Everyone else is talking about it, so I thought I would too!
Firstly, I want to say that I am writing this post to help me to gather my thoughts on the current pandemic situation and share them with you. I am not giving advice on how each person should respond, but telling you how I am responding right now. Obviously, as we are in a fast moving situation, my response may well change in the coming days, weeks and months.
The only advice I would give to others is to read and follow the most up to date advice and guidance and to judge for yourself what measures you should be taking to keep yourself and others safe. Please bear in mind that the risk could be greater for family members, friends or strangers with whom you have contact, due to their age or health situation – I believe we all have some responsibility not only for ourselves, but for others around us.
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As you are aware, I should have been travelling to Russia today, to begin my HSCT, but this has been postponed due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. HSCT seriously depletes the immune system and recovery can take several months – clearly now is not the right time to deliberately lower my immune system.
I have been allocated a new date of 28th July and will be following developments closely as we move closer to that date. At the moment I’m not feeling hopeful that it will be safe to proceed in July.
At the moment I am not in work and I now have a decision to make about when or whether to go back. I am hoping to have a conversation with my GP and make a decision on that this week. I have appointments with both my neurologist and MS Nurse in April.
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As a person with MS, I am not at particularly greater risk due to the virus. I don’t think I’m more likely to catch it than anyone else, or more likely to die if it do. My lung function is fine, I don’t smoke and I’m otherwise reasonably healthy. I’m a little overweight and not as physically active as I’d like to be.
It is clear, however, that my immune system is faulty. I have two autoimmune diseases – Multiple Sclerosis and Hashimoto’s Disease (autoimmune thyroid disease). I also have a higher than normal presence of Antinuclear Antibodies in the blood – this indicates a tendency for the immune system to attack the body’s own healthy tissue (via cell nuclei). My biggest worry about catching the virus is that it could trigger an Ms relapse, trigger further thyroid issues or trigger another autoimmune response. I am therefore taking steps to reduce the risk of me being coming infected, which therefor also adds protection to those I am in contact with.
The MS Trust is providing regular guidance updates for people with MS. Here is their most recent update …
MS Trust – Coronavirus COVID-19 and multiple sclerosis – update 13 March
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So, these are the steps I’m taking now …
? I have increased hand washing over the last couple of weeks. I am washing my hands when coming home, after opening the post and several additional times each day (as well as the usual hand wash after using the toilet or before preparing or eating food). I have stopped wearing rings, watches and bracelets.
?? I carry hand sanitising gel with me and use it often when out, especially after touching anything (including menus and cash, both of which are filthy!)
? I am being very careful about what I touch when I’m out. This is a difficult one for me, as I need to use handrails etc to stay upright! I am now wiping shopping trolleys handles before touching them.
? I am not “self isolating” but I am limiting social contact. I am mostly staying at home, but still doing my own shopping and having contact with family and close friends who are well.
? I am keeping in daily contact with friends, family and others online – I am worried about us all feeling isolated.
? Shoes and coats will stay in the room nearest the front door and I am frequently wiping my handbag (inside and out).
??♀️ I am trying really hard not to touch my eyes, nose and mouth – why is this so bloomin difficult?!
? I am using disinfectant wipes daily to wipe my walking stick handle, door handles, light switches, the stair rail, door frames (I hold on to these for balance at home), window handles, blind cords, phone, iPad and TV remote controls.
? I wipe my keys, steering wheel, car door handles and gear stick often.
? I am opening windows and letting in fresh air. I haven’t seen anyone advising this but I personally thing a well ventilated home is healthier!
? I haven’t engaged with “panic buying” but have enough in my freezer and cupboards to keep me going for a couple of weeks if I have to. I have made sure I have a few weeks of my regular meds at home and have bought some additional packs of paracetamol.
I may well add to this list in light of new advice or as I think of further steps I can take to protect myself and others.
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I am feeling quite anxious about myself, about my family and friends and others. Because of my area of work, I know that there are many children who will be in danger if schools close and they have long periods holed up at home. I know there will be adults in danger because of this too. I know we are all worried about coping financially and especially about the self employed, small businesses, those on exploitative contracts and those not eligible for sick pay. I hope when this is all over, we can learn as a society, to make things a little fairer and safer for everyone.
I remain concerned about our government’s response to the threat of COVID-19, which is not in line with World Health Organisation, particularly in relation to testing and tracing contacts …
Countries should find and test every case of coronavirus to stop the pandemic, the World Health Organisation said a day after the UK announced that only the most seriously ill will be tested.
“You can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is,” the WHO’s director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at a briefing on Friday. “Find, isolate, test and treat every case to break the chains of Covid transmission. Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.”
The Guardian – WHO urges countries to ‘track and trace’ every Covid-19 case (13.03.20)
