Covid chat "OFFICIAL" - 30th March.. 5 Top Tips f... - PMRGCAuk

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Covid chat "OFFICIAL" - 30th March.. 5 Top Tips from an "expert" remaining on Rockall in the Atlantic Ocean provided by skinnyjonny

Skinnyjonny profile image
32 Replies

I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to share the story below which I’ve put out to PMRGCAuk North East members, and on Facebook, and it’s been received with a lot of interest and support. You can’t say you haven’t time to read it and it is extremely topical as it relates to self isolation. So here goes ….

As most of you know one of my hobbies is high altitude mountaineering and I get to meet some very interesting characters on my travels round the high peaks of the world. My good friend Nick Hancock is one of those characters. I met Nick whilst climbing in the Caucasus (Russia) when we climbed Elbrus together. Nick went onto running the Marathon de Sables the following year and then got the Guinness World Record for remaining in isolation on Rockall … a tiny rock 271 miles off the NW tip of Ireland in the Atlantic. Here’s are Nick’s Top Tips for self isolation.

"I hadn’t really thought about the parallels, but after a few media calls today, my time on Rockall appears to have made me an ‘expert’ on self isolation. Having been asked for my ‘top tips’ by a couple of journalists, I’ve come up with these, hopefully they’ll help some people:

1. Stick to a routine as much as possible. Use your normal daily routine as a template, but adapt as required. If you have kids they will particularly benefit from this, especially at the start of the day: get up, have breakfast, get dressed, clean your teeth, otherwise it'll be lunchtime before you do anything.

2. Stop doing things concurrently. In these situations you have time to fill, lots of it. Normally, you might get dressed whilst having your breakfast and drinking the morning coffee. STOP! Slow down. Have breakfast looking out of the window, appreciate the day, watch the birds, then have a coffee, then get dressed.

3. Following on from this, SLOW DOWN. In normal life we rush to cram everything we need/have to achieve into the day, including the commute. Now there's no commute, that's even more time to fill. Don't rush through each task, plan it properly and do it to the best of your ability.

4. Set yourself realistic goals and tasks for the day, taking all of the above into account. Unless your goals are urgent or a priority, don't kick yourself if you don't complete them all, there's always tomorrow.

5. This might be the most important: know that it will take time, days or perhaps weeks for you to adapt to this new reality. Remember you have been living in a certain, probably unnatural, routine for years, and both your mind and body have adapted to that. You must give them time to readjust. You will be uncomfortable at first, but it is amazing how we can adapt to our 'new normal' whatever that may be.”.

I hope you enjoyed Nick’s top tips and if you want to read more please visit rockallsolo.com/ as it’s a very interesting story. By the way, he is absolutely bonkers!!

Please take care, stay safe and keep in touch :-)

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

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Skinnyjonny
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32 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Good advice - thank you.

Think admin might want this posted under today’s Covid-19 chat post, they are trying to keep this kind of information separate from GCA/PMR queries/information - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

in reply toDorsetLady

I have added it as a part two to today's covid chat being "covid lite".

(by the way just telling Jonny now..I added to the title of your post jonny😊)

It's good to be reminded to sit and enjoy a meal. I am waiting for somes meds to disperse then a quiet breakfast, no phone, no covid, just me....whatever I have left for breakfast, and a quiet look out if the window. I like that.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Great tips! Thank you

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Brilliant - thank you John.

Dontwannabesick profile image
Dontwannabesick

Wise

Cyclegirl54 profile image
Cyclegirl54

Thank you . 🌸

Tell me about it. Thus is the main one.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13

Same here - totally confused! Must be getting old!?!

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

This was original dated for today - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk.......

I think the mods post in the previous evening (UK time) to catch those in earlier times zones (Aus & NZ) or very early risers. But they are always Pinned.

It does seem to have been confusing today for some obscure reason.

in reply toDorsetLady

Very confusing. My fault entirely. People keep putting covid things up. This is official one that will be pinned.

It took a while but I got there. Admin and housekeeping on a mobile with quite long messages isn't recommended as a past time 😉

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to

You do all this on a 'mobile'???? You must be superhuman!🍀💐💐

in reply toConstance13

That would be lovely...wouldn't it....covid be gone. 🌻

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

This is from one of the moderators of the American Bone Health forum:

Hi everyone,

"I just wanted to share that HealthUnlocked has a community available to help those who are self-isolating during the current pandemic.The community will allow individuals to share their tips, advice and experiences on how to keep positive during this unique moment. It will be a friendly place for people to chat about their days and keep social connections open while protecting themselves and others.

healthunlocked.com/positive...

