Hi people ,
I hope your all well and safe !
I just have a question does anyone have any information regarding asthmatics and Covid? How are we doing if we contract this ?
Has anyone with asthma had Covid and would like to share their experience I would be so grateful!
I’m petrified of this illness it’s the not knowing of the possible outcome other then the scary ones. I’m still shielding - no contact with people not going shops. It’s almost 6months I’ve shielded.
Thanks for your time
Mix
I've heard from various sources (sensible ones not the media) that asthmatics have not been having any more problems than others if they have had covid.
Also many consultants I've heard of have been keen for people to be out and about because shielding forever isn't exactly healthy either, including from a mental point of view.
yeah many people have asthma and covid and nothing happens to them they are living NORMAL life after 1 or 2 weeks later then becomes negatives with the covid. but the best option is to continue taking the Asthma medication morning N EVENING
As twinkly says the overall picture is that covid patients with asthma are no worse affected than those without. That being said, there is anecdotal evidence that covid and the post viral symptoms can worsen asthma in some cases and that is my personal experience, but having asthma as an underlying condition doesn't seem to increase the risk of hospitalisation or death.
This anecdotal data of worsening asthma, has not been recorded or tracked for use in proper research, not least as those of us infected in the first wave were mostly not tested, so we can't be included in studies as it wasn't proven that covid was the cause of any asthma flare.
Covid is an unpredictable disease and how it will affect someone isn't easy to tell. I would definitely take comfort from the fact that there are now treatments and plenty of hospital beds available in the unlikely event someone catches it and become significantly ill.
Added to what you've said, I imagine most people who've had covid will have had, or still have, the post-viral stuff going on which as well as potentially causing asthma issues, will also mimic asthma issues - so some asthmatics might think it's asthma flaring but is "just" post-viral, and non-asthmatics often think or are told it's asthma when it's post-viral. As you say, it's all so unknown!
The hospital beds thing is a good point too. I've now had 5 admissions since covid started being a nuisance. Until this week's, my consultant has been keen for me to go home as soon as vaguely stable because he wanted me away from the building. This week (when I was trying to leave sooner than he wanted 😅), he said it's ok now, the risk isn't there at the moment and we can keep you for ages. Gee thanks....!
Hey Twinkly29,
Are you in hospital now? Do they test you when you arrive at hospital? I do hope your ok
Hi, I came home yesterday - I'm ok thanks, better than the previous Friday that's for sure! Unfortunately it's something I'm used to so tend to be a bit blasé about it 😅.
Hospitals (from my experience and that of various people round the country) to not be testing in A&E until they know they're admitting someone. Then people who have been tested are isolated until the test result is back. At my hospital this is completely isolated, at others it's with other others who've been tested - though I would hope that anyone they think is a likely candidate for covid (based on symptoms, clinical assessment, x-ray perhaps) would be properly isolated.
Normally my swab has been done just before I leave A&E but this time it was done when I'd only been there an hour - the nurse said well we may as well do this now, you're clearly not going home! 😅
Even in my admissions when covid was more of an issue, I only saw exemplary hygiene procedures being followed and strict adherence to infection control protocols including which staff were allowed where. Now it's slightly different due to them currently having no covid patients there, but all staff near patients still have to wear aprons, masks, gloves and visors or goggles. It's become the norm in hospitals to deal with it I think and not something I would worry about having done it a few times. That's probably why I'm also happier to be out and about - not in crowded indoor places but supermarket is ok at quieter times and so on.
I'm glad you're home, and also glad you didn't rush home until you were properly improved!
Hi not sure it helps with COVID per day but I’ve done 3 hospital visits now and found everything to be really well managed and agree, the first time the docs did everything to keep me out and they are more relaxed now.
Agree with what others have said - while I can understand why there was the concern initially, the reality does seem to be that for whatever reason, even severe asthma doesn't seem to increase the risks as much as they expected, based on other illnesses.
