Hello friends --I know it's not Friday - as in - it's not time for the FUMS Friday Night 6-Pack - but I just wrote a really short-and to-the-point post about coronavirus and chronic illness. I wanted to share it with YOU so you can share it with the healthy, normally lackadaisical-in-their-concern-about-hand-washing-and-all-things-pertaining-to-protecting-us-from-getting-ANYTHING  friends!!  I'm going to put the full text in this email for you - and - provide a link to the blog post so you can either copy and paste the text or just copy and share the link. Either way.- please share it - everywhere. Let's make this go viral. I think it may help our healthy brethren to understand a bit more of what we go through daily - and remind them to continue to pay attention - even after the Coronavirus is in our rearview mirror!Here's the link:  https://fumsnow.com/coronavirus-and-chronic-illness-welcome-to-our-worldHere is the post:  Hello Healthies. We’re Chronics. Seems lately you’ve been dealing with something we deal with every day. How’s it feel??Coronavirus is dominating the conversation on- and offline these days. There is real fear. Real concern. And real attention to washing your hands and staying home if your sick.To all of this excitement and new-found precaution I say – YES – and welcome to our world.This Fear Factor, I’m-living-in-a-sci-fi-movie-world that you’ve recently been introduced to – is where those of us with suppressed or compromised immune systems and chronic illness have been living daily since our various diagnoses.Germs, viruses, bacteria – they’re all our enemies – and they lurk everywhere – everyday.When I am invited to a gathering – I first look forward to getting to see my friends and have some fun. But almost immediately, I’m hoping that no one there will be sick – or have been with someone that’s been sick (like your kids). I think about the wait staff at the restaurant we’re meeting at: are they sick? Are thier kids? Do they wash thier hands – A LOT – throughout their shift?Planing a trip that includes a flight is an exercise in anxiety management. I find air travel so uncomfortable in terms of feeling like a herded cow to begin with. Then add all of those coughs and sneezes and sniffles – and everyone is SO CLOSE – and that recirculated air. UGH. Have you seen the reports on the types of germs that are found on tray tables, seatbelts, and arm rests? GROSS!If I have a layover – well – now we’re moving – closely – amongst the unwashed masses. From all over the world. Carrying germs that my immune system doesn’t know what to do with.The fear you all feel right now is because you’re aware of the possibilities of this virus. But likely, even if you do contract Coronavirus, it will be mild and pass quickly for the vast majority of people. When I “catch” something – anything – I get it twice as bad and it lasts twice as long. I caught a cold that turned into bronchitis in January. It’s March and I’m still dealing with the residual effects. AND – when I get something – anything – I risk “waking the giant within.” The MonSter. #MultipleSclerosis. MS. And that is something I try very hard NOT to do. That can kick off a multitude of symptoms like numbness and tingling, pain, fatigue, vision issues, hearing issues, difficulty walking, speaking, cognitive issues – all of which could resolve – or NOT. EVER. It could result in permanent disability. PFD. Permanent F’ing disability.So while I hate that we’re all – and I do mean all – going through a global epi/pandemic right now – there MAY be an upside – if we can learn from it. If our healthy brothers and sisters can remember the feeling of being scared to breathe around others, scared to go to various places, and worried that people haven’t been fastidious enough about hygiene – and then they maintain their current level of hygiene protocol – perhaps things can improve for those of us that deal with that fear EFD. EVERY. F’ING. DAY.       ~~Kathy Reagan Young, www.FUMSnow.com**Please share. Everywhere.Thanks for your help in spreading the good word -- Kathy 

Sometimes it helps the stress, just to say "F-U-M-S"