Covid finally got me!

[AndyT]

After nearly 3 years of dodging Covid and 6 injections, the latest variant has finally got me!

Just mild symptoms so far but waiting to hear from NHS re antivirals after I reported my positive test result.

I was due to visit my elderly father who is seriously ill in hospital, so that will have to be deferred - just glad I tested to be safe before going!

[Penny-10]

Yes I dodged it for 3 years and it finally got me as well, I tested positive yesterday. I haven't gone through nhs re antivirals as I am only on aspirin for my ET so don't think I qualify. Hope you continue to have mild symptoms and feel better and get to see your father soon.

[hunter5582]

Been there. Done that. It was not a good thing.

I actually contracted COVID when I was in the hospital/rehab center taking care of my Mother. I survived. Unfortunately she did not. She actually passed from the dementia, but the COVID made things immeasurably worse. Thank goodness you tested prior to visiting your Father.

I was able to access monoclonal antibody infusion treatment. I am glad I did. I was able to recover in time to get back to help take care of my Mother before she passed.

wishing you access to treatment and a speedy recovery. I hope you are able to return to caring for your Father soon.

All the best.

[AndyT in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks Hunter - I got a good response from the NHS after just one call to chase and have today started antivirals (Paxlovid) which should hopefully speed my recovery and allow me to see my Dad in time 🤞🤞

[hunter5582 in reply to AndyT]

Wishing you and your Dad a speedy recovery. 🙏🙏

[mark382]

It eventually got me October last year after shielding for years. Only symptoms I had were runny nose, tired , but that could have been my PV. My nose and eyes felt like they had a million feathers in them, like extreme hay-fever. Told NHS via the App, hoping to get antivirals and still waiting for a phone call to say yes or no!!!. App said good to go after 5 days, but I was still testing positive 14 days later.

[Dottiedot]

Morning I am also now a week into having covid for the 1st time and still feeling pretty awful and testing positive. No offer of antivirals either as I am currently only on aspirin due to interferon side effects - hope you feel better soon

[Aldebaran25]

Hope you get better soon and are not too ill with it. Thank you for sharing, it does show that we must not be complacent.

[AndyT in reply to Aldebaran25]

Exactly - this new variant seems very contagious!

After numerous occasions over the past 3 years with symptoms that could have been Covid and 120+ negative tests I fell into the trap of assuming this was just an ordinary cold and didn’t test straight away - will go back to being more cautious next time!

[jillydabrat]

thank goodness the symptoms are mild. I still fear getting Covid. Never stopped wearing masks. Incredibly angry that the gov’t have stopped posting numbers. People think it’s over because nobody is updating the situations at the hospitals. Thank goodness you tested before visiting your dad. I will say a little prayer for his speedy recovery xxx

[nightshadow]

How fortunate you decided to test before visiting your father. We just got a word that 3 people at a party we had attended came down with it, mild symptoms only fortunately. Our numbers here have been rising steadily, so it is back to volunteer masking for us. blech.

My husband and I caught COVID at the tail end of a cruise last summer and we had to quarantine in place for 8 days. We were both pretty sick for a couple of days, but after that we ended up having a lovely time with a forced extended vacation in the Galapagos Islands. Hideously expensive, but lovely.

[cs1941]

what is the criteria for being given the anti virals I have PRV Jak 2 positiveV617F 59% diagnosed 2016 and been on Hydroxcarbamide since July 2016 currently 11/ 500mg /week.I tested positive for Covid 9/2/23 with home LFT then sent off my Priority Test yesterday.I received a telephone call at 915am this morning and after giving all my medical details was told i did not qualify for the anti virals.Why was I in the group Extremely Vunerable and had to abide by isolation rules but don,t qualify for the anti virals

[AndyT in reply to cs1941]

It seems to be a bit of a grey area (yet another one!) and they may also be basing a decision on what medication you are on and whether that may suppress your immunity. I am on interferon (Pegasys).

Drug interactions are also an issue with antivirals - looking at your bio I can see you are on steroids and some other drugs. I don’t know about all the antivirals but Paxlovid, which seems the most commonly used one, can’t be taken with quite a long list of other common drugs.

There is good information on the Blood Cancer UK website and they suggest contacting your consultant if you are denied access to antivirals and believe you should be eligible bloodcancer.org.uk/support-...

My consultant had previously told me she didn’t think I was at high risk from Covid but I’m taking the antivirals (Paxlovid) as a precaution anyway - no side effects apart from an unpleasant bitter taste which is common with this medication.

Good luck!

Andy