I have been very careful since the start of the covid era - very limited outings/socializing, always mask up when out, no more gym exercise classes. I decided to enjoy the holiday a little bit more this year - dined out with a few family members in a crowded and popular restaurant this past Saturday. I woke up this morning feeling little warmth in my sinus/throat/mouth - not quite sore throat yet but do feel "about to have a slight sore throat". My finger and wrist joints are slightly more stiffer than usual. The first knuckle of one hand seems to be slightly swollen. No fever. I did grocery (mask on) and cooked as usual - so far mild symptoms. Since I plan to see my mother next week, I did a covid test on the safe side. Oh no..it's positive! Can't a RA girl just have some fun without being punished🤨
I am due for a humira injection tonight and MTX in couple days. I have just emailed my RA doctor for advice regarding holding up meds or not. Since my symptoms now are mild - thinking about declining antiviral in case it is offered unless symptoms are expected to be worse. I am wondering the follows:
Are covid symptoms typically the worse on day 1?
Or will they get progressively worse? e.g. aching joints/swelling joints/sore throat etc
Do most of you take antivirals when offered?
Would appreciate your kind sharing. Thank you!
mymymy
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Mymymy
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I'm not sure that test is very good since it was supposed to be used for the very first outbreak. There is an awful lot of coughs, colds and flu about this year. Just caught something nasty myself. I'm barking like a seal. Unfortunately bound to pick something up. My elderly neighbours were knocked flat for a week. They're bouncing back now. Probably where I caught it!😊 lempsip is soothing. Hope you feel better soon.
I was in a similar situation like you. I took after 10 days a latest COVID vaccine.
I wanted to get first a PCR test but it was difficult to arrange. My symptoms are mild. I don't need antivirals. I am actually happy that I may building up natural immunity. I had 7 COVID vaccines, ever 6 months one.
In a normal situation I would just get a PCR test first. I don't believe in a RAT test. Therefore I made a decision to get the latest Moderna vaccine. Now every joint hurts, otherwise I am fine.
It is recommended to wait for 3 months with a vaccination after COVID infection in order to build a stronger immunity.
I made a risk (I didn't really have symptoms except a scratchy trough. I had no temperature. Ok a little bit of sneezing maybe 5 times. I didn't want to delay my vaccination with such a mild symptoms. Probably my natural immunity would not be great after such a mild disease. If you take antivirals it would kill your natural immunity. I don't feel very well now but I am relatively fine. I hope that in a week I will feel much better.
Try to get the PCR test if you can. That would be the best for you.
If you really having a COVID now than maybe you could wait between 1 month to 3 months to get the latest Moderna vaccine. That is the best for your immunity to wait a little bit. You should not wait 6 months, I believe it is too long.
I may end up having if not chemotherapy than maybe radiation and I just wanted to protect myself by building up immunity.
The RAT test could be fauls positives and negative. It could pick up corona viruses or just COVID.
Elon Musk had four tests. Two of them positive and two of them negative. He said: "It is bogus."
Examples of "Bogus" in a Sentence | YourDictionary.comThe problem is, the money is bogus and you're left worse off than before you participated in the scam.
These days it seems not many people test + for Covid for very long….& everyone’s symptoms differ depending what they are….it’s been all change….some have what seems like a cold….& it’s over pretty quickly ..others have aches & pains that can linger.
Now we don’t need to isolate it seems if we go out & about as normally as possible …after testing negative…the outcome is better than staying home & continuing to wear a mask everywhere..
The only place I would wear a mask now is say on a bus/train or if there was something I really wanted to see at a cinema…but I haven’t been to any sort of theatre since before Covid. …& not likely to now!
Unless I was very unwell & was advised by a doctor I saw…not just spoke to on the phone….who specialised in knowing the symptoms that really needed the antivirals…I wouldn’t volunteer to have them….I think we have seen on here…a lot have felt worse from the AVs…than from Covid!
Hi AgedCrone, thanks for your advice and good wish. I took the cold med the second time before going to bed yesterday - woke up with slight sore throat and some joint ache - no fever. Yes, I am concerned about AVs. I have skipped humira last night while waiting for my RA dr to reply. Hope my symptoms won't get worse and last long🤞
The test is still pretty accurate as I had covid a few months back. After initial couple of days of cough fever it was the tiredness. Partner just had it and I recognised symptoms and he tested. It varies I was ill for a good 10 days partner shorter time. Despite being a smoker. Best of luck with it.
Lateral flow tests are still as accurate as they were at the start. The part of the virus which is detected by the lateral flow test is different to the bit which is mutating in the new variants.
My experience from the 3 times I’ve had Covid is that symptoms gradually increase over several days. However, one thing I’ve learnt about Covid is that it is completely random, and everyone’s experiences are different. My daughter has had it twice and both times her symptoms were worst the first couple of days, when my husband had it he had no symptoms at all and my son was more ill the day before he tested positive.
