Due to Finish Steroids but Still Covid Positive

Hi!

Last Wednesday I became very unwell, eventually Thursday morning the dreaded 2 lines appeared on my LFTs!

After the initial 25/48 hours the actual illness seems to have improved, my temperature has come down and stayed down no issue, and I just feel completely weak and wiped out! I spoke to GP as my Asthma began to flare (coughing and a drop in peak flow) and he prescribed a course of Dexomethasone steroids… this does appear to have done the trick and stopped further deterioration, my peak flow improved a little after the first day or two and coughing isn’t as much as it was, however I am a little anxious as I am due the last dose tomorrow and I’m still testing positive! Has anyone else been on steroids whilst Covid positive and stopped them whilst still positive? I think I might put a call in tomorrow to the surgery and see if I can get some advice as I am anxious that as soon as the steroids are done then my asthma will deteriorate as I’m still positive, and I am very keen to stay manageable at home!

As an aside, when I spoke to GP he also mentioned antibiotics to me if needed but he felt that it would be too soon at that point. As my temperature has stayed down since day 2, I’m not coughing anything up and it feels like it’s all way more sinusesy (clear not coloured either!) and throaty than chesty I haven’t felt like I’ve needed to call back to request them!

Thank you, and again a big thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with Covid on my previous post!

[Poobah]

Definitely call your doctor. They'll be able to assess your symptoms together with your continued positive LFT. They may want to prescribe further meds and/or increase you regular medication until you're in the clear.

While the steroids and/or antibiotics are starting their work, I also use a steroid nasal spray if I get sinusy, as all that mucus can travel down to the lungs and cause irritation and phlegm, coughing, breathlessnes etc. I also gargle whenever I have a sore throat, I use Listerine but you may want to use something else. I find it soothes the throat. Zinc lozenges are good for viruses. Paracetamol for aches, headache and temperature.

Hope you get that negative LFT soon and recover well.

[Hidden in reply to Poobah]

Thank you, I’m waiting for a call back to see what they suggest to do if anything…

I’m on Dymista steroid spray anyway, and I’m keeping dosed up with regular paracetamol and lots of fluids.

Thank you so much, I’m desperate for the negative LFT but terrified it’s going to linger, my Nan recently had it was was still positive for 2 weeks and I know of others similar too… I’m so scared of passing it on to my family too especially close to Christmas, negative so far and keeping everything crossed, I’m finding the emotional and mental side of it much harder than the physical at the moment!

Thank you x

[Bevvy in reply to Hidden]

Hope you had successful telephone call with gp. Just to reassure you that after 10 days (might be less but can’t remember- Google it) even with LFT showing positive, you are NOT contagious and actually doesn’t mean much. Not even any point in continuing to test! This is because some people continue to show positive with Covid - don’t think no why - but that’s just how they are affected but means little.

[Hidden in reply to Bevvy]

Thank you for that! The nurse I spoke to just suggested monitoring symptoms and see how I go with just my inhalers, so far so good so keeping everything crossed!

Ahh that’s good to know… I’m still showing positive but the line is so feint it’s hardly visible today so hopefully it’ll be showing completely negative soon, I hope!

Thank you