Covid and RA

[Breadseedpoppy]

Hi all,

I’m wondering about others’ experiences with Covid. I’ve had RA for about three years but so far the only treatment that’s worked has been 5mg of prednisone. Which I know is not really a treatment other than for pain. I had just started MTX again when I tested positive for Covid and stopped the methotrexate.

So after three years of first isolating, then traveling and avoiding Covid, my husband and I both got Covid 18 days ago, probably while riding the subway in NY. I started paxlovid on the first day. Several days later I tested negative. A few days later, positive. I'm still testing positive and still fatigued. Has anyone had a similar experience ? How long before you finally tested negative? Is this long recovery due to RA?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

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[Deeb1764]

hello. I am just getting over my first time with Covid. There was a confusion re anti virals so was missed off these. It took me 17!days to finally get a negative and then I had 2 weeks of crippling fatigue( I have very bad fatigue as it is this was a different level) . I will say not great still but getting there re recovery

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Deeb1764]

Thanks very much for your reply and I hope your fatigue improves very soon. I’m thinking paxlovid may not have helped me.

[Button_]

I had COVID for the first time last year and never felt so tired. We were away at the time (and guessed what it might be) however had no tests with us and by the time we got home, about 12 days later, it was a faint positive. Probably took about a month to recover fully although first 2 weeks were the worst and could barely eat. I am guessing the RA plays a part in taking longer to recover/exacerbating the symptoms etc. I hope you feel better very soon and sounds like you may be on the right side of it now, here's hoping! Get well soon.

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Button_]

Button, I appreciate your response. I do think it’s the rebound but the rebound is taking longer to play out than the original infection! I imagine RA does play a role in this. Thanks for your kind wishes.

[Pinkypie2018]

Unfortunately it sounds like you have a rebound infection which paxlovid can cause. They do say the rebound infection shouldn’t be as severe as the initial infection so hopefully you feel better soon.

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Pinkypie2018]

Hi Pinkypie, love your pseudonym! The rebound infection is not as severe, just taking forever to resolve. I was negative about 10 days ago and positive two days later and ever since. Thank you for writing.

[Leics]

I was positive for covid last January my first time. I took paxlovid but they made me so unwell I only managed three days. I was negative after 10 days but then a week later was positive again with full blown symptoms for a further three days. Thankfully the 2nd rebound was short lived for me. I hope you feel better soon. I didn’t have any lasting effects after a full month but that’s because of two infections in that time.

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Leics]

I’m so glad you’ve had no further fallout from Covid. Thanks for responding and stay well.

[Leics in reply to Breadseedpoppy]

Hope you improve quickly and don’t have issues afterwards. Rebounds are very common whether you have antivirals or not the first part was the worst it floored me but next part wasn’t too bad.

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Leics]

Many thanks. My only current symptom is fatigue. So this morning, I was going to strip the bed, wash the sheets then make a rhubarb crisp. Instead I got into bed with my iPad😂

[Hopeful1]

Hi BSP Just to give hope to others, I was told qualified for antiviral..till I got covid, so no antivilral. But for me, though I have RA and COPD covid was no worse for me than many a cold! I hope you feel better soon.

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Hopeful1]

Thank you, Hopeful. Be well.

[Green230461]

Sorry to hear you have covid. I have had four bouts of it first lasted 28 days then pneumonia! Second five weeks third five weeks fourth 21 days. I feel like an expert! Last time was just like a heavy cold with joint aches joining the party. Consultant said to take antiviral tablets and drink every two hours. That saved my chest- somehow. Vit D was also given to boost me up. I hope you get better soon. 🌈💥☘️

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Green230461]

You are an expert, probably an unwilling one! You don’t need any more experience. Thanks for writing!

[Dave74]

I was testing positive for 21 days and felt tired for 3 months after! 😴

[Breadseedpoppy in reply to Dave74]

Wow, that’s terrible. I hope you have your energy back now.

[lily2003]

I had COVID this past April and started Paxlovid 1.5 days after testing positive. I felt pretty much normal in about 3 days (5 days after first fever). Tested negative a couple of days later, but used good practices and tested again the next day. So disappointed that that test was positive. I still felt fine. I would say it took a week and a half to get 2 negative tests in a row. I know I’m lucky that it all went by comparatively easily. Just that one horrible, fevered night, one not great day next, the 2 just yucky cold-like days and then completely fine. I thank my vaccines and Paxlovid.

[lily2003 in reply to lily2003]

I know that last tally doesn’t add up to 5! Upshot: truly bad night (scary in hindsight), not great day after, and then road to quick recovery. Again: lucky.

[Breadseedpoppy]

Who’s counting?

It’s very disappointing to see those two lines appear once again. Good to know you recovered completely! Thanks for sharing.