Covid Sick Day Rules

[Smithson]

Well, after 4 years having successfully avoiding Covid, I finally tested positive today after returning from a river cruise where half the guests seemed to be coughing and sneezing by the end of the week! I had started to reduce from 12mg to 11mg on Sunday too. I don’t feel too bad with it yet, sinus pain and slight cough being the main symptoms. My question is do I continue with my reduction or do I need to increase my dose in accordance with sick day rules?

I didn’t have a spring booster as I didn’t meet the criteria but have had 8 previous jabs and hoping my resistance may still be reasonable. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

[SheffieldJane]

Having had Covid 3 times and suspect that I have long COVID now I would urge to you be careful, to follow sick day rules, see FAQs,, to stop tapering and to take great care. Having it mildly with no complications is no guarantee of plain sailing this time. Get well soon.

[Smithson in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Sheffield Jane, I have printed out the Sick Day Rules and will take things very carefully.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I wouldn’t be reducing to be honest, so back to 12mg for time being… as for SDR, see how things pan out, really depends how hard it hits you. Hopefully not! But if you do see link -

medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/...

[Smithson in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks Dorset Lady, printed out Sick Day Rules but hoping I won’t need them!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No reducing definitely - but unless you are really unwell and bedbound I'm not sure I'd do full Covid SDRs, They were developed when Covid was still a great unknown and no-one had much immunity. I'm not convinced that pred would prevent Long Covid.

[Smithson in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, I will stop the reduction and as I’m definitely not bed bound at the moment, will hold off on SDR’s. Hoping it won’t come to that but realise it’s early days.

[SnazzyD]

Personally I wouldn’t be doing anything like doubling my dose from 12mg without medical advice as I wouldn’t want to increase my immunosuppression to that degree without there having been a medical evaluation of which risks are thought to be a problem for me. I wouldn’t reduce though.

I’ve stopped counting how many Covid I’ve had now (mostly imported) and each time has been its own journey. Mild symptoms now doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll keep going that way and it’ll soon be over. I’ve also had a couple of times where I thought I’d end up in hospital like once before but it was a breeze. Keep an open mind.

[Smithson]

Thanks Snazzy D, I appreciate your advice. I’ll stop the reduction but realise this might not be a straightforward journey.

[Supertech]

I have just returned home on Saturday from a cruise with Covid. My biggest symptom is coughing with the sneezing and runny nose much improved.

I had not been tapering while on holiday on 7.5mg and have not totally followed sick day rules but have increased to 12.5mg probably for about a week then intend to go back to 7.5mg.

I did phone 111 and a Covid doctor phoned me back. He told me I was borderline to have the antivirals and as I am not too poorly he thought I did not need them. He said if I had been on 10mg I would probably been given them. He was ok with how I had increased my pred.

Hope you feel better soon. Think Covid must be rife at the minute as I have already heard of three different people returning from holiday with Covid.

[Smithson in reply to Supertech]

Thanks Supertech, I did wonder about anti-virals but I hope it will clear up without them. My symptoms still seem fairly mild, no temperature just sinus pain and a cough. I agree, Covid seems rife at the moment! Hope you feel better soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Supertech]

Yes - it is rife!!! And new variants. But as they aren't testing they can hide it! And the LFTs take several tests to get a positive so people test once and assume it is just a cold.

And cruises have been little (or not so little) incubators for Covid since it started!

[calibriel]

I too have Covid. I think I may have had it a couple of days before realising: I have various other things going on, and I put my lack of energy down to that + the hot, muggy weather. It was only when I developed a slight sore throat that I began to wonder if it was Covid and tested (3 days ago). So far my symptoms have been mild: cold symptoms + a spaced-out feeling; I don’t have a temperature, so I have my fingers crossed. I haven’t been trying to reduce for a while because of said other things going on, but I’m only on 3mg. Advice I’m getting from anyone is rest, rest, rest: not easy with a partner with dementia, but I’m doing my best

[Smithson in reply to calibriel]

Thanks calibriel, your symptoms sound similar to mine and I think I may have started with it a few days ago too. My husband had a positive test a couple of days before me and I had vague symptoms such as a headache and upset stomach. I feel for you trying to rest when looking after your partner, my brother-in-law had dementia and I know how hard it was for my sister. Hope you feel better soon.

[Curry1960]

Hi - I’ve just had Covid for the first time too. The worst part for me was the fatigue and I’m still not 100% three weeks later. I do think having PMR is affecting my recovery. I also found that the pains in my arms flared up again and I had to go up 1mg to 8 again which was annoying. Now trying to get down to 7 by alternating days. My advice is to take it easy - you must give your body time to recover fully x

[Smithson in reply to Curry1960]

Hi Curry1960, thanks for your advice, I will take it easy and resist the temptation to try and get over it quickly. My husband started with it a couple of days before me and now on day 4, he seems to be a lot better but he doesn’t have PMR to contend with! Hope you feel better soon x

[Carrollee]

I am under an endocrinologist and asked his advice on sick day rules. His answer was, “ if you can get out of bed and look after yourself in general then don’t rush to take extra” Just keep an eye on things.

Everyone is different but it worked for me during Covid and shingles two months later! All the best 🤗

[Smithson in reply to Carrollee]

Great advice, thanks Carrollee! Stay well 🤗

[marionofnorwich]

I would say definitely don't reduce and in fact increase your pred according to such day rules. I had COVID in 2022, had just reduced from 5 to 4mg and although the COVID was mild my body went wild after wards - and not in a good way! I have still not recovered from it, not really and I am sure it has extended my PMR. I didn't know about Sick Day Rules and really wish I had. As Dorset Lady says, it is not as simple as it seems even a mild case

[marionofnorwich]

Oh and I did do the sensible thing and rested a lot while I was testing positive but it seemed to be a little while ( a week or so) after things went belly up

[Smithson in reply to marionofnorwich]

Thanks marionofnorwich, I will keep an eye on things and be sure to up my dosage if PMR symptoms worsen. Take care.

[marionofnorwich]

Yes just exercise caution as it is a sneaky virus. I had it recently just after an op so increased by 5mg for a few days and then back down again to 4mg in a couple of steps