“With the Covid-19 scare, should I make this trip?”
I am a 76-year-old woman with Chronic Kidney Disease. Stage 3, I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in my hands and lower arms, high blood pressure and a few pollen-related allergies that affect my sinuses mainly. I had a bad case of Bell’s Palsy in 1984 and gained 80% use of affected muscles. My right sinuses, tear glands, and taste buds don’t work well. In 1996 I had a cervical laminectomy that permanently paralyzed my right throat muscles and vocal cords. I also have slight emphysema. I don’t need oxygen. Those levels are good.
I have a trip landed in central California via car from Phoenix, AZ with my 63-year-old, healthy husband. We plan on staying 2 nights in a hotel, attending my granddaughters baby shower and will be eating out several times.
With the Covid-19 scare, should I make this trip?
I have a trip landed in central California via car from Phoenix, AZ with my 63-year-old, healthy husband. We plan on staying 2 nights in a hotel, attending my granddaughters baby shower and will be eating out several times.
With the Covid-19 scare, should I make this trip?
Female | 76 years old
Medications: 20mg Lisinopril, 10mg Atorvastatin, 25mcg Fentanyl patch, changed every 4 days, 5mg/325mg Norco, taken for severe breakthrough pain
Conditions: CKD, stage 3, high blood pressure, RSD, early emphysema
5 Answers
My advice is not to make this trip.
I would not make the trip.
It is my opinion that you should delay this trip until the epidemic has passed - or we have a way to protect the uninfected.
G. Dickinson
G. Dickinson
NO NO NO NO!!!
Florin Paul
Queens, New York
Thanks for your question. First I want to express my empathy with your medical condition. I am deeply impressed of your commitment and efforts to have a normal and fun life. Just keep it so. Going straight to the subject I do encourage you to make the trip. The main problem with COVID-19 is the way of transmission, that is mainly by contact with infected/sick people, contact with objects that are contaminated. Please keep in your mind that COVID-19 virus may stay alive out of a host ( in this case the human being) about 3-4 days. Therefore the MAIN PROPHYLAXIS IS A VERY RIGOROUS PERSONAL HYGIENE! That means wash your hands as often as possible preferably with SOAp, use plastic gloves in the dirty places, wear a good facial mask when we are in the crowd, but better avoid this as much as possible. Please keep in mind the alcohol is not a good disinfectant for hand, use soap. Do not touch your face, ears, eyes if your hand is not very well washed. DO NOT TAKE any medication except your daily treatment without the advice of a physician.
Wishing you and your husband a very fun trip!
My best wishes,
Florin Paul, MD
Wishing you and your husband a very fun trip!
My best wishes,
Florin Paul, MD
