I have had PV since 2009 and take 1000mgs hydroxicarbamide daily. I m 68.
I thought I would just say that after being somewhat concerned nay VERY concerned about getting covid ( being bombarded with emails re antivirals et etc) it really has hardly affected me at all. My husband caught it first. I kept testing negative with lft. Finally got a PCR yesterday which was positive. Quite honestly I ve had far worse colds. Bit of a cough a couple of times a day, very very slightly sore throat, slight temperature that comes and goes. In fact I m almost relieved to be positive after all the hoo ha and worry - and find at this stage - it isn’t at all bad.
I will of course continue to wear a mask for the next few months.
I had my 4th jab ( booster) in January and had to ask for it. Spoke to my haematologist at the Christie in Manchester who is an Mpn specialist and he says
1) omnicrom is a very very mild variant which doesn’t appear to affect the lungs
2) the vast majority of his patients who have tested positive have had extremely mild symptoms.
So go forth folks, and be not worried. x
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Loubprv
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Hi Lou, so great to hear that you are having mild symptoms of Covid, what a relief! I am yet to be caught out and have to agree, after all others have been through it still feels like a frightening prospect but I am reassured that your post-4th jab experience has been mild. Unfortunately others I know have not / are not fairing so well. Interesting that your specialist commented that Omicron does not affect the lungs, 2 of my friends this year (non-MPN) have had to resort to steroid inhalers to get them through Omicron in February. Just goes to show, perhaps its the help of the 4th jab? Perhaps we're just all different? Who knows, I'm sure we'll all find out eventually. J
Hi, I too have just had covid. It was like a very mild cold. (My husband the same) Bunged up nose, a slight tickly cough now and then, a little tired for a day or so and lasted about 4 days. However I continued to test positive for ten days! I’ve actually had two colds this winter which were much worse than this (tested negative throughout those but had sticky eyes, very annoying cough, and very sore throat with those ‘colds’ and had expected to test positive with them!)
I was diagnosed with MPN ET Jak2+ almost three years ago and like many folks was paranoid in the early days of the pandemic in case I caught covid. I’m on hydroxy and aspirin.
I was reassured by the GP, who checked with the consultant, that because my condition was stable (bloods all in normal range) I wasn’t at any increased risk from covid but to “be careful” all the same. Have always worn masks in crowded places etc and will continue to do that.
I’ve had the two jabs and a booster and am actually relieved in a way to have caught it and hopefully built up a little more immunity from the virus itself.
I was offered the antivirals if I wanted them, but after speaking to the nurse her advice was that the side effects would be worse than those I was experiencing and as I had no temperature and was coping fine, it wasn’t worth having them.
I ve had covid for a week and am sure it’s still there ( mildly tired and other mild symptoms)
As soon as I read about the antivirals I did lots of research into the components and decided they weren’t for me ( I had a run in with antibiotics 12 years ago which caused severe nerve damage - thankfully it went after 4 years)
I count myself very fortunate not to have picked up the virus in the early days - and like you cry relieved “ to have got it over with”
- although we can get it twice of course.
As you say the two colds ( thanks so grandchildren) over the winter were very very much worse. Take care x
Yep…my two colds were courtesy of the grandkids…and the covid too! Wouldn’t be without them though ❤️
It does vary - and when it first occurred, two years ago, it was a killer! I was very ill with it - not ill enough to have to go to hospital, just, but "in bed with the doctor" for three weeks and it was several weeks before I could even totter to the nearest shop (about 100 metres away). At its worst, I couldn't stand up for long enough to have a shower. My husband was unwell for several days, but it was before tests existed so we don't know whether he had it then - but when he had it at Christmas, he just had a cold! I know several people who have it at the moment who feel a bit rough, but my brother-in-law barely knows he has a cold! It's much more likely to be a mild cold nowadays, especially if you are fully vaccinated!
I've only been diagnosed a couple of days, so the news that I'm entitled to a 4th jab hasn't percolated to my GP as yet - the surgery are very, very good at calling one in for jabs and boosters and flu jabs and so on, so I'll wait to hear from them.
