Covid & MBC

[Gingerann1]

Hi ladies ! Unfortunately I just tested positive for Covid yesterday (have had 3 full Moderna vaccines + 1 booster so hoping it will be relatively mild). Any tips on dealing with the symptoms? Our family just got back from a cruise where everyone had to test Neg 2 days before departure but lesson learned…I feel like I was in a big bacteria frappe! My brother in law just tested positive also out of the 6 of us. I know there are meds they can give once you have it it just concerns me about Covid and MBC that most people who get it don’t have to deal with. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated. Waiting for PCP’s nurse to return my call but they generally look at me like a deer in headlights when I bring up the MBC complications with low counts, etc. Dont see Onc until 8/2. 😳

[kpgirl]

Hello!I had 3 vaccinations and just got through 14 days of corona until I tested negative on day15, but still felt fatigued and had a cough a week long thereafter. It was like having the fku. I felt sick and miserable and just lay around, taking ibuprofen at night to lower my faver and sleep better. My onc said I should stop taking Verzenio, which lowers WBC, until I tested negative, but I started taking it again after 11 days because I could tell I was getting better and I did not want to be off Verzenio any longer.

I am fine now and you will be too! All the best!

[Nocillo]

I had 2 vaccines and a booster and still got Covid. It was like a mild cold, the cough lasted past two weeks but otherwise it lasted about two weeks until I had some energy back. The fatigue was the worst thing about it. I didn’t go to the doctor or take anything for the Covid. I did stop Ibrance for the worst 4 days of it. Before my next cycle of Ibrance I had a blood test and my numbers were fine. No apparent problem from the Covid.

[Pbsoup]

I had 2 vaccines and a booster and still got it. Felt lousy for a day or so then was fine. I did have some lingering fatigue for a few weeks. My doctor did not take me off Xeloda.

All in all not a big deal. Am glad I was fully vaccinated as I think that kept it mild.

[LDR1]

Hi Gingerann, ***try to get Paxlovid ASAP.*** It’s an antiviral that significantly lessens the impact of Covid, taken in pill form. You have to start taking it within the first 5 days that you’re infected so timing is important. If you’re in the US your doctor can prescribe it for you, or some pharmacies will give it to you directly if you show them a positive Covid test. If you’re not able to get Paxlovid, there are other antiretrovirals that can be given via infusion, but those are harder to get (your oncologist may be your best source as some hospitals prioritize them for immunocompromised patients). I would encourage you to inform you oncologist of your Covid status so they can help advise you and monitor you in light of your ongoing cancer meds/immune status. Best of luck and hoping you recover well.

[Gingerann1 in reply to LDR1]

Thank you LDR1. My dr got back to me at the end of the day and did tell me about the Paxilovid but said the side effects of diarrhea and vomiting can be extreme. I have coughing fits that cause me to vomit already so not keeping much down. She said in my case with the cancer meds she would prefer to treat the symptoms. We’ll see how it goes. Today my biggest issues are severe congestion with a lot of sinus pressure and coughing which thankfully did not keep me up all night. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I’ll be hanging in there! P.S….my husband has now tested positive as well so we are quite a pair!

[13plus in reply to Gingerann1]

Frankly I am surprised by your oncologist’s decision. I asked mine (never had covid but have always been concerned about getting it)) and she said she had given it to all her patients who got covid . She didn’t mention anyone having issues with it and spoke as if she would give it to me too if I ever did get covid. I’ve had clients of my own who got it when they got covid and they said it helped to reduce their symptoms a lot . One has asthma and had severe fatigue, another had the sinus symptoms like you.

If you feel worse since talking to them I would call them again. You really want to avoid getting covid pneumonia

[Gingerann1 in reply to 13plus]

Hi 13plus! Thanks for your response but it was my regular PCP who suggested not taking it. I reported that to my Onc who was okay with just treating the symptoms. It is now day 7 and I haven’t had any breathing issues and my symptoms are being managed well. My Onc was very adamant about my getting all the vaccines which have obviously contributed to my relatively mild case.

[13plus in reply to Gingerann1]

That’s great to hear you’re getting through it ok! I was wondering after I realized I was responding several days after you write the post!

[HorizonViews316]

Sorry to hear that. I refused to be vaccinated given the meds I was already on (Ibrance and Letrozole). I was one of the last ones to get COVID at work (office setting). Felt a little off on a Tuesday. Stayed home and got tested on Wednesday. Was back to work on Monday. The most I had was a little nausea and everything tasted salty for about 3 days. Other than that felt no other symptoms. Hopefully your symptoms are going to be mild as well and short. Sending hope and prayers your way!

