Now ye're talking - to a consultant in the HSE [Questions thread]

lillycakes2 · 19-03-2020 10:08pm

I am a nurse, I live with my mum who is over 70,self caring. I am not going near her, I am using just one room (my bedroom), with door closed, I am using my own toilet, my own cutlery and I just walk out front door when I go to work, she is not allowed to use this door , she uses the back door.i am not using any room in the house ,I am showering etc in work....
Does this sound ok to you ?.

supermouse · 20-03-2020 12:17am

Firstly, thank you for doing this AMA. Furthermore, thank you so very much for everything you have done to date and will no doubt continue to do well into the future to protect us all.

Why do you think we haven’t been put in lockdown yet? As we’ve all heard and seen, social distancing is working for some but so many are ignoring the rules. Mr Varadkar has access to the same data as you, is a medical doctor himself and is surrounded by some of the brightest minds we have in this country. Why are we delaying the inevitable do you think?

Stay safe. I truly mean that.

Whiplashy · 20-03-2020 1:21am

I live with my elderly parents and I myself am on weekly benepali injections. When the government recommends cocooning, would I need to follow that recommendation as well as my parents? We live in the country with no family nearby so would need to be thinking about trying to put arrangements in place if necessary.

Xertz · 20-03-2020 3:51am

A genuine question, and I know it might be impossible to answer, but do you foresee this going on for a few months or are we looking at a new normal well into 2021?

r93kaey5p2izun · 20-03-2020 5:17am

Pseudonym121 wrote:

Thanks for the question. I don't wish to be difficult but there's no such thing as inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I think I know what whoever used that term meant though and I would think that this would qualify as Cardiovascular Disease and thus put them in a high risk category.

Thanks so much for your response. It was very helpful. I will pass on your advice about volunteering for a role with no or little contact and he will hopefully eventually get a specific response too from one of his doctors to be safe. (IST is the official diagnosis written in medical reports from a cardiologist specialising in electrophysiology and was deemed to be a type of SVT and possibly a form of dysautonomia or SA node malfunction.)

Best of luck and thanks to you and all your colleagues.

Agus · 20-03-2020 9:28am

Agus wrote: »

From my understanding the median time for symptoms to start after getting infected is 5 days, and almost everyone that gets symptoms will have them before 14 days. Do you have equivalent figures for how soon after getting infected a person becomes infectious even if they don't have symptoms yet, and for how soon after getting infected a person will test positive even if they don't have symptoms yet?

I really appreciate what you're doing to provide information and raise awareness, so I was disappointed not to get a response to my question above - just quoting it above to bring it up again as you might have missed it among all the questions you did provide great answers for? Would love to know if there are in fact any estimates out there for how soon someone will test positive and how soon someone will become infectious.

Also as you mentioned in one of your answers it would be really useful if you get a chance to write up the post you were considering about how to avoid bringing the virus into the home!

up for anything · 20-03-2020 10:27am

Based on our figures today, 20th March, and the lack of proper social distancing going on, what do you think our best, medium and worst case scenarios are going to be regarding deaths? Are there going to be enough ventilators, do you reckon, for say the medium case scenario? I assume, probably wrongly, that as we are a manufacturer of them we may get first dibs on them.

Are patients who are within some hours of inevitable death actually in any sort of condition to say goodbye to family via phone or iPad like I've heard they've been doing in Italy?

LadyMayBelle · 20-03-2020 11:14am

Thank you so much for your advice and info, as well as your dedication. I'm glad you gave example of how you managed food delivery and wiping down items, as I worry about this as well as good intentioned people leaving items and bags of things at people's doors, esp elderly. I made clear in another thread that it's not about stopping kindness but a need to be mindful that more harm could be done than good? Once proper measures are in place then it's ok..ish.

Would love your broken down list you referred to..we would have been chuckled at for being preppers but took a lot of advice from your posts. Thank you.

Funsterdelux · 20-03-2020 4:34pm

Howdy doody Pseudy,

I was up on scaffold there starting to get the battens ready for slating the back of my cottage, the east wind is eating the face and hands off me. It got me thinking, with the measures of social distancing/isolation in place for months perhaps, other viruses such as the cold and flu would also find it hard to spread(i know we're going out of season). Would this have a positive or negative effect on our collective immune system? If a majority of us dont catch sars cov2 and other viruses, when/if things go back to normal would we be more at risk from getting a more severe cold/flu?

