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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another Coronavirus and what about those with autoimmune disorders? Should we panic?

52 replies

Wigglewaggle01 · 27/02/2020 15:23

I know it's another coronavirus thread and everyone is probably pig sick of them but how would you be feeling about the virus and it getting diagnosed much more in the UK if you had an auto-immune disease?
How likely is it to make people with autoimmune disorders very ill?

I'm not sure if I should be concerned or just think it would be a bad case of flu should I get it.

It's so difficult to find level headed advice and if someone like me with an autoimmune disorder should be worried?
Some people are all ' you only need to worry if you have pre-existing conditions' well that's all well and good until you are the one with a pre-existing condition!

So should I worry?
Should I be stockpiling?
Should I lockdown myself and my house?

Or is this just a bad case of flu (if you happen to be compromised to begin with) that will kick your arse for a few days but clear up like usual?

OP posts:
Butterer · 27/02/2020 17:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fairylea · 27/02/2020 17:16

Asthma isn’t an autoimmune condition as such but when coupled with other autoimmune conditions considering the Coronavirus affects breathing it makes it a very worrying combination.

Oxo01 · 27/02/2020 17:18

My family member has long term condition, has blood transfusions /exchange every four weeks or so. Had spleen out last January had pneumonia several times and other symptoms due to her condition which put her life at risk,
She is in first year secondary school and I feel that if she gets infected this puts her at more risk than a healthy person ( however I'm no expert) but thought I read that it can affect breathing /lungs ?

Yabadee · 27/02/2020 17:35

I have an autoimmune condition too, am on biologics and immunosuppressants and I work in an airport. Not been given any advice either, but then again haven’t asked for it!

Since October I’ve had, in order, sinusitis, a chest infection, sinusitis again, and cellulitis of the ear leading to a burst eardrum. Oct to Apr is a feckin nightmare for me!

Not overly concerned tbh, if I get it I get it, not much I can do

StillSmallVoice · 27/02/2020 17:37

I am also on immunosuppressant medication and have a fabulous holiday booked in Sicily for the middle of April. I would be very disappointed to have to cancel, but am not going to panic, and we'll know a bit nearer the time whether there's a serious risk.

I'm usually pretty blasé about these things, but after a virus late last year left me feeling really unwell for the best part of three months I'm being slightly more cautious.

AutumnCrow · 27/02/2020 17:44

A Lancet article is suggesting that Corvid-19 deaths are caused by ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), which is inflammation which affects the whole of the lungs, as opposed to 'just' pneumonia which affects part of the lung and is obviously more recoverable from.

ARDS is also survivable with specialist ventilators and ECMOs. But there aren't enough to go round.

The inflammation is connected to cytokine storms, which people with autoimmune inflammatory diseases are more prone to - but I haven't seen a proven connection between them yet.

I think it makes sense to be careful though - although that's easier said than done when autoimmune patients tend to have a lot of hospital and GP appointments and thus spend a lot of time in busy waiting rooms (and pharmacies) with unwell people.

Opportunitynox · 27/02/2020 17:53

What about all of us having chemotherapy. I'm becoming more concerned the more I read the scaremongering headlines in the papers. Thinking about staying at home for the next 3 months.

Gadareen · 27/02/2020 18:10

I have cancer and no spleen, and therefore a VERY compromised immune system. I am trying not to worry and to enjoy my life......but I am finding I get an almost overwhelming urge to commit grievous bodily harm on people who I see not washing their hands! FFS it's a new virus, we don't know enough about it to keep people as safe as we would like to be - BUT WE ALL BLOODY WELL KNOW THAT WASHING OUR HANDS IS THE BEST PROTECTION WE HAVE - SO WHY WON'T PEOPLE JUST BLOODY DO IT????

I was in the ladies toilet in Tesco last week, there was a huge poster on the wall above the basins explaining why it is important to wash your hands, giving percentages on the difference it makes to individuals and society as a whole. A "lady" walked out of the cubicle, and judging by the sounds I had heard, she had not been in there just to urinate. She saw me reading the poster as I WASHED MY HANDS, stood next to me to read it herself - then left, without so much as a glance at the so easily available soap, water, and hand driers. So if she won't wash her hands after a shit, she won't wash them for any other health reason will she? Arghhhhhhhhhhhh

CanNotSeeTheWoodForTheTrees · 27/02/2020 18:14

Got to say I am worried. Not panic mode but worried. My Lymphocytes are currently 0.24.

