Suffering from Covid with adrenal insufficiency

[Exflex]

Tested positive last Friday but I knew I had it prior to the LFT confirmation. On Saturday I was on the phone for 45mins being triaged for antivirals. I was informed I would qualify but no further call from the NHS, and it’s probably too late now.

Yesterday evening I was running a temperature of 39.6 and went into the start of a cytokine storm (I’ve had it once before and was hospitalised so know what to look out for) so this time I took an emergency 5mg, that’s on top of the 3mg I’d taken in the morning, so 8mg in total. I’m back to 3mg this morning.

Does the Pred management seem sensible? I can take more later if required.

Covid is one nasty son of a bitch, avoid it if you can.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Section 7 covers covid -but should be discussed with doctor.

medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/...

[Exflex in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for that.But just tried to talk to a medic and it’s impossible to get an appointment, even by phone.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Exflex]

Guessed that when I said it! Does surgery have email facility so you can tell them what you to intend to do -and give them the opportunity to comment. That way it’s logged -and the onus is on them.

[Exflex in reply to DorsetLady]

I think they do, but the receptionist didn’t mention it. As my wife said to me, use your common sense you know how to manage your steroid intake. After a short blip from 3 to 8mg, I’m back to 3 today. I can add a bit more later if I feel the warning signals. There’s a balance between helping the adrenal shortfall and allowing the immune system to fight the infection. The two aspects go in opposite directions.

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

My surgery have never heard of email!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

Lots of things your surgery doesn’t seem to have heard of! 😳

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

You mean like medical care?

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

What’s that🤣😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suffererc]

Does happen now and again ...

[piglette in reply to DorsetLady]

😩😩😩

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette]

Not from what you’ve said over the years 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Exflex]

You are in the UK - wait for close of play at the GP and call 111 - they are only there out of GP office hours. You can speak to a doctor there (eventually) ...

[Exflex in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks,I’m not going wild on steroids so I might use my own judgement. So far, 3 to 8 for one day back to 3.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Exflex]

See how you feel - if I felt rubbish I'd try some more for a few days.

[Karendeena in reply to PMRpro]

PMRpro, I am in the UK and the 111 service is useless. I had an emergency with mum and checked 3 times that I was going to be called back by a doctor, I was told someone was looking at the case when I rang and guess what? I never ever got called back, even my GP rolled her eyes!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Karendeena]

I'd have gone to 999 and explained why - 111 was half decent once ... We don't have a 111 equivalent, so it tends to be an ambo ...

[Amkoffee]

I had my first ever adrenal crisis since being diagnosed when I developed a fever with covid about 4 weeks ago. I had been instructed to double my daily dose for one week. This doubling stopped the crisis almost immediately so I'm happy about that. Unfortunately though I'm on my 3rd round of high dose steroids because of inflammation in my lungs and a cough that won't quit. The covid also seems to have restarted my PMR which had gone into remission about a year ago.

[Exflex]

I’ve been called twice by someone from the NHS, each time promising antivirals or IV. But no follow up, no treatment. 😡 Too late now. But cough is incessant.