COVID19

[Canadiangeese]

I’d like to share this info with you all. Just received this text from my son who is a doctor (internal medicine) re COVID 19. Hi mom, just to reassure you, risk factors for doing poorly after contracting COVID include hypertension, diabetes and previous lung disease. There’s no known association with immunosuppressive and you should continue to take your medication.

[helixhelix]

Thank you!

[AgedCrone]

What a Sensible son you have....😇

[medway-lady]

Thats what NRAS say too. Pass on my thanks please. xx

[Candy]

Thank you for this. In light of what I find frightening news articles, this is reassuring. 😊

[nomoreheels]

This is what we need to hear more of, positive information keeping people feeling calm & safe. That & updates given by someone who knows the facts not Boris Johnson or a Senior Minister who cannot answer specific questions directed at them, only relay what they have been informed of. As Andy Burnham, Mayor for Greater Manchester says, (he was Health Secretary in 2009 when we had the Swine Flu Pandemic) we need to be given information from experts who can answer the questions pointed at them, be led by the clinicians not the politicians. So, my preference would be for Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England & the UK Government, who is an Epidemiologist and was previously Professor of Public & International Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, to give us our daily updates.🤷‍♀️

[Jarme]

Thank You to you and your son for the share!

[OilpainterUS]

Thanks so much for relaying this information! Lovely son!.

Btw, I've been through much of Canada. Gorgeous country, wonderful people! Howdy, Neighbor!

[Justanothermama]

Thank you!

[Justanothermama]

It could be worse, you could have President Trump answering questions. I am a US citizen, but absolutely ashamed he is our President.

[Stayloose]

Does that include biologics, Jak inhibitors and steroids or just standard Dmards?

[Canadiangeese in reply to Stayloose]

I understand it includes all of those, but if you do spike a fever you should seek medical attention.

[Stayloose in reply to Canadiangeese]

I hope it's correct that's for sure! I guess every individual person has a different risk, depending on their medical history

[Canadiangeese in reply to Stayloose]

Agree, we all have different medical background and risk factors which makes it challenging for the health care professionals. The Canadian government is urging us to practice social isolation to avoid another Italy. Take care and stay safe.

[lilley22]

Thank you for that info. It's very reassuring to read, as others are saying. So far, info has been a tad broad and not specific enough.

Boris is reading from his script and can't possibly know the tiny, medical details.

To be lumped together as 'high risk' has created a deal of panic and doesn't help anyone. Matt Hancock stating we high riskers will have to self isolate for at least four months without a by your leave is somewhat irresponsible and vague. A lot of we 'high riskers' are elderly, on our own with nowhere to go for advice. Because where I live, I sure haven't! I'm glad self isolating is being suggested but it needs to start as from now, doesn't it? Stable door being shut too late, again, by the sounds of it.

This site is a God send, though - info like Canadiangeese's is so welcome.

By the way, during the self isolating, can we walk the dog somewhere 'isolated' where hardly anyone, if anyone, walks? Like a remote country lane, for instance? (Not if you're showing symptoms, obviously).

[Llanberisman]

I’m afraid that was not the view of an “expert” on radio5 last night. She was asked directly about MTX and response was that use does put into high risk.

[nomoreheels in reply to Llanberisman]

Was it made clear if it was low dose once weekly as used in Rheumatology or high dose continual (5 days or so) as used in Oncology? As we know already cancer patients are high risk, just so we we have the right info.

[Llanberisman in reply to nomoreheels]

No, they didn’t go into such detail.

[nomoreheels in reply to Llanberisman]

This is when panic ensues, only having half the tale. Someone might take that as gospel, that it definitely applies to them... or they may not even be aware that MTX is used in much higher doses for certain cancers. They of course will be at greater risk, she could have been intending it to mean this group, though that should have been made clear. As it is we should be aware that MTX is a little more immunosuppressive than other DMARDs but that may not be so much to be a hugely higher risk, we just don't know but as long as we're taking the appropriate precautions then that's all we can do to protect ourselves.

[lilley22]

I’ve just read on the John Hopkins medical site there is no evidence that methotrexate causes reaction to an infection.

Let’s just hope that be true, eh?

[ABwn]

Many thanks for passing on this information.