COVID-19 and Immune System Disorders

[elaineinqueens]

I had my quarterly visit with my neurologist as "telemedicine" last Friday. It was a bit challenging as the technology was quite buggy on both sides, but we were finally able to do it with her seeing me and me just hearing her. I told her that my husband and I both had the virus and were amongst the lucky ones who were not terribly ill. She said that in speaking with colleagues whose patients have immunes system disorders like MS, Lupus, RA, etc, they are finding that their patients are either not getting the virus or not getting as sick as some. The feeling is that it can act as an immune system disorder does, and that the immune system suppressants, or modulators, that many of us take, actually helps with this virus! Obviously I cannot explain it in medical terms very well at all, but just wanted to post about the gist of my conversation with my neurologist.

[rjoneslaw]

thank interesting

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Interesting, elaineinqueens I will ask my neuro about this. Thank you for posting

[RoyceNewton]

thank you very much, takes a load of stress off my shoulders

[Sweetheartonvdayl]

Thank you elaieneinqueens😊

I was an RN so this makes sense to me...

I just want to be hopeful that this is true?!?!!!

Until then I'll be wearing my PPE!

Stay safe😊

God bless you my friend

Lisa❤

[elaineinqueens in reply to Sweetheartonvdayl]

Wearing your PPE, and social distancing is a good and safe idea! Stay well!

[twooldcrows]

fantastic ...not to get as sick as others have but it is nice well you know what i am trying to say ...right ...hope you get back to the old self soon ...take care and so glad not as bad ...take care and stay safe ....so you had your doctor apt.on the computer i bet she likes it better not getting sick from others and so with you get something else to go along with it ...i am so sorry for you being sick ...hope all if better soon ....love and happiness and enjoy the spring weather threw the windows ...unless you happen to be some of the folks that got the snow ...sorry for the gab along....

[elaineinqueens in reply to twooldcrows]

I have been going outside on those few occasions when the weather is nice. I sit in the yard and watch my dogs play and enjoy seeing things that are blooming! I hope you, too, have been able to enjoy some nice spring weather and flowers!

[Neworleanslady]

That is great information

[bxrmom]

Great info, thanks for sharing elaineinqueens

[jimeka]

Sorry that you got the virus, how have you been? Is it like the flu? I hope that you haven’t been too ill from it and both you and your husband recover quickly, Blessings Jimeka 🤗

[elaineinqueens in reply to jimeka]

It was kinda like the flu. A bit of a fever at first, mine went away after a day, my husband's was on and off for almost 2 weeks. A cough and for me, total loss of smell and taste for more than a week, also some aches and pains. After a week my husband had symptoms like he gets with pneumonia - he has been prone to that since 9/11 when he was where it happened as a cop and got covered in the dust from the building's collapse, twice. So he went to the nearest Urgent Care where they did a chest x-ray. The dr. said the x-ray showed results that are very typical with COVID. So another week and a half of resting and we were close to 100%. Overall, we were blessed that we were not that sick. We both said that we've had other illnesses that made us a lot sicker.

[jimeka in reply to elaineinqueens]

Pleased that you are over it. 🤗

[Kenu]

Wow 😳 that’s great 😃 Hadn’t heard that. 👍🐾🐾😊🙏 Ken

[kdali]

I’m glad you guys are over it!

[janetb1968]

Glad u and hubby are better and over it xxxx very interesting read xxxx ❤️

[mrsmike9]

Wow. That's the opposite of what I would have thought!

[IFwczs]

Thanks, but this makes zero sense.

[elaineinqueens in reply to IFwczs]

I'm just repeating what my neurologist said. And probably not even repeating it well! As far as the UK advice, where people with chronic neurological conditions such as MS should take even more stringent social distancing measures - what exactly is the science behind that. As soon as this COVID-19 pandemic appeared, I checked on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's page and people with MS did not have any more risk than other do unless they were taking meds that suppressed their immune systems, which not all DMDs do. I'm also curious why they throw "learning disability" under the category of chronic neurological conditions?

[Sporting in reply to elaineinqueens]

It depends what DMD’s. I got Covid 4 days after an infusion. I did not need to be hospitalized but very ill.

[IFwczs]

And this is the advice from the UK government:

We are advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

This group includes those who are:

-aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)

-under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (ie anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):

-chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis

-chronic heart disease, such as heart failure

-chronic kidney disease

-chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis

-chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy

diabetes

-problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed

-a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

-being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)

-those who are pregnant

The link is here - gov.uk/government/publicati...

[cshells72000]

My neurologist said that we don't have a higher risk of getting it but that said it would likely affect our MS and ability to fight it if we got it.

[elaineinqueens]

I will tell you that having this virus for more than 2 weeks really affected my MS, as does any virus or illness. My symptoms were definitely exacerbated and it was hard to figure out things like "is this fatigue from the MS or the COVID?"

[Sporting in reply to elaineinqueens]

Same here!