Chronic illness/immuno suppressed support thread?

[ALemonyPea]

I'm trying not to get too worried about Corona virus, bit hard when it's all over the place.

I have a chronic illness and taking chemo tablets, so my immune system isn't at its best at the minute.

I've got a head cold which started on Monday, no temperature. I've not been in contact with anyone known to have CV, or not been on holiday anywhere known to have an outbreak. No people in my city have been confirmed as having it. Trying not be silly about symptoms as it's nothing that I've not had before.

Anyone else flapping a little? Could do with some support, if only to mentally slap me.

Sure. But a lot of people will be reading this, so I wanted to make the point about type 1 diabetes. Plenty of folks will have to do a lot of risk assessing over the next while and it's not great if they're dismissing their diabetes (type 1 or 2) as no risk because they aren't on immune-suppressant drugs.

I have an underactive thyroid myself. My endo is quite convinced the thyroid affects every bodily function as T3 is necessary to all mechanisms at cellular level. So it's probably good if people are keeping their thyroid levels optimum from an immune system point of view - even more so than normal!

I have RA, asthma and bronchiectasis(a lung condition causing repeated infections). Also on herceptin for breast cancer. It's the lung condition that scares me. I think I could remain fairly isolated as we live rurally and are retired. My adult DC may pose the greatest risk.

@butsandpieces that sounds really scary, I am glad you are feeling better.

I agree it'd make sense to test immunocompromised when they're showing that symptom set too.

@AbsentmindedWoman it’s literally everywhere on the news that the two most at risk groups based on current evidence are diabetics and those with heart conditions. I guess if you’ve got one of those things you’ll be aware and not relying on Mumsnet 🤣

It’s literally everywhere on the news that the two most at risk groups based on current evidence are diabetics and those with heart conditions. I guess if you’ve got one of those things you’ll be aware and not relying on Mumsnet

Yeah, and that statement, about diabetes being a high risk group, is too vague, because at one point they specified it was 'uncontrolled diabetes' that was the risk. I am type 1 diabetic.

Anyway I'm not looking to argue with you and not sure why you're picking apart my posts but whatever. I am just trying to get my head around all of this and sharing bits of info I feel are relevant and will continue to do so.

Sounds very stressful Buts. Hope you're feeling better soon.

I was at hospital last week and there was a huge not behind reception saying that anyone presenting with cold/flu symptoms should be immediately isolated in the nearest toilet and emergency number called.

Checking in, as I'm chronically ill/disabled and living with someone with COPD. I've sorted out medications as best I can, and sorted supplies for a few weeks, as intending to stop work and hole up at home if it gets much worse.

I have lymphoma and no spleen - very frightened right now. Particularly as I've been diagnosed with hypercalcemia and am supposed to have an operation on my parathyroid glands due to excessive calcium in my blood.. Next appointment to discuss surgery is 20th April, but by then I'm thinking I'll be too frightened to visit a hospital, let alone have an operation - if indeed there is likely to be any chance of getting a bed

And I second what a PP said about how people treat you when you don't look ill. I'd love to have the nerve to look them in the eye while saying "I don't look ill? well you don't look stupid"

My ds is on immunosuppressants (methotrexate), daily steroids for adrenal suppression, and he has badly controlled brittle asthma. I'm terrified for him.
I also have 3 dc at 2 different schools, 2 of the dc are 6, and super at sharing germs, plus it's been confirmed fairly close to us.
I've got plenty of medication in for ds, and, as he suffers badly with anxiety anyway, I've reassured him that he doesn't need to worry too much, while trying to impress the importance of handwashing upon him.
He has an appointment with his paediatrician next week, and I'll be asking how worried I need to be.

I have addisons and I take lots of steroids I am feeling very anxious

I have ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia & Underactive Thyroid, had a major panic last Monday when ds was sent home from school with very similar symptoms to Coronavirus, he was in Southern Italy over half term with school, after contacting our GP was told he had been in a cat 2 area & to contact 111, after an hour on the phone getting passed around I was finally told our GP was talking rubbish & that Naples was nowhere near a Cat 2 area, thank goodness. I'm trying to not panic too much now, I'm mainly housebound & the only person who I have any regular contact with is ds. Am now just making sure freezer is well stocked & cupboard stuff is well stocked & organised, have ordered prescriptions from doctors & made sure we have all the usual stuff for colds & flu in case of need.

Im very worried... my fiance has serious heart problems and had major open heart surgery 4 weeks ago. (He also has copd) im terrified what'll happen if he catches it.

On top of that I'm asthmatic and work in a hospital (in a area with a high flow of patients and visitors...)

Meh BMI 13.5, asthmatic, had sepsis, a bone eating infection etc, cannae be caring less to be honest.

