So after being locked up for so long I finally tested positive on Saturday😧
I am just wondering if anyone has taken a while to get a negative test and does it take longer as we are immunesupressed? I am on day 7 and still testing positive for covid, it has really taken the stuffing out of me too!!!!! I am so so weiry😷
Although work are very good and have strict guidelines I feel a little pressure to get better quickly but without 2 negative tests I cannot return atm.
In all the lockdown I was shielding but since being back at work and masks not being mandatory as of late covid is everywhere. I wear my mask still all the time but others don't.
Every day I feel a bit better, just waiting for negative test now😉
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Flor1rence
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I'm immunosuppressed and didn't test negative until day 12. There was a similar thread about two weeks ago where many others posted their experience.
Hope you recover soon. I was on the whole better by day 12 but the cough did linger until the middle of this week - about three and half weeks after testing positive.
thank you Prunes, I didn't see that post, I've had so much on with my health appointments recently and injured my knuckle which is on going, xrays and now waiting for MRI x
Hello gr95I have SLE/RA overlap. My RA is in fact quite low now and I only experience mild inflammation in my joints. This was not the case thirty years ago when I was first diagnosed. Since then I have tried all sorts of medication - gold and steroid injections first off, then methotrexate, countless other dmards that I couldn't tolerate before finally ending up on azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine which I've been taking for more than ten years. My SLE and RA are both well-controlled now and in fact I am currently trying to reduce my dosage.
My daughter has just had covid and it took 10 days to test negative and she’s not immune suppressed so I think as with all illnesses it will vary from person to person.
Just wondering - what do you count as day 1? Is it the first day you test positive or the first day you have symptoms? I had a bad dose of listeria food poisoning and then got cold symptoms last weekend. Did not test positive until last Wednesday but had symptoms up to a week beforehand.
Sorry for not replying sooner Delicate input. My daughter took day one as the positive test result day. She’d been unwell a couple of days before but had had her drink spiked and put those days down to that but they overlapped I think.
It's just work assumed I would test negative yesterday, but it varies, we are not all the same. They are hoping to have me back to work on Monday but I can't see it somehow! I had my elbow operated on which was very successful but I damaged my knuckle 8th January on opposite side, i.e. left and had xrays two weeks ago, last week went to muscularskeletal and he said it may be one of the pulleys which would only show on MRI so waiting for that. I'm sorry the menopause is giving you grief, damn nuisance that is!!😣x
My Dad who is not immunosupressed was still testing positive on day 11. At that point he gave up testing as government guidelines said you could end your isolation after 10 days anyway. As with everything to do with covid it seems very random.
Did you have the classic symptoms? I found all the media descriptions of Covid symptoms misleading. The cough gives loud productive cracks from the chest, particularly when lying down in the night - nothing at all like described on the news.
Thanks, not really the same as mine then. I had the runny nose, excessive violent sneezing, hardly a sore throat it was so mild and the cough was totally different from that described in the media and by the NHS. I wish they would get their facts right because I was coughing as usual as I have for 20 years and I went to the gym with no idea that was Covid. I had food poisoning initially which caused skeletal aches and shivering, neck pain and headache.
When I tested positive recently it took me 14 days to test negative, my partner who is not immunosuppressed took 20 days! We both isolated for 10 days 😊
Have you had the antivirals? I was negative within 6 days but I had started the antivirals on day 4. Fingers crossed you will be negative soon, I have known non immune suppressed to be positive for up to 10 days.
Criteria for antivirals is different to that used to identify CEV people. I was never identified as CEV but am eligible for antivirals as I’m on Rituximab.
The eligibility criteria for antivirals can be found on the appendix of this document england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/... Here is a picture of the relevant section.
I was classed (eventually) as CEV on Rtx as it’s caused hypogamma. People have been wrongly classified as their GPs/Nurses misunderstood and no end of inconsistency in this.
Your rheumatology department are the people who put you on the cev list, it is all down to the drugs you are prescribed. As you are on Rex you will have been flagged from your prescribing records as cev.
Rheumatology drpartments and GPs could add people to the CEV list. According to the criteria used at the time being on Rituximab didn’t automatically make you CEV (I’m on Rituximab but was never classed as CEV). Being on biologics with steroids or other comorbities did. However, some rheumatology departments and and GPs put lots of people on the list that didn’t need to be. Not sure whether they were trying to cover themselves just incase or whether it was just easier to add everyone rather than looking at comorbities (and may well have been a bit both!)
And other departments (as in Neonkittie17 experience) failed to identify patients that should have been on the list. I guess it all happened very quickly and relevant procedures were not in place to achieve this in a timely manner.