Since we all still need to take care of our physical health needs at this time, I also want to invite everyone to dig into American Bone Health's newly redesigned website. It's full of information on exercise and physical activity, the science of bone health, treatment options, and much more.

americanbonehealth.org/

Wishing you good health,

Mark"

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

There was one. It was deleted and replaced with this one. I had posted my usual list of helpful sites but it is gone for today.

in reply toHeronNS

🤦🏼‍♀️

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

A funny and relevant picture.

scontent.fyaw1-1.fna.fbcdn....

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles

Sorry to reply here but I cannot figure out how to post a question on the Covid chat/- frustrated. I’m on an iPhone and the only options I see are to reply to comments. I think the pandemic is affecting my brain

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toMstiles

I think this is the official chat for today. Confusing I know. Ask your question here! The only way is to "reply" to this post.

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply toHeronNS

Ok if I’m in posting in the wrong place I apologize!

For 3,4 weeks now I’ve had pretty intense pain in the sacral joints, the place between the hips and spine, both sides. It’s not the hip joints. I’ve been taking 8 hour Tylenol at bed time on the advice of my rheumatologist, but when getting up at nite it still hurts, the worst when I wake up. It hurts to walk and bend from the waist. It gets better during the day. I didn’t have pain in that area when diagnosed with PMR/GCA. I’m currently halfway through a 6 week taper from 9 to 8.

My rheumatologist says to follow up with my GP for possible x-ray. She says my PMR is well controlled. I’m due for monitoring blood tests but not sure if I should risk a trip to the lab for blood work or xrays.

I’m in California and according to our guidelines I should isolate.

Any tips appreciated.

I’ve used a heating pad, hot baths, Epsom salts, CBD cream, all give some temporary relief.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS in reply toMstiles

The daily chat is to keep all the covid "chat" together. You could copy and paste your question into a new post as it is not concerned with covid. Sorry, I thought you were asking where you should post a question about covid19. You should make a new post with a good subject line then your question will be seen by more people. :)

in reply toMstiles

I think questions about potential issue with PMR can ALWAYS be posted. You will hopefully get more answer if you copy and paste this into a new post just the normal way you would. And when the other half of the world wakes up.

But until you get round to that it sounds very painful. Of course you should get your Dr to get xrays etc but it is difficult at the moment. Have you had anything like this before? Perhaps just slow the taper under it becomes clear what this is. Have you been walking less ? Can you find a comfortable position when you first go to bed?

in reply to

I was wondering if it was some sort of bursitis ...or sacral joint pain. Obviously it's best to get dx formerly but until then ....

mayfieldclinic.com/pe-sijoi...

Perhaps discuss this possibility with your Dr...gets done further info but I think it's difficult to offer more than this. Hopefully, someone will recognise it.

spine-health.com/conditions...

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to

Thank you for the links. Very helpful

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply toMstiles

Says scoliosis and off balance gait can cause this, I’ve got mild scoliosis, (maybe worse because of pred, etc?) and arthritis in one knee. Maybe causes?

Thank you for helping in the midst of all you are doing with the covid stress. 💖

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMstiles

That is almost certainly something that makes the balance of the back muscles very sensitive. They do a fabulous job working together and against each other to maintain posture. If you poke one of them in some way it upsets that balance and they spasm to protect themselves. And THAT can hurt!

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply to

Yes I’ve been walking less, yes at first I can be pretty comfortable in bed.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMstiles

I think it is much more likely to be sacroilitis - inflamed sacroiliac joints due to back muscle being tight, even as far as spasm, and pulling the joints tighter together so they "rub". Tylenol is acetinophen/paracetamol isn't it? That doesn't have enough antiinflammatory action. I have the problem quite often and recently had a recurrence. I tried heat first, not enough to relax the muscles, so took a flooding dose of 800mg ibuprofen which was enough to bring the pain down so I could move without screaming - you have to take this flooding dose first to achieve optimal effect, after that you use a normal dose ongoing. That 800mg dose lasted nearly 24 hours and then I took 1x400mg and that was all I needed. Once the pain was relieved, I sat with a hot water bottle across the painful area for a couple of days. All sorted and gone - until the next time! Mine would be back if I got the vacuum cleaner out - so I shall stay rather dusty for now ...

Mstiles profile image
Mstiles in reply toPMRpro

Thank you! Yes Tylenol is acetaminophen. I’ll try the ibuprofen . Sounds like my problem. I’m really needing a new mattress, mine has developed a valley in it. Maybe that has something to do with it.

No vacuum cleaning for me right now.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toMstiles

Not ever!!!! My wonder orthopod in Germany over 30 years ago told me any form of cleaning where you tend to lean forward is risky! All about physics and levers and weights! Our back muscles do a fantastic job keeping us upright - and it is very easy to upset them.

When you take the ibuprofen take it with a meal if you can - just in case.

in reply toPMRpro

Is it ok to turn replies off now? Don't want to if more to discuss.

HeronNS profile image
HeronNS

Another take on solitude:

cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-...

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