I was just wondering if anyone can help me with some information or even personal experiences in relation to MS and covid 19.
Has anyone on here actually had the virus or heard from anyone with MS who has?
I am on a constant rollercoaster of anxiety. I’m lucky enough to not need to be on DMDs because my symptoms do not warrant them so I started off being optimistic about my chances were I to contract it as my immune system is not compromised. But as time has gone on I keep reading about those who have become really ill having immune systems that have gone into overdrive as a reaction to the virus. With MS being an autoimmune disease that has really scared me.
Does anyone have any info/ views? Thanks and stay safe xx
I think I had the “lurgy” in February but hasten to add wasn’t tested!
back at the beginning of February I developed the cough from hell, Kept awake all night by a wretched dry cough one night, I kept coughing all day the next day and went on to develop cold like symptoms as the day went on . I continued for about a week with a snotty cold and dry cough. my OH caught it towards the end but didn’t get the cough, neither of us had a temperature About 8 to 10 days l after we recovered the news started reporting about a virus in Wuhan China I joked “I think I was Patient Zero” but symptoms were only reported as a dry cough and a temperature, now they are saying it could have other symptoms or be like a cold so doesn’t necessarily have either the cough or temperature.
so until there’s an antibody test I’m in the dark! Was it or wasn’t it? Nobody knows who will get the Full Monty but they’ve said from the start that most people will only get a mild dose.
One of the American forums I go to had a couple in their 60’s who weren’t tested but seem to have had it. He kept everyone updated throughout. I forget which of them has MS, but the other one also has extensive health problems. Anyway, they were miserably sick for 3 weeks but managed to stay at home and treat themselves with occasional outside assistance. As far as I know, they’re both doing fine now.
my daughter had very similar it actually turned out to be whooping cough. a resident here had it and it turned out to be whooping cough, it seems around that time there were whooping cough, and also a lot of people were getting a cold type cough thing with no temperature. i know several who had it.
COVID usually starts with a bad headache, high fluctuating temperature, then a few days later it hits the lungs. I know someone who was diagnosed with it and tested positive. she said it was headache from hell, high fluatuating temperature, then just like someone was sat on her chest and she had a really dry cough and felt awful could barely move and then five days in the fatigue hit her, she said about day six she woke up and just suddenly got better.
I’ve done some research on whooping cough and it doesn’t match my symptoms, I had a persistent dry cough without expectoration, and although I continued coughing the cold like symptoms didn’t appear the first day. Where as whooping cough starts with cold like symptoms then a productive cough. Covid 19 symptoms include, headaches, lost sense of smell or taste, high temperature, cold like symptoms, dry cough or diarrhoea, we’ve been told that if we’ve got ANY of these symptoms to self isolate for 7 days. So in theory even the sniffles or a jippy tummy could be Covid.
I think have had whooping cough as a baby, So I could have some immunity. I’ll ask my sister, she was 10 when I was born and will likely remember it.
I too think me and my family may have had it dec/jan we had all the symptoms 2 of us not too bad,just a cough and fatigue the other 2 were more ill.I think corona was here months before anyone knew.Our local town group say the same as there were lots ill with same symptoms,some more ill than others around xmas time.Thing is we will never know for sure though.
Try not to stress too much.If your like me with your MS i hardly catch any colds or viruses and i have had MS many years.My family think im lucky hardly getting them.If i do get them my immune system springs into action and fights them off pretty quick so i am hoping if i do get corona i will fight it off like rest of viruses.I replied to someone else on here that i think my family may have even had it around xmas jan/feb time i hope so anyway as the symptoms were similar,my daughert was worse than me and my grandchild with it.My partner was quite bad though and we were ill for about 4 to 6 week.We will never know for sure though but i am hoping it was that,in a way.Also they say around 80% get it in its milder form.
Hello. Your question is a very good one. From the evidence on here, it does not appear to be rampant among those with MS which is one reason to be grateful as we have enough problems. The logical conclusion of the nature of our immune systems is that a lot of us tend not to get struck down by winter bugs. If you have other health issues then further complications may make us more vulnerable. After chemotherapy, I was awful over Christmas and the new year with pneumonia, heart problems and UTIs.
It is so interesting to hear many of you are like me - I have aggressive RRMS treated with Tysabri, and even before diagnosis I noticed a marked change in my health. I had always been very sickly until my early 30s (I have had pneumonia, whooping cough - missed 3 months of school for that, and infinite cases of bronchitis and strep) now, I’m never ill. My husband is the one with all the chest infections that I worry about!
too be honest I dont know anyone with covid. Yes i know a few people since january who have had odd things like flu, and whooping cough but i have no one i know who has tested positive or been in hospital with it, and nor do i know anyones friend who has, apart from one facebooks sons friend who is 34 got it after being in a pub just before lockdown and was sick for 6 weeks and nearly died but is out now and back on the mend.
I have relapsing MS that is treated with a DMT (Ocrelizumab) and have been enjoying COVID for over 2 weeks. It is far from pleasant. Symptoms could be worse - it’s been a lot like a flu - but it has crept up on me every day. Some days it’s hard to get dressed. Eating has been really difficult. I wake up feeling maybe I’m getting over it and then find at the end of the I’m getting pains all around my torso, my temperature shoots up, I feel really rough. Cold meds are keeping it in check but I’m concerned about how long it will take to recover.
It might help others to say whether you have had all the available vaccinations and if you are in the UK.
If you are in the UK did you receive the priority PCR test kit and return it in time to receive the anti viral medication on offer.
People I know of who have been treated report mild symptoms like a cold.
Hi, I am in UK and have had 3 full vaccines. I did not receive a priority test. My daughter tested positive and she was sent a PCR test which was returned. I tested positive on a lateral flow test a few days later, reported it and nothing more was heard other than a need to self isolate. No PCR test for me (or any other member of the household - 4 of 4 tested positive following my daughter) and no anti viral medication offer. Have been having symptoms for around 14-18 days now.
Sorry to hear you have been so unlucky. I hope you make a full recovery.
The distribution of the priority PCR tests has been very confusing. Even though it appeared that everyone with MS was going to receive them, in fact you were nominated by the hospital (based on their assessment (I think primarily on the DMT you were on)) or by your GP considering you at risk. This has led to inconsistencies around the country.
If you have the priority test, you still have to react very quickly to be in time to receive the anti virals.
As my relapses seem to follow infections I have been cautious throughout, but I hoped that the vaccinations would reduce the severity of symptoms. As I am a test subject for the Office of National Statistics monthly survey, I do know I have antibodies again after the third vaccination.
Same here on relapses being linked to infections. I’ve been getting an ‘MS hug’ that can be really uncomfortable but other than that no MS symptoms noticeably triggered. It just seems that I’m generally unwell, struggled to eat, and ended up in a vicious circle/downward spiral. Latest is pain in my mouth where I had surgery 15-16 years ago and I suspect low immune is allowing a dormant infection to flourish. Had antibiotics on hold waiting for such occasion so hopefully that will keep it in check. Due to have next Ocreluzimab treatment in start March but last think I want right now is a further weakened immune system. Will keep eating what I can and sleep when I need to and hopefully I’ll start to improve.
I have just had covid,i have had ms 30year, and not very mobile i have had NO vaccinations at all.I
caught it from my partner he was tested positive 18th jan,i was tested positive the 20th jan.we were both ill for about 2 week and very similar symptoms,headache,congestion,i had slight fever for 2 days,cough and fatigue.He had all 3 vaccinations,i had none and we both agreed i coped better with it than he did.I have felt a lot worse with other viruses and tonsilitis.