Coronavirus

[susanspurs]

Hi All

I’m very troubled but not quite panicking. I’ve been on steroids for 6 years for PMR. I’ve been on 5mg for a couple of years - it’s too low a dose but I’ve had bad side effects - so I manage my life on 5mg. At the end of October I caught a bug from my sister which turned into pneumonia. Following that this year I’ve had two bouts of bronchitis with a cough that goes and then comes back. I have the cough now. I’ve never had chest problems before. So I feel very vulnerable and very pessimistic about my chances if it get coronavirus. Is it time for people like me to act early and go into protective isolation? They did talk about it on Newsnight last week. What should we do? But it sounds crazy!

Susanspurs

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have a read of the other relevant threads started in the last day or so, there are a few. This was put together with people like us in mind:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

At the moment the media are having a field day - and that includes the like of Newsnight. Sensible precaustions are the best we can manage - and just bear in mind that, while the Covid-19 virus has neither vaccine nor medical treatment, ordinary flu is more likely to result in death overall. You are more likely to be in an RTC within 5 miles of home than catch the virus - do you stop going out in the car as a result? I have no intention of joining in large groups of people - but I do that all winter anyway to reduce the risk of flu.

[susanspurs in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRPRO sensible advice.

[Hidden]

Hi Susan

We are bound to feel like this & here on this Forum we are keeping all the relevant advice & info up to date from reputable & Official Sources.

I’m a bit bothered but l always am anyway, as l take Pred & Methotrexate, so we are just stepping up our regime that we implemented when l was on a Chemo because our Immune System is wiped out completely & l kept well through out.

We went to my Great Nieces 1st Birthday Party yesterday & luckily had another engagement so was able to beat a hasty retreat 😉

We need to be sensible, the hand washing is essential & for me it’s no hugging or air kissing!

If you feel more confident staying home for a little while to see how things pan out l think you’ll be in good company, l must admit l’m happier in Angela Land for the time being!

Try not to worry too much

Take Care

MrsN 🤲🏻🧼

[susanspurs in reply to Hidden]

Mrs Nails my gut instinct is to stay put but I’m picking up my 3 small grandchildren from school and nursery this afternoon as usual and yesterday I went to a football match (I’m a season ticket holder at Spurs). There’s a cup game on Wed and I’m thinking of not going. Maybe it’s best to trust gut instinct.

Sue

[123mossie]

I’m similar, two chest infection& one sinusitis in the last two months, never had anything before. Prevention, prevention, first and foremost. I’m going to avoid any group gatherings but will still do the short shopping trips etc.. with strict infection control measures.

I think my infections came from my little toddler granddaughter who is living with us at the moment.

Personally I won’t self isolate but remain super vigilant until this subsided.

[susanspurs in reply to 123mossie]

123Mossie keep well.

[paulst955]

You can have a injection that prevents pneumonia. Its available in the UK for free from doctors you just have to ask I have had it I had never heard of it until I got pleurisy which can lead to pneumonia so the nurse gave me an injection.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to paulst955]

Not, however, for the form of pneumonia that Covid-19 causes.

[paulst955]

Are you sure I was told that there are only just over 50 versions of pneumonia, and the jab I had covered them all. I do not know if that is true but was told by qualified professionals. So if I go to the doctors I have to believe them.

[susanspurs in reply to paulst955]

This is from WHO website:

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.

[paulst955 in reply to susanspurs]

Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the new coronavirus?

I know the pneumonia vaccine does not stop coronavirus but does it stop pneumonia

Caused as a secondary illness of coronavirus ????

[Hidden in reply to paulst955]

inquirer.com/health/flu-cor...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to paulst955]

No, the way Corona virus causes pneumonia is a different mechanism rather than a secondary infection.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to paulst955]

It won't include this novel Corona virus pneumonia - it is a brand new type of virus and there are no vaccines that cover it. That is the risk with it - until now, no-one has any acquired immunity by having had it and recovered and it is too soon to have had time to develop and produce a vaccine as it takes about 6 months to do that.

The pneumonia vaccines we get are against bacterial infections with various strains of pneumococcus bacteria.

If you don't believe me - read what the World Health Organisation has to say about the myths that are circulating:

who.int/emergencies/disease...

[susanspurs]

Sadly Paul I don’t think it does. Actually I’ve had the pneumonia vaccination but still managed to get pneumonia last Nov. It was bacterial pneumonia so antibiotics worked quite quickly thank goodness.