Having tested positive for Covid this morning, I reviewed the Sick Day Rules and, as I am on 7mg, decided what was required was 2x10mg for 5-10 days. What my GP has suggested, though, is just 2 days at double dose.
Does anyone have any views on which approach I should be adopting? I wonder if the GPs suggestion reflects the fact that Omicron is reckoned to be milder. Apart from a raised temperature (37.5 as opposed to 36.5) my symptoms are very similar to those of a heavy cold.
I had covid in October with symptoms similar to yours. I was on 2.5mg pred at the time and decided to follow the sick day rules which was 5mg twice a day, so 10mg in total. After 4 days I reverted to usual pred dose and apart from feeling totally exhausted for 2 or 3 days I was ok. The GP wanted me to monitor my oxygen levels 3 times a day using oxymeter and gave me instructions what to do if it fell to different levels (contact GP at 93-94 or go to A&E at 92). My oxygen levels stayed normal throughout. Since covid I've had a cold that felt worse and lasted longer. Hope you make a quick recovery.
I think it probably depends on how poorly you feel.... under the general advice states this -
RULE 1. If you are ill enough to need to stay in bed, OR if you have an infection that makes you unwell and you have been given antibiotics, increase your usual steroid dose for the time that you are unwell.
But does also state speak to doctor, and yours obviously thinks in this instance 2 days is enough.
Whether he's correct remains to be seen.
It's milder because most people have either been jabbed or have had one or other version before. Since your body is likely to need the boost to continue to fight it off and recover, I'd be inclined to reassess after 5 days, not 2. No-one recovers fully from any virus in 2 days.
Hi, I had Covid in June and I was on 1.5 mg then. Apart from a lot of vomiting on the first day (probably prompted by a headache), I had relatively mild symptoms and did not increase my steroids at all. If you are unsure, perhaps you could get a hold of your GP and talk to them again.
I had covid in July this year and despite having had all the vaccinations required I still felt very ill. I had a raging temperature and was in bed for 5 days with a further 5 days resting up feeling completely exhausted. I was on 7mg of prednisolone when I went down with it and did not have easy telephone access to an English speaking doctor. I followed the guidelines provided by this forum of taking 10mg morning and 10mg at night. I did this until I tested negative 12 days later and then dropped back down to 8mg daily without any problems.
The advice that made sense to me was that the extra prednisolone was acting in place of my immune system which wasn't there itself to do its job of fighting the infection. (I hope that I got that right 🙏! )
I hope that the above information is helpful for you. Covid is a horrible virus and I hope that you recover quickly! Take good care of yourself.
I think it does depend on which Sick Day or Emergency Dose Protocol they follow. They don't all base it on protocols written for a specific health condition but on guidelines sent out from individual Trusts based on the needs surrounding particular infections , such as COVID.This can mean that the advice you get , i.e: general guidelines on increasing steroid dose in event of COVID , is lower than the guidance you are given for increasing steroids in an Emergency for your chronic illness , i.e: PMR.
I would always be inclined to follow the more specific advice given for your chronic illness , rather than the generalised " just in case" advice given for all people on long term steroids for various reasons.
hi. I had covid over Xmas and NY 😞. With support from this wonderful forum 🙏 and advice from GP I went from 5.5mg to 10 in am and 10 in pm. After a week That felt a bit much so reduced to 10 in am. Then after a fortnight of being positive and feeling grim I was negative so went down to7.5 for a few days then 6 which is where I’m sticking for a while as arm/ shoulder pains have returned and a familiar fatigue that was very very different to covid fatigue….
So I think it’s a combination of listening to sound advice, using sick day rules and how you feel.
Wishing you a speedy recovery GA
Morning. I had Covid in October 2022 and didn't go completely with sick day rules, but added 10mg to my daily morning dose for four days, dropped to 10mg for two days and then back to usual dose, 3.5/4.0mg. Doc was very happy with this.
Hi. I had Covid a week or so ago and went to A&E as instructed by 111. The doctor there said at first to increase pred in accordance with sick day rules, but then took advice and said not to increase it. However, this may be because they gave me antivirals🤢 on account of being on TCZ. I hope that isn't confusing!
When I had COVID in October they said to keep at my normal dose which is 4mg. I just had what felt like a snuffily cold. Was rather frustrating when you feel well but don't get a negative result for 12 days!
Probably a blessing in disguise as apparently if a covid patient recovers fully, rather than jumping right back into life as usual, they are less likely to develop long covid.
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