Covid and Prednisolone.

[pmrgcavictim]

Four years and three months into my PMR and GCA journey, and down to 7 . 5 mgs Prednisolone. Just diagnosed one of the 3 members of the family with Covid. Should I increase my Prednisolone, or carry on the same as I am on now. Thanks in advance for the advice that is on it's way. Trevor.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Plenty of related post, and this -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

See this -section 7 covers Covid -

re-attached -

medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/...

[pmrgcavictim in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank's for your reply, I will check the links shortly. Trevor.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

What's happened to that second link?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

not sure -was on laptop -didn’t seem to like it -have redone from iPad .. thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Looked as if you'd copied a bit extra at the start. Computers ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

more than likely….could have been because it’s PDF format -who knows….

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would say carry on where you are - unless you develop Covid symptoms. Bear in mind tests vary in result - my daughter took 3 days to get a positive and in the end got a positive and a negative at the same time with different batches!

If you do get it, see how you are and look at Sick Day Rules.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to PMRpro]

Thank's for your speedy reply. I will test him again tomorrow, and use a different batch. Trevor.

[Predderman2020 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi - I had Covid in July, but still not back to normal. just after the acute Covid phase, I went to 20 mgs and stepped down after 5 days. This brought an improvement (or coincided with one). Back to 7 mgs for a few weeks. but now getting repeated nasty surges of pain, nausea, weakness. I notice two recommended regimes for dealing with a surge of symptoms -1) add 5 for a week, and 2) Sick Day Covid rules: 10 mgs in am, and 10 in evening for 5-7 days. I am assuming that 1) is for flares due to reductions that havent worked, and 2) is for concomitant illness (like Covid) that need more anti-inflammatory action. Thanks as ever! T

[Andymurph]

I think my main advice Trevor would be to not worry.

My wife and I are in our late sixties and both have PMR.

My wife went into hospital in June with a Kidney infection and was discharged a week later having caught covid.

She didn't test positive with a nasal swab initially but using the throat and nasal test it was an immediate positive.

Positive tests followed for my son, daughter, son-in-law and 2 month old grandson who welcomed her home on her discharge..

Despite having had the spring booster I tested positive 4 days later.

Other than a high temperature which responded to paracetamol it was rather like having a bad case of hay fever.

The chances are that you will probably get it so my advice would be don't change your dosage. Omicron is inconvenient rather than the very serious illness provided by the strains we had at the start of this pandemic.

I'm sure you will be fine.

Andy

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Andymurph]

Thanks for your reply, advice and information Andy. I hope all your family members are now over Covid. Sorry to hear that you and your wife are on the PMR journey together. Trevor.

[Ambler54]

i have been on pred about the same time as you but down to 1 mg…again….caught covid a few weeks ago.Registered the positive result on the NHs covid site and within 24 hours had a nurse contact me to see how I was and I asked if I should increase my dose but She felt probably not mainly because I felt absolutely fine.I am sure someone on here will be able to give you a more informed reply , this was my experience.You will more than likely be absolutely fine, may not even catch it, no one else who I had been with including my husband caught it.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Ambler54]

Thanks Ambler54 for your reply. Well done for reaching 1mg, hope I get there one day, not rushing though. Trevor.

[MiloCollie]

I only increased my pred when I got covid myself and felt poorly with it. I followed sick day rules and increased to 10mg from my usual 5mg for a whole week. This seemed to work for me. Don’t worry about it. If it’s going to happen it will. Take care x

[pmrgcavictim]

Thanks for your reply and information MiloCollie. Trevor.

[Exflex]

I wouldn’t take Pred ‘just in case’. I think I was on 3mg when I contracted the virus and felt my body wasn’t coping on day 3, to the point thought I was going to collapse. I upped to 8mg by adding 5mg just for that particular day and resumed on 3mg thereafter.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to Exflex]

Thanks Exflex for your reply. Trevor.

[SheffieldJane]

I needed 3 days of sick day rules during Covid at 6 mgs Pred. Definitely felt an extra wobble during the height of my Covid symptoms. 5 mgs seemed to give strength where needed.

[pmrgcavictim in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks SheffieldJane for your reply, and advice. I had remembered about sick day rules, and forgot about the FAQ's, must be an age thing. Keep well. Trevor.