Now we’re in for a big shock, all of us. Now take a deep breath again, we have to somehow endure this situation, bear it, and we can’t do more than wait and behave reasonably. You can learn from us MSA patients, we have had this fate for a long time and are at the mercy of a higher power.
My recommendations for this difficult time:
- Keep your habits. If physiotherapy or speech therapy is cancelled, do your exercises at home, be creative. Some speech therapists offer an “online consultation hour”, the PSPG also offers this to his members
- Always remember that you are part of the risk group. Stay away from people at all costs. Corona is an airway disease, imagine what would happen if our already shallow breathing was compromised
- Wash your hands frequently every day and avoid touching your face if possible
- Take information about the Covid-19 seriously, but please use credible sources, the internet is full of panicky false reports
- Eat and drink quality things
- Have medication delivered/bringed. Generally use online delivery service
- Go out into the fresh air every day, if necessary on the balcony, but keep to the rules and stay away from other people
- Remember that this is a crisis, that will pass
- Believe in the good in people, we all move together mentally and many good people now offer their help – accept it!
- Communicate with others, on the phone, via the Internet. There are numerous forums where you can exchange information. You are not alone!
- Avoid going to the doctor, avoid waiting rooms – for whatever reason you need a doctor – call first, describe your concerns, they will surely tell you how to behave
- Pets do not spread the disease, so please do not reject them
Do you need help? Is there an accident? Don’t despair, get help on 112! Maybe everything is a bit different now, hotlines are overloaded, but you will be helped, no one is left behind. Please be patient!
This is an exceptional situation, keeping a cool head is more important now than ever. To be honest, I panicked the first days too, it is still difficult for me to accept, that I cannot influence some things, my own life, I cannot go any other way, only this one. We all have problem cases, everyone is affected by this virus in some way. I’ve cancelled all outside appointments. Some things would have been important and at first it seemed to me “not to be postponed” – but when it comes to my health… This situation reminds me a little bit of the time after my diagnosis. First I was in shock, not eaten and not slept and then – because there was no alternative – I had to bow to my fate and make the best of it. It is similar now. So we MSA patients are a little more “trained in disaster”.
We can only hope that it will all be over quickly and that life “afterwards” will be a little better. Because the way things have been up to now, hasn’t been very good, let’s face it…
Take care of yourselves and your fellow man!