Pandemic panic

SueDonim unless people who are symptomless are randomly tested no-one will know whether anyone has antibodies.

I was 16 in 1957 .
I don’t remember the Asian flu epidemic at all.
If this new virus is a sort of pneumonia virus would the fact that many old folk have had the pneumonia jab as well as the flu jab help I wonder.

I, for one, am worried. I have Bronchiectasis, and have breathing difficulties just now. My GP has refused me the steroid that would rectify it - what chance do I have? I feel like I am a sitting target!!

Phone the surgery and ask to see another GP Gwen. Unless there is an extremely good reason, they should prescribe for you the appropriate medication.

I think youve got it sorted Petunia - the alcohol should sort it out

Gwenisgreat1, I too have bronchiectasis and brittle asthma.
I am on prophylactic antiobiotics for life and the highest dose of Relvar Ellipta inhaler to help manage the bronchiectasis, I'm only ever prescribed steroids for the asthma and croup I'm prone to. Since being put on this regime about eight years ago, the frequency of chest infections have dropped dramatically.

Research shows that oral steroids usually have little effect on managing bronchiectasis. Are you on specific medication for the bronchiectasis? If not, is it worth going back to see a different GP?
I hope you get some relief, it's a horrible disease.

As there is such a shortage of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, would gin work instead? (Plus drinking it, of course, as it's so antiseptic)

A friend of mine did a massive Armageddon Ocado shop yesterday - spent £360. I wouldn't have space in the kitchen to stash that much-worth!

Lancslass1 - I think the pneumonia vaccination is against bacterial pneumonia, not viral so I guess it wouldn't really help. I might call the surgery and ask though, just in case it's a matter of everything that can be useful should be done.

A colleague said this is one way to get rid of all us old uns who are clogging up space the younger people want. Hadnt thought of that so there is another 'conspiracy theory' to be going on with till the next one lands! ?

I had a pneumonia vaccination. I am wondering if this would help protect me to a point. Oh I ran out hand soap next to my bathroom sink. Went to get some when in Sainsbury's yesterday...guess what...empty shelves.

I remember the Sars virus, I was a lot younger but funnily I never took notice of it and I don’t remember anyone panicking. I recall swine flu too and the leaflet I thought yesterday how I have anxiety more than then maybe age related as I’d just moved and was obsessed making and decorating dolls houses, or maybe so much media is available now and news channels. I remember the papers a couple of years ago promoting shelters for World War 3. I’m glad there wasn’t the channels growing up like there is now.

I have major untreatable heart problems. If I catch so much as a cold I will struggle to survive. I really hope everyone is careful with their hygiene and consider others who are high risk.
I get the feeling I’m expendable when people state it’s normally just mild illness. I wonder if only those statistically likely to recover will have access to a ventilator . I can’t look after myself now so what happens if my care person, my husband gets sick,
Best I don’t mix with people at the moment and don’t have visitors. .
When there are a few more funerals realisation will dawn-even if it is someone with an underlying health condition or old.

I'm another one with bronchiectasis, asthma etc. Because of this, I am going out less and trying not to mix too much. OH and I go out for walks together and are together 24/7. We'll probably end up killing each other!

I had pneumonia even though I had the jab. Must have been a different type.

Just found this on the British Lung federation site.

There are two types of vaccine available for pneumonia. They protect against the most common cause of pneumonia, the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. They aim to protect people who are at a higher risk from pneumonia, including older people and babies.

The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is for people over 65 and anyone over the age of two who’s in a high-risk group. Most adults will only need to have this vaccination once in their life.

As a high risk patient I had the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine years ago at the same time as my flu jab.

I have a husband with heart problems so yes I will happily admit to us upping our usual shopping lists to include extra pasta , rice , cous cous and tins , flour and general
items that would keep us going for a few weeks.
We usually go out to tea shops / garden centres at least a few times a week but will scale that back if / when it takes a good . We have corona virus about 30 miles away at the moment . I'd not class is as scaremongering , but being cautious .

When we had the last flu out break people were cared for in general hospitals . So if corona virus is just like flu , ask yourself why are they putting people in highly infected wards , in specialist hospital . So I believe there's more to worry about then we are actually being told .

Marydoll, I looked online at my medical record and on 10.9.97, it says 'pneumoc immunis adv in'. I think I have just had one pneumonia jab but had read elsewhere that there are two.

Petunia I would ask that you actually don't mock your friend and her theories. I think you may find there is much more to this than meets the eye, and this virus may have been originally produced in a laboratory. In fact there was a book published back in 1981 which is still available to read, that is eerily accurate about what is happening now. She has a valid angle on all points and hasn't got an overactive imagination at all, including undesirable additives in vaccines and the money making world of Big Pharma. Personally I'm with her and would not mock one bit. None of us know, and we all have an opinion on what's happening.

I can't take cold remedies like Lemsip or any of its ingredients because of meds I'm on for my heart condition. Last time I had flu like symptoms - in September I think - the pharmacist advised hot lemon and honey. It certainly eased the symptoms but I was in bed for several days- unusually for me - and the cough I had left me with a very sore diaphragm and ribs. I went to the GP once I'd recovered as I had been experiencing dizziness which hadn't cleared. She said she thought I had had pneumonia!...so my treatment must have been very effective. I'm planning to invest in Manuka honey as well as organic lemons if I get another cough!

I am very worried about the whole business around this virus. Expert opinions change almost hourly and frankly telling people to just wash their hands sounds a bit feeble.
Do we insist that everyone who comes into our houses washes their hands. If not, why not?
It will be our WI monthly meeting next week. Do we insist that every member queues up to wash their hands. Do we take a supply of paper towels and hand wash? When they pay their monthly subs does the person taking them wear protective gloves? I hear false bravado statements everyday and those of us who really are worried fear being victimised if they speak up. We should all respect each other's right to their own opinions without others riding roughshod over them.

Liz , although signed up for online services, there is no facility for me to access health records . That would be a boon.

I was actually asked at my RA clinic on Monday if I was vaccinated and if not, to get it ASAP. That's how I know I have already had it.
Mx

I am a little worried as I have low immunity and the medication I am on means I cannot eat citrus fruits or take honey. (and some other things). If I do go out I am very aware of my surroundings and have anti bac in the car and try not to touch doors, shopping trolleys etc. There are many people out there who dont care about sneezing fully into the atmosphere, so yes although I am not panicking, I am a little worried.

I bought some Manuka honey when it was on offer. I have since read that it is excellent at healing damaged skin but once we eat it, it has no benefits! I don't know what to think now.

I think anyone who has a pre-existing medical condition is fully justified in phoning their doctor and asking how dangerous corona virus would be for them and what precautions to take.

Wear gloves when you go out on public transport and if you are worried cover your mouth and nose with a scarf that you wash when you get home.

The latest news here is that somebody more or less has to sneeze or cough on you for you to be infected - you can't contract the infection just by breathing the air they have exhaled.

It's a true "OK Boomer" moment if there ever was one- It's no conspiracy theory that this virus could wipe out a considerable percentage of us-