Very interesting! I have PV and have not caught it yet - at least I don't think so. No positive tests which I take intermittently when my nose seems particularly runny! I will also be asking for a 5th dose - are they making us wait 6 months after the 4th (which I had in January)?
Thank you for your uplifting post, Lou and so glad you’ve not felt bad with Covid. Did you ask for, and get the antiviral treatment we are eligible for?It does seem that it is still affecting some people a lot worse than others. Regards Fran
Hi FranI didn’t apply for the antivirals. No need - honestly I ve had far far worse colds. The antivirals are massive doses. Do get your 4th vac/ booster though if you haven’t had it. Get loads of exercise and eat an anti inflammatory diet ( google) with loads of veg. Maybe Vit c and zinc to boost immunity. X
Well why wouldn’t you be? The none vaxers are barmy. They need to be shuffled off onto a large island ……I think they have a perfect cheek. Expecting everyone else to be jabbed so they don’t get it - but that’s me.
I'm pleased that Covid has been mild for you. However, the title of your post doesn't chime with everyone. My niece, a healthy young woman, suffered a lot with it; one of our neighbours, who had it several weeks ago, is now unable to walk without a stick and his wife hasn't fully regained her sense of taste. Hospitals are still taking it extremely seriously, especially since the restrictions have been lifted in the UK.
Yes it seems very variable - my daughter caught it 4 weeks ago. She's triple vaccinated, very fit and no health issues. She initially thought she'd ride it out and be able to work from home but was floored for 4 days. She went back to work after the 2nd clear test and is still struggling with fatigue and dizziness. Gradually improving but very typical post viral and certainly not a mild cold.
Ironically she's fairly sure she caught it at coffee after a running group - a lot went down with it at the same time. One girl was still feeling rotten and positive for 10 days, others had it in varying degrees. Certainly unfortunately not just a mild cold.
In that case please accept my sincere apologies - did they have the Delta or Omnicrom variant? According to Prof Tim Somervaille at the Christie who I spoke to yesterday - there’s a massive difference.
Poor things. Perhaps we should consider ourselves extraordinarily lucky. On the other hand I do wonder if there are various strains? Our son in law is a commercial pilot and is feeling as he says “a bit washed out and peak” , and our daughter who is running round after 3 year old twins and had a C section 6 weeks ago is also covid positive and says she has negligible symptoms.
As I say, my apologies if anyone thinks I m treating this lightly. I suppose having dreaded getting this virus for two years I m mighty relieved to have got away so lightly.
Perhaps it’s all to do with genes T cells etc. My mother is 100 doesn’t take a pill and is the only one in her care home of 22 residents not to have had it……I m still however long covid wary and so am taking it easy.
We presume she had Omicron B as it's reported that it is 82% prevalent in Scotland where the figures are eyewateringly high.It's good to hear that you and your family members have had a milder dose. - unfortunately it just doesn't yet seem to be across the board. Like you I will mask up and in any case it has been extended in Scotland. I now always use FPP2 masks. Certainly a tighter fit and my glasses don't steam up so badly.
Hi Loubprv, please don’t apologise for being happy that your Covid is mild. Like you say we’ve been filled with dread/worry if we catch it! Like everything for MPNs we’re all different. It’s still varies from person to person with or without health issues.
Great to hear your mild case. With full vax and recent booster (less than a few months) you were at low risk for bad experience.
Omicron tends to affect the upper airway, while delta goes deeper in the
lungs. So on average it is less likely to lead to severe pneumonia
etc. But for unboosted and esp unvaxed older people Omicron is still a serious threat. This is seen in HK right now where elderly have low vax rates and are seeing many bad outcomes. An anti vax acquaintance of mine recently got Omicron and was(still is) very messed up.
I have respect for Covid, my husband near died from it at the very start when no one knew anything, while I just had a medium flu-ish. It's a roll of the dice in may ways. But be ware of long covid, it's a risk for even mild cases, we had it for 9 months and still some.
You were fortunate in getting mild symptoms, my sister and her daughter were very poorly for 10 days, also my cousin who is 75 was admitted to hospital for a week with complications from omicron, all three were fully vaccinated. As I have ET, and low wbc, and take hydroxy, I will continue to wear my mask and be cautios and keep my fingers crossed.
