Hi everyone.In the past 3 months i have had a boil on the back of my neck twice.It grows to a fair size and then comes to a head and then heals up.I searched the internet and one of the causes is medicines that lower the imune system.I am on a TNF called Simponi,but i have been on it over a year and a half without any problems.

Anyone here had boils while on a TNF blocker.

Thanks to all who reply

John

I'm not on tnf blockers, but have had periods of time where I've been plagued by boils. I think the biggest issue with them is that it is so easy to spread the infection, so it just sticks around in your body ready to break out again. I was told never ever to squeeze them, as that is a sure way of ending up with more of them. Mine finally cleared up when I got on the right antibiotic (had to do a culture to find out which one) and when I also had an antibiotic ointment that I put up my nose as well. Mine were MRSA though, and it wasn't until I did the nose ointment that they finally went. Apparently the nose is a key place for MRSA to hang out.

Might be worth talking to your GP about them, and if you get another one, get it cultured so you can take a course of the right antibiotics to try and clear them up.

Hey Guy..Im not a Doc but I could almost bet that it does have something to do with it..your right the biologics lower your immune system.

Now let me also say that its not something to mess around with..I have alot of experience with MRSA and STAPH and it can turn deadly.

Both my husband and son at different times have had MRSA and my husbands got so serious that his sores that turned to boils that were MRSA required a two hour surgery to remove the boil, dead tissue and he almost lost his arm pit THEN he had to do daily Vancomycin IV'S and daily blood tests to see that the MRSA was healing and that he didnt get yeast in his blood which also could turn deadly...it was a nightmare!

So...I guess what I am saying is if it is an actual boil you know not a zit but pretty big, red, painful I would at least go to the Doc and see if he wanted you on antibiotics while trying to get it cleared up.

I hope that helps a bit and hope your doing good otherwise!

Hugs!

John, like Lisa, I am not a dr. BUT are you sure it is a boil? I hope you will see your GP. My husband had the same thing on the back of his neck twice and the 2nd time he did go to the dr. It was a cyst that the dr. cut out and that took care of it.

You certainly don't want it to get infected. I know Lisa's family has had very scary times with infection. Especially with your immune system and meds.

Thinking of you.
Possi