In addition to what happens if you did catch it, it's also worth thinking about different risks related to catching it in the first place. Certain settings (eg crowded, indoors) are high risk but others are not - for example taking walks by yourself outside. Some experts even think a more crowded outdoor setting like a beach isn't actually a huge issue and a pub is more likely to be a problem.
My consultant is one who feels the risk isn't what it was originally thought to be, and also thinks it's much healthier to take walks outside because deconditioning isn't good for people with asthma/COPD either. (As soon as we were told walks outside were ok he asked me if I was getting out for some exercise and I admitted I'd actually been doing that the whole time, even when we were told not to leave the house. He had no problem with this).
I get that it's scary but agree with others that full shielding for that long isn't really healthy. It might be an idea to start with short walks outside, maybe even at quiet times of day, and try to build up. I was really wary at first and kept jumping out of the way and crossing the road, and limiting where I went for walks, but now go to various places and even inside shops and on the tube (with a mask). I definitely realised how deconditioned I'd become, even with my walks, once I started doing longer walks as shielding relaxed! I'm definitely finding it easier now (except when lungs are really acting up).
My GP is saying that the experience seems to be that those with asthma who have had covid have not been as ill as they thought they may be.
So that ties in with what others have said above.
Also, in my small town GP says most transmissions are within hospital so it’s being picked up there but not so much in the community.
Very small community though.
I think basically practising good hygiene and using masks and avoiding crowds etc is the best way forwards.
I’m being asked to continue shielding by my docs, so I’m pretty much still at home. Off work with sick benefit anyway so it hasn’t impacted me so much as it has others.
I think a couple of things need to be in our minds too-
Other viruses can also wreak havoc with asthmatics, and the season is on the way!
Get your flu jabs everyone !
And keep the good hygiene going.
Not all asthmatics are created equal.
Those with very brittle/ severe type asthma may well not have a good experience if they were to catch Covid.
Each of us needs to take the advice of our doctors as applied to us individually.
And that includes taking care of our mental health.
Good luck and I hope the next six months can be a bit more fun than the last six!
Xx
Hey,
Thank you for replying.
My Dr did say the same thing asthmatics are handling Covid better than anticipated.
I have severe asthma - but managed. I don’t have to take my reliver often. I can run. It’s just my asthma sometimes gets quite bad quickly. But I feel more to do with me and not taking asthma seriously. Which now I know was stupid.
I work in a hospital and work with patients whilst I have been off I’m due back next month and very scared
It sounds like you manage your asthma very carefully, it’s going to flare every now and then, that’s the nature of the beast.
I think regarding work, you need to have a conversation with your docs and your employers. Maybe even Occupational Health? There is a duty of care that your employer has to you and that needs to accommodate the different situation we are in with covid rules. They can’t put you at risk.
So maybe a discussion about risk assessment? Which may include your doctor’s view of
1) are you at increased risk of getting covid?
2) if you do get it are you at increased risk of serious illness and /or complications?
Take all the sensible precautions whatever is decided.
I have almost no one coming into my home and my adult son is not socialising much ( he’s an introvert) and working from home mostly. So he is careful to use his mask when appropriate when he’s out, washes hands when he comes in and we either “quarantine” shopping bags and other stuff such as mail packaging which come in, and wash hands after unpacking shopping delivery.
So, make a plan and discuss until you are happy with the plan with your doc and employers.
And things can be tweaked as you go along if you don’t feel as safe as you would like to at work.
Good luck! X
I was impressed to hear that you are able to run! That’s great for your health and your lungs.
Do you always take ventolin before you do aerobic exercise?
Just wondered if this is something you have considered.
