Should I be writing letters to my children?

[Emcont]

I'm 26, BMI of 42. Realistically, should I be writing letters to my young children incase this kills me?

Samcarpy92 people with a BMI over 40 are on the list of people told to self isolate for 12 weeks, along with the over 70s and those with, for example, diabetes, lowered immune systems, asthma.

@Samcarpy92 it's on PHE unfortunately. Listed under those at high risk

I like you have a high BMI and I have really bad anxiety. I've been feeling like my throat was closing over a few times and my heart has been racing. I was terrified of leaving my little girl but I'm taking all of the advice. I have also written letters to her. I write to her often also just so one day I can show her. My partner and family know where to look when I'm gone. But I'm determined that these letters will be used to spur me on to lose weight after this nightmare is finished with.
Writing the letters made the anxiety better. The worst thing in my head was me dying and her not ever knowing how much I worship her. I have a little cry most days about how she will be without me especially as I'm with her constantly and have BF her all her life. It must be just be so hurrendos for terminal people leaving young children behind.
The important thing is that you are young and otherwise strong and in good health. I'm like 90% sure I have coronavirus at the moment I have a cough but like at the end of a chest infection and pain and aches and really bad fatigue but it could be an viral thing. The way I look at it is we could die tomorrow crossing the road or in the car so write the letters. Kiss them ten million times let them know you love them because you never know the day. You have to let go of the things outside of our control push the negativity away and focus on what we can control.
I hope the anxiety dies down soon.

I think it is a lovely idea anyway to write letters for your children irrespective of Corona, I think I will.

But please remember OP, if the chances of dying from it generally are about 1% then increasing the risk by 70% takes the risk to 1.7%, which really isn't that high, so you shouldn't worry too much.

BMI 40+ are in the stringent social distancing group and are not self isolating, according to gov.uk

@Clariana - I love you! I love a stats brain that can make things make sense

I drafted one a month ago but it's just sitting in my notepad.
I might see if the solicitors are working and email them to add it to my will.

Try not to worry. Write the letters if you like. Personally I am trying to do everything to stop getting it in the first place, not going out, washing stuff that comes through the door, exercising daily, drinking 'good bacteria drinks' washing hands, getting enough sleep and eating healthy.

When I was pregnant with my little girl (she will be 4 next week) I created an email address for her and wrote her login and password inside her baby box. I sent her emails quite often as a baby (I had a lot more time!) But still manage one a month or so. Maybe that would help you instead of a physical letter? Hugs to you, anxiety is awful at anytime let alone now

I’ve been thinking the same. I’m 31, asthmatic, BMI of 39 and before all this I was being investigated for high blood platelets and a pain/lump in my side. I lost my mum at a young age and one of the things I struggle with is not knowing stuff about my childhood or not having anything to read from her when I miss her. She’s not there to fill in the blanks. I’d like to write some stuff for Dd for when she gets older and I’m not there. I just don’t want her to forget me

I work in a care home with no ppe and it’s inevitable I’m going to get it.

70%?! 😭

I was supposed to go on a trip to high risk country in April for work, and I had been thinking that I should write letters to my dh and kids then.

So the idea has been in my head for a while. But I can't bring myself to put pen to paper, as I know that writing them will break my heart.

I’ve googled the 70% but can’t find that particular statistic. I can only find “70% admitted to ICU are men and of those, 72% are overweight/obese”.

But 65% of the general population are overweight or obese...

I learnt during A level maths, the old saying “There are lies, damned lies and statistics”. Add in the media hysteria and their propensity to take 10% fact and create 90% fiction around that to create a attention grabbing headline... the odds are ever in your favour.

Where does 70% come from?
Link please or bugger off if it’s scaremongering

@Samcarpy92. Just because you don’t know anything about it, is no reason to tell people to ignore it FFS

@Emcont

I feel a bit like you, I want to write letters ‘just in case’ but it’s hard & it does feel like somehow you’re tempting fate. I’m going to try though, to write letters that are more like ‘this is why I love you’, rather than ‘good bye’ I know I’ll regret not doing it if I end up very unwell- I’ll be worrying about it.
I just need to actually DO it.

Obesity makes you (and me) higher risk for several reasons, as Goaty said - it’s often an indicator of other other underlying issues (diabetes, heart issues etc) plus of course we often have too much fat around our lungs and ventilation isn’t so successful.

However, you very much have age on your side.

I’m 51, have T2 diabetes & a BMI of around 45. I’ve been on Social Distancing MAX - not quite Self Isolation as I have been delivering shopping to elderly relatives (their doorsteps) & friends (doorstep) as they were caught out having to isolate before the lock down & I had a fridge/freezer delivered which involved the delivery guys coming into the house & is all being in my small kitchen. Plus I was going walking every day until last Thursday (good for my diabetes but not so good for risk avoidance). Now I only go if I can be back by 7am and I won’t go tomorrow as it’s going to be frosty and getting cold (especially a cold nose) isn’t good for this virus (gives it easier passage to your lungs apparently).

I’m washing every single thing that comes into the house & putting everything I can into the spare room for a week.

I’m doing everything I can not to get it, for as long as I possibly can.

Some of the MmcSmuggins, need to stop being so smug though. They’ve said a BMI of 27 puts you at more risk (obviously the higher the more risk). And some ‘perfect BMI’ers have a lot of fat around their internal organs too.

As for the ‘just lose some weight’ honestly, do these people not think we would if we could. This is not the thread for that argument though.

Do your best to stay well, not get it & enjoy your kids!!

@middleager
sirry to hear you’re worried you might have it. Let’s hope not or that you’re one of the very many who will just feel crap for a few days then be ok 🌷

Being obese makes you about 3 times more likely to die if you catch COVID-19. But it also hugely raises your risk of dying from many, many other causes. You must know this?

Well, why not see if you catch it first? And write your letters if you do?

@ScarlettBlaize can we have a link to the 3x likely please? I haven’t read that anywhere

No. You're being silly. If you get it and you feel awful there will be time enough. But you won't. You'll be fine.

I have and spoken to the kids about what's going on my bmi is high I'm prediabetic (pcos) and family history of heart disease and high blood pressure x

@Goatymcgoaty
Absolutely, happy to oblige.

twitter.com/AndyBiotech/status/1245504688377802756?s=20

@Goatymcgoaty
And looking at the bigger picture, beyond COVID-19

medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000348.htm

So if the chance of someone with BMI 18-23 having serious pneumonia is say 0.4%, then the odds for an overweight person goes up to around 1.4%?

Roughly yes. Between 3 and 4 times greater chance of having serious complications.

I think it's far more relevant to look at the second link tbh. If your BMI is over 40 you are far more likely to die or become seriously ill from a lot of different serious conditions.

@ScarlettBlaize according to that twitter link it says doubled not tripled as per the comments underneath interpreting the data