Hi bpeal1, thanks for sharing different covid experiences in your family. I seem to have slightly more symptoms today...occasional runny nose, sinus congestion, slight temp increase, more joint stiffness - fingers/wrists. The symptoms are still more mild then expected. Hope to get over in 5 days.
I’ve had Covid twice and both times I was prescribed Paxlovid.
March 22, I was in France, staying with my daughter. I was very ill two days after arriving., tested positive. She took me straight to the hospital and the French doctor had no hesitation in prescribing Paxlovid, at that stage I personally hadn’t even heard of it.
October 23, tested +ve Covid. Immediately contacted my GP practice. Had a telephone consultation with GP 4 hours later; he referred me to hospital unit who phoned me within 30 minutes. Lots of questions were asked then a prescription for Paxlovid was electronically delivered to my local Boots. My husband picked up the meds 20 minutes later.
The only downside was the metallic after taste.
This was my experience and I can only say how it was for me. I would have no hesitation in taking Paxlovid again. It certainly worked for me and I recovered quickly.
Hi Jtskis, thanks for letting me know about your experience with paxlovid. Do you mind sharing the symptoms you had during the onset of covid? Specifically, did you have joint pain?
I can’t recall exactly about 1st time, I was quite ill though.
In October I had a throbbing headache, sore throat, sinus problems, painful joints in my hands, and swollen lymph glands. I was generally feeling wiped out; a bit like bad flu symptoms although it was many years since I’d had flu!
My husband had tested positive for Covid on the Tuesday. He had singing with his choir along with about 120 choristers at a massed 3 MVC event on the Saturday. The men had been together from approximately 3.30 pm until 10.30 pm. Many from his choir caught it, we don’t know how the other choirs fared. I started to fill ill on the Thursday evening, I had been in the audience at the concert whereas he’d been rehearsing for 4 hours before the actual concert.
I also developed Covid for the first time seven days ago, just after I arrived in Australia to visit family. Rotten luck - I haven’t seen my Australian family in years. I wasn’t sure what to do but as my case seemed mild I decided not to pursue anti virals and I have also suspended my hydroxychloroquine. It seemed from this forum that anti virals can be a mixed bag. It was a bit of a leap into the unknown but I seem to be ok. I have also been taking mega doses of zinc, vitamin D and C, and kombucha and kefir. I have heard that the first time you have it, it can take a while to clear - it does seem to be hanging around longer than for my non RA friends…Good luck, I hope it stays mild for you
Hi Nikky101,Thanks for sharing your experience. I do take 50 mg zinc and 5000mg vit D daily. What doses of zinc, vit D, and C did you take? How many days did it take for your covid test turning negative? Thanks.
Hi Mymymy, I have been taking 1000mg vitamin C, zinc 15mg with copper (vitabiotics), 75 Vitamin D, , and Immune Complete 2 by Cytoplan. These were all given to me by a dear friend who has been suffering from long Covid and who, knowing that I decided to forego my latest booster (as I think the 3rd and 4th boosters may have triggered my RA), thought these would help me resist Covid if I took them before my travels. It is impossible to say how they have helped, if they have at all. I tested negative after seven days. Good luck
Hi, I also caught it for the first time in October. It was fairly mild and I did have anti virals/paxlovid. (I have lupus and RA, rang 111 as could not get hold of GP) tested negative 2 days after starting the anti virals. My 2nd week was worse with next level fatigue and breathlessness. I was advised to stop all immune suppressants and restart when I felt better. I restarted wk 3 and ended up with a fever and needing antibiotics. Another false restart 2 weeks later and the same thing happened. 9 weeks later I still have a slight cough and have just restarted my meds this week. Take it easy and don’t over do it, this variant seems to have a sting in its tail and drag on. We are all adults and can make our own decisions and I say this gently, life is short and for living as best we can, get back out there as soon as you can. Despite the hassle of the past 9 weeks I will not be missing the gym, hols abroad, seeing my friends and family, I hope you’re better soon xx
Hi RachelD1972,Thanks for letting me know that the symptoms could drag on even after covid test turns negative. My RA dr just emailed me - told me to hold off humira and MTX til I feel better. He did not say that I could resume meds when my covid test turns negative. Now I understand. I will meds longer - hope for no significant RA flares and current wrists/fingers pain will not sustain.
I was advised to take antivirals, although symptoms very mild. I've had eight jabs. I have 13000 reading of antibodies (I'm in a research programne). See what the medics advise.
I had covid last week. I decided against anti virals as it was manageable and i would've had to stop all meds , even ones for hbp. It was just like a heavy cold really, but has left me with a chest infection , so on anti bios this week . According to the covid nurse and rheumy nurse its a less severe strain but has a longer recovery post symptoms (up to 90 days !) Its also got 'bounce back' apparently , that is it can come back even when your symptoms are gone , according to the nurses. 🤞we dont get that. All the best
Hello..just want to provide an update on my covid journey. I did another covid home test on day 8th (day 1 was the day I tested positive). It was negative. However, it took a few more days for the slight lightheadedness and nose congestion to go away. It took about 2.5 weeks to feel normal again. Thanks again to all who shared your covid experience and advice.
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