Covid - an odd experience ( ET JAK2 Hydroxycarbamide)

[Cassandra61]

So 24 days ago I tested positive for Covid. I have had all three jabs + booster. The wonderful NHS sent the anti- viral drugs around in a taxi and I felt like I had flu: headache, runny nose, aches, cough sore throat etc. After a few days I felt better and finished the 5 day course of drugs. 12 days later I have the same symptoms and tested positive again after feeling ok and testing negative the day before. I had not been in contact with anyone at all. I was a little frightened but get better a little bit each day. I have now tested negative for a week and very much hope to have seen off Mr. Covid.

Has anyone heard of this before? I am certain I have not have a reinfection as I had no contact with anyone and not been outside the house.

I am left with ghastly fatigue which is getting better very slowly, anybody got any tips for diet / managing this? I had lowish Neutrophils on my most recent blood text about a month before I caught Covid. Hope you are all staying well and grateful for any insights.

[hunter5582]

I expect you just had a relapse of COVID, which can happen with any viral infection. Dratted inconvenience. It took me about 12 days for primary symptoms to resolve. It took about 2 months for energy levels to return to normal.

Hope you are back to 100% soon.

[Notdiagnosed in reply to hunter5582]

Hi hunter. Hope you had a good 4th July.

[hunter5582 in reply to Notdiagnosed]

Hi to you too! I had a great July 4th. We set off fireworks, had a BBQ, and spent the day at the River with family and friends.

Hope you are feeling better soon and can get out to enjoy the Summer,

[Cassandra61 in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks so much for replying, I am sure you are right. I am getting there but it is soooooooo slow and boring, still very glad not to end up in hospital. Take care of yourself.

[Notdiagnosed]

I think some are getting a rebound effect after some of the antivirals.

[Cassandra61 in reply to Notdiagnosed]

I had the Paxlovid and this sounds very much like it. I have had no symptoms and tested negative for a week but still have the fatigue which I am not patient with but trying to be! Take care yourself.

[EPguy]

You likely took Paxlovid anti viral. It is effective. But recently there have been cases of "rebound" after taking the antiviral, as noted by Notdiagnosed. A famous case in the US has brought attention to the issue:

<<Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s top pandemic adviser, sought to discourage doubts about the antiviral drug Paxlovid following what appeared to be a “rebound” of Covid-19 after taking the pills.>>

<<“Paxlovid did what it was supposed to do,” Dr. Fauci, 81, said in an interview, saying that he believed that the treatment, made by Pfizer, kept him out of the hospital>>

nytimes.com/2022/06/29/us/p...

I think many of us are going to get Omicron ba.4-5, I will try to get the antiviral if I do since WBC is low on Besremi.

[Cassandra61 in reply to EPguy]

I did have Paxlovid and it sounds very much like you suggest, thanks for replying. I have been symptom free and testing negative for a week but the fatigue is very boring but I am getting there so trying to be patient. Look after yourself xx

[Barbiebreath]

I had it for 27 days the last 5 spent in the hospital. I experienced feeling better, like i was getting well about every 5 days then would be slammed down again.

Now I have had it for a couple of weeks. I feel fine now but still have some congestion a little cough.

So to me it sounds typical. I don’t know anything about the anti virals . My doc gave me antibiotics, steroids and some cough meds. I’m not sure any of it helped. Maybe a little.

I hope you are feeling well and like yourself again soon! 💕

[katiewalsh in reply to Barbiebreath]

I’m sorry to hear what a rough time you had. Were you fully vaccinated & boostered?

[Cassandra61 in reply to Barbiebreath]

You sound to have had the most ghastly time, you poor thing. As you say it, what I had sounds very like yourself. I had Paxlovid anti viral and just felt like I was doing it all over again. I am now 12 days on from the second bout and feeling better and testing negative but the fatigue is very boring. I am eating iron B12 rich stuff and having an afternoon nap ( I am retired) and reminding myself that emotions / mental stuff is tiring too. There doesn't seem to be anything else to do so trying to be patient. I really, really hope you get well soon and that you are proper looking after yourself. Take care and thanks for replying xx

[ainslie]

Sorry to hear you have not being feeling so good, which antiviral did you have?As EP guy mentioned Paxlovid can have rebound, I think maybe Mercola wrote about this recently and mentioned Faucci

[Cassandra61 in reply to ainslie]

It was the Paxlovid and I was glad to have it due to be ECV with the Covid but rebound is a good way of looking at it, what an utter bastard of a disease. I am definitely getting there and just reminding myself to take care and be patient. Feel lucky not to end up in hospital like so many people - you take care xx

[Meatloaf9]

We seem to be getting more and more reports of people taking paxlovid and then relapsing several days after completing the 5 day course. I think that Fauci took a second round of 5 days. Several people have reported feeling worse when the rebound comes than they initially did. I don't know what the answer is, I don't think that the monoclonal antibodies are still available which always seemed to work for patients. Evusheld is supposed to be very effective against the new strains if you can access it, given before infection. Best.

[EPguy in reply to Meatloaf9]

I learned yesterday a friend of mine just went thru this . As Wyebird says here, it might be the nature of the current variant ba.4-5 with or without Pax

[Meatloaf9 in reply to EPguy]

That is a definite possibility, I don't think they know why this happens. It seems that we just don't hear much about covid anymore.

[EPguy in reply to Meatloaf9]

Unfortunately Covid is quickly regaining its fame. Ba5 has some elements of Delta in it, so it gets deeper in the lungs, from what I recently read. This Omicron is no longer so "mild".

[Cassandra61 in reply to Meatloaf9]

It is really good in some ways to hear that other people have been through this but I wish that nobody had to!

[Wyebird]

Hi glad you are now covid negative. Just a matter of info, lots of my friends who contacted covid a few months ago also tested positive after 10 days as if the strain they had was resistant in going. They all went to a family gathering and it seems caught it off the same person.

[Cassandra61 in reply to Wyebird]

How ghastly, and looks like it is very far from ground. I am glad to be negative but wouls soooooo like to have some energy - so bored with being patient!!!!!

[Emmyroos]

Paxlovid rebound! I'm sorry!! I hope you make a complete and speedy recovery this time around.

I'm currently on paxlovid and terribly afraid of rebound. I've got two kids, husband and we're all down with this one. It's been rough. I'm worried the Omicron 4/5 are getting their heat back! Take care!

[Cassandra61 in reply to Emmyroos]

So sorry you have all been hit and hope you have some support networks to take a bit of the strain - I needed my partner to make me eat properly! I think I definitely rushed the first round and pushed myself too much - I am trying to sell my house and was not eating or sleeping much, so if you can, do the those things. I am eating alot of B12 type foods and having a rest in the afternoon. It is really hard for you and I really hope you are all well soon.

[Emmyroos in reply to Cassandra61]

Wow get a house on the market after recovering?!? Yikes that is so taxing on even a non-covid healthy person! Feel better fast! Cheers to a full recovery.

[Cassandra61 in reply to Emmyroos]

And to you, look after yourself - do as I say not as I did!!!!!

[Phantasia]

Sounds like the Paxlovid rebound issue I have read about.

People take the anti-virals, start to feel better then about ten days later are sick again.

Glad to hear that you're on the mend and that you could access the anti-virals. Here in Australia access is strictly limited to certain groups. Having ET, as I do, isn't a qualifying illness although leukaemia, myeloma are.