Tested positive for covid

[chrisj99]

I have just tested positive for covid.

I have diabetes and I am on Benapali for my RA. Am I able to get antivirals and how do I do this.

[Madmusiclover]

not sure if you are eligible but phone GP, 111 or your rheumy helpline. They will know and can refer you. Good luck.

[chrisj99 in reply to Madmusiclover]

Thank you for your reply. I was panicking because I am feeling really unwell. I did phone 111 and they said to phone 119. Managed to do that and was told I should get a reply in 24 hours about antivirals. Thanks again.

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. Yes, Benepali should make you eligible for antivirals. According to the CMDU, the team that makes the decision, it’s on the list of medications that means you should be given them as long as you’re symptomatic, not showing signs of improvement, and as long as you can start them within 5 days of the positive test. I finally succumbed for the first time in September, started with symptoms the Monday morning and felt awful by Tuesday. I didn’t test positive until the Wednesday, though, by which point my sats were down to 93% (below 92% for any reason is when they give oxygen for most people without an underlying lung condition), and I really did feel dire. Received an antiviral infusion on the Thursday, sats and heart rate back to normal by the Saturday, but keep in mind that antivirals may not shorten your illness or otherwise make you feel much better. They seem to for some people, but it was almost 2 weeks of heavy symptoms before I tested negative, a further week for those symptoms to really start to settle, and a further 3 weeks for me to say I felt back to normal. Not trying to scare or worry you, just don’t want you to think that the antivirals will do anything other than what they’re intended to do: keep you out of hospital.

If you haven’t heard anything within 24 hours, phone 111 again. The reason I say that is because I was told to phone 119 to report my test, which I did, but when I mentioned it to them, 119 told me to phone 111 about the antivirals. The current antiviral system is dependent on either your record being correctly flagged (and not everyone’s is), having a good GP who will know to make the referral when they see the report and then doing so (not everyone does), or you making the request for antivirals yourself. When I phoned 111 I told them I’d reported a positive test and believed I was eligible for antivirals. They got a clinician to phone me back, who once satisfied I might be eligible then passed me on to the CMDU. They phoned me back within a couple of hours, confirmed I was eligible purely on the basis of taking benepali, and got the ball rolling for an infusion to happen (my choice over tablets). In the interim, my GP, who is very good, had seen the positive test report and directly passed my case on to the CMDU, so I ended up being contacted twice.

[chrisj99 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for this information Charlie-G.

I am crossing fingers I will get the reply about the antivirals tomorrow. I agree that our records are not always flagged correctly.

Because of your reply I now have a trail to follow if I have any hiccups. Thanks again.

[Jackie1947 in reply to Hidden]

I had to send my oxygen levels over twice daily for 9 days. Mine dropped to 92 % and should have called an ambulance but a good few deep breathes bought it up again. The antiviral tablets delivered by courier from local hospital within hours of positive test helped it from mutating.

[Jackie1947]

As long as you start antivirals within 5 days it's fine. I had mine delivered by courier when I had it. Also had to send over my oxygen levels twice daily. I'm on Benipali and definitely had to stop it and if I recall missed two jabs. Take professional advice on when to restart. Good luck

[chrisj99 in reply to Jackie1947]

Thanks Jackie

All the advice on this forum is very helpful. I will definitely be stopping my Benepali until I am feeling a lot better.

[Poshcards]

ring 119 and ask the question x

[Green230461]

Are you feeling any better yet? I was told that for me with RA Covid could take six weeks to clear I managed five and felt like an Olympian. Be kind to yourself and get better soon 🎅🏻👍

[chrisj99 in reply to Green230461]

Thank you for your comment. Yes I am better now. I received the antivirals, not good side effects horrible taste in mouth and diarrhoea but worth it. Still very tired but suffer from fatigue anyway just more so at the moment. Thanks again for caring. Have a good Xmas and New Year ☃️🎄