I have Hashimotos. I'm always feeling like I'm fighting with a virus .

[Everdean]

If my immune system is constantly in overdrive, how could that impact me on the Corona virus?

Thank you for any answers.

[Skylane2]

Take lots of vitamin C stay home instead of going to restaurants and movie theatres or any event where there is a crowd. Wash your hands! I have Hashimotos and I bought latex gloves to keep in the car when I’m pumping gasoline or using an ATM. Clean your door knobs with rubbing alcohol. You can make your own hand sanitizer with 2/3 alcohol and 1/3 aloe Vera gel . Put it in a spray bottle and shake it up. This kills germs. Don’t stress. You’ll be OK

[Everdean in reply to Skylane2]

Thank you so much

[willsie01 in reply to Skylane2]

Where does one buy clinical grade alcohol and aloe vera gel?

[LivingWithHT in reply to willsie01]

Rubbing alcohol that’s at least 60 to 70 percent can be purchased in pharmacies, drugstores and grocery stores. It will sometimes be labeled as Ethanol Alcohol. Aloe Vera gel can also be found at the same locations. In grocery stores and drugstores, you’ll usually find it in the section for sun protection and tanning lotions/sprays.

[helvella Administrator in reply to LivingWithHT]

Rubbing alcohol is not a very much used term in the UK. More often surgical spirit.

Rubbing alcohol can be, as you say, ethanol (ethyl alcohol, the alcohol in acoholic drinks) but it can also be isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol).

Surgical spirit B.P. is 95% methylated spirit, 2.5% castor oil, 2% diethyl phthalate, and 0.5% methyl salicylate.

[LivingWithHT in reply to helvella]

Yes, true, it can also be isopropyl. I personally wouldn’t recommend using higher than 70 percent alcohol solution to make a hand sanitizer because it can be really drying.

*Edit: I’m not American but I prefer using the term “rubbing alcohol” to differentiate from hospital/clinical grade alcohol that tends to be far more than 70 percent concentrated and certainly not necessary for disinfecting hands, shoes, clothes or surfaces from virus bacteria.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to helvella]

I tried to buy isopropyl alcohol last spring, I wanted it for an art project. I went into a local Boots where the normal staff appeared to have been replaced by a couple of guys in suits, first one, then both of them looked at me as if I’d asked for some kind of hard drug, talk about suspicious!

They assured me that they did not stock anything like that and acted like I was public enemy number one. Then along came a little girl who is one of the regular staff, she looked at me and said “my grandad uses that when he’s painting “. I said that was exactly what I wanted it for, went home and got a litre of it from Amazon.

I’ve since discovered that both of my sons have access to it, one used it in a clean room for electronic equipment and the other uses it on an outside broadcast truck, again to clean electronic stuff. So the fuss the guys in Boots were making was totally over the top.

I do wonder if they actually knew what I was wanting, hence the suspicion.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I bought some a while back for use in DIY screenwash. Works out considerably less expensive than the ready-to-use stuff - at least, at winter concentrations.

Straightforward to buy online but I cannot now remember where.

[Hillwoman in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I use it in artwork too, and bought it on Big A. It's also good for removal of tough stains and the like.

Boots are silly about all sorts of things. They wouldn't sell my husband vitamin C powder, "in case it's used to adulterate illegal drugs." Not sure which was worse, the implied accusation of criminal intent, or the sheer idiocy involved in coming up with such a policy.🙄

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Hillwoman]

Do you think it’s because they are now owned by Allied Chemists?vitamin C honestly - you couldn’t make that up could you!

[BlueMoon65 in reply to Hillwoman]

Totally with you on that...stopped using Boots years ago. They even treated me with suspicion once when I went to obtain my mum’s prescription. And I was a 57year old woman with ID...no idea why they are so hostile.

[Skylane2 in reply to willsie01]

The alcohol need be only inexpensive alcohol as long as it’s 70% or stronger. I get it at either the pharmacy or at the grocery store . Aloe Very gel is a little harder to find. Look on line I think I got mine at a discount grocery store. Your best bet though is soap and warm water and a fingernail brush for 20 seconds! Be safe

[helvella Administrator in reply to willsie01]

Search online - there are (usually) many suppliers. Who knows if it is available now?

See my link to WHO document.

[Hillwoman in reply to helvella]

I ordered some a couple of weeks ago (Amazon Marketplace) for various purposes. It still hasn't turned up, so I've contacted the chemical company concerned. They've been overwhelmed by demand and are struggling to fulfil orders.

[helvella Administrator in reply to Skylane2]

The World Health Organisation hand sanitiser document is available here:

who.int/gpsc/5may/Guide_to_...

The final concentration of ethanol is 80% v/v and of isopropanol is 75% v/v.

[Hillwoman in reply to helvella]

That's a very useful document. Thanks.

[Skylane2]

Stay home!!! Wash your Hands with soap and water for 20 seconds . take your shoes off and leave them by the door. Wipe down the door knobs and handles at the entrances.. your immune system is compromised with Hasimoto’s do not touch your face when in public if you must see your doctor otherwise STAY AT HOME. This virus kills

[RedApple Administrator in reply to Skylane2]

Skylane2, if you must see your doctor

This is not the procedure here in the UK. Here is the UK procedure for the current time nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

I suspect every country has it's own way of dealing with this pandemic, but if everyone went to see their doctor about their worries, doctors would never be able to cope!

[Skylane2 in reply to RedApple]

I’m sorry, no I didn’t need to see the doctor for the virus test, I needed X Ray test results and she was doing office calls on the telephone. Sorry for the misunderstanding

[Everdean in reply to Skylane2]

Thank you for your reply.