All about Corona virus: see the film!: youtube.com... - PMRGCAuk

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All about Corona virus: see the film!

PMRpro profile image
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72 Replies

youtube.com/watch?feature=y...

A friend posted this on Facebook - it really is a simple explanation so I thought you would like to see it too.

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PMRpro
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72 Replies

Very Good Advice.........

Mary63 profile image
Mary63

Fantastic overview. Thanks very much for posting.

Great and I loved him.... Can he be my dr?

Purple-Owl profile image
Purple-Owl

Thank you! The clearest explanation of the structure and action of the coronavirus I have seen.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Good, clear and unemotional clarification and advice, thanks for link.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell

Simply said is best. Thsnksx

Pmr19 profile image
Pmr19

Thank you PMR PRO as always you deliver your posts and messages with such clarity ! That is such a good film . But it does prompt the question , as members of the pmr club how compromised are we by our condition in terms of fighting coronavirus ?

Tim

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pmr19

The same as fighting any virus - including the annual flu. Compromised - not enough to get in a panic about it, but enough to be sensible, cautious and follow the guidance.

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy

Thanks - great overview although there isn't there now some doubt about the quarantine period needing to be longer than 14 days ? - anyway hopefully not !

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Rimmy

Yes. We had 2 patients from cruise ship - who were “negative” on board and as they left Japan but ”positive ” on arrival in UK. Well over the 14 days time period.

Rimmy profile image
Rimmy in reply to DorsetLady

Apparently 'they' are now saying (Al Jazeera reporting on a Chinese National Health Commission statement) - and this is obviously a 'moving feast' & who knows what will come next - but some people who had 'recovered' were then later re-tested as 'positive' - but they now don't think they are still or again 'infectious' - if this is so it is clearly very significant .

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Rimmy

It has been mentioned - to be hoped it isn't or all the quarantine is a waste of time! Still a waste of time if they don't do it properly.

I do have a lot of sympathy with Jetblu refusing to take the people from Tenerife back to the UK without a proper quarantine. These people arrived at the hotel after the Italian chap and the 3 others had left the hotel - but the rest of the people in the hotel had been exposed to the possibility of infection at some point in the previous 6 days, the quarantine for them needs to be from the day the Italians were removed - and also for these new people who potentially could have been infected by others already at the hotel, especially if staff have caught it.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro

Totally agree about flights - we all know there’s so much “rubbish” in a plane at the best of times.!

As for quarantining - if it’s done under medical supervision (which is what’s happening in UK at the moment) then people are tested every day - but surely that virtually impossible if in your own home. So that’s where the system is likely to fall.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to DorsetLady

And it comes down to trust doesn't it? Someone mentioned about a Chinese woman under quarantine - who was going out to noodle cafes to eat! "Just once won't matter ..." Or twice, or thrice ...

The UK is to introduce home testing to reduce the load on the NHS I heard.

And Ministers: please stop saying the NHS is wonderful and ready and will cope. It is wonderful, it has the theory ready - but they are on their knees already. There are just 4,000 critical care beds in the UK, Italy has nearly 9,000 apparently for a population 10% smaller than that of the UK. They already can't do operations because they don't have a critical care bed - that's the main reason for you being sent home despite having turned up for your op.

maria40 profile image
maria40 in reply to PMRpro

And an alarmingly small number of beds specifically for respiratory crises, according to the Guardian this morning.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to maria40

And an alarmingly small number of staff if the truth were told...

in reply to PMRpro

3 isolation beds currently in my city, apparently on their tropical diseases ward. 2 were filled last week. I presume they will attempt to close off a ward to use if it becomes necessary. But probably staffed on a shoestring.

Thank you😘

Nerak12 profile image
Nerak12

Hi PMRpro. Many thanks for this. It really is a very sound video. Having until recently been a nurse, I am fastidious about what I do with my hands & hand washing - as my nearest and dearest will testify. Door handles and supermarket trolleys are my other big hazard areas! My query is that despite all precautions and being in otherwise good health, I have already had 3 cold/flu like viruses this winter ( only 1 of them kept me in bed for a couple of days), so clearly the steroids (currently 7mg of pred) are making me more susceptible. Are there any more sensible precautions I should be taking?

