Tested Covid Positive and ? continue with Methotrexate

[Wangpaupau]

Hi everyone, just to say yesterday evening 9th March I had a Positive LFT. Waiting for a home testing PCR kit as symptomatic: slight cough, fatigue, Lower backache, change in taste and generally under the weather.. Also had an email from the Panoramic Trial to paricipate in the trial which I have registered this morning. Has anyone participated in this Trial before? 2ndly I am due to take my Methotrexate 10mg tablets today. Should I take the tablet? Thanking you in advance for any replies received.

[Boxerlady]

Sorry to hear that. I'm feeling under the weather too and am suspicious that it might be Covid but testing negative so far. Did your symptoms start long before you tested positive? Re the Methotrexate, I'd suggest contacting your team and asking them; that's what I plan to do IF I test positive.

[Wangpaupau in reply to Boxerlady]

Thank you Boxerlady for your reply. Fingers crossed for you and that you will be ok. I started feeling under the weather since last Sunday, kind of feeling tired and out of sorts until yesterday when the smptoms were more noticeable and I thought I'd just do a LFT.. Was a bit shocked to see the two red lines! And yet day before on Tuesday morning my LFT was Negative. Think it's inevitable that we are going to test Positive sooner or later! I couldn't figure out where I could have caught it.. just a couple visits to the supermarket last week.

I have left a message for the Rheumy Nurse Advice line. Hopefully will hear from them soon.

[springcross in reply to Boxerlady]

I hope you continue to test negative Bl. 🤞

[springcross]

I'm sorry to hear that Wpp. I hope you have a mild dose and recover quickly. 🤞

[Wangpaupau in reply to springcross]

Thank you springcross. You won't believe that I have had 4 doses of Covid Vaccination! Nothing is fool proof

[springcross in reply to Wangpaupau]

How true!

[Katie-Mag]

Hello Wangpaupau, sorry to hear you’ve got COVID and hope you hear back from the rheumatology nurse soon. When I had COVID last year I was advised to stop Methotrexate and my other dmards. Get well soon.

[Wangpaupau in reply to Katie-Mag]

Thank you Katie - MagJust feeling a bit lousy with flu like symptoms.

Rheumy nurse left a message to advise stop Methotrexate until 1-2 weeks after a Neg LFT

[Jo30]

I caught covid last week, registered for the trial, passed the online screening and message to say someone would call me but I was never contacted by anyone. It does say on the nhs web site if you think you may be entitled to antivirals contact your gp or 111. You need to start them within 5 days. Contact your Rheumy team about your meds. I had to stop mine for two weeks. I hope you feel better soon xx

[Wangpaupau in reply to Jo30]

Hi Jo thank you for your good wishes. Same here, I registered for the trial 2 days ago but haven't heard back! I am not sure if I am entitled to Antiviral as haven't recd any letter regarding my entitlementAnyway I phoned 111 this morning & after a few questions was told my GP will call me in 2 hrs time

It's over 2hrs and I am still waiting. Anyway my surgery is useless so won't hold my hopes high

So if one is eligible for the antiviral, is it the GP who will prescribe them?

[Jo30 in reply to Wangpaupau]

My husband is also immunosuppresses and has asthma. He didn’t need the antivirals in the end but the call after ringing 111 came from the hospital and it was a doctor from the covid unit that called. Hope you get sorted x

[CagneysMum]

Hi. I had Covid about 3 weeks ago. Nothing too bad … like a congested head cold and cough. Phoned 111 and accessed antivirals which speeded up my recovery I think. My rheumy recommended stopping methotrexate for one week after starting antivirals … but you know how much medical advice varies. Suggest you contact your own rheumy for advice👍 Good luck x

[Wangpaupau in reply to CagneysMum]

Hi CagneysMum who did you contact for the Antiviral and who ultimately prescribe them for you? I requested for PCR home test kit 2days ago and this is no where to be seen as well. On the other hand I believe no point for PCR if LFT is a definite Positive....?Is this correct? Another question, following 2 Neg LFT does that mean I can end self isolation and can safely be in contact with other people, particularly my daughter who has MCTD & PH and having her 2nd Biologic on 18 th March & relying on me to give her a lift to the hospital. Sorry for all these questions. Thank you

[CagneysMum in reply to Wangpaupau]

Not sure about when you’re safe after testing negative sorry … gov isolation rules still applied when I was poorly with Covid 🤷‍♀️ I tested positive on a LFT and had classic symptoms (raised temp, new cough etc) so phoned 111 and explained that my test was positive and I’d had symptoms for 2 days. I said that I had RA and because of the drugs I was taking (methotrexate and biologics) that I qualified for access to anti viral drugs. She took my details and had someone more qualified phone me back within an hour to confirm this and make arrangements to get pills to me within 2 days. They were delivered by the fire service.

[trace58 in reply to CagneysMum]

I heard it takes 8 to 10 days possibly to be safe depending on age

[soundsofborder]

Hi everyone. I tested positive for covid last Friday. Had four vaccines and been so careful when I’ve gone out. Hey ho. Phoned my rheumatology team they said as follows for me:- stop methotrexate until feeling better…..because I’m also on a reducing range of prednisolone (was down to 2mgs daily pre covid) so I’m now on 10mgs twice a day for one week, then 15mgs once daily for week, then 10mgs once daily for one week, then 5mgs once daily for one week. Then back to my 2mgs. This was given for me, I strongly advise anybody with positive test to ring your Rheumatology team and get advice, not just follow this. I had a call from a doctor at one of our large teaching hospitals, to check me out on Sunday morning, and he told me I didn’t qualify for the antiviral meds. I’ve not been too bad, tired, coughing, headaches, aches in my back, was hoping that one week in I’d be testing negative and felt quite well yesterday, but this morning I have a very tight chest, discoloured mucous and some blood up my nose…….not a lot but, I’m a retired nurse and thought….oh hello what’s all this then. So I’m in the back bedroom away from my hubby where I’ve been for a week, but I’m in bed again, with lemon tea, ginger and honey, watching Jack Ryan, On Prime video. Hope you all stay as safe as you can, it’s not that easy, and won’t be as restrictions keep lifting, but thank goodness for the vaccine.

[Wangpaupau in reply to soundsofborder]

Hi soundsofborder I hope you will feel better soon. Seems a few of us have succumbed to the virus despite the vaccs but I guess it does help otherwise could be worse.