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Covid positive and anti vital meds

Hi I’ve covid positive and I’m just wondering if I’m suppose to ring the dr about antiviral meds?

I was looking on the nhs website and it does say I’m in the category.

any advice please guys 

Yes, you should be eligible for the antiviral medication. 

You should ring 119 to discuss it. Have you been receiving ongoing communications from the NHS regarding your status as vulnerable? i.e. do they know you are eligible for the antivirals?

David.

 

Hi David,

I was looking at the attached recently and the Appendix appears to indicate that CML could be excluded under certain circumstances such as being at the Chronic phase and on 1st line TKIs etc.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/documents/interim-clinical-commis...

My read on this is that it is not certain that the anti-virals would be given automatically to certain categories. Must admit that I haven't had time to study it properly but that's what it looks like.

Regards

 

 

Hi.  
I have CML (Age 56) and 14 days ago I tested positive on a lateral flow test.  I had read on multiple cancer sites and the UK government web site that I may be eligible to receive the antiviral meds.  However the information is very confusing re the process. I am on the usual at risk list re vaccinations etc and I also received a home PCR kit a few months ago to use in case I tested positive on a lateral flow or exhibit the known symptoms.  The process states that if you post a positive lateral flow onto the government site it should trigger a phone call within 24 hours from your local health provider via a centralised clinician desk to talk over options and issue meds.
It’s import to start the course of meds within the first 5 days of testing positive. 

However it was a late Friday evening when I reported the test and waited with no call back on the Saturday. I also sent off the PCR test as directed although the process has now changed and a self reported lateral flow will trigger the process. 
Feeling quite unwell I chased via 111 and via a call back was told they had also flagged via e mail to the local Covid medical unit and expect a call back. There is no published telephone numbers for this process. I waited and chased every 12 hours and was told it had been flagged.! 
Over 48 hours later I made one final call to 111 and given it was post 9 am Monday they did an emergency referral to my GP who was not available at the weekend.  This did the trick and within 1 hour a doctor called me back from this Covid medical unit asked a few questions about medication I was on and confirmed that CML is indeed on the list to issue the medication. 
They processed the prescription to the local hospital and via a courier I was sent 5 days of medication and also a Oximeter to measure oxygen saturation. 
Then every day for 5 days they  called me for readings of oxygen levels and also gauge my recovery. 
The medication made a huge difference and after 3 days in bed with fevers etc I was up and within 7 days of testing positive via lateral flow and PCR I was now testing negative.  It’s now 14 days and apart from a cough and tiredness (even more than normal being on Imatinib !) I feel really good. 
My advice to anyone is don’t wait and if possible go through your GP and chase the contact call back.