• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sparkly Bright Eyes

Owl-ways look on the bright side of life!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Health
  • Marriage
  • Parenting
  • Working from home
  • About
  • Contact

Having a chronic condition during the 2020 pandemic.

03/05/2020 By Savanna Robinson Leave a Comment

To say the start of 2020 has not been great would probably be a huge understatement. In Australia we were still dealing with bushfires in January (The Gospers Mountain Fire was active from October till January). In February we had floods. Then in March the spread of Covid 19 started to impact us. Social distancing began to be suggested more, businesses started to be affected and the great toilet paper saga began. But it has been more worrying for those who have a chronic condition during 2020 pandemic. Having a chronic condition during 2020 pandemic

having a chronic condition during 2020 pandemic

Background to the 2020 pandemic

A little background on Covid 19. Also known as Coronavirus disease, it’s an infectious disease caused by a new virus. It causes flu-like symptoms and is spread mostly by contact with people with the virus. This virus started in China in December 2019, and by my birthday at the end of January was declared by the World Health Organisation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On 11 March 2020 it was declared a pandemic. At that stage the virus had spread to all areas of Italy and was beginning to impact the US. chronic condition during 2020 pandemic

Now for most people Covid 19 just causes mild to moderate respiratory symptoms. Some people infected with the virus have even reported not even feeling unwell, yet testing positive after being in close contact with other confirmed cases. And the information about is still evolving.

But for those of us with chronic conditions, immune suppressed or compromised people and the elderly it is not such great news. As in the most severe cases require hospitalisation and possible ventilator use in the ICU. And the death rate from Covid 19 has varied from country to country, seeming dependent on the strategy governments and health authorities have taken in this pandemic.

My chronic condition situation with MS

At first I wasn’t so worried about having a chronic condition during the 2020 pandemic with my multiple sclerosis. Advice from MS Australia and neurologists was that we shouldn’t be at more risk of catching Covid 19 than anyone else.

But then more information started coming out about specific MS medications and the potential risks. You see not many people with MS have had the disease yet for them to really know how Covid 19 might affect MSers. And a lot of the medications available in Australia aren’t so in China where the majority of cases had occurred at that point in time. So specialists are making educated guesses on how they might affect each group of medications.

My medication, Gilenya, has a mild to moderate risk of complications on current advice. But a real risk of relapse if medication is discontinued. However they ask if we do develop Covid 19 to contact our Neurologist as well as the other requirements of the Health authorities…so they can track the data more specific to the Multiple Sclerosis community world wide.

Not having a clear idea about how this pandemic is going to affect your family is worrying and exhausting. As a teacher I was required to be at my school until Monday 23rd March, until they finally brought through some guidelines allowing at risk people to work from home. Knowing how quickly things spread through schools of normal conditions like gastro and colds/flu, I was getting quite panicky at the risk of catching something that could land me in hospital. And every little symptom my family reports is a cause for thinking “Do I need to be worried about that?”

Things to do

The only things we know for sure on how to help when you have a chronic condition during the 2020 pandemic is the strategies being advised to all people. Wash your hands well for 20 seconds (as we know sanitizer has been super rare since at least January) and maintain social distancing. In New South Wales we’re being recommended to keep 1.5 metres away from all people (tricky with preschoolers) and simply to not go out unless absolutely necessary and essential. Plus for the last 4 or 5 weeks we have been staying at home, seeing very few people…which is hard on all.

Facemasks at first were not recommended as effective in avoiding Covid 19. As the types that are able to keep the virus out are needed by medical personnel for if we do come down with it. But since I started writing this blog post the advice has varied as to whether you should be using them or not and the protection they offer. I do know that some medical practices in Australia have required patients attending to wear a mask whether displaying symptoms or not. I started sewing up a couple for us and a friend who needed a mask to see her doctors.

It has been a trying and scary time for all and I think the whole world is completely over the need for distancing from all other people! It’s just not natural for a social creature, which we humans are. But it’s even more trying and scary for those more at risk of complications than the average person.

Living with a chronic condition can be hard enough at times without thinking about your own mortality and what the risk of going to the shops could hold. But as to following the advice for staying healthy, I think that my fellow chronic condition people are on top of being able to follow through on that, as it’s part of our regular lives anyway.

Stay safe everyone and let me know in the comments below how you have been feeling during this pandemic with a chronic condition. chronic condition during 2020 pandemic

Living with MS – A day in the life of an MSer

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: chronic illness, mental health, Multiple Sclerosis

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

 

  • Self-care habits to reduce stress and improve mental health
  • Ideas for keeping toddlers entertained on hot days. Download now.
Follow Me on Pinterest
Jessie decided Farmers Market Dry Dog Food was pre Jessie decided Farmers Market Dry Dog Food was pretty good. She would have eaten the whole packet if we let her.

