We are all in the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic and I am sure you must have heard that people with underlying health issues are at a greater risk. What does that actually mean for a person with an autoimmune condition such as lupus?
I have lupus which means that my immune system which is supposed to protect me from viruses and infections, is actually confused and is attacking my own healthy tissues and organs. My body is producing a lot of white blood cells which are hyperactive. To prevent my immune system from damaging my own healthy tissues, I have to take immunosuppressant medications to say make it less hyperactive.
I take Azathioprine or Imuran and Prednisone as immunosuppressants in combination with an antimalarial medication called Hydroxychloroquine (mostly known as Plaquenil) which is widely used to treat lupus.
Do I boost my immune system against viruses and infections and let my hyperactive immune system land me on hospital bed with life threatening lupus complications? Or do I suppress my immune system for lupus and become more prone to everyday viruses and infections and end up being seriously ill. I can’t win in either case. To fight off this coronavirus I need to have a strong immune system but for lupus my immune system is purposefully “drugged” to be lethargic.
This is why people with autoimmune condition such as lupus are at a higher risk of catching this coronavirus because most of us are on immunosuppressant medications.
You must have heard that Hydroxychloroquine (or Plaquenil), was said to be preventing, treating or curing coronavirus. According to COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry, this is not true and there is on-going research on this.
Also, if you have an underlying health condition or autoimmune condition such as lupus, then please be pro-active into identifying symptoms of sars-cov2. Lupus and coronavirus symptoms overlap so please pay extra attention to your body if you start experiencing fatigue, muscle pain, fever and at the same time dry cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, chest pain, etc.
For people with lupus, we should be strictly protecting ourselves from catching coronavirus and everyone else should be strictly preventing spread of coronavirus.
For us lupus sufferers, we could take these measures to prevent ourselves from catching coronavirus:
- Stay in one bubble and limit physical contact with people outside of your bubble.
- Learn to say no to visits, family gatherings or visits to a sick relative. Most importantly, you know what’s best for you and should be able to decide for yourself.
- For those of you who are working, talk to your employers to make work arrangements so that you are not compelled to board public transports at peak hours or be in crowded places.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family and friends to run errands for you like shopping or getting prescribed medications.
- It’s okay to focus on your own mental health and well-being. Do things to avoid physical or emotional stress.
- Pay attention to other lupus triggers and take pro-active steps to manage those. I am sure the last thing you would want is to sit in hospital waiting room full of other sick people.
- If you have to go outside, wear a mask, use hand sanitizers, maintain distance from others, and avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth or face.
- Even though we are practicing physical distancing, do stay connected with loved ones through your phones or computer, stay informed on the developments of coronavirus cases in your locality, exercise and be active, and eat healthy.
For those of you with lupus, if you do contract coronavirus, then continue to take your prescribed lupus medications and contact your doctor immediately.
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