covid plan

[marionofnorwich]

hello all. Further to my message yesterday about cold v flare, I have just tested positive for COVID so I am after advice. Rest, obviously but I am planning to add 5mg to my 4mg dose so 9mg altogether. Any other advice please? Last time I had covid I had a huge relapse which I have not recovered from 2 years later

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This link from SDR under FAQs gives details - scroll through downloadable file and find info on Covid-

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[marionofnorwich in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to marionofnorwich]

Hope you soon get better -have you requested antivirals meds?

[marionofnorwich in reply to DorsetLady]

No but someone just told me that I mis-read the test in my out of sorts state. It is a long time since I had to do one

COVID test with one line

[Scaredofpred in reply to marionofnorwich]

Lot of virus activity in our area ( I’m just outside Norwich) including long term cough, seems to be rife in schools, colleges. Hope you feel well soon

[marionofnorwich in reply to Scaredofpred]

Well I have improved today. I have doubled my pred dose as I am also curious to know how much of my general aches and pains are due to PMR and how much is lack of muscle tone etc so that might be helping. But I didn't dare risk the total relapse I had before

[marionofnorwich]

Whatever it is I feel very achey and ill so will stick with the higher pred dose. Such lovely weather too and festival season here in Norwich

Blue sky and green leaves

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Oh dear, hard luck. Hope it is suitably mild! A negative test doesn't always say the truth - my daughter tested multiple times before she got a positive - identical symptoms to her partner who gave it to her and tested +ve straight away.

I have never done a LFT - all the test I have had were official by a nurse or doctor and otherwise have never had symptoms that suggested I needed to test - not knowingly had Covid!

[marionofnorwich]

yes well I think for now I will treat it like Covid to be on the safe side. I can’t do much anyway

[Sillydogsmum]

Fwiw, like you, I had a humungus flare after Covid, even with the Pred sick day rules. If I were to get it again I would ask for the antiviral to see if that would avoid another. Perhaps retest in a day or two ?

[marionofnorwich in reply to Sillydogsmum]

Yes I am planning to. Even if this is not COVID it is definitely a hefty virus. But I didn't think they will give them to me as my recent dose has been 3.5 to 4mg. However I am considered to have adrenal insufficiency so maybe I can qualify. Will email my rheumatologist

[CavalierKC3 in reply to marionofnorwich]

When I had Covid I was told by Norfolk & Norwich hospital you cannot have antivirals if you are on 10 mg pred or lower. Who is your rheumatologist

[Fiellma]

Morning, I’ve just had covid and was told to double my pred dose for a week by GP and pharmacist, then see how I felt and reduce to previous dose. I also asked for anti virals but the system here in Herts is shambolic - 111 should deal with it but referred me to GP who sent referral to local infectious diseases unit and over a week later (so now no use !) I’ve heard nothing! Luckily I’m ok now but be pushy otherwise nothing will happen. Hope you feel better soon - have to say this was my 3rd covid and the worst. Don’t overdo things and rest as much as you can.

[marionofnorwich]

Yes I have confined myself to bed although it turned out that I had misinterpreted the test and it actually showed neg for Covid. But still this is not an ordinary head cold. It is some kind of weird virus and I will retest today just in case. Thanks for your concern

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to marionofnorwich]

Good plan .. and as we know a negative result isn’t always that! Hope you soon feel better.

[S4ndy]

Good idea to retest. For some reason this latest variant gives negative tests when first symptomatic. I had COVID at Xmas. Treated myself gently and had extra pred in accordance with sick day rules.I was offered antivirals as I was on prednisolone. Whilst my 5mg dose didn't qualify the assessing professional said I qualified on the amount of time I had been on steroids. However, once she explained the methods (pills or infusion) and possible side effects I decided against them.

I tested positive for 2 weeks it the worst was over in 3 days. I didn't have a cough, more sore throat, headaches, blocked nose and general lethargy.

Hope you feel better soon x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to S4ndy]

It isn't the first to do that - my daughter had to test 4 or 5 times with one lot 18 months ago - though she did get a positive immediately with a new batch of tests while the "old" batch still said negative. They weren't that old, she was testing regularly as she is a nurse,

[marionofnorwich in reply to PMRpro]

Yes these tests are old just what I had to hand so prob not reliable

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to marionofnorwich]

Her tests weren't "old", she was testing a few times a week as a nurse anyway. "Different" would have been more accurate. The LFTs were always a bit hit or miss and hers were well within their use-by date.

[Sufferinginsilence]

I took Covid for the first time last December, having just returned from a holiday abroad. My GP immediately told me to increase my steroids to 20mg (was on 6mg) for the first seven days and then go back to my usual dose. I was pretty poorly for over a week but stuck to his instructions and got over it fine. Hope you feel better soon.

[PMRCanada]

I’ve had COVID 3 times now, but only advised by my GP to increase my pred by 5mg for a week the first time I had it (Delta version, May/2020). Back then I was pretty ill with symptoms for 2 weeks which began right after getting my first COVID vaccination. It was later determined I likely had COVID when I had my first jab. Not sure what effect that had on my immune system that was both fighting the virus and mounting a response from the jab at the same time. My GP commented that being on pred likely actually helped.

The other two times I was not even aware I had COVID as the symptoms were very, very mild, but I had tested due to hubby being ill and testing positive. I did not temporarily increase my pred dose those two times….indeed I didn’t even take Tylenol (but of course isolated as to not spread it to others).