I told my rheumatologist the other day, that they could forget any idea they might have of me going on methotrexate any time soon while Covid 19 is around and until we know more about it. Was I being unreasonable?

Understanding the latter point is always a personal decision, I’d be grateful for your thoughts on these 2 questions.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Nerak12

I don't think you are being unreasonable - if you are fine at 7mg pred there isn't a lot of point trying any other immunosuppressant as that is a physiological dose. mtx takes up to a year to show any improvement in dose - in that time you could well have reduced even lower on your own. And adrenal function is as much of a factor as anything else.

Some people catch more colds, lots of us don't. But you are doing the right stuff - maybe just lock everyone out, only go out on your own and ring a bell shouting unclean, unclean???? ;) ;) ;)

Nerak12 profile image
Nerak12 in reply to PMRpro

Thank you 🙏🏻. The methotrexate thing has been rumbling around for a while anyway. Re: Coronavirus, I have considered becoming a hermit (might as well be with the current weather), but as my OH said “That’s really not your style!”. He’s right on that one 😀

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Nerak12

Luckily we are both used to a very retiring lifestyle! But you still have to shop amongst all those disgusting tourists ...

Glorious sun again today - tomorrow might be different as we catch the edge of your left-overs! Hurricane force winds in Austria on the other side of the mountains - yuk!

Nerak12 profile image
Nerak12 in reply to PMRpro

Rain, rain, snow, rain, rain, rain, wind,wind, wind & so it goes on! On a positive note I have snowdrops, crocuses, primroses and daffodils plus an orgy of frogs in the garden 😀

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Nerak12

I know - I keep looking at the forecasts and thanking my lucky stars we are here, despite the downsides when one of us is ill. Not that it would make a lot of difference if we were to come back to the UK - both the girls work silly hours in the NHS so can't just drop all and come and help in any way!

Nerak12 profile image
Nerak12 in reply to PMRpro

It’s really tough as we age and begin to become more fragile and feel more vulnerable. Because of my job in the NHS and the distance between us, I felt very guilty not being able to provide all the support I wanted to give my parents in their later years. Now I have retired and my partner is getting near to doing the same, knowing that services are even more scarce than they were when my parents died, it is a worry trying to plan for the years ahead. We’re just in the process of sorting out our wills, powers of attorney and what treatment we would want if something happened to us and it really makes you think! When all the “B” word stuff was going on we talked about possibly moving abroad but the thought of how we would manage if and when we got sick or too frail to look after ourselves was a sobering thought. Mind you, if it gets much worse here I don’t think we’d have much to lose! Ho hum. A thought for another day 🤔

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Nerak12

How we feel - we have a better medical/social care system here so that balances things out to some extent. The daughter who would be more use lives 45 mins from the nearest hospital on blue lights - and they have to get to you first! She has forbidden us to use her flat to live in when they move! She knows, she is a paramedic. The other is in a better area, just outside Edinburgh, but not sure I could cope with her!

Longtimer profile image
Longtimer in reply to PMRpro

Love your honesty, I get told off for it!....

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to PMRpro

Are you considering, after all, of returning to Britain?

Can't imagine it myself, but we have been away almost 50 years. Still very British though!!😂

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Constance13

No, not at all. All things considered I'd rather be here. I suppose things could change - but the UK as it is now really isn't appealing. Not least the weather ;)

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to PMRpro

I agree! We would only return to the Cotswolds and, as our son lives there, he says we wouldn't even recognise it - it's so full!! Also the health authorities are not very good.

Not that we could afford to buy a house there any more. That boat has sailed for us.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Constance13

Exactly - I could live in the south as I have several friends there and the weather might be tolerable-ish! But the north, where other considerations including the offspring dominate, has such awful weather... Even the lovely friends there couldn't compensate!