I'd love to hide away for a few months

JulietTango · 27/02/2020 18:26

I have an autoimmune disease but am not immune compromised, I think I would be more worried if I were

ClientQueen · 27/02/2020 18:57

It is definitely worrying me w bit. My neutrophils are around 0.2 some days, but can go up to 1.5 (still not great!)

BeyondReasonablyDoubtsLots · 27/02/2020 19:04

Just gonna keep an eye on this thread as I'm immunosuppressed.

iVampire · 27/02/2020 19:39

It’s the thing I find most depressing about Covid-19 threads. So many contain posts saying not to worry, it’s ok because it mainly kills people with underlying conditions. That’s us, isn’t it?

I have leukaemia, which is currently well controlled by drugs. So in theory I’m not immune suppressed right now (normal blood test a week ago).

But that could change in the blink of an eye. I have a 24/7 ‘call in with certain symptoms because of high risk of neutropenic sepsis’ number anyhow, so that would be my first port of call.

damnthatanxiety · 27/02/2020 19:40

Should you panic? No. Don't EVER panic about anything.

phlebasconsidered · 27/02/2020 19:45

Hmmm. I have Hashimotos, Addisons and Lupus as well as asthma. My asthma is very well controlled usually with the occaisional crisis which can flare up if I get bronchial involvement, probably as a lupus / asthma complication.

I'm a teacher. I'm not concerned - yet! I've only ever had a week off with bronchial complications in the last 4 years so i'm.pretty healthy. But I do see day to day some bloody hideous hygiene habits in kids! I have SO MANY anti bac gels in my class.

Glittercandle · 27/02/2020 19:51

My son take immune suppressants for a kidney condition- I am worried about him. I called his specialist nurse this afternoon to get a repeat prescription for him and she didn’t mention anything about CV so that actually made me feel a little better.

Rhapsodyinpurple · 27/02/2020 19:52

I'm immunosuppressed too and have transfusions every 4 weeks. I'm trying not to worry, but commute to work by bus where I regularly see people coughing without putting their hand or anything else over their mouths.

NightOwl27 · 27/02/2020 20:07

There was press conference in China yesterday stating that one of the most effective drugs trialed against coronavirus is chloroquine phosphate, an anti-malarial medication which also has effects the immune system and blood coagulation. Chloroquine is also a DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug) and commonly used in autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

This could be valuable info in case you are already on Aralen (chloroquine) or Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) and end up in the extremely unlikely scenario of catching Covid 19.

Harpingon · 27/02/2020 20:17

Thank you nightowl, that is very interesting.

BeyondReasonablyDoubtsLots · 27/02/2020 20:35

Quinine as in tonic? Gin

baldisbeautiful · 27/02/2020 20:44

I have Addison's disease too. Getting a little concerned but trying to stay calm, be careful and wash hands very often. Only been diagnosed around 10 months so no idea how this might effect me but other than the Addison's I'm in fairly good nick you think. (on thyroxine too but that seems stable and has been for years).

JulietTango · 27/02/2020 22:00

I have had Addison's for 20 years, I'm going to Australia via Singapore in three weeks time and I'm very excited. I am going to take enough tablets for two months though in case someone decides we need to be quarantined on the way backHmmConfused

I'm not worried at all.

BeyondReasonablyDoubtsLots · 27/02/2020 22:05

I got annoyed earlier. Had to pick up some top-up paracetamol, and PLAIN paracetamol could not be found anywhere for love nor money

Both DP and I already take daily prescribed NSAIDS, so the abundant anadin in every shop was useless to us.

Luscinia · 27/02/2020 22:14

Another one here with RA, asthma and another lung condition, albeit mild. I'm immunosuppressed. Last time I got flu (even with the jab) I ended up in hospital for 10 days. I'm not panicking but am avoiding crowded places and being scrupulous with hand washing.

GrumpyHoonMain · 27/02/2020 23:34

I don’t think there is any difference to flu in terms of risk. Globally the elderly, smokers, people who are immuno-compromised do die of flu viruses and the pneumonia / sepsis they cause. My mum has a condition that uses biologicals and she is following the same protocol she does for flu (she can’t have the vaccination just yet) - hand washing, wearing a mask when out, and if any of the grandkids are sick keeping them away.