[Gingerann1 in reply to HorizonViews316]

Thanks for your response. My Onc was pretty insistent on getting the vaccines as my bc metasticized to my lung so a bad case of Covid could have done me in. I am on Ibrance and Faslodex. Overall, it’s day 3 and it seems to be a moderate case. Happy to hear your experience was a mild one with having no vaccines.

[AutumnLove in reply to HorizonViews316]

Refused aswell!👍

[BallerinaMel in reply to AutumnLove]

I didn't take the vaccine either.

[Gingerann1 in reply to BallerinaMel]

Have you gotten Covid?

[BallerinaMel in reply to Gingerann1]

Yes. I was diagnosed with mbc on November 30, 2020. Covid on December 1, 2020. It was the delta variant , I had very mild symptoms, 2 days of coughing and sneezing. Did you have covid?

[Gingerann1 in reply to BallerinaMel]

I have it now….

[13plus in reply to BallerinaMel]

You are incredibly lucky. I have healthy friends (no conditions at all, and fit) who got delta before the vaccines - one was in hospital , the other outpatient - both had terrible long covid . Other “healthy” people I know of died of it

[BallerinaMel in reply to 13plus]

I am very fortunate. I never had the flu, but got covid and mbc in the same week. Go figure.

[13plus in reply to BallerinaMel]

Oh that was a heavy week I'm very glad you got through the covid ok, but sorry you found yourself part of the MBC family! And yet here we are still

[Gingerann1 in reply to BallerinaMel]

Yes, timing can be cruel….I was diagnosed with MBC on the day I was celebrating 7 years in remission (supposedly cancer free). A chest x-ray for something else revealed a pleural effusion on my left lung. As I was stunned and digesting the news across the room sticking out of my handbag was a wrapped little gift from my husband that I hadn’t had time to open to celebrate the day. Now that day represents something else as I am thankful to have had those 7 years to celebrate and many more as the fight goes on …Nov 11th will be 2 years living beyond that MBC diagnosis.👍

[BarbieBeat]

I tested positive for COVID 4 days after a chemo treatment with 2 boosters. The current variant isn’t covered by the vaccines. PCP did not recommend the antiviral because I have GI issues from chemo. I had no fever, just a lot of chest and nasal congestion. Doctor recommended just using my favorite OTC for symptoms. I got my COVID in either the Vienna, London or Chicago airport and tested positive 4 days later on two home tests.

[Gingerann1 in reply to BarbieBeat]

Thanks for your response Barbie. Since we were on a cruise we tried to be careful, wearing masks in all indoor spaces, transports to excursions,etc. Since we were in 4 ports we don’t know where we got it. 3 of our party of 6 tested positive upon our return on Sunday.

[POPS60]

Hi, I caught COVID a month ago and I was given antibiotics and came of my everolimus for 2 weeks. I was fine and I have recovered well.👍 I haven't had any vaccines though as it was my personal choice not to . Xx

[Gingerann1 in reply to POPS60]

Antibiotic or antiviral? What specifically were you prescribed?

[POPS60 in reply to POPS60]

doxycycline was the antibiotic that I was given for 10 days . They decided that it was not necessary to give me the antiviral as I was not feeling too bad and the side affects of the antivirals were nasty. I think the antibiotics may have helped as I was not as bad as my husband who is fully fit and well.!!

[Gingerann1]

Thanks! I was wondering since Covid is s virus I hadn’t heard of anyone taking antibiotics for it. I decided against the Paxlovid antiviral because of the potential severe side effects.

[bubblystream]

I have had COVID twice with MBC. First time was July 2020 before vaccines were out. It was like a mild flu. For 24 hours high fever and then low grade fever off and on for 4 more days. It was so mild I was shocked I tested positive 11 days after start day. Then I had it 2 months ago. Very mild. Very runny nose, fever for 8 hours then it broke. Next few days tired and just keeping up with my nose. After 6 days I was completely fine! It all stopped on last day of quarantine.

Don’t worry. I bet you will be fine. 😊

[bubblystream in reply to bubblystream]

I forgot to say I had the Johnson and Johnson vaccine last August. But no boosters.

[Gingerann1 in reply to bubblystream]

Thanks for your response. Sorry to hear you got it twice but glad that both were mild. Hoping that will be it for you! My sister in law has now tested positive so 4 of the 6 of us. My niece and her husband just got over it before the cruise so they will probably be spared. My husband and I have now come to the conclusion that kn95 masks will now be a part of our permanent wardrobe.

[Hidden]

HUGS

[Gingerann1 in reply to Hidden]

Hug back!🤗