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to PMRpro

Jinasc seems to tolerate it!!!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Constance13

She's tougher than me - and a native!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro

.... and a true Viking!

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to PMRpro

She's tougher than me too - and I suppose I WAS a native 78 years ago!😂😂😂

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Constance13

I have never lived anywhere so bleak weatherwise as Durham!!!! jinasc's house is lovely though - you can sit inside in the wintergarden and see a wonderful view. I could live in it!

PMRCanada profile image
PMRCanada

Thank you PMRpro AND our wonderful CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) for this clip. Most informative and easy to understand.

I’m heading to our largest airport in Canada (Toronto) on March 17 to fly domestically and can’t help but be a bit nervous. I’ll be sure to keep my hands away from my face, which will also help with my diet lol.

piglette profile image
piglette

I don’t understand why they they don’t tell people to use gloves. Also they say we should use anti bacterial hand wash? Surely soap and water is better, Covid-19 is a virus not a bacterium!

It is quite a pretty virus as viruses go.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to piglette

The handwash is for when you haven't got soap ...

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to PMRpro

But anti BACTERIAL?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to piglette

Well quite - placebo effect for the worryworts?

I meant to say bacterial gel not wash! I use one sort of handwash - one I know doesn't turn my hands to rags. I haven't a clue if it is antibacterial - it wasn't when I started using it but it has been "new improved" at least once ...

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to PMRpro

In fact most of the masks don’t work either, but as you say placebo effect! I do agree some of those gels can be aggressive.

in reply to piglette

Indeed... But i use them outside flu time and the moisturising ones are better but hard to get hold of. Years of taking the dog in the woods throwing sticks and balls was my reason for starting them. There's are weird bacteria in woods.... And bitey spiders on an alternative issue.... The gels hold me until I get home. In supermarkets I use a well know wipe that is anti bacterial and anti virus. Not 100% but OK. Then soap and water at home which can be just as bad on my hands.... Then doublebase gel.

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to

Gels etc are fine in general, great for bacteria!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to piglette

The green ones you see Orientals using are useless - they have a gap at the side! All they can really do is reduce the contact of your hands with your face but convey a sense of safety that is totally false. No real loss that they are sold out ;)

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to PMRpro

Someone is probably making a fortune selling masks though.

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane in reply to piglette

I use antibacterial gel at work. I work on a checkout at a large supermarket and cannot get to wash my hands regularly and some customers have some unhygienic habits so antibacterial gel is good for me

in reply to Koalajane

That's just the unhygienic habits you see too. 😱

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane in reply to

Very true

maria40 profile image
maria40 in reply to Koalajane

I sympathise . The cashier who served me this morning had a bad cold and had clearly not read or taken any notice of the current advice and I took my receipt from him very gingerly and lavished on the gel quickly afterwards; I'm sure you see more of this from your side of the counter.

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to Koalajane

I think that is very sensible, but it will not help with Covid-19 as it is not bacterial.

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane in reply to piglette

But the only way I can clean my hands regularly

maria40 profile image
maria40

Thanks you for that. Very clear advice. I did however, hear this morning that views on the incubation period had been updated to up to 28 days. We're still in uncharted territory, particularly as there are now apparent cases of reinfection of those who had been passed as clear of the virus.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

Someone was telling me about this just this morning! I believe this doctor reports regularly on the CBC so is keeping us updated as things develop. Thanks for posting!

Rose54 profile image
Rose54

Thank you for providing such clear infomatoin.

I even read on the internet yesterday that if it come to a intensive care bed in the UK because of the virus .Given a choice of a young healthy person or a elderly person or anyone with a underlying health condition .Thier fist choice would be the younger healthier person .

Talk about scare mongering .

Keep calm and carry on I say

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Rose54

It's thinking of the figures that makes me doubt the "the wonderful NHS is ready ..." line.

Italy has nearly 9,000 ICU beds for a 10% smaller population than the UK - which has 4,000 beds.

