two years ago, I came down with pneumonia, and that was when my immune system was, if anything, overactive. I dread to think what would happen if I went with a compromised immune system.
I *may* attend the two events later in March that I’ve been considering — the M.R. James conference in Leeds and Mancunicon in Manchester. Those are both closer to home and don’t require accomodation, so I can see how I’m doing closer to the time.
However, if anyone I know is there and is ill, even with something minor, please don’t come up to me. And if I have plans with anyone over the next six weeks or so, and you become ill, please let me know. Don’t think “Oh, it’s only a minor cold, I won’t let that spoil games night/the gig/the cinema trip/whatever”. I’ll *probably* be OK, and obviously I’m not going to seal myself up hermetically, but I’d rather not take stupid chances.
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Sci-Ence! Justice Leak! 
Good luck with the treatment Andrew. God Bless.
Thanks. Fingers crossed…
Noted. I hope you _can_ make the M.R. James conference, as it would be lovely to see you. But mainly I hope it all goes well, that you don’t get (m)any infection as a side-effect, and that the treatment deals successfully with the psoriatic arthritis.
Thanks. It’d be great to see you, too.
Yikes! “Get well soon” doesn’t seem quite right – but hope it turns out worth it in the long run!
Thanks. So do I!
Continue to look after yourself and stay well. I’m looking forward to more beach boys. ;)
Thanks. I should have the next Beach Boys post up in the next day or two. Unfortunately it’s on Symphonic Sounds ;)
If you can’t bring yourself to it till you’re feeling better, we will particularly understand for this one ;)
I hope the short term awfulness is outweighed by the eventual effectiveness of the new treatment. And take longer over things, we’ll wait!