covid

[Daffodil1958]

Hi all hope you are enjoying the summer sun. Been got by Covid any advice on getting anti virals hasn’t helped IT being down and unable to get the doctors.

Thanks

[helenlw7]

I hope you feel better soon. Someone put this number up on the RA page on Facebook page. Don’t know if it’s any good.

0333 321 8817

[Daffodil1958 in reply to helenlw7]

Thank you will give it a go x

[welsh12]

111 otherwise

[Rusticgarden]

After 7 COVID vaccines caught COVID in January,given the second line of anti virals and a oxygen saturation meter and received texts daily for me to give my saturation levels .Didn't feel to bad with the virus but on metho and biologics so GP wanted anti virals .no problem at all .Hope you feel better

[Daffodil1958 in reply to Rusticgarden]

Thanks for your info I will contact the doctors Monday hopefully I will get thro this time.

[Haz58]

Call NHS111 the sooner you start taking them the better if you need them. I got it 1st time in February and rang 111. As I wasn't too bad they rang me every day to see how I was and asked for oxygen reading each time. I had it very mildly so didn't need antivirals. But it was good to know they were monitoring me every day.

[Daffodil1958 in reply to Haz58]

Yes I think I will thanks

[ks1966]

Hello. My experience was a bit different than above. I called my Gp who sent an urgent referral to the CMDU and a Gp from their end called me the next day. The antivirals are not usually stored in pharmacies. However a big high street one like Boots may have one in stock. If not, they will order one for you and hopefully you’ll get it the next day. You will be offered 3 options. 1- Paxclovid which is the first line of treatment. 2- A one off infusion in hospital 3- Molnuprivir. The reason for the due diligence is due to the fact that even though Paxclovid is the treatment of choice, it can interact with so many medications. Some which can be very serious. So a Gp has to vet you and go over every single medication you take. Time is of the essence and the window is 5 days from symptom onset. A recent study done by WHO in Hong Kong concluded that taking Paxclovid is much more effective during days 3-5 from symptom onset and Not day 1. Some solace for you there. I suggest you do some chasing from your end, especially with CMDU. I managed to get their number from the Gp’s referral from the NHS app and callled them. A Gp got in touch an hour later and the ball was rolling. Good much 🙏

[Daffodil1958 in reply to ks1966]

Ok thanks for the info x

[sunshineday]

Hi Daffodil, hubby and me both got COVID a few weeks ago. Disastrous for hubby because of his bronchiectasis and asthma and other lung illnesses and RA and other health problems. Did test on Sunday pm, phoned GP the following day and she referred him to the only practice which can prescribe antivirals in the area. Because of all his meds antiviral meds out of the question so had to have an infusion of Sotrovimab at the local hospital (day 4 by now). He also was on antibiotics for Haemophilus Influenzae at the time. Continued to deteriorate so couple of days later dialled 999 and in hospital for a week, as well as COVID and HI and infective flare up of Bronchiectasis he also had pneumonia which I gather is not unusual with COVID if you have lung problems and immunosuppressed. Please don't delay seeking antivirals especially if you are in the at risk group. Take care x

[Daffodil1958 in reply to sunshineday]

Thanks I have just been in touch with 111 so helpful the lady I was speaking to sounded as rough as me.

[sunshineday]

Sorry, oops should be antiviral tablets out of the question.

[jf211]

I’m in Tayside - have to call a central number 9-5 weekdays, 9-1 weekends - tested positive yesterday at 2 …. Apparently tomorrow (Monday) is a public holiday so I’m looking at waiting until Tuesday afternoon to get my antivirals, by which time I will have been unwell (in retrospect) for almost 7 days. I had my 1st Rituximab infusion on Wednesday so thought I was suffering from side effects….

Not a great service (but they probably think it is)

[Daffodil1958 in reply to jf211]

I hope you get sorted out 111 in England was really helpful collected my anti virals Saturday seem to be feeling a bit better tonight I will test again tomorrow night fingers crossed I won’t enter into long covid like last time good luck

[jf211]

thanks

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