Covid at last!

[richardp]

After avoiding covid for the last 27 months ( including a period at the beginning when we were marooned in the Maldives after lock down descended so quickly) we finally went on a three times postponed Danube river cruise and....first wife then I tested positive on our return to the UK. Even though the cruise was 50% capacity, distancing was not always easy although sanitisation was good and we did try to keep distances.

As soon as I recorded the test , I received a reply that I would be contacted within 24 hours. It took till 5.00 pm on Friday before contact was made by the local CMDU which happens to be in the same hospital as my Haematology Department which seems to make it easier for them to have all my health details. Interestingly , as I had not heard from the CMDU , I rang my Haematology Department and after discussion I was told to come straight into A & E. Just as we were driving in, I received a message from CMDU that they had been trying to contact me.

After lengthy discussion including various Oximeter readings , agreed that Paxlovid would be prescribed but as the Pharmacy Department was now closed it would be the following day before they would arrive by courier. It actually took over 24 hours to travel three miles and they would not let me make arrangements to pick them up! They have asked me to stop taking statins for 8 days in total but confirmed that I could continue with Allupurinol and my various supplements that I take viz Glucosamine , Cod Liver oil, Ginkgo Biloba, Evening Primrose etc.

They have asked me to monitor my condition, mainly regular cough ( with wet phlegm) and if there is no improvement in three days, I have to ring them again to see if I need to go into hospital. Hopefully, the antivirals will do what they are supposed to do.

[annmcgowan]

Hi hope you recover soon.Ann

[richardp in reply to annmcgowan]

Many thanks, Ann

[CycleWonder]

The Paxlovid helped my sister-in-law after two doses and a good night’s sleep. I hope but helps you too.

[richardp in reply to CycleWonder]

Many thanks

[richardp in reply to CycleWonder]

Many thanks. Had three doses now and whilst not feeling better yet , no deterioration which is good.

[Ghounds]

I hope you feel better very soon and can avoid an admission.

[richardp in reply to Ghounds]

Thanks

[thb4747]

Sorry to hear of your situation. Paxlovid definitely seems to work wonders. Get well soon.

[richardp in reply to thb4747]

Thanks

[Fran57]

I hope you’re not feeling too bad, and the treatment works very well.Fran 😉

[richardp in reply to Fran57]

Thanks

[uide3095]

Hi when I got Covid my haematologist told me to stop taking the Acalabrutinib immediately as it reduces the immune system still further. Hope you recover soon, it took me 4 weeks for everything thing to go 🤞

[Mtk1 in reply to uide3095]

Don’t think this gentleman is on acalabrutinib.

[kitchengardener2]

Hopefully you won't need to go into hospital. Get well soon. So unfair that we who are immunosuppressed cannot enjoy life. We need Evosheld and need it now. We have my husband's sister and her husband here for a couple of days in-between their frequent holidays. We often go away with them but since covid began we have been grounded. I just feel that life is passing us by and in our 70s it's just not fair.

[richardp in reply to kitchengardener2]

Thanks and totally agree with you.

[KatieBlue in reply to kitchengardener2]

Unfortunately, evusheld is not the be all end all and the virus continues to evolve, learning to evade monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, the immune response.

From the preprint linked below: “Of all therapeutic antibodies tested, we observed a 14.3-fold reduction using Evusheld and 16.8 reduction using Sotrovimab when neutralising a Clade A versus BA.5 isolate.”

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

I recall even seeing one person here on the forum (sorry, I don’t recall their screen name) relay that their evusheld appointment was cancelled and was basically told it was likely ineffective against latest strains.

The 14.3-fold reduction doesn’t mean I wouldn’t take evusheld if offered, but it does mean I put more faith in other mitigation measures.

[KMac1969 in reply to KatieBlue]

That may have been me, but my next dosing was not cancelled due to it not working, but, due to the fact that the data for repeat dosing was not clear if it was needed. It was felt that there could be 9 months, maybe up to 12 months of protection. They (researchers and Astra Zeneca) wanted to administer the dosing, but the FDA needed more data. My appointment for redosing was cancelled for July.

However, I also updated that the FDA got the data they needed and has authorized redosing at 6 month intervals from your last dose. So, Evusheld is recommended.

[KatieBlue in reply to KMac1969]

I checked back and, yes, it was your post I was thinking of.

I misread this part of your earlier post: “A very long email shortened, You will not be getting another dosing. FDA newest recommendation, following Astra Zeneca's latest trial data, which was submitted May 22, 2022 to the FDA, said no additional dosing is recommended at this time due to insufficient data to support it against these new variants.”

At the time other reports were coming out that both sotrovimab and evusheld were no longer effective against the newest variants.

Unfortunately I did not see your update. Thanks for clarifying…

[JEEA]

Hope all goes well for you. Pavlovid made a big difference for me very quickly, although I am only 'watch and wait'. A shame about all the palaver to get it. Mine went very smoothly It certainly does vary a lot!

[richardp in reply to JEEA]

Many thanks- that is encouraging.

[LeoPa]

I imagine these cruise ships are quite the hotbeds for the virus. People from faraway places locked up together. The Danube flows close to our place but I'll just watch them from the shore for now🙂 Get better soon!

[richardp in reply to LeoPa]

Many thanks . In hindsight ( such a wonderful thing) should have done the same and you are so lucky to have that lovely river flowing close to you.

[noeagaman]

I hope that you begin to recover soon Ann. I have not gotten COVID yet, but with these latest variants it is probably just a matter of time.

Chris

[Miller1960]

So sorry you and your wife got Covid, glad you’re getting the treatment needed. We have all been doing our best to stay Covid free, at some point “now “… for me , we have to live. I took a chance and went on an Alaska cruise , got a Bc ferry ⛴ off Vancouver island and got on the cruise. It was fantastic, I took all the precautions possible.It worked out for me and my two lady friends.Fast recovery 👍⛴

[richardp in reply to Miller1960]

We were hoping the same but maybe even though 50% full, the spacing wasn't perfect. But the Alaska cruise from Vancouver is still on our bucket list - just travelling on the ferry to Vancouver Island was fantastic!

[Miller1960 in reply to richardp]

HiI hope you get to Alaska, it was amazing. Yes the ferry ride from Vancouver island to Vancouver is beautiful, I’m spoiled and find it boring. I’ve never liked crowds so often sit in the car. Being on the Holland American was so difficult than riding the ferry ⛴ although the scenery is beautiful on both.

Have a great weekend. I’m off to Vancouver tomorrow.

[Magneticmilano]

Get well soon!