Just tested positive and am on list to get antivirals. Have spent more than 2 hours on phone today and no help. Yet another promise that does not mean anything! Was told they would ring within 24 hours of a positive test being recorded! Now 48 hours! Maybe get help when priority PCR has results! but not very hopeful
Who did you phone? When I phoned 111 about antivirals they were very helpful. Had a phone call back 20 minutes later to say a referral had been made to the local CMDU (Covid Medicine Delivery Unit). They called the next day and asked questions about the medication I take to check I was eligible and I received the tablets a few hours later.
Hi, I tested positive last Saturday and had the texts and emails saying someone would be in touch etc re antivirals. By Monday nothing so I called the GP. After a bit of insisting they said a GP would call me back (all phone appts gone as it was Mon am). By mid afternoon I was getting hacked off so i called 111 and they shoved the GP to refer me as via 111 they have 1hr to call you/do something about it. I got the antivirals by 4pm. Good luck x
I tried 111 and the first time I was sent to Boots for advice! The second time I was put on a list for out of hours doctor to ring. 5 hours later I had a call from an administrator to say I would get a call from doctor. That was yesterday evening. I have heard nothing. I have given up. Tried hospital was told to contact gp. 119 had no route to get help. As gp records are so crap they do not even have any mention of biologic or methotrexate, as prescribed by hospital. Maybe that is why I never get any support
Oh no, I'm sorry you've had that experience, maybe they were quicker with me because I was having pain around my ribs when breathing. Yes the lack of info re meds could also have something to do with it.
Today is day 10 for me & still positive, still full up & no taste or smell, advised not to have metoject or lefluminode until either negative or feeling better, have to say though that my joints are pretty good, I read somewhere (probably on here) that you're immune system leaves you alone to attack any viruses you may have, always an upside 😀
Well I'm day 7, been very sick but not hospitalised , got antivirals , still feel off buy did a negative test, going to recheck yomortow but stay isolated x
Aaw hope you're feeling better soon, I didn't get the antivirals 😡 long story 🤣 but do wonder if I'd be feeling a lot better & testing negative by now if I did, who knows 🤷 x
Thank you, it does sort of contradict itself as whilst it's to help stop hospitalisation it also says to stop the severity of the disease, surely that indicates if you have the antivirals you won't or shouldn't feel as ill as not having them x
Yes I think he meant OK you are still going yo feel ill as I think people thought if you get antivirals all the symptoms go, they don't, but you tend not to get very low saturation etc but I defo got breathless even on antivirals
Eek, I told the GP on Friday mine was 92/93 and she said well you know how to manage your asthma, have some steroids and phone for help if you need it. Also are you on your own, no my children are here, early teens. Oh well as long as someone could phone if you were really bad lol
Oh no, it seems we all get different advice, guessing though that as they know you & you have steroids to help they said that based on your medical history, very worrying for you though,
What I couldn't believe is there is no sharing of medical records between the 4 nations! How ridiculous is that, they had to rely on me telling them my history, perhaps they were just being extra cautious because of this.
My chest is definitely worse just hope the benylyn sorts it x
I'm on day 8 and still testing positive after antivirals. Glad you're feeling better. My chest got worse a couple of days ago so got some steroids from GP, I have severe asthma as well as RA. Rest up you'll be back at work soon enough x
thank you Gillybob, I should go back tomorrow but I keep falling asleep, I don't know if I feel up to it but I want to go back but still testing positive😕
I was unlucky enough to get Covid 10 days ago, after almost 2 years of hiding away from the world. I’ve no idea who I got it from , because my husband and daughter escaped it! On day 4 I was offered an anti viral infusion, which I went for, and I’m glad I did because that point my breathing was pretty bad. Although I’m now on day 10 of testing positive, I didn’t get any worse after day 4 - the infusion stopped Covid in its tracks! Today I feel normal! I know this is no help to you but there is hope.
Hello Helen, thank you for your reply, it is nice to know how covid has affected you, I must admit I have been lucky to have not been too bad like you after day 4 but still struggling with fatigue, breathlessness and lack of voice. Definitely going in the right direction here😊
Hi Flor, I am recently over COVID, yes mine was 7 days from my first positive test that I started to test negative.. I feel I was a lucky one as apart from massive headache & 48hrs sheer tiredness, there after I wouldn’t know I had it & strangely all my RA symptoms disappeared. Alas that was short lived as literally the day I tested negative slowly my RA brutally returned, but at least I know RA… my OH also had it & he took ten days before he tested negative so I do think we all deal with it individually as we are all very different..Hope you get a negative soon x
Hi gr95, I am taking Angevita & Mtx, I was doing ok prior COVID but sadly & totally unexpectedly, literally the day I started to test negative I started to flare & even now i’m still pretty uncomfortable. I do think it’s how we are our genetics etc.When I had my 1st vaccine I went into a massive flare which took quite a bit of time to get under control, caused a change of meds.. But what I found odd but a relief is actually having COVID didn’t really bother me after the initial 24hrs…
I caught covid on 30th January an didn’t test negative till the last day of March I also had a anti viral transfusion on day 2 As for feeling weak an exhausted I still have days like that now.
