Bit of a bummer

[whitefishbay]

I just read an article saying those with type A blood (me) are at significantly higher risk of developing severe Covid 19. This is not good news. I go back to work (in a school) one day a week starting Monday. Fingers crossed.

[SnazzyD]

Yes, but there may other mitigating factors in you personally that doesn’t mean it’s a death sentence. The trouble is we just don’t know with each individual what will happen and in grasping for certainties we risk latching onto details and running with it. I’ve decided it is no way to live and by that I don’t mean throwing caution to the wind; just deciding not to live in toxic fear. The more I learn and see from others’ experiences the more it seems to be unknowable for the individual even though large scale statistics shed interesting light.

[whitefishbay]

It is a crap shoot and I am wondering if I should go to Chicago on 17 July. But it is so much worse for so many people that it is heartbreaking. What a world.

[jinasc]

Who wrote the 'article'. A trusted source?

[whitefishbay in reply to jinasc]

The Daily Mail...hahah Just kidding. telegraph.co.uk/global-heal...

It is in a few papers (The Times). I realise it is early days and this may not turn out to be true in the long run. Still...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Is it this one?

news-medical.net/news/20200...

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

Still to be peer-reviewed but to be fair, reliable institutions and it does parallel another genome based study.

[whitefishbay in reply to PMRpro]

I know this needs to be peer reviewed and it is early days so I hope it turns out to not be another factor in getting seriously ill with Covid 19.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to whitefishbay]

As an O+ve ...

[piglette]

When they say significantly higher risk, significantly higher than what? I am sure if you had cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, kidney disease, obesity, diabetes, or hypertension, or you were a man or BAME you would also be at even more risk. The average age of people who have died is 80 years old. Not much different to the normal expectation of life.

[whitefishbay in reply to piglette]

You just have to do your best and not think about it too much. Fingers crossed for a vaccine by 2021.

[piglette in reply to whitefishbay]

I think it depends very much on your situation. Some people have to be ultra careful. I am not in that situation, but need elective surgery which is cancelled at the moment. There are many people in excruciating pain that are having to sit at home and can have nothing done surgically. In my case I would be prepared to pay privately even, but that is not possible either as the private hospitals are rented out to the NHS at the moment for Covid-19.

[whitefishbay in reply to piglette]

Ugh. Poor you. I hope they get moving soon.

[piglette in reply to whitefishbay]

I think they reckon 10 million people will be in the queue.

[Smokygirl]

Yes, I am type A too. I am also losing my hair with a male balding pattern due to Pred —- although I am female—— both apparently put me at higher risk —- add steroids on to this and high blood pressure too —— It’s very worrying!

[Tahiri in reply to Smokygirl]

I’m in exactly the same situation. I think that the hair loss is slowing at 6.5 mg Prednisolone. I’ve had HBP for many years and am type A blood. The thing is , there are many health conditions which they say, increase the risk.

All we can do is continue to be careful , watch our weight , and keep smiling !!! x

[tangocharlie]

Uh oh, I'm A+. I think Doctors have probably learned so much in the last few months on how to treat Covid that even without a vaccine, if I got it I'd be in good hands, or at least better off than I would have been 6 months ago. Interestingly, since they have said having diabetes and being overweight worsens your chances, there has been a massive upsurge of people joining low carb and keto groups on Facebook to try and lose weight and cure their T2D. And that's got to be good for public health in general.

[Hidden]

Saw articles about this. I’m A-, so I’ll add this possibility to hypertension, immune suppressed, 81 yrs this month. I’m being careful and have expressed my wishes to my children if I get it. Accepting that’s all I can do, has helped me be calm and not worried. Hope you can find some peace within. It took me awhile, too. My best.

[whitefishbay in reply to Hidden]

My daughter is 25 and said if your are old you need to decide what you want. I’d be careful but do what you want. 🤞🏻🤞🏽Good luck to us all xx

[123-go]

I have read that too. Isn't it about time we PMR sufferers received some good news?

I'm sure you'll be safe at school where all safety precautions will be in place and you will, yourself, be practising good hygiene.

[whitefishbay]

Fingers 🤞🏼