Sore throat 10 days into isolation and underlying conditions

[Egghead68]

Hi - I have been completely self-isolating for 10 days as I have severe asthma and last night I developed a sore throat. I don’t have a cough or fever but know that you don’t get these 100% of the time with COVID-19.

I’m really worried I could have caught it and will get it very badly or die given my underlying severe asthma.

My last contact 10 days ago (within the 14 day incubation period for coronavirus) was with a friend who I found out last week has been working with coronavirus victims.

I don’t know what to do. NHS111 don’t consider Covid-19 if there is no continuous cough or fever.

The few drugs they have for covid-19 are thought to possibly help only if given early.

Do I have to wait until I get really sick before getting help?

I don't think you'll have to wait until you're seriously ill but until you get a cough which if you have it is probably imminent. Def still call though because you're high risk and then they know you've logged it already so might get help sooner. They may even send a test anyway if you're high risk. Try not to worry tho, I managed to imagine a sore throat so many times recently. Hope you're going to be ok

No, OP, call 111 now and explain (with any luck, they'll be less busy atm).

I did the same yesterday, and 111 ended up getting me an emergency call from my own GP (they are magical!), who chucked a load of steroids my way and told me to call an ambulance if I die (ok, slight exaggeration...).

I asked if the steroids would help if it's not the asthma and she said no. Then my DM pointed out that taking the extra steroids would impair my immune system.

I doubt they'll give you drugs for the virus but they'll make sure you've got everything you need to manage your asthma.

If you haven't got it, staying out of hospital decreases your risk of being exposed to it. I hope you get some good advice OP.

Could it be hay fever? Mine has flared up this week, lots of tree pollen. I’ve had a stuffy nose and mildly sore throat which I normally get.

111 gave a ridiculous advice to me. I have asthma, which is out of control and their advice was to self isolate and drink water?

Thanks for your responses everyone.

I don’t know what to do but I think I’ll have to wait and see if a cough develops else I expect 111 won’t want to know.

I haven’t had any guidance on whether I should take my rescue high dose prednisolone if I get sick. I’m guessing not.

Fingers crossed this doesn’t get worse. It’s probably palliative care only if it does and I have to go to hospital. I doubt they’ll give ITU beds to people with serious pre-existing conditions.

Stay safe everyone.

I had a sore throat last week for about 2 days, then a very slight cough and a sniffle. It only lasted 3 days... It was actually I've of the mildest colds I've ever had. I wouldn't panic, there are so many of the normal winter bugs still going around that it imagine it's way more likely to be one of them than anything sinister, based on numbers

I hope you are right - it’s just that I have not been exposed to any other external germs for ten days and colds etc. have a shorter incubation. I’m also in a major coronavirus hotspot. I’m trying to sleep it off today and will contact 111 if no better tomorrow.

I’ve now developed a dry cough.

I did the NHS111 online algorithm which said to call 111 and that it was very important to wait as long as it takes as I must speak to someone.

I got though after 3 hours 45 minutes(!) to be told that they could not help me and I needed to contact my own doctor.

I called my respiratory consultant but couldn’t get through so I emailed. I imagine it will be a long time before I hear back as they are rushed off their feet.

I’ve also made an online appointment with my Gp for this evening.

I’m already self-isolating.

I hope everyone else is staying well.

And yet Asthma UK say that for severe asthmatics the advice is:

If you get symptoms of COVID-19, which means a fever or a new continuous cough, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call 111 as soon as you get symptoms. Do not wait for your symptoms to get worse.

Not much good if they just tell you to contact your own doctor and only contact them if symptoms are not manageable at home...

Spoke to GP who sent me to A&E. Waiting room was hell on earth with people coughing everywhere. Discharged myself rather than wait there hours for blood results. They said it’s probably CV and I will probably get severe respiratory symptoms 5-7 days after onset so go back via 111 and GP if I can’t manage them at home.

Egghead68 how are you doing today??

Thank you for asking! Very fatigued and just waiting to see whether I develop pneumonia on days 5-7. I have stopped coughing though and don’t have a fever so have everything crossed that this might not be corona. I probably caught it in A&E though with all the coughing that was going on.

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

I hope you don't develop pneumonia. Hopefully it's not Corona.

I've been having weird non specific symptoms for days but today definitely got a slight sore throat and temperature slightly elevated. Keep thinking I have chest pains, but don't know if it's just hayfever (although I've been indoors) and anxiety.

Found your thread when searched for throat symptoms, and it sounded worrying with your underlying health that you were getting passed from pillar to post. Glad you have stopped coughing. Keep us updated xx