Just don’t expect to see any health professionals auntie u test negative . I was told not to test after day ten as u should not be infectious then.
Day 13 & negative this morning, I know you don't have to test after day 10 but wanted reassurance as I look after my 2 year old granddaughter on a Monday & I'm still full up with it x
Hi, I'm on metoject 20mg, 15mg lefluminode, 200mg hydroxychloroquine, 1500mg gabapentin, 90mg etoricoxib plus lansoprazole & cyclazine 🙄 missed my 2nd dose of metoject tonight & haven't had lefluminode since 25/03 as advised by rheumatology nurse until I'm negative & or feeling better.
Still full up & cough getting slightly worse but have also got slight hearing loss which started the 2nd day after symptoms, wondering whether to ring surgery tomorrow as I'm getting concerned about it, having to put volume really loud or subtitles on 🙄, read online there is some evidence covid can affect hearing & it could be permanent if not treated quickly, I'm already blind as a bat 😀, driving everyone mad asking them to repeat themselves 🤣 .
I'm definitely not in remission, still trying to work out what is or isn't working, waiting for another steroid injection in my right shoulder.
Until today though the "normal " pain was practically gone, guessing that's because my immune system was focusing on covid, today I can feel it all creeping back, hoping I'll feel better sooner rather than later to restart the metoject & lefluminode, probably haven't helped myself having my 2 year old granddaughter today, she wears me out normally but think it's really taken a toll on me today.
Hoping to get out to the shops tomorrow & so happy I'm negative as I caught it on my birthday 2 weeks ago & it's hubby's birthday Wednesday so we can go for a meal x
Yes it's a debilitating virus, sorry you're suffering. Tired - me too!! Rest rest rest, and drink as much water as you can. I am still recovering, it took 10 days for me to test negative. Follow what your body tells you. Lie down and sleep if you possibly can. It just takes time for our bodies to recover. Keep your pecker up!
Hi Florence similar situation for me. I was 12 days before I had a negative test but did not really feel back to normal for about 4 weeks in total. That cough and congestion lingered. Hope you feel better soon.
Hope you're feeling better now? I get what you mean about it 'knocking the stuffing out of you' it did me too! To be honest, it took quite a few weeks to get somewhere back to normal, whatever that might be 🤪so be patient, and take it easy.
I understand how you feel, I tested positive at the end of January despite almost two years of shielding and three vaccines. I do not know yet how this happened as I had only left the house twice in the previous week, once to collect shopping and once for a hospital appointment. I did get anti viral medication from the hospital due to my vulnerability but I still felt ill. It was day 12 before I tested negative however you are allowed “out” after 10 days even if you are still testing positive. GP told me that you can test positive 60 days after infection. Get well soon
I hope that the symptoms soon go away. Thought my own experience might be of interest.
Have had 2 AstroZeneca jabs, the second, 3 months after the 1st. 6 months later, in November 2021, I received the so-called booster - the Pfizer vaccine. At the beginning of March of this year (4 months after the booster) I contracted the Omicron virus.
Because I had on a day-to-day basis largely isolated myself, wearing a mask each time I left the house when necessary, I was able to track down the source of the infection: a Supermarket. I noticed at the time of the visit that there was an NHS officer in uniform taking swab specimens around the freshly baked goods area.
The time between infection and then experiencing the symptoms was 2 to 3 days. The duration of the flu-like symptoms (runny nose, sneezing, hot/cold sensations, sore throat and fatigue) was 10 days into the infection. The lateral flow test was negative after 13 days.
Being a part of the Oxford study I was able to get positive results confirmed at ca 6 days into the infection by Swab testing (PRC) and a blood sample from a finger prick, for antibodies.
I am 83 but found the symptoms similar to a mild flu. I guess that I shall be due for a 4th vaccination which I shall delay until after at least a month has passed since testing negative on the lft.
The next threat will be from the next variant of the Omicron coronavirus and has already been detected in Continental Europe and described as a hybrid of the nasty delta and the highly transmissible Omicron. So far, the medical scientists have described it as being even more transmissible than the Omicron. The severity of the symptoms has not yet, to my knowledge, been published. Hopefully, they will be milder than those of the delta infection!
The conclusion from my experience is that, despite retaining the antibodies at the time of the infection, generated by the Pfizer vaccination, I was not protected from the Omicron. However, the symptoms were relatively mild. This was my first and only infection with the coronavirus during the pandemic.
I tested positive just before Christmas..it took me about 3 weeks for my first negative result… ..but I still have a cough & am more breathless than I was before I had it.
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