We are both in our early 40s. She also has a history of asthma. This combined with her taking Ocreavus to limit her immune system from attacking her body. How much danger is she in if she were to get COVID-19?

I am not a doctor and can ONLY offer a opinion.

I would seek out a critical care pulmonologist
and start seeing them regularly. You will be 50 before you can believe. Throw MS into the mix. Not to mentions the other seasonal flu's your be facing. Maybe the rebounding of COVID19.

Good luck and be safe.

I've looked and haven't found any real definitive data on just how dangerous this situation is for us. She's pretty much refusing to leave the house.

My mother-in-law has MS as well. Obviously she's older than your wife, but we are all concerned. Luckily, they live in rural northern wisconsin, so the odds of her being affected are low. She's in a wheelchair on top of that, so she doesn't leave the house that much normally, other than their property or to get out on the lake in the boats (though neither of those are happening right now due to the time of year).

The bigger concern is IF/when the virus makes its way up there, the medical infrastructure up there sucks.


Will be following this thread, as I'm interested as well.

Hello - here is the info you need

Overall guidelines and FAQs here:
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-you-need-to-know-about-Coronavirus-(COVID-19)


Check the disease modifying treatment (DMT) guidelines by the drug you are on here:
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-you-need-to-know-about-Coronavirus-(COVID-19)/DMT-Guidelines-for-Coronavirus-(COVID-19)-and

Ocrevus depletes certain types of immune system cells, so that group of drugs are the ones to think about.

My wife says check your labs as well, if you have lower white blood cell counts then be conservative and stay away. White blood cells fight

Keep checking the website or maybe even call the MS Society, they have nurses and people to help answer.

FCBlitz said:

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I am not a doctor and can ONLY offer a opinion.

I would seek out a critical care pulmonologist
and start seeing them regularly.

---

No. Its hard enough getting patients that need to be seen by specialists to load them up with unnecessary visits. Continue to talk with your existing physicians PCP and whoever is managing the MS. Otherwise, stay home and keep sick people out of the house.

This may be a soap box issue for me, but this is one area where HMOs and socialized medicine get it right. Being able to self refer to specialists causes clogs the system and makes it hard for me to get patients that actually need to be seen in.

Sounds like we don't have enough doctors then.

Being able to self refer is how we've gotten her the specialist care we need. One of the perks of getting a good education and a decent job.

I understand the good points. However, you also get stuff like the above. Scheduling an appointment with a pulmonologist without a legitimate reason is a waste of everybody's time and money. Either way, this is a difference of opinion that would not necessarily be an appropriate discussion for this forum.

Bottom line, you don't need to see a pulm as suggested by the other poster. If you have questions, you should be seeing your existing PCP/whoever is managing your MS

Ask your neurologist if you have questions or concerns, PCP will know nothing.

Find a neurologist that specializes in MS, took us a few before getting to the best.

How does she like being on Ocrevus? Was she or has she been on Tysabri prior??

She is JCV positive, so no.

Ocrevus has been life changing for us.

I bet! Every 6 months is a dream treatment too. The patients we have switched to Ocrevus really seem to like it.

She was on the daily copaxone. Our biggest reason for the switch was the efficacy against premature brain shrinkage. So far so good. No new lesions in a year. Typical brain atrophy with her age.

BCO07 said:

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FCBlitz said:

---

I am not a doctor and can ONLY offer a opinion.

I would seek out a critical care pulmonologist
and start seeing them regularly.

---

No. Its hard enough getting patients that need to be seen by specialists to load them up with unnecessary visits. Continue to talk with your existing physicians PCP and whoever is managing the MS. Otherwise, stay home and keep sick people out of the house.

This may be a soap box issue for me, but this is one area where HMOs and socialized medicine get it right. Being able to self refer to specialists causes clogs the system and makes it hard for me to get patients that actually need to be seen in.

---

Not sure of the freak out reaction. MS folks do have respiratory issues at some point. It best to have some one early so they can see the baseline of the patient.

I have limited vital capacity due to severe scoliosis. It is a good idea for me to get information from a specialist that deals with lungs.....not a orthopedic surgeon.

My CCP is managing over 3 dozen (heck it could be more than that by now) COVID19 folks. My CCP has been quite helpful for me to plan for the potential unfortunate moment if I contract COVID19.

If folks having unique underlying lung issues I was simply pointing out that a CC pulmonologist could help prep for the event the virus I s contracted.