Covid

[Crommie]

Safe from COVID. I am down to 10mg for 8 weeks from 40mg early April. When I started my go said when I got down to 10mg I shouldn’t worry about COVID. He said to just carry on with the precautions I had been taking eg mask wearing, hand washing, social distancing. I am petrified now that all the precautions are put onto each individual. Is wearing my mask helpful to me.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Of course wearing a mask is helpful, especially an FFP2 sort - it works two ways and stops the wearer passing on as much virus should they have it and also reduces the amount you get onto your face if you are near someone with the virus. But distancing and hygiene are also crucial and it is an all-inclusive package where each measure helps some and the total is significant.

However - I don't know where your GP got that opinion from, I wouldn't share it. If there is a mutation again that can escape the vaccine we will be back where we were. I don't wish to take that risk personally.

[Crommie in reply to PMRpro]

Where do I get the better masks? I wasn’t taking the gp’s advice, being extremely careful. I am really scared.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Crommie]

just one site - depends on what you are prepared to pay, look on the internet, you'll find plenty, but maybe do a comparison to get best value -

healthandcare.co.uk/coronav...

[Crommie in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Crommie]

Lloyds pharmacy also have them...as I imagine do others..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Crommie]

I don't know, I don't live in the UK, I get FFP2 masks from the pharmacy or even supermarkets here

[Crommie in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[piglette]

Have you had a vaccine?

[Crommie in reply to piglette]

Yes - both. I am 76

[piglette in reply to Crommie]

That is good news anyway.

[Crommie in reply to piglette]

Yes, but, don’t think there is much protection from the vaccines when on steroids though.

[piglette in reply to Crommie]

They are better than nothing on the other hand. It really depends what dose you are on.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Crommie]

It depends - there are people on the forums who have been tested and have developed antibodies through the vaccine. Even if the antibodies are less than ideal, it has probably primed the t and b-cell part of immunity. Whatever - your body has met the virus structure in a safe way so you are likely to be better off than if you hadn't had the vaccine at all.

[Crommie]

How do I get tested for antibodies? I am rhesus negative O blood group . Is that good.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Crommie]

It is as far as donating blood is - you are what is called a universal donor, your blood is the type used in emergencies before they can crossmatch the patient for their blood type!

Those antibodies have nothing to do with the Covid antibodies though, There were some claims that some blood groups could have an influence on how severely ill you might be or less likely to get it - not so.

news-medical.net/news/20210...

[Bcol]

I think some of us are part of an ongoing study by Covidence or different organisations and others have paid to be tested privately. As to your other thoughts, certainly in this house and most people I know, we are not changing the way we have behaved for the last umpteen months. I have no idea about whether blood groups have any impact on antibodies or protection. I had two OAZ jabs and do have antibodies or at least did in June when they did the test.