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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

  • Childhood cancer patients with face masks doing art work during their treatment
    Art Therapy For Mental Wellbeing Of Cancer Patients And Caregivers
    Cancer patients and their families go through stressful, fearful and anxious times of emotional upheaval.  Dancer and Actress Kamalika Guha Thakurta talks to PatientsEngage on how Artscape is using art, music and  dance therapy to support healing and psychological rehabilitation of cancer patients and their family caregivers. 1.   Tell us a little about Artscape. Artscape is a non-governmental organization established in 2015, which works in the area of mental wellness. We…
  • My Motto : Live Life King Size Every Single Day
    Anita Nanda, 58 who resides in Mauritius, battled breast cancer with a positive attitude, which was, of course, aided by the loving comfort of her family. She recalls those difficult days in this personal account. What was the emotion uppermost in your mind when you were diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2017 - Depression, anxiety, fear or something else? All of these. Oh my God! It can’t be happening to me…’ was obviously the first thought. Did you face emotional turmoil throughout, or…
  • 2018 Nobel Prize For Medicine For Advances In Immunotherapy
    The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for discoveries that have led to new medicines that activate the immune system and drive it to fight cancers. These therapies can defeat even the deadliest malignancies. Two scientists, Professor James P Allison from the US and Professor Tasuku Honjo from Japan, who discovered how to fight cancer using the body's immune system have won the 2018 Nobel Prize for physiology or…
  • Choosing a Life of Independence Over A Cure For Disability
    Prof Anita Ghai, a leading disability rights activist and academic reflects on her own life, her life with polio,  rheumatic heart disease and breast cancer and her persistent struggles with undesirable societal attitudes towards disability. ‘How come you had polio? Were you not vaccinated? Why was your mother not more careful?’ These are some questions that always haunt me. Of course, there are many others such as ‘why me?’ that all of us always ask ourselves. But what can one reply…
  • Mausumi, a dark haired woman on the right with her mother, a person with dementia on the left. Mother is wearing specs and  a bindi on her forehead and you can see the blue and white sari draped around her shoulders
    Patience And Innovation Are The Most Important Attributes Of A Caregiver For Persons With Dementia
    Mausumi Ghosh from Mumbai talks about the travails of taking care of her mother, 77 who suffers from dementia in addition to other conditions like osteosporosis. My mother is an osteoporosis patient from 2003 when she underwent hip replacement operation in Mumbai. She recovered from the same very well and was mobile and independent till she met with a ‘fall’ at home in 2010 and broke her ‘femur bone’ (left leg). She got herself operated twice in Kolkata in AMRI hospital and both the times the ‘…
  • A pathologist with a mask covering his face holding a urine sample bottle
    What Does The Colour Of Your Urine Mean?
    Urinalyis or Urine Tests are often prescribed by doctors to detect certain conditions. Dr. Shital Raval explains what the results of a urine test mean, and the right way to collect a urine sample.   #KnowYourTest Series What is urinalysis? Urinalysis or Urine tests are a group of tests conducted on your urine that a doctor may prescribe. These tests are indicators of acute or chronic conditions or illnesses. It can also help detect insidious infections like urinary tract infections or…
  • A stock pic of a woman as a patient resting wearing a bandana on her head and her hand is being held by another person who is not visible in the pic
    Hair Loss Due To Chemotherapy Is Repairable
    Pranab Kumar Basu has turned a counsellor after being a full-time caregiver to his wife who was suffering from Cancer. He discusses his experiences of supporting cancer patients who are apprehensive about hair loss. In your experience, who suffer more hair loss after chemotherapy: men or women? Hair loss occurs in both men and women but in respect of volume women suffer more hair loss. For whom is it more traumatic: men or women? Is there an age profile that is affected more? It is more…
  • Image Description: A head shot of Mr. Akhileshwar Sahay with spectacles as he shares his experience of living with Bipolar, Depression and COPD
    Bipolar or COPD - Never Lose Hope
    And QUIT SMOKING. Akhileshwar Sahay, a seasoned industry veteran, has been living with bipolar disorder for the last 2 decades. In this interview, he talks about his troubled journey with multiple chronic illnesses including COPD, Depression, Diabetes and his commitment to removing stigma related to mental illness.  How did your bipolar disorder start? What were the early symptoms? Bipolar disorder is not like influenza that it is diagnosed at once. Its roots are biological and I was…
  • Image Description: Head shot of a 77 year old survivor of cancer of the vocal chord
    I Now Realise The Value Of Life
    Dilip Kumar Kanjilal, 77 from Kolkata has fought cancer of the Vocal Chords and emerged a winner. He looks back to recall his struggle which has also reiterated his faith in life. Professionally, I used to be a driver of the long-distance state bus for 30 years. I had the responsibility to take the passengers to their destinations safely and I was good at it. Likewise, when I was attacked by the big C-Cancer, I was not engulfed by fear, tension, agony. I faced it bravely like a warrior. What is…
  • Image Description: An elderly person with a walker and supported by a caregiver
    12 Confusing and Overlapping Symptoms in the Elderly
    Symptoms like weight loss, memory loss, weakness, and fatigue should not be mistaken as a sign of the"normal aging" process. Dr. Shital Patel explains 12 common but misleading symptoms in the elderly and why you should seek a doctor's opinion instead of ignoring them.  Symptoms in the elderly can have very different causes than they may have in a young person. Many symptoms in the geriatric population may be masked by concurrent chronic ailments, injuries, age-related physiological…