You know, I have absolutely no patience with any any vaxers. They re on their own as far as I m concerned and a complete and utter pain and a drain on NHS resources. As far as I m concerned anti vaxers ( not those who can’t have the vaccine for health reasons) should be heftily charged for their care.
If any of us had caught the virulent variants in 2020 it would have been serious.
I was talking about Omicrom and simply repeating what my Mpn specialist Prof Somervaille said, that this variant is mild and does not attack the lungs as the other variants have.
Some of us are very fortunate and haven’t had dire symptoms others not so.
HOWEVER I hugely believe in not living my life in fear any more but hiking for 1 1/2 - 2 hours a day and sticking to a non inflammatory diet.
I also think a cup three quarters full has a massive impact on our health and well being. There was an article in the telegraph the other day - “ does the cure for the cancer lie in our gut”
Maybe not a cure but certainly a long way towards it. Google Chris Wark, The living with cancer diet book ( promoted by Maggie’s cancer centres)
How funny I am awaiting my PCR test result as I do not feel myself the last few days if it comes back positive then my symptoms are the same as yours watch this space Loubprv x
I think it must have something to do with a person's genetic makeup, etc. as some folks who are struggling daily get over it just fine and others who have no issues never do. My wife's grandmother is pushing 90 and had cold like symptoms. Meanwhile a family friend (38) died from it. He was just slightly overweight, that's all. A friend of a friend (42) also died after his daughter caught covid in the kindergarten, but I don't know his medical history. My uncle died just recently so it might even have been omicron. He had sniffles the first day, cold the second, couldn't breathe the third and they took him off of life support the sixth day. He was the healthiest 60 year old I've known, full of energy, working light construction his entire life, stronger than I was, didn't look a day over 50. I think my neighbor died from covid while in hospital waiting for a bone marrow transplant, he looked to be in his 40's and probably had something similar to what we have.
I found this blog to be very educational and founded in science
I agree. All a lottery. Even the hospitals are baffled. We actually didn’t know anyone who even caught it until last week when 8 friends had it mildly for a few days. I m afraid now everyone is acting normally it will be rife so we have to a make choice of whether to hide away or go out and mix with or without mask. It’s going to be around for a bit. Long covid is the most concerning. We re hopping in a plane destined for Malta at the beginning of April so hoping we don’t get it again.
Believe me I am honestly glad it only had a mild effect on you, but it is still killing people, making people very ill and some very ill for a long time. Yes thank goodness for the vaccinations and anti virals. Yes I had it at the beginning and it was not easy, in fact pretty bloody awful so no I will not stop worrying and I am not going forth much at all, I have learnt to treat Covid with a great deal of respect
I m so sorry you ve had such a terrible experience as so many people had with the other strains. I honestly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings - rather more try to buck people up by saying that this strain - as was quoted on the news the other night - is incredibly contagious but doesn’t affect the lungs as badly. 92% of hospitalised cases are unvaccinated. We will all pick it up at some stage, probably twice, and even those of us who have had mild symptoms run the risk of long covid.
Life does however, have to get back to normal at some stage. I believe vaccination should be mandatory.
I'm glad covid wasn't so bad for you. I wasn't so lucky. First week was horrid. Covid rendered me useless. Second was able to move around but was half capacity. Two months later I was mostly better but my stamina had not returned to normal. I was double vaxed and 47yo. I would not like to get it again. That doesn't mean Im fearful of it. But I take precautions.
I m so sorry you had such a bad experience. As I sad this is the LATEST strain that my consultant was referring to not the one going round two months ago. Hope you ve fully recovered “blood zero”
I had the Delta variant and believe me that was no walk in the park. Also had the Omicron variant which was very mild. I don't even worry about covid now
Lord you have had a bucketful you poor chap. Let’s hope this ghastly thing is on the way out nevercto datken our doors again. We have 2 tourism related businesses and part own a hotel here in the Lakes. My husband reckons it’s set us back 10 years. Hey ho.
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