Daily Briefing Covid-19 [Apr 20th '20]

Afternoon all, - Not sure when I ought to drop the Covid-19 tag from the headline. I think it should last as long the lockdown lasts. We see the conversation subtly changing now to more of the looking ahead. You can’t panic forever. ------ MS Stuff ------ I still see people asking about the risks – or otherwise of their DMT in relation to Covid-19. It is worth repeating that the risk of catching it doesn’t come from either MS nor the DMT you may be on. There is theoretical risk based on a few drugs/treatments, the point you are at in the treatment cycle and, amongst other things, your lymphocyte count. To date, there have been no Covid-19 related deaths where any additional issues were thought to have been caused by a DMT. The best advice top date about the risk factors associated with all the DMTs (UK list) is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GqEoeXod4CLTBsa6ke0TWmiJ7_I77HiBQ_rvFrmouOA/edit#gid=0 - Another thing to remember is that we – the MS community - are far from the only lot of people to receive immunosuppression treatments. The rheumatology community went through a similar cycle of being massively concerned at first and then gradually more relaxed as data emerges. - APPLICANCE OF SCIENCE, WHEN AN AUTOIMMUNE DRUG HELPS https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2020/04/applicance-of-science-when-an-autoimmune-drug-helps/ - Being cooped up, under lockdown, isolating, quarantined, in confinement (C19 pregnancy leaps to mind?) means that more than ever we need to avoid losing our marbles. Dr Aaron Boster has made this short video about staying sane and managing stress: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaONzqBY27g&feature=em-uploademail - More of the talk about returning to normal is vaccine talk. It is critical to understand that, whatever a friend of a friend on Facebook who knows all about this stuff says, it will be a year+ away. Talk of September is an utter manufactured pipedream. This piece explains just what, why and how and more importantly, what this means to pwMS: https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2020/04/mscovid19-vaccines-and-dmts/ - If you haven’t ‘seen’ your doctor yet via video, it is a matter of time. Aaron Boster shares some unexpected effects for him of being teleported via the magic of video, into patients homes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okjQwhiJ-gY&feature=em-uploademail - 2/3 of new diagnoses are women around the age of 25. A ti9me many are turning their thoughts to pregnancy. Prof G explains the way forward through this and why you cannot just postpone your (and a new presumably) life because you have MS and there is Covid-19 floating about: https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2020/04/mscovid19-what-about-pregnancy/ - Tired of being tired? I fell across this and it seems interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2hxb5vCN74 - Still not bored or tired? I guess you have excellent neuroprotection. Time to read a little more about the possible drugs that aid in this. Fampridine and cannabinoids: Neuroprotectives? https://multiple-sclerosis-research.org/2020/04/youre-had-neuroprotectives-for-years-you-just-dont-know-it/ -------- Social Stuff -------- Mrs S is a teacher and the Covid-19 lockdown has expo0sed just how woeful the state of IT is at her school. I am now tasked with sporting out some software to make videos for her. - Laters. 2m. Just do it.