#bordercollie  #bordercollielove
#mypuppyiscuterthanyours 
#SpringIntoSummerBlackBoxAU
Good vibes for my darling girl celebrating her 18t Good vibes for my darling girl celebrating her 18th tonight with her friends. 
#18thbirthday #goodvibes
Not so sure if this is true, but I guess less thin Not so sure if this is true, but I guess less things impact on you when you are happier.
 
Even so, summer impacts on my life more so than winter does with my MS. 

#happiness #behappy #multiplesclerosis #msmom #ms #sparklybrighteyes #mumoftwo #girlmum #girlmom
Go on. Go outside and look around you. Life is pre Go on. Go outside and look around you. Life is pretty amazing when you stop just to look around you at what is there.

This is a great way of just grounding yourself and helping to be mindful that you can’t solve all the world’s problems yourself.

#life #amazing #nightsky #mindfulnesspractice #sparklybrighteyes #breathe #quotes #quarantinelife #quotesaboutlifequotesandsayings
After trying to transplant my avocado tree in summ After trying to transplant my avocado tree in summer, and it not coping at all with the intense heat and bushfire season, I was given a new one for my birthday by mum and dad. 
Avocado #3 is now in its new home. With lots of strawberry plants for company and the lemon tree that keeps pulling through, even when dad is sure it’s died on me. 
With being on school holidays, and socially isolating, I may get the  dirt moved that has to come out for the house extensions... whenever they may start now.

#gardenlife #aussiebackyard #SparklyBrightEyes #avocado #mygarden
#mumlife #mummyblogger #momlife #dowhatyoulove #dreamlife #spooniemumlife #lifegoals #liveyourpassion #workathomemum #gardening #gardeninspiration #gardenlove #avocadotree #isolationcreation #iso #isogardening #2020experience
Trying this out for a few weeks. My teen thinks it Trying this out for a few weeks. My teen thinks it’s pretty good when she doesn’t feel like much breakfast (anxiety affects her feeling up to eating in the mornings). She loves the Ensure vanilla flavour. To me it’s bearable. Not a big fan of vanilla drinks. Will be interesting seeing what the chocolate is like.

#ShakeItUpWithEnsure #Gifted #mumlife #breakfast #Ensure #vanilla #teenanxiety #anxiety #momlife #sparklybrighteyes #bloggermum #parentinglife
Missing this view today. We spent the last week wi Missing this view today. We spent the last week with this beautiful beach just outside our holiday place. 
But today was back to school for me. Bit of a comedown from this great spot.
Something to aim for again for next year though.
#dreamplace #holidays #beachlife #sparklybrighteyes #forrestersbeach #backtoschool #mumlife #empowersocial #mamatime #thinkpositive #socialboss #dreamlife #mummyblogger #myinspiration #lifegoals #teachersofinstagram #beachday #beachtime #iteachtoo #socialsouper
A busy and exciting day for my big girl today. Gra A busy and exciting day for my big girl today. Graduation day for Year 12. Where did the time go; from a timid little girl in kindy to a confident young lady who came first in drama! Dream big my love! There are so many more great things ahead of you! Xxoo

#graduation #graduationpictures #sparklybrighteyes #year12 #thefutureisbright #graduate #mygirl #loveyoutothemoonandback #empowersocial #mamatime #mumlife #thinkpositive #myteenandbaby #bebrave #mummyblogger #mumsofinstagram #liveyourpassion #parenting #aimhigh #parenthood #momlife #motherslove #mommylife #lovemom #daughter #mydaughter #parentlife #loveher #mybabygirl #motherdaughterlove

@leishy_lu7
When your 3 year old is already planning her next When your 3 year old is already planning her next birthday party. 
Little Miss Organiser!

#preschooler #birthdayprep #sparklybrighteyes #eleanorrosewinifred #mygirl #mumlife #spooniemumlife #empowersocial #mamatime #loveyoutothemoonandback #mummyblogger #mumsofinstagram #parenting #lifegoals #aimhigh #toddlerfun #parenthood #uniteinmotherhood #daughter #preschool #parentlife #mumblog #mommylove #mumblogger #mydaughter #momsofinstagram #loveher #myprincess #momlifeisthebestlife #letthembelittle
Follow on Instagram

Footer


Privacy Policy       Site Policies and Disclosure Statement

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Wellness Pro On Genesis Framework · Installed by SassySuiteLLC #empowersocial

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT