Pandemic panic

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Thank you for the evidence based clarity GrannyLaine.
and well done your GP.

Further up thread there was some discussion about ACE inhibitor drugs (eg Ramipril, Lisinopril) and some articles suggesting a possible effect of making severe complications of Covid 19 infection more likely. As I take this, I messaged my GP surgery to seek advice. I got a very quick reply from my own GP as follows, which is very clear:

"This is the current guidance.
This speculation about the safety of ACE-i or ARB treatment in relation to COVID-19 does not have a sound scientific basis or evidence to support it. Indeed, there is evidence from studies in animals suggesting that these medications might be rather protective against serious lung complications in patients with COVID-19 infection, but to date there is no data in humans.

The Council on Hypertension of the European Society of Cardiology wish to highlight the lack of any evidence supporting harmful effect of ACE-I and ARB in the context of the pandemic COVID-19 outbreak.

The Council on Hypertension strongly recommend that physicians and patients should continue treatment with their usual anti-hypertensive therapy because there is no clinical or scientific evidence to suggest that treatment with ACEi or ARBs should be discontinued because of the Covid-19 infection"

I think it is up to us to support each other as far as we can, in addition to helping ourselves. Some will find it difficult to self isolate because of individual circumstances.

With regard to Vitamin and food supplements, I am a bit boring in this respect and would prefer only to take things for which I have a proven deficiency (non so far), and that there is good evidence that they are effectual and safe.

Craftone

Can I say I have found a ' fellow traveller' and agree with your posts wholeheartedly.

I have repeated on the copious threads on COVID 19 I have Bronchiectasis /COPD and other health issues so I ' accept' I am in the At Risk Grouping and I have self isolated for 2 weeks now, I say self isolated but I have hubby for shopping etc. and he has chosen to do as I do for my health.

I agree 100% when you say ' Many of us are doing our best to isolate ourselves. It is down to each and everyone of us to help ourselves. Self-help'

The ' At Risk Group' is common sense to understand as to who and why they are classed as such, if they cannot think pragmatically then I despair.

Most of us with COPD will know first hand what it is like, how totally terrifying what not being able to breath is like.

Yes I popped in to see if Craftyone had replied to you GG.

Where do you get your information from Craftyone Do you have a nutritional or medical qualification?

I think Craftyones posts are the most reasoned and informative on this subject, thank you.
I too have had the hammerite out, painting some wrought iron garden stuff.

Just a warning to all those taking supplements. They can react adversely with existing medications. Check with your doctor first. I am having chemo and my oncologist does not advise any supplements. Also some do not mix with my DH’s blood pressure medications.

Thanks so much Craftyone

crikey I am writing too fast, to get the info out

time release vit c, plus D3and K2, plus zinc tablet. No need for a special zinc lozenge, the tablet works

I am in the garden all day from now, I always try to do positive, uplifting things and today I am oiling a wooden bench, it needs two coats plus I am dabbing hammerite paint onto rusty bits on a metal plant stand

If you need hobby or repair stuff then get it orderedbefore we are at a standstill. We need things to do

time release vit c or spread smaller strength tabs during the day as excess is excreted via urine

yes absolutely. I take 1000mg time release every day just now, D3 with K2 and I suck a zinc if I ever feel a prickly throat. These are my must haves and I stocked up a couple of weeks ago. I use a prof site but also this site which I rate very highly and they send quickly

www.oxfordvitality.co.uk/

craftyone I’ve read somewhere that zinc tablets can boost the immune response & I’ve got some combined zinc/vitamin C in stock just in case.
Would you agree with that or is it a health myth?

This virus does scare me in that if becoming mildly ill and being at home, it is going to be very nasty for over 60s. It `eats` the mucus membranes in the lungs and it travels to the kidneys through those facilitated ACE pathways and more. We would feel grotty. I haven`t emphasised enough that ibruprofen helps to form that ACE pathway so do NOT take it unless of course you are absolutely isolated and certain that you cannot have the virus and only ever on a full stomach. Paracetamol is perfectly good, saline solutions help so do gargle, I also use a neti pot with cooled boiled water and salt. Anything lurking is likely to be washed away

Being very careful at home is also important, to avoid trips, falls, scalds, not to have to go to A&E. Have a small space at home where you can keep those comfort things to reach into if you get ill, the paracetamol, plasters etc I have a small drawer in a chest in my bedroom sucking sweets and so on

About china, weeks back I put a post up about potentials coming from china. It was deleted thanks to someone complaining and calling it racist, I hope they are proud of themselves. I almost stopped writing any more about coronavirus, people would have known much more and much earlier

It’s not just on China though

Other countries could have stopped accepting flights.

They didn’t until weeks later

I have been on Twitter, which I dislike, but I think that tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day. Not in a good way.

I believe the virus mutated in Italy or so I heard. An unknown virus is always going to be a bit of a lottery. We can only be thankful that is doesn't affect everyone like that and most people have it mildly. It could be so much worse if it made everyone extremely ill, including children.