Covid for 3rd time

[Dawnee28]

hi I have just tested positive for Covid can I get anti virals for a 3rd time. Going to call dr but I thought I'd ask you guys first

[rmros]

I don't think there's a limit on how often you can have them but the criteria have changed so you may or may not qualify again. I took them twice.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Dawnee28 in reply to rmros]

Yeah I have had them twice as well thank you

[welsh12]

I caught the virus in summer though..

[AgedCrone in reply to welsh12]

I’d have a conversation with your doctor. Ask for an explanation ,/tests why you should keep having something that doesn’t appear to be helping you build up any resistance.

Hope this is the last time it gets you!

[Lolabridge in reply to AgedCrone]

The variants keep changing AC - they are deliberately mutating so we can’t build up resistance. Herd immunity was always impossible to achieve for that reason.

The Covid jabs some of us can get are not designed to stop us catching Covid but to prevent the illness being serious and requiring hospitalisation.

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Yes I do know the purpose of vaccination LB, but just taking the antivirals without consulting a clinician who understands the situation won’t help…it usually means going further up the line than a GP.

If you read NHS England (if that is your location) you will see the group stil eligible is now very restricted. It doesn’t mention multiple infections.

[bpeal1 in reply to AgedCrone]

GPs still can’t prescribe antivirals for Covid. In my experience the doctors prescribing them have been very knowledgeable about immunsupression, infection risk and medications.

You are right that the eligible group has got smaller as they are gaining more and more knowledge about who is most vulnerable but also more importantly which groups have and have not made a good response to the vaccines.

I have had Covid 4 times now and have accepted that it is now part of my life. I am extremely grateful that the antivirals are available to me.

I continue to have all the Covid vaccines offered, as some protection is hopefully better than none. I know the reason I’m not making a good response is because I’m on Rituximab. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

[AgedCrone in reply to bpeal1]

There is no one fix for everybody. I’m over 80 and have been on Rituximab infusions for 6 years. I have had only 4 Covid 19 vaccinations.The first two had such nasty side effects I waited months before having the second two….I tested negative for any antibodies & on the advice of my consultant didn’t have any booster jabs.

Thankfully I had Covid only once & tbh In the past I have had worse colds. So we really can only go on our own experience & listen to our own Consultant.

[bpeal1]

I’ve had anti virals three times.

[bpeal1 in reply to bpeal1]

I miscalculated. It’s actually 4 times!

[Mostmoses]

Are you masking in public spaces? Catching anything can be risky for us immuno-compromised beings. Hope you’ll feel better soon.

[Dawnee28 in reply to Mostmoses]

I'm not out of house at all. Shopping delivered once again. It was probably some unmasked person who gave it to me me. Apparently that's the way it is now if you have Covid just carry on as normal. Except for us immuno compromised lot lol

[KittyJ in reply to Dawnee28]

But also many immune compromised have to carry on as normal if they have to go to work, it’s just the way it is now, another virus.

[bpeal1 in reply to KittyJ]

I’ve decided that for me life must go on. I have two teenage children I can’t expect them not to have social life and I can’t distance myself from them. For my own sanity I need a social life too!! I have accepted that Covid is just part of my life now. I am incredibly grateful that antivirals are available to me.

[AgedCrone in reply to KittyJ]

You are so right …I am more nervous about catching influenza than Covid. Thankfully I didn’t need to commute to work on Public transport at the height of the Pandemic,& I did wear a mask when in shops,..but otherwise life didn’t alter much for me. Most people don’t read a site like this & get drawn into every prevention theory they read about. My friends without any health problems just carried on as normal really …except of course they couldn’t travel or visit friends & family.

[Lolabridge]

It’s still advisable to try to avoid getting Covid if you can because of the risk of getting Long Covid or of possible long term damage to the body including organs, heart, brain etc. I appreciate it could be difficult if you or others in your household have to work/study in an inadequately ventilated environment.

For anyone with Covid but not able to get antivirals, just read this in a published medical study:

“Early initiation of antibiotics played a crucial role in maintaining higher levels of blood oxygen saturation. In addition, it is worth noting that a significant number of patients who received antibiotics in the first 3 days and for a duration of 7 days, during the acute phase did not develop LC.”