How To Deal With Comorbidities And Be Prepared To Live With Covid-19

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 8 June 2020

A handy list of resources for living with the coronavirus and managing your chronic conditions. Just look for your condition below. If you don't find what you are looking for, please leave a comment and we will get back to you.

We must live with Covid-19 pandemic for a while. For people with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, rheumatic conditions, pulmonary conditions, it is even more essential to manage these conditions better. For e.g. a person whose blood sugars are under control is better equipped to deal with the coronavirus infection.

As we prepare for the easing of restrictions, we must be aware of the risks of infection associated with it and mitigate these risks by practicing safety guidelines viz. mask hygiene, regular washing and sanitisation of hands, and maintaining safe distance at all times.

We must also recognise that we cannot delay seeking help and treatment of our chronic conditions, and seek out the doctor. The process of these has changed in some places. While some places have started OPDs, most still require that you first connect and consult with the doctor through telemedicine. If the doctor advises you to go for tests or go see the doctor in person, please go ahead and not delay diagnosis and treatment. Do not let your fear of Covid-19 risk overtake your need for timely care.

We have also compiled resources for various conditions. Click on the topics you are interested in to get a detailed understanding of your specific condition. If you have specific questions, you can ask in our discussion forums or contact us at https://www.patientsengage.com/contact

Cancer

1. How to manage cancer treatment during Covid-19 by Dr. Vinay Deshmane, Consultant in Surgical Oncology & Breast Diseases and Medical Director and Jnt. Hon secretary of the Indian Cancer Society. Link to the webinar recording.

2.Also, here is the link to the key notes from the recording of the above webinar

Diabetes

1. How to live well with Diabetes during Covid-19 by Dr. Debashis Basu, Diabetes Awareness and You

2. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Summary of her webinar recording

2a. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Link to the webinar recording

Dementia

1. Dementia Home Care, the COVID-19 infection risk, and Lockdown/ Unlock challenges

This is a good resource to track the impact of the changes due to lockdowns and re-opening of cities and areas and how it impacts dementia care and even elder care. Useful tips for family caregivers of persons with dementia.

Changed

13/Apr/2021

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Stories

20 years Retrospective-Me and Breast Cancer

Rama Sivaram, a 20 year breast cancer survivor, patient navigator and an Independent Cancer Advocate reflects on her own tryst with breast cancer, and 20 years of survivorship and how it has shaped her perspective in life. Flashback 2004- A sense of well-being and fulfilment engulfed me not because of any dramatic moment because I am made that way and enjoy my small moments. I am a reasonable extrovert and warm person, romantic dreamer and possibly a little dumb too. I was my daddy’s…
Bringing An Attitude Of Enjoyment To Stroke Recovery

Rajesh Arora had a brain stroke in 2016 at the age of 51. He recently completed a biking expedition to Umling La Pass, which at 19,024 feet is higher than the Everest Base Camp, riding up to the Pass twice in one day. We spoke to him to understand his journey to reaching this point of well-being after the stroke. When and how did you have the brain stroke? Did you have any symptoms? I had a brain stroke in 2016. I had no pre-existing conditions before the stroke such as a heart condition or…
एक के बाद एक स्ट्रोक होने के बाद मजबूती से उभरना

मुंबई के 60 वर्षीय हेमंत मेहता को 2006 में दिल का दौरा पड़ा था और फिर 2024 में उन्हें एक के बाद एक, तीन महीने के अंदर दो बार ब्रेन स्ट्रोक हुआ। इस लेख में वे साझा करते हैं कि कैसे उनके अनुभव ने उन्हें अपने शरीर के संकेत और लक्षणों के प्रति सतर्क रहना सिखाया, और कैसे इस सतर्कता ने उन्हें स्ट्रोक होने पर समय पर अस्पताल पहुँचने में मदद की। मैं हेमंत मेहता हूँ,। मैं 60 साल का हूँ और 40 साल से अपना एक व्यवसाय चला रहा हूँ। मैं पिछले 35 सालों से नियमित रूप से योग का अभ्यास कर रहा हूँ और मैं एक बहुत…
A Breast Cancer Survivor Rethinks Rehabilitation

Neeta Vyas is a senior physiotherapist who had breast cancer and now specialises in post-cancer rehabilitation. She talks about her breast cancer and how she dealt with it and what keeps her going. When were you first diagnosed with the cancer and what were the symptoms that made you visit a doctor? In 2017, when I was 58 years old, I had a prickling sensation in my breast. My gynecologist friend told me to get a mammogram done. I agreed but took it very lightly and went for it only a month and…
कैंसर के दर्द के लिए समग्र प्रबंधन की आवश्यकता

डॉ मैरी अब्राहम दर्द और प्रशामक (उपशामक / पेलिएटिव केयर )देखभाल चिकित्सक (पेन एण्ड पेलिएटिव केयर फिज़िशन), और डॉ वंदना वी प्रकाश, नैदानिक मनोवैज्ञानिक (क्लीनिकल साइकालजिस्ट) इस लेख में बताती हैं कि कैंसर के दर्द का इलाज किया जा सकता है और कैंसर के रोगी की जीवन की गुणवत्ता को उपयुक्त दवाओं द्वारा बढ़ाया जा सकता है। वे इस से संबंधित अनेक प्रश्नों के उत्तर साझा करती हैं। कैंसर के दर्द पर अधिक ध्यान दिए जाने के बावजूद, यह दर्द अभी भी कैंसर रोगियों और उत्तरजीवियों (सर्वाइवर) के लिए एक…
Recovering Strongly After Back To Back Strokes

Hemant Mehta, 60 from Mumbai had a heart attack in 2006 and then back to back two brain strokes in 2024. Here he details how his experience has taught him to listen to his body and be vigilant about symptoms. And how that has helped him get to the hospital on time. I am Hemant Mehta, 60 years old and running a business since 40 years. I have been practicing Yoga regularly for the last 35 years and have been a really active person and very particular about physical fitness. I was sincere about…
Fever During Cancer Treatment

While fever is a normal response to infection, fever during cancer treatment needs to be taken seriously since the body’s immunity is compromised. Read on to understand how cancer treatment impacts immune systems, fever. Fever or pyrexia is a higher body temperature than normal. It may be due to an infection from bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite or even inflammation due to a disease or trauma. Fever is caused by substances called pyrogens. Contrary to what one may believe, fever is a good…
Intimacy Beyond Sex And Breast Cancer

Rama Sivaram, breast cancer survivor and now patient counsellor talks about the issues of sexual wellbeing brought about by breast cancer and its treatment and how couples can bring back intimacy into their relationship “My coming of age was celebrated with such pomp and grandeur; I was just 13. I suddenly transitioned from being a girl child to woman physically, sexually and spiritually. On one hand I was embarrassed and scared and on the other rite of passage is a milestone –a social message…
Sexual Health and Cancer Survivorship

Concerns regarding sexual health are quite common among patients who have undergone cancer treatment, but rarely are these concerns addressed by their medical care team. Most patients are shy or embarrassed to bring it up and even made to feel guilty about raising them, while they are trying to fight cancer. We spoke to Dr Prasad Raj Dandekar, consultant radio-oncologist who talked to us about the need for cancer patients to openly discuss their sexual health with their doctor to navigate…
Living Well Without Thyroid And Parathyroid

Vandana Mahajan, a palliative care counselor, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 15 years ago. She lost both her thyroid and parathyroid glands after cancer surgeries. In discussion with PatientsEngage, she reflects on her challenging journey and how her cancer diagnosis ultimately led her to find her identity. What were the initial symptoms that you experienced, and how did that lead to the diagnosis you received? In 2009, at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Two years prior…