Bronchiectasis and Covid - no antivirals?

[MiniGirl22]

Hello. I just wanted to check in please to see if I am wrong about this. I tested positive for Covid Friday. I have asthma and bronchiectasis and am known to haemorrhage. I am 45 and exercise and do physio everyday. I called my GP surgery but was told that I was not eligible for antivirals. I logged my result on the NHS site and also did not get a call back from there. Has anybody else with bronchiectasis had them please? I just want to know as, although probably now too late for this episode, I want to be ready if it hits again, as this time round has been extremely serious, and to be honest until yesterday, I didn't think I was going to make it through. Thank you.

[eleanordigby]

The criteria were changed some time ago and I believe you only qualify for antivirals if you are immunosuppressed eg you have a diagnosed immune deficiency or are on chemo or a transplant recipient. I think this is a consultant led decision.

Your experience sounds very scary! Are you out of hospital? If not perhaps you could talk to the team looking after you. In view of the seriousness of this bout, maybe they’d want you to be eligible for antivirals in future.

[MiniGirl22 in reply to eleanordigby]

Thank you, that is helpful. I have been having the immune tests but no positives so far.

I think my experience is hopefully rare. Everyone else seems to get through and say its OK, even other bronch's. I'm hoping I have just been unlucky this time. I will be asking my Consultant though.

Thank you again.

[Alberta56]

That sounds awful. I'm glad you are somewhat better now and hope your recovery goes on steadily. The rationing of antivirals sounds stingy to me, but I am only an ignorant lay person.

[Littleeak]

I don't understand the criteria at all unless the amount of steroids prescribed has anything to do with it. My husband had covid in April. He received a phone call but was told he wasn't eligible, he has copd & asthma & had had several courses of steroids over the previous few months.

On the other hand my Mum had covid a couple of weeks ago, had her phone call & antivirals were couriered to her very quickly. She has asthma & polymyalgia rheumatica. The latter treated with daily steriods.

Hope you are now on the mend.

[B0xermad in reply to Littleeak]

Interesting post answer from you ,I have copd bronchiectasis and asthma, I got covid positive test result on Wed's and was sent antivirals yesterday but only because I have had 3 lots of antibiotics and prednisolone in the last 6 weeks so nhs prescribed them after I submitted the results on gov.uk, they arrived by courier yesterday from Southampton hospital. Originally she said on the phone that I wasn't eligible until mentioned prednisolone and she was going through my doctor notes

[B0xermad]

I am a bit confused by this also but I do get free covid tests from government and recieved an email last week confirming I am eligible to receive antivirals from nhs.

Email from nhs .gov

[mylungshateme]

Sounds awful. It's not on diagnosis but current treatment that suppresses your immune. Asthma no longer meets criteria diabetes is more significant to cause complications now it's thought. I had antivirals within hours severe uncontrolled eosiphillic asthma and severe allergic asthma was on biologics and constant pred for 2 years.

[Egpa]

Hi MiniGirl22, I have asthma and bronciactsis. I caught covid in July, phone my GP they put me in touch with a area doctor to do with covid, told I Cound not have antiviral tablets because I was not on prednisone, but was put on a virtual ward where they text me trice a day for 14 day. I had to check my temp, oxygen levels and temp, and text them back the results. They would phone to check I was OK if they did not like the results they would get you to repeat them in an hour. They were very good at looking after you without going to hospital. Always on the end of a phone if you had any problems. Good luck, take care.

[BreatheasyBe]

Hi sorry you’re unwell at the moment. Unfortunately the whole idea of dishing out antivirals is a puzzle to me and even my respiratory consultant. She has no idea of qualifying criteria and has no control over it. I was 50 when I got covid panicked like mad trying to get the antivirals and each communication I made I was told I don’t qualify. My consultant was shocked as she knows of her other patients who got it with less respiratory complications than myself but all were older above 65. Oh the plus side I had it very mild and so far don’t see any lasting ill effects. Hope it’s mild for you too.

[Izb1]

I dont think anybody can make sense of this Minigirl22. I am 70 have bronch and r.a. using methotrexate but am not eligle. Hope you are feeling better now x

[cofdrop-UK]

I didn’t get anti virals when in hospital last May with covid and exacerbation but did have the when in with swine flu in 2009.

Xxx

[frose in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Me too for the same reason and don't they make you feel terrible!

[cofdrop-UK in reply to frose]

Terrible, must be a combination ofthe flu itself and the dolly mixture drugs 💕💕💕

[MiniGirl22]

Thanks everybody. On the mend again now. Appreciate all your comments. Xx

[frose]

I thought I had covid recently but I was wrong, I was so unwell I misread the test! I rang my GP telling them i was covid positive and asked if they'd give me antivirals and whether I should start my steroids and antibiotics. My O2 was at 94%. I was told there are strict criteria for getting antivirals and that I didn't meet them so to carry on as normal but go to hospital if my O2 dropped to 92 or below. Honestly, I was pretty shocked. But it does seem to be the way of it. I hope you soon feel better.

[eleanordigby in reply to frose]

Funny, I distinctly remember a press conference during which Boris Johnson said the country had secured a plentiful supply of antivirals & they’d be available to anyone who needed them. So IF that was true I don’t get why they’re so stingy with them now. I think being on daily pred is another qualifying criteria but not sure how much…

[Holiday12345]

my 85 y old mum got letter to say she would be eligible for antivirals should she get covid (weve no idea why .. lots of things wrong but none of the 3 qualifying things listed above). However when she did test positive turns out she couldn’t have them because of interactions with some of the 25 meds she’s on. Doesnt seem like anyone certain who’s eligible …🤦‍♀️

Should say she was fine after a few days of feeling awful

[MiniGirl22]

Thank you Holiday12345. Glad your mum is better.

[B0xermad]

I have put a reply to your questions below on littleleak answer because I thought it was relevant to you and littleleak