How many here have had covid-19?

[pat1234567]

I heard today that scientists first clue to try Hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the Corona Virus, was because they found that people with Lupus were resistant to the virus. I'm curious to find out whether this is true. Has anyone here diagnosed with Lupus contracted the virus? And if so, how bad were the symptoms? Also, do you take Hydroxychloroquine?

[suzannah16]

Interesting question Pat, I take 4 hydroxy tablets a week and haven't had the virus but then I have been staying away from people, easy enough as I live in a very rural area.

[robertbob]

Interesting post.

But would it be possible please to provide the link to where it states with evidence that "scientists .... found that people with Lupus were resistant to the virus".

As far as I am aware, there is currently no scientific support for the claim that people with Lupus are "resistant to" covid 19; and it might be misleading to here suggest that people with Lupus who take HCL do not need to worry as much as others about catching it.

The Lupus Foundation of America states - "there is no evidence that taking hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is effective in preventing a person from contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19). "

And indeed it goes on to state - "people with lupus are less able to fight off bacteria and viruses, like COVID-19. When people with lupus do get sick their illness may also trigger a lupus flare. People with lupus may also have other conditions that put them at higher risk for serious illness from coronavirus such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and a weakened immune system".

lupus.org/blog/are-people-w...

In short, the evidence so far seems to be that folk with Lupus are more at risk from the virus than the general population and so should be more careful not less careful.

[pat1234567 in reply to robertbob]

Thank you, Robertbob. I could not find evidence to support this either-- that's why I thought I would ask here. I believe it was the president that said that scientists first noticed that Lupus patients had fewer complications with covid-19, and that is precisely the reason that they started looking into it. He said they found anecdotal evidence that it was actually the hydroxychloroquine that might have offered Lupus patients some protection.

[robertbob in reply to pat1234567]

Thanks for clarification. Hope u well.

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK in reply to pat1234567]

Hi pat1234567 ,

I'm afraid that statement by President Trump wasn't based on any evidence - we've touched on this in our latest update to our guidance at lupusuk.org.uk/coronavirus/

[miccika1]

You can see some data here. Basically people on HQ do get COVID and no good data to support use of HQ in covid yet:

Check out The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (@rheum_covid): twitter.com/rheum_covid?s=09

[heatherevans28]

I have had suspected Covid-19. I was hospitalised but sadly they didn't test unless you were in specific wards, although the doctors were fairly certain that's what it was. I had breathing difficulties which is why I was taken in, but was quite unwell overall for 2 full weeks. I had very textbook symptoms, although of course they are no different to flu unless you develop breathing problems so we will never know for sure.

It was quite nasty but I managed to do most of my recovery at home with additional meds / fluids to help my immune system, and am now almost fully recovered. It's been 4 weeks now and I still have a lingering cough sometimes with tightness across my chest but it's getting much less frequent.

I am not on hydroxychloroquine but am on steroids and MMF. I am shielding just incase it was flu, or there is some way to catch it twice.

I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for but thought it might be of interest to some anyway x

[Jumper99]

We don’t often know if we have had covid 19 or not. Some have no symptoms, some have mild symptoms which may have been the virus or a cold or a different virus. A fever and cough are the most common symptoms but not the only symptoms and not everyone gets those two.

So I have had a respiratory virus, not a cold as no runny nose or sneezing. But whether it was covid 19 or not I have no idea! If we haven’t been tested then we just have to assume that it wasn’t covid 19. I’m not on hydroxychloroquine.

I read today that the US are doing some testing on actual patients at the moment, it will be interesting to see the results.

[Ssmart in reply to Jumper99]

Not just the US here in UK too....

This is my local hospital

edp24.co.uk/news/health/15-...

As for have I had it... I’m not sure. I rarely catch anything yet on March 1st After my sons became ill high temps and coughs. They didn’t even want to play computer games, which is an indication of how they felt... just slept for about 10 days.

I started off with a temperature first. Then came the cough. My temperature persisted for 10 days. I lost my sense of smell too. However we had very few confirmed cases in the uk back then.

I felt breathless for weeks after, but cough and temperature went after a couple weeks.

I will probably never know if I had it. I’m on hydroxy 200mg two times a day.

[pat1234567 in reply to Ssmart]

They have a blood test coming out here in the U.S. that tests for antibodies. If your have the antibodies, that indicates that you had the infection at some point in the past.

[Jumper99 in reply to pat1234567]

We are supposed to be getting one in the uk too but it has not been found to be reliable yet so they are trying to improve it. But as they said, that’s more useful in a few weeks time after we have hopefully got through the peak of the infection.

[Ironmytherapy]

I had a “flare up” for 8 days, I have no idea if I had the Virus because the symptoms are similar apart from a cough and a lot of individuals have reported different symptoms during the stages of the progression of the virus.

Example is the unfortunate death of the nurse that died in Midlands, Birmingham, she only had a headache after her 12 hour shift and then developed a slight temperature that night on her night duty shift and unfortunately died the next day.

The only difference in my “flare up” was I did have loss of taste and slight smell prior to feeling unwell. The body aches & muscular pain, low grade fever, swollen glands coincide with normal flare ups! My husband did seem to have mild symptoms of the virus with just a cough that sounded more than a usual cough; again he was like that for approx 7 days.

I do take Hydroxychloriquine.