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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

Stories

  • Challenges of living after a stroke
    "I Feel Defeated all the Time After My Stroke"
    Atul Tandon, a successful lawyer, had a severe stroke that led to his cognitive impairment, memory loss and shattered happiness. Here, he struggles to answer questions and says his confidence will take time to get back. His wife Rashmi helps him share his experience. Introduction (written by his wife Rashmi) Atul had a brain stroke in 2017 at age 52. He had a blood clot on the centre of his brain, inclined towards the left side of the brain due to which he felt weakness on the right side of the…
  • "Suicide Is Much Tougher On Those Left Behind"
    Sejal Jobanputra lost her father to suicide at a time when she herself was grappling with a number of health issues. Even after a decade, she finds it difficult to come to terms with the tragedy. What were your immediate thoughts when your father died by suicide? Immediate thoughts were random hopelessness. Why? Could I have prevented it? Was I a burden? That time I had 2 catheters around my neck for dialysis. I had just become deaf a few weeks ago, possibly due to amikacin medicine’s side…
  • "Eat With a Small Spoon if You Have Diabetes"
    Advises Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, veteran cardiologist, who comes across many patients with heart disease and diabetes. In her own style with a tinge of humour, she shares valuable strategies for meals and medicines to help patients manage blood sugar well. He is a very sweet man, and his wife is even sweeter. Unfortunately this "sweetness" does not refer to their disposition but to the unusually high sugar level in their blood. Yes, they both have diabetes. Diabetes is a very old disease. Five…
  • The author, a woman in a red and yellow sari and a yellow blouse, holding birds
    I Lost My Voice Due to Passive Smoking
    Nalini Satyanarayana, 72-year-old nonsmoker, was diagnosed with throat (voice box) cancer 10 years back because of exposure to second-hand smoke in her house. Today, as survivor, she has become an energetic tobacco control warrior and counsels patients after laryngeal surgery and teaches them to talk. When and how did you reckon a problem with your throat? It was January 2010. I felt my throat was hoarse. I could not speak clearly and was getting breathless. When medicines did not get me any…
  • Lymphedema for Breast Cancer Patients - Prevention and Management Tips
    Lymphedema is called the "Dirty Secret of Breast Cancer" for a reason. Breast Cancer patients were often not told about the risk of lymphedema and what needs to be done to prevent/manage it. Dr. Rohini Patil, gynaecologist, breast cancer survivor and Certified Lymphedema Therapist talks about lymphedema and how to manage it. In this recording she talks about breast cancer, the most common cancer among women in india and lymphedema. She explains all about lymphedema.  Keka Roy also…
  • "I Have Now Completed 8 Months With No Diabetes Medicines"
    Read how Aubrey Millet, got off his medication, under the guidance of his doctor and became ‘free of diabetes’ this year after having worked assiduously on his diet and exercise for two decades. It was in 2000 at age 52 that I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. My fasting blood sugar level was 175 mg/dL. I was a chain smoker that time, smoking more than 30 cigarettes a day. I was also notorious for my sweet tooth. I could eat large number of sweets in one sitting. I was particularly fond of…
  • Pictures of 3 women and their names with the text Staying Fit After Breast Cancer and some pink graphic elements
    Marathon After Mastectomy - Staying Fit After Breast Cancer
    Here are 3 inspirational stories from breast cancer survivors who developed their own regimen to develop and regain fitness after breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy surgery. These were shared by Pragna Shah, Asha Rajini and Shilpa Aneja in a webinar.  Link to the webinar below:     Pragna Shah  In her 60s, first diagnosed in 2013, radical mastectomy soon after. Pragna was particular about fitness even well before her diagnosis. She had an active exercise routine of…
  • Don't Miss: Breast Cancer Awarness Month Webinar Series
    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and PatientsEngage has planned a series of webinars on a wide ranging set of topics from fitness after breast cancer to body image to dealing with hormone therapy. Please share so that it reaches breast cancer patients and survivors. The effects of treatment of breast cancer can permanently alter a woman's relationship with her body and her self. While everyone talks of hair loss, what people don't talk about how they feel about scarred breasts,…
  • Online Pain Management during Covid-19
    While teleconsultation has immense benefits, it can be limiting for patients with chronic pain where a physical examination may be necessary to reach correct diagnosis, avers Dr Mary Abraham, Pain & Palliative Care Specialist. The year 2020 has been the year of the SARS Covid-19 pandemic. It has been and still is an unprecedented situation that has transformed the lives of people all over the world. Besides the physical suffering it has inflicted, it has also affected the emotional, social…
  • Post Covid-19 Effects To Watch Out For
    Increasing number of Coronavirus patients have reported symptoms that persist weeks after the infection is clear. We speak with Dr. Swati Jha, Director, Community Health & Research at Aga Khan Health Services India on post viral syndrome, the common lingering symptoms and what actions should be taken.       What are the most common post-Covid symptoms/conditions seen? In a typical patient Physical fatigue- pain in the limbs, difficulty walking, climbing stairs…