The question always sounds better in my head, anyway thanks again and good luck!

trisha e · 20-03-2020 4:58pm

If suspected cases have to wait days for a test and,as a result, test negative because theyre better what is the point in testing if not testing for antibodies at the same time?
Surely these tests should be allocated to people on the list with symptoms.
A work colleague of mine was sick for 2 weeks
GP booked a test on Monday and still waiting. Says he's feeling better now and wonders should he give his slot to someone else on the list. Thanks to you all.

fjortal · 21-03-2020 8:00am

Hello and thank you so much for answering questions during this time. My dad found out he needs a triple Bypass a week and a half ago. He is meeting with the surgeon on Monday. He is 75 and will be tested for Cov 19. My question is, in your opinion, could I visit him in relative safety before and after the operation while keeping 6ft between us, wearing gloves and mask? I am in good health, no symptoms whatsoever. I do have children. I am extremely close to my parents and other family members have visited, keeping their distance. I am torn between fear of passing something on and the negative mental health effects not seeing them is having. Many thanks Fjortal

Potentially · 21-03-2020 11:25am

Firstly, thanks, no words could say it enough

Secondly: I am a single Mum with 12yo. Ex wants to continue contact, he has just collected her and has gone off for the day. He has been working as a salesman to pharmacies and has continued his normal socialising routines, with his new partner (nurse who home-cares for newborns) and others home recently from abroad....
I have been really careful to keep social isolation but is all that down the drain now?
My elderly parents and aunts rely on me; and if I get ill, there is no where for my child to go.
Please advise.

Notsomindful · 21-03-2020 11:49am

Thanks for all you are doing.
My local testing centre is a drive through centre.
I have been referred for testing awaiting appointment.
Can I walk to test centre- as I dont have access to a car and dont want to risk spreading it to others unnecessarily like taxi drivers etc...

RobbingBandit · 21-03-2020 12:52pm

Thanks for taking the time to do this.

I'm a diabetic I've just had my next couple of appointments postponed indefinitely I am currently dealing with several complications including foot and eye issues which require routine care and can turn nasty I am unable to contact anyone in the departments so far and really don't want to find myself going to a&e.

In short what is happening to patients with ongoing chronic issues in this current climate is my question.

Airyfairy12 · 21-03-2020 1:50pm

Hi I just have a question about coronavirus symptoms. Do they come on suddenly like in the case of a flu were you all of a sudden feel unwell or do they come on gradually, do you feel like youre coming down with something for a day or two before symptoms become obvious? Are swollen lymph nodes in the neck common with coronavirus like they are with cold and flu?

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer questions.

Purgative · 21-03-2020 4:23pm

I'm not religious, but God help us.

If they're tubed and sedated then they're not. If they are more conscious then a remote goodbye may be possible so long as staff aren't overwhelmed.

Silent Running · 21-03-2020 5:31pm

Hi,
For a few years I've had paroxysmal A-fib which is under control, taking Lanoxin (I couldn't tolerate Bisop). My doctor wants to put me on blood thinner this year as I reach the age where it is recommended. Is this condition considered as an underlying condition that would make infection more dangerous?

My wife and I have been isolating at home for a couple of weeks now, so we're doing our bit.

My heart goes out to you guys on the medical front line, and restores my belief in the goodness in most human beings. I could never offer enough thanks.

fishy_fishy · 21-03-2020 8:24pm

Thank you for taking the time to answer so many questions.

The main question I have is around asymptomatic people who have the virus. This idea really really frightens me. I have complete faith in my ability to survive it, but I'm terrified of giving it to my parents or my partner's parents (all 60+).

I'm aware that not enough information may be known to answer specifically to Covid 19, but maybe it's possible to answer in general about how exactly a virus can spread in someone who's asymptomatic?

The understanding one gets is that viruses spread via droplets from sneezes and coughs, but is there some other mechanism? I have to go to the shops weekly (no online slots left around here) for the folks and am otherwise self isolating, but it'd be nice to know if there's anything else a person can do to prevent it spreading. I'm working off the assumption that I (early 30s) have it but am not showing symptoms. I try not to breathe heavily in shops, only touch the item I'll purchase etc, wear gloves and don't touch my face. (Related note, it'd be helpful to know this for normal life also. I'm a total germ phobe and assume the air on busses is teeming with disease)

The second question (apologies for the already long post) is whether your level of preparations would be typical of the consultant group, if you know? It's been interesting to hear your precautions so just trying to put some context on it.

r93kaey5p2izun · 21-03-2020 8:25pm

Notsomindful wrote: »

Thanks for all you are doing.
My local testing centre is a drive through centre.
I have been referred for testing awaiting appointment.
Can I walk to test centre- as I dont have access to a car and dont want to risk spreading it to others unnecessarily like taxi drivers etc...

The HSE info page says not to attend a drive through testing centre unless you are in a car and have an appointment.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing.html

embraer170 · 21-03-2020 9:35pm

- I read a story a few days ago that only 1% of the Covid-19 patients in Italy put on ventilators actually survive. Is there any truth to that?

