Getting the vaccine could help long Covid sufferers??

[MarcelineMissouri]

Yes I know it’s just one twitter thread (but has been shared by someone I’ve found to be an interesting and sensible reporter) but what an interesting idea - would be good news if it turns out to be the case!

twitter.com/apoorva_nyc/status/1364614022268674050?s=21

So hoping 🙏 it is the case.
Coming up to a year of long covid here and can’t live with this for life, just want my old life back for the sake of my toddler too, I feel 80 years old.
With flare ups I definitely feel as though I’m still infected somehow with the virus, it’s as if it’s returning each time, I’m no scientist but would hope it would kill the virus off perhaps 🤷🏻‍♀️I’m likely to be clutching at straws though.

While long covid includes a number of things: people who suffer damage from the infection (these people should see a slow and gradual improvement over time) and those where the issue is ongoing - believed to be their immune system randomly going haywire. If you fall into the latter category have you tried taking immunosuppressants?

I can't find any research on this, but I know that for example with other things where you want to shut up the immune system because it's making things worse, like damaged ligaments, you take ibruprofen regularly for days even when you have no pain....

If you've already tried ibruprofen, then I'd be inclined to get the vaccine and then persuade a GP to try you on a course of stronger immunosuppressants such as they prescribe for whole body psoriasis or rheumatoid arithritis.

@notrub

While long covid includes a number of things: people who suffer damage from the infection (these people should see a slow and gradual improvement over time) and those where the issue is ongoing - believed to be their immune system randomly going haywire. If you fall into the latter category have you tried taking immunosuppressants?

I can't find any research on this, but I know that for example with other things where you want to shut up the immune system because it's making things worse, like damaged ligaments, you take ibruprofen regularly for days even when you have no pain....

If you've already tried ibruprofen, then I'd be inclined to get the vaccine and then persuade a GP to try you on a course of stronger immunosuppressants such as they prescribe for whole body psoriasis or rheumatoid arithritis.

There's no way a GP would prescribe immunosuppressants that are usually used for psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis on a hunch that a patient thinks their immune system is overactive.

Drugs like methotrexate are serious meds with nasty short and long term effects, as well as putting you at risk of all other infectious diseases. You would also need to start shielding as you'd be at serious risk of getting very ill from COVID (again!).

There may be a role for these kinds of drugs in long COVID but we'd first need robust research demonstrating auto-immunity is a factor and a way to identify the patients that would benefit from these kinds of drugs.