Messaged my doc. I am 73.5 and been on prednisone 2.5 years at 2mg. ......going to 1.5 ...some days. I've been lucky with no flares and am fairly fit still. So all this may not apply to all. But think it is always good to share info from doc.
Bonnie,
I think you are fine staying where you are with the prednisone. At this low dose, you should not have any immune suppression, and your adrenals should be able to respond to stress if needed.
I believe that steroids have generally not been recommended as part of the treatment for covid-19, except in people with COPD who need them.
Just wash your hands and stay away from crowds.
I hope it doesn't ruin your weekend.
Todd
Hi. Hope you are well and staying that way! I have a PMR Prednisone question... which one would expect I could find the answer to...but I have found differing POVs. I thought getting my prednisone down as low as possible and off...was the goal. which I have been doing. However now with this virus coming someone said that if I were to get it it would be good to increase a small bit, maybe 1 or 2mg. because the adrenal glands which should have started cranking out juice (my term) after I got under 5mg. still, for a year or so after prednisone, do not work to top capacity. so it would be better to have a little more cortisol coming from the prednisone. What say you_ ===???? thanks Todd. I am totally freaked by all this. Hate that I am "at risk" because I can HEAR talking-heads when they reassure others that their case will be mild and only at risk people will drop dead! hahahahahaha. Thanks! me
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I really don't think there is any reason to change current dosages either way - and the doctors will tell you what to do if you do get Covid19.
The most appropriate response is to change behaviour to reduce the risk of being infected in the first place and that means "social distancing". Here in Italy we have no choice - we are on lockdown with instructions for all vulnerable groups to stay at home even more than anyone else. It is our own responsibility to do it if our governments won't say it.
This is what I just wrote to a cousin in the UK:
"Self-isolation isn't an option here. By law since last weekend no-one is allowed out of their registered residence community unless they have a good reason: to go to work, medical needs, care for elderly family. We must carry a completed form saying why we are out of the village and not having one means a fine when the police stop you - they are particularly active in Groeden for obvious reasons! All shops except pharmacies and food shops are closed, no bars, restaurants or hotels are open and all tourist accommodation is closed as well. The ski season finished on Monday night and all tourists literally chucked out and sent home. The Austrian border is now effectively closed to Italians and others unless they live in Austria or are heading for Germany.Austrian trains finish long before the border. Everyone crossing the border is having their temperature taken - fat lot of good that will do mind unless they already have a raging fever! Public transport is running but we are discouraged from using it. But you can't go far on it anyway.
All non-urgent medical appoinments of any sort are cancelled and you can't go to the GP without telephone triage first - not the end of the world, all we see her for really is to get prescriptions and most can be sent by email direct to the pharmacy or she leaves them to be picked up. I just got a planned PET-CT scan in on Tuesday before they stopped more - it meant going to Bozen but I got transport from the White Cross so taken door to door with no bother at all. Heaven knows when I will get the results though - the appointment is 1st April, before the end of the current curfew so probably cancelled."
No-one is safe - even young people can develop a form of pneumonitis and they don't always recover and may well be left with long term lung damage. When you get to ventilator level, it is likely to be a couple of weeks. So doing all you can to avoid infection is the obvious answer. The authorities have been damping down the fears - wrongly I think, with as a result many people saying "I'll be fine, it's just a cold so I'll carry on as usual".
This is all about group social responsibility - an old fashioned concept but required again.
PS - just in case anyone thinks I'm not affected by this - it was said on our local TV programme last night that they are having to triage who gets on a ventilator because even now there aren't enough to go round. Over 65 and existing comorbidities was mentioned - OH wouldn't even get in the queue for a ventilator on that basis.
There's absolutely no doubt you are been affected by this PMRpro . What with worrying about your daughters and now your OH , as well as been unwell yourself think you have more than enough to contend with. Hope you and yours stay safe x
Glad you are taking all the possible precautions and I know you are affected by this. But I have FAITH! (in you!) We need you on this site. Stay safe. oxoxo
Yes it is all about social responsilibity, sadly lackin it appears in Australia from all the rubbishing about anyone wanting to take pecautions, and people with the virus, even a doctr continuing to go to work and seminars..and the uni paying Chinese to travel to australia via different countries and organising it for them!..etc Good luck for all your family , thinking of you.. I have an angiogram scheduled in hospital on Wed and my GP made me come up to him for a script..no collect at chemist option even though I pointed out other cou tried are doing it. The virus is about 15 miles away , spreading. Doctors are telling parents of sick volently couging children to isolate them only 5 days and send back to school.. and the rest of the family cary on in community as susal unless you show symptoms,and to stop panicking. ..14 days is , to me, a load of codswallop and testing doesnt seem to even be a thought .. unless you are severe. I'm afraid I "broke out" in one of the replies about ..people are stupid for being concrened and to go on as usual... Wishing you all the best
No I didn't know, though they are for the flu, which is also a coronaviris isn't it? I had a part aborignal cousin who died age six from a cold, so they still haven't the same innate immunity. I thought with the novel coronavirus we would all be at "aboriginal level of immunity=very low" as none of us would have any innate immunity But maybe that is true, maybe we do have some due to similarity to flus?
I put a post on my facbook that is public to try to get FACTS out as I got sick of replying to "dangerous incorrect info". If anyone is interested..though PMRPRo would know more than me to be sure
some it the post I probably got from here though... I just have dreadfully poor memory, so it is to help me too. It has links to current stats etc, probable history of the virus, a great video form an "expert" etc
Have you put it up here too? I've had one of those replies to do this morning.
People just aren't able to distinguish between reliable info and woo that is, more often than not, the sort of stuff that creates a feelgood factor of "I'm doing something" that is in fact trying to stop the Niagra Falls by scooping water out of the river with a thimble. And creating a false sense of security.
No - influenza is an influenza virus and Covid19, like SARS and MERS, is a corona virus.
I have rebutted it I think - took me ages to find them. Was quite tempted to tell them to go back in their hole. But they are self-defending, they usually frequent the anxiety and mental health forums ...
How frightening is that! Bad enough being advised to self isolate but we know it is in our own best interests. All these people being so irresponsible must be so frustrating. Don't they are the non stop news? Hope you and yours can keep safe in spite of this recklessness 😕
I had a last min Big shop yesterday with a scarf round my face (😷) and a woman was behind me and I could feel her bearing down on me. Then she clipped my heels and so I turned round and said could you please move back or around me... . I got a mouthful in polish I think. I could only think to swear back at her in slovak... I then let my crutch drift off my arm behind me and the trolley in front. I used clean scanner so paid and left. Everyone else seemed to be doing space if at least a couple of feet.
Well in view of the latest news about over 70s being told to self isolate, I will now have to get some shopping in. Hope nobody stands too close 😨 We've also cancelled a visit to the Lake District this week so definitely need to get some shopping in as had thought we would be away. Silver lining is we are also going to get some paint n stuff when we are out so that should keep us busy for a while.
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