Pandemic panic

Thank you Greeneyedgirl
We're living through strange times aren't we?

POGS, my husband had copd, I understand how difficult it is for you and you are being very wise re isolation

I will not explain my many qualifications to anyone here. Take it or leave it gracegran, follow your own path and good luck with that. Some of us are altruistic and like to help, using the knowledge that we have

So now I don't believe you have any qualifications or surely you would back what you are telling people to do.

I was always going to stick with what my doctor and consultant advise but was worried about people swallowing your advice with no knowledge of where you are getting it from. I'm afraid I don't see that type of posting as altruistic. It could, indeed, be dangerous.

craftyone - thanks for the informative posts.
I have just read that the government have put a shout out for companies who might be able to make ventilators. I find that incredible, surely this has been on the cards for months now? "If you produce ventilators please call the BEIS Business Support helpline on 0300 456 3565. A specific team receiving these calls will start at 10am tomorrow." Has this really just occurred to someone? This really worries me.

I've found craftyones posts very informative and reassuring right from the start and I'm very grateful to her....

gracesgran it’s up to individual posters to check any advice posted on an open forum with reputable sources and make up their own minds. Things should never just be taken at face value.

I provided links to two letters, one published in the Lancet and one in the BMJ. Medical journals don’t come much more reputable than that.
Both letters made the suggestion that ACE inhibitors could exacerbate the effects on the lungs of Covid19. They didn’t state it as fact.Just because there isn’t evidence for something doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

Of course official guidelines have to be cautious and based on knowledge & not speculation.

But advances in medicine and science would never be made if hypotheses weren’t tested and theories never discussed.

I think you’re being rather unfair, and a bit unkind, to Craftyone.

Evryone should avoid non essential travel - but some folk just don't get it/.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51917562

The news conference just now has been very interesting indeed. It was live on sky news channel 233, it is the first days of daily updates. Very measured and calm and a big change in gear.

Re ventilators, manufacturing is responding. Rolls royce for example. Try to sit tight and be calm and very careful to socially distance

Our local paper has reported on two cases of people reporting to one of the Coronavirus pods. No soap no sanitisers, various medics popping in but nothing much happening, No test administered. Very disturbing.

Thank you GrannyLaine I feel there is a lot of misinformation on here.

dragonfly46 I'm very impressed at such a quick response from my GP. The articles in the British Medical Journal and the Lancet were confusing: they raised a plausible question but nothing in evidence. And in these strange times, evidence matters. I'm also inclined to agree with the previous poster: we should be cautious of vitamin and mineral supplements unless deficiency has been proven. Some can interfere with the action of prescription drugs.

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

I think if I needed ventilator support, I'd feel very reassured if it was made by Rolls Royce.....

But Labaik, they have been perfectly honest about it. Its nothing to do with panic, it's about appropriate timing. This thing is going to last a long time. When schools close, there is an immediate problem with vast numbers of medical and emergency workers needing childcare support. Its a massive balancing act.

I know this is a long shot but does anyone know if maintaining a high blood alcohol content would be of any help?

I once read that cherry brandy is very good for chesty coughs....

More ventilators is more complicated than it seems. One of the major medical ventilator manufacturers says, that modern medical ventilators are complex and plans to produce lots more in a hurry is not realistic. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51914490

Dr John Campbell on You tube is amazing. He has been keeping the public informed about coronavirus,what to do, what not to do, facts figures and common sense. He is well worth watching for lots of answers and adds more everyday. Unbiased genuine caring man.

I don't think I was being unfair janeainsworth. Craftyone could have explained where her knowledge comes from but it wasn't that she couldn't, she said she wouldn't. It would have been perfectly easy for her to say "this is where I read it", or "these are the sources of research". She did not have to come back at me like that - it was a reasonable question and one, surely, we would all ask. There seemed to be some expectation of praise but I truly don't understand why that would be.

I'm giving it a go GrnTheftAuto I will report back

But even if they get more ventilators they don't have the staff to work them. And they will, quite soon, close schools. Why can't they be honest about it to give people time to make arrangements [ok; I know it's to stop people panicking, but....]

I think they are being honest. As far as they have it they are giving us the information.

I agree that even if they had more ventilators they will not have enough staff trained to use them. Our local hospital has 30 staff fully trained. (Information correct mid December 2019) bearing in mind someone on a ventilator almost always needs to be put into an induced coma and needs 24 hour one to one care, simply building more machines (assuming that were even possible in the short term) will not be enough.

Thanks for reminding me about Dr John Campbell; I'll utube him.

Have you seen the information released today about using paracetamol and not ibrufen? I am hoping that the ones who read a very early post of mine have been able to get enough over time, to see them through. The cheap paracetamol is made in india and they are keeping it for their own people. It is difficult to find any right now. Ebay did have some about 2 weeks ago at about £1, there is some still available at £3.69 but most is now at spiv profiteering prices

The only exercise I'm getting at the moment is walking the dog. But it concerned me today when walking down a nearby lane, to see a cyclist spit onto the pavement just after he rode past. I hadn't thought to wash my dogs paws after walks and don't quite know what would be effective but harmless to the dog if I did.