Covid-19 and autoimmune disease
The definition of autoimmune disease
An autoimmune disease is a “condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. The immune system fights bacteria and viruses with the ability to tell the difference between the ‘foreign invaders of bacteria and viruses and healthy cells (organs). With an autoimmune disease, the immune system is unable to detect the good cells between the foreign invaders so the immune system attacks the good cells.”
Why we are more susceptible to infections (Covid 19)
Those with autoimmune disease are at a higher risk of getting infections, the flu, and colds because treatment for autoimmune disease is immunosuppressants which suppress the immune system to minimise the disease from attacking healthy organs, but increases the chance of fighting off infections, the flu, and colds.
Make the most of NOW during a lockdown. It’s the time to love, and care for yourself and to do you!
Start each day with making a plan of what you want your day to be like, what you’d like to have for each meal, and when you would like to recharge.
Exercise following an online video of yoga or Aerobic exercises
Listen to feel-good music while you finish ‘that’ project you have always been meaning to finish
Facebook Messenger friends and family - play around with the different filters, play games try and stay as connected to others so it hopefully won’t be as lonely for you
Connect with your religion, worship, and pray!
The illnesses I live with and why Covid 19 would kill me
Lupus- autoimmune
- Swollen joints; Rheumatoid arthritis
- Heart disease; valve replacements, possible heart failure
- Blood disorder; clotting
- Fatigue
Fibromyalgia- chronic pain
- is often triggered by a stressful event, including physical stress or emotional (psychological) stress.
- Nerve pain
- Generalised pain
- indigestion
- Insomnia - though exhausted you are unable to fall asleep to fall without drugs, broken sleep
- Fatigue
Hepatitis B - Liver disease
- Liver Cirrhosis (inflammation)
- Drink less
- Fatigue
- Bouts of ‘active’ hepatitis
"Being infected is like having a time bomb inside you. You don't know when it is going to go off." https://www.platinumhospitaluganda.org/understanding-the-effects-of-hepatitis/
Neurological functional disorder (NFD) - brain
- Fatigue
- Feeling overwhelmed going outside-purchased wheelchair
- Seizures convulsions
- Inability to walk or talk for a while
Stroke - disability
- Left side weakness
- Walking with a limp
- Memory issues