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45 in reply to Rose54

They make those choices anyway. My son had a car accident in 1991 and was in a bad way. We were his new up basically to say goodbye as he went into theatre. As we waited a nurse came to say a stab victim had jumped the queue and there would be a longer wait. We optimistically thought it was a good sign. However we were told later that the stab victim had more chance of survival! They didn't know how determined our son was to live!

Rose54 profile image
Rose54 in reply to Pippah45

So glad your son survived

I know thay make those choices everyday but to hear them actually say it and imagine what could happen really makes you think.

But fingers crossed everyone will follow the guidelines and the Virus will be contained .

in reply to Rose54

Yes I read that too.

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane

Just wondering if having had the pneumonia jab will help

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Koalajane

Excerpt from WHO site -

“Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?

No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts.

Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.”

Full link here - who.int/emergencies/disease...

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane in reply to DorsetLady

Thank you DorsetLady for that. Clean fingers crossed then that it stays away from us

Thank PMRpro, I'm scared, really scared, we have seen nothing yet on what is to come. I am not a doom munger, just a realist.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

They have just had a German tourist dx'd with Covid when he got home from a ski holiday in a neighbouring valley. Utter tripe being chucked about: how could he be infected in a holiday flat? They are looking to contact everyone who was in contact with him...

He could well have already been infected BEFORE travelling here, on a ski holiday you spend a lot of time in very close contact with others in a gondola - one sneeze .... , same in a cafe/restaurant and there is no way in hell you can identify the others next to him.

But we are where we are ...

in reply to PMRpro

Mmmm.

independent.co.uk/news/worl...

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to

And now they are saying he had it before arriving here last weekend - having travelled in a non-specified region before that.

in reply to PMRpro

People are so mobile these days it is impossible unless it was me spreading it! Home, supermarket, woods, home.... But i interact with up to 100 a day on a quiet day. Walk past, pay, talk to or brush past, pick up coins and food off the shelves that several people have already handled.

Grammy80 profile image
Grammy80

Thanks for sharing this, excellent information.

Jackoh profile image
Jackoh

Thanks for sharing. Clear explanation.

Oumaof2 profile image
Oumaof2

Thanks PMRpro... Really good presentation... I'm concerned for my son and his family.. They welcomed a son last week and also have a just two year old daughter. She has been a hospital admission twice for chest problems! Her Dad returning to work 9th March in London... Train and tube travel ... It's worrying.. All we can do is hope🤞🤞🙏

Hindags profile image
Hindags

Thanks for posting that video. I found that this channel has a lot of good information. It's pretty technical but excellent imho. youtube.com/c/DoctorMikeHan...

I read two contradictory articles last night about the demographics of Covid-19. Unfortunately a lot of what we know comes from China where more people, especially men, smoke.

One article implies that women might do better because we have more robust responses to infectious diseases, and therefore more autoimmune diseases. The other mentioned that cytokine storms lead to pulmonary problems and require some kinds of steroids to moderate the inflammation to protect the lungs. I hear cytokine storm and wonder about the cytokine dumping in the early morning with PMR. I don't know if it is the same thing.

usnews.com/news/health-news...

mercurynews.com/2020/02/29/...

My husband and I planned last year to take our 16 year old grandson on a trip, just four days. We'd be flying from San Francisco to New Orleans and back. Now I'm freaking about being on a plane 4 hours each way. Even with N95 masks, and hand sanitizer and gloves...and antibacterial/viral wipes, it is frightening to me.

I don't know how to answer when they ask about my health. I have/have had PMR, loads of osteoarthritis, and now a mysterious skin condition that responds wonderfully to pred, but not much of anything else. Do I have a compromised immune system? My daughter and son in law think we should cancel. They are not worried about our grandson, but about my husband and me. I am feeling very stressed about making this decision.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Hindags

There are articles suggesting the use of high dose steroids actually prolongs the time in high dependency beds - that was the case with SARS and MERS at least.

A cytokine storm is the hurricane to the morning breeze that sheds cytokines in the body in PMR/GCA.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

You might find this:

thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

of interest - though why tocilizumab is mentioned isn't clear to me as they didn't mention IL-6 earler!

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