Sort of flu

[Yellow-dog]

I think I’ve got something flu like. I feel achy and horrible, coughing and exhausted. I have been very slowly reducing steroids and am down to 0.5 mg. I’ve been getting shooting pains in one knee and have painful fingers, I’ve never had these particular symptoms before!

I don’t know if pmr is flaring up, and am wondering whether to up the steroid dose, and if so what to?

Thanks everyone for reading this.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you tested for Covid? You could follow Sick Day Rules (in the FAQs) or just add some and see how you get on. We do suggest speaking to your GP re the SDRs (most of them haven't a clue).

[SnazzyD]

Sounds like Covid to me. I am just recovering from my third bout in 3 months. This one has been a b****r. Notable was finger pain which seemed both bones and joints, but I couldn’t say which exactly. I also had random firing of joints. Other issues have been high temp, feeling unable to get up, coughing, sore throat that slowly developed over the week, plus various others. It took 3 days to test positive and my husband took 4 days. I’ve always just seen how I go in the past regards Pred. Increasing Pred won’t make the illness feel better if it is Covid but if you were struggling with low adrenal function prior to this, then I might do sick day rules.

[Yellow-dog in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, I will test for covid, see how I get on

[SheffieldJane]

I agree with the others. It sounds very like the Covid we, well vaccinated people catch these days. Cuddle up, lots of fluids, paracetamol and sick day rules see FAQs.

[Yellow-dog in reply to SheffieldJane]

It is indeed Covid. It hadn’t occurred to me because I’ve barely been anywhere or seen anyone. Must have been some random contact in a shop.

I got a gp appointment, but there’s nothing to be done. I thought antivirals were a possibility.

Thanks for your reply, going back to bed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Yellow-dog]

Best place probably!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Yellow-dog]

Get well soon! It’s not a nice sickness. 🌺

[Guilluame]

sorry to hear you have Covid, hopefully mild. I was just reading in this forum that someone has had Covid three times in the last three months, I thought that once you have it you get some form of immunity , but alas, it seems no. I have just got over a mild bout of Covid thanks, I think to the vaccines and booster, helped, hopefully you will feel better soon. I myself am down to 2 mg. Still have very mild aches, shoulders and arms. Take care, maybe a hot toddy or two might help.

[Guilluame in reply to Guilluame]

just a thought about antivirals, apparently the government guideline is that you are only prescribed these if you are on 10mg steroids and over. Otherwise no prescription.

[Yellow-dog in reply to Guilluame]

Oh I see. I thought I might get antivirals but the gp said it’s only being given to people in hospital.

[Guilluame in reply to Yellow-dog]

I did ask for antivirals and the go,put me forward to a “hub” which deals with the prescribing , but they told me that unless you are on. 10mg and over. I thought the idea was to try to keep people out of hospital. I don’t think these drugs are that expensive , so no idea why this decision.

[Guilluame in reply to Guilluame]

Doctor, not. Go.

[Yellow-dog in reply to Guilluame]

Thankyou. Yes, I was surprised that you can get it multiple times. I’ve had all my vaccines/ boosters. I like the hot toddy idea!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Guilluame]

Immunity will only be certain to the variety you caught - if you meet even a slightly different mutation it may not work, The vaccines create immunity on the basis of a part of the virus structure that doesn't change significantly which is why they work for a wide variety of mutations.

[Guilluame in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the reply, I certainly don’t want to catch it again, so regardless of how many people don’t wear a mask, I will.