@OneHanded , please be a little kinder to people who are concerned and with good reason.
It's not a "playing chicken " competition.

OneHanded, this is not the thread for zero fucks given. Everyone who has posted so far apart from you have genuine fears about catching it.

I feel like crap today, going to phone GP and see if I can get an appointment. Don't have a temp, but hacking phlegmy cough.

Good luck with the doc Lemony.

Is anyone on regular blood products? I’m worried about supplies drying up if donors are affected, and also about risk if infected products. If I get the virus I’ll need red cells transfused.

Hope everyone is ok today.

Those of us who are needing regular hospital visits/monitoring/treatment are going to be affected by this without a doubt, even if we don't actually get infected.

That's as much a cause for concern as catching the illness in my view.

Not worried about myself but have daughter with UC and on adalimumab. Asked her IBD nurses for advice and they said that adalimumab has a narrow focus and that it's "likely" that she still has a reasonably functioning immune system. It certainly doesn't feel like that when she barely gets out of bed for 3 weeks with the most recent 'just a cold'. So we're very concerned about keeping her safe - plus we live near the hospital where the lady sadly died (and MIL is currently an inpatient!) which has ramped up the worry.

She's at 6th form college 4 days a week, an hour bus journey each way. She hasn't been in this week because she's feeling crappy and we're trying to work out what to do when she is well enough to go - there's a spectrum of actions from going to college and taking sensible precautions, through to just staying at home, to us sending her to relatives in the country.

I feel like we as a society are terrible for leaving these decisions until action is forced upon us - I want to try to pre-empt risk to her rather than react when we think she might have been exposed. But then also part of me thinks it's a bit ridiculous to stop her gong to college for what might be months!

So difficult. I really feel so much for everyone on this thread. There is far too much emphasis in all the official advice about not worrying because it'll only be a problem for the vulnerable, and not nearly enough emphasis on what can be done to protect the vulnerable - who are actually a rather large proportion of the population!

There’s no greater risk to people with hashimotos. Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease, but the reason people with (other) autoimmune diseases are at greater risk is because very often their treatment is immune-suppressant medication, like steroids. I assume you’re being treated with thyroxine and that’s it. So don’t worry!

@HarrietM87 - I'm on liothyronine. (I take T3 only as levothyroxine does very little for me). I tend to disagree with you, since reading a bit more re autoimmune thyroiditis and the immune system (and Covid-19) that T-cells are involved in both. If you have an autoimmune disease your immune system is trigger happy, basically. But I am still reading up on it so I can get as much info as possible, and hopefully I will be wrong! Also I'm not in the best of health, am underweight and have a bit of a chest wheeze (thanks to a black mould infestation in one ceiling which we have now replaced), plus am mid-60s. I am more concerned for a couple of friends who have lupus (and are on immune suppressants for it). But thanks anyway for answering my post, I appreciate it. :)

Checking in to this thread to join you all in worrying/planning.

I have lymphoma, COPD and - as the cherry on the cake - was hospitalised three weeks ago with chest sepsis.

I've name-changed for now, as I need the support and camaraderie, but am utterly identifiable to anyone who knows me irl.

They throat-swabbed me and told me I had A Coronavirus, but not THE Coronavirus, so I assume they tested for it. Reading the above, though, they may not have done.

It would actually be a huge relief if I found out I'd already had it

My DH is now working from home. I work freelance with children, and I think I'm going to stop for now.

I'm also planning to take my children out of school from Monday.

I'm in Surrey and DH works in London. There have been cases reported not far from us.

and (if it doesn't conflict with the meds) to all my fellow walking-wounded.

@quirrels I also have bronchiectasis as well as aspergillosis and MAC. Trying not to worry but each day I feel a little more anxious. Worried about my DD on Humira for an auto immune condition too. I'm mainly staying away from crowds if I can but can't always. I've only just got over double pneumonia too so my strength levels are very low.

Thinking of everyone on this thread - solidarity. It's especially hard when people seem to so easily write us all off - 'oh, it only affects those already ill.' like we don't matter.

I’ve got a neuro muscular problem and very weak muscles all over so can’t cough very well at all . Worried .

Just checking in - humira, asthma, and EDS (no idea if that one makes a difference - very much a lack of research there, but no surprise really. Basically my body is generally fucked).

I'm actually half crossing my fingers atm; as I saw immune function can be impaired long term, and a little bit of me wonders if my AI issues will therefore be cured

I'm on azathioprine. Just waiting for my blood test form to come through. Last one was borderline. Have had an awful sore throat and cough this week plus the most awful pain in/behind/underneath (can't actually identify where). I feel rough. Am worried about getting this virus ontop of this.