If there is interest in the routines and habits I'm trying to instill in myself to minimise the chance of bringing this into the home I would be happy to outline them in a post. Let me know.... you can't rely on yourself remembering these things willy nilly. You really need to think it out and have either a mental or written checklist. That's how we do things in surgery and when dealing with infectious or immunocompromised patients. We're learned that checklists work.

- Yes, I would be very interested.

Thanks for the great thread.

The One Doctor · 21-03-2020 11:56pm

Does the current low number of deaths from CoVid 19 in Ireland give you any cause for hope about this pandemic?

Thank you for your stalwart work.

digzy · 22-03-2020 12:03am

Hi
I’m a dentist. Like most of my profession I’ve shut my practice due to safety issues.
Unfortunately the chief dental officer made a statement that we’re to work as normal despite not having appropriate PPE.
Her advice is plain wrong. I don’t want to be a super spreader ( because I don’t have PPE) , nor put my staff or our families health at risk by remaining open. However I also feel a duty of care to my patients.
The hse needs to order all dental practices to shut down. We might save a tooth but loose a life!

Bidd · 22-03-2020 4:06am

If you’ve had the vaccine for pneumonia would this protect you from pneumonia if you get Covid-19.

begbysback · 22-03-2020 9:35am

Given that deaths can be kept at a minimum by early diagnosis and treatment, are you guys lobbying for this, or just waiting at the doors of hospitals for critical cases?

Notsomindful · 22-03-2020 12:39pm

Sergio Rough Grapevine wrote: »

The HSE info page says not to attend a drive through testing centre unless you are in a car and have an appointment.

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing.html

Thanks for link.

That's reassuring for all of us who dont have access to a car/dont drive and dont want to risk.infecting others.in taxis/ high risk themselves...according to the hse, we" may be tested at home".

So we may not get tested at all.

Woohoo.

Beagslife · 22-03-2020 2:07pm

Hi Pseudonym121,

Thanks for doing this. It's very informative and thought provoking. Stay well.

My questions is regarding suppressants (not sure if that is the right term) like cold and flu medications/remedies. I used to typically get a couple chest infections (with harsh chesty cough and perhaps sore throat and sometimes fever) a year. For the last few years I find that at the onset of symptoms if I take echinacea capsules regularly I can usually hold it at bay and after a few days I am back to normal. Where I have let it get deeper I would add astragalus to help clear it up. By the way, I'm not advocating the above in any way, shape or form as regards Covid-19.

Could the use of any of the above remedies by the general public cause problems by perhaps masking the Virus (reducing the symptoms and as a result people not looking for testing or being less cautious)? I think I read somewhere that some products had been banned in China for this reason. Possible fake news of course but perhaps you have better knowledge of this.

Would you have an opinion on this?

Sorry if it's not really relevant.

Anyway keep up the good fight and take care of yourself.

Fleetwoodmac · 22-03-2020 2:11pm

Is there any truth in WHO giving directives regarding taking zithromax and chloroquine as prophilacs for covid?

Happy4all · 22-03-2020 2:25pm

Thanks for doing this and two questions if you don't mind:

1. My daughter works in a pharmacy and I fear for her health from additional exposure and then surely that impacts on the household's effort of social isolation, being made somewhat null and void. Should we be taken any additional measures?

2. The UK only reported 7 deaths today. A long way short of the daily 100+ prediction. Is this from lack of true testing numbers or signs that things are not as bad as feared?

leggo · 22-03-2020 3:23pm

Thanks for doing this OP, first thread I’ll check anytime I’m on now.

I’ve noticed a change in your tone and attitude towards the public over the past few days (not saying it’s unwarranted btw). Do you find yourself overwhelmed already with the workload and job ahead or do you feel it’s more your own personal anxiety about what’s to come? I’m trying to gauge what of this is based on your actual day-to-day work/lived experience and what is (educated) worry.

On a similar note how do you compare your own state of mind to that of the colleagues you’re working with on the front line: are you one of the few preaching concern or are the majority of frontline workers freaking out about the public too?

Nonoperational · 22-03-2020 5:59pm

Hi mate.

From reading your posts I suspect I know what speciality you are in but I appreciate you don't want to answer that publicly. I am heavily involved in GIM and have already completed numerous covid shifts in ED and have seen nearly 100 patients ?COVID. May I ask, will you actually be seeing COVID patients during this and be involved in their management?

I appreciate you not wanting to let people know your speciality but could you at least clarify if you are GIM/Surgery/Psych etc. A broad category. Just so people have some context.

Thanks

Now ye're talking - to a consultant in the HSE [Questions thread]

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