Hi there mixmix! I'm one of the ones who possibly had covid.....before it was a known thing, and is now dealing with asthma, or something that looks like asthma? I remember feeling terrified around the middle of March for quite a few weeks/ months! I don't know how asthmatics have faired with this infection, but I do know that they are currently treating covid patients with some of the same steroids that we take every day, and I've wondered if that might actually give us an advantage, since we're all of us inhaling these already and have them thoroughly in our systems? I'm afraid I don't really know the answer to your question but I'm hoping I've got some protection from my steroid inhaler, since I'm back in school tomorrow with no other protection whatsoever!! Hoping for the best........I wish you all the luck on the world.....maybe try short amounts of time outside....little bits at a time? 😊
Hi Sonia,
Thanks for replying. I’m really happy that you are now through the woods with this Covid craziness. If you don’t mind me ask are you deemed as A severe asthmatic?
Yes I did hear that they were trialing asthmatic meds on Covid patients which is exciting as we already have these in our system.
I do go out for walks and due back to work a month from now so I’m just trying to gauge how us asthmatic folks have been bearing up.
Good luck with tomorrow.
Hi again, I don't even have a diagnosis as yet unfortunately. My gp won't let me go in for Spirometry......basically nobody is allowed in the surgery. But, I'm being treated with asthma medication, and its helping, so I'm basing my assumption on that for now......I hope you remain as well as possible when you do go back to work....scary times still😊
I’m also very wary about relaxing things after shielding for last 6 months. I suffer with severe asthma, bronciectasis and ABPA.
During my last routine appointment two weeks ago with Severe Asthma Clinic (over the telephone!), my specialist chest consultant Informed me that he and his colleagues had concluded that surprisingly few asthma sufferers seemed to be dying from Covid-19. This was based on evidence they’d studied from UK and, at least, 3 other countries including Italy! They figured out that the reason related to the use of inhaled steroids. They have deduced that inhaled steroids eg Fostair (which I am on) seem to block Covid-19 ‘s secondary pathway to more serious illness such as pneumonia which can cause death. Unfortunately I am not aware of any article / paper confirming this but my Consultant, who I have been seeing for many years now, and is very knowledgeable and up to date with his research, just wanted to emphasis the importance of taking Fostair as prescribed.
This sounds very encouraging. I am now wondering if anyone else has heard anything similar?
That would be good news indeed, especially as we were initially advised the opposite - that the steroids immune-compromised us and increased our risk. I’ve been feeling quite anxious about this autumn (husband working with students), but your reply has cheered me up, thanks 😊. That leaves another chronic high risk condition for me to worry about but great to feel that the asthma and its medicines at least are not so high risk after all.
Hello there, I'll share my personal story with asthma and covid.
First I would like to say that I had asthma when I was a child, when I was 8 years old I had some asthma attack (maybe 2-3 a year) and then it stops.
I didn't have any asthma symptoms/issue for the last 15 years. I am 24 today.
But, back in march 2020 I started to experience breathing issue, it wasn't as easier as before. I started to hear a little wheezing when I exhale. At this time I didn't know I had covid, I couldn't smell anything but it was not a symptom at this time. Also I was very tired. But no fever, no muscle pain. Only those 3 symptoms :
- tiredness
- wheezing
- can't smell
I was diagnosed with covid on July with blood test. Now I don't have covid anymore but I still experience wheezing sound when I exhale, everyday. I think covid has a link with my asthma and this wheezing sound. Every test is okay: blood, IRM, eco...
But this wheezing sound is still here, also I still experience some tiredness (the kind of tiredness that push you in your bed and you can do anything but sleep).
I am 24 but sometimes I feel like I am 90, also I am an athlete so I can't train like before, my performances decreased.
Julien
Hey Julien
Thanks for replying. Sorry you had to go through that. Seems like it was mild however the aftermath of this bloody virus is proving the problem.
Do you take your asthma pump more regularly? What Shae your asthma consultant said about your new symptom.
Also where did you get your antibody test from?
Thanks
Mix
Hey Mixmix! Indeed, since March I daily use my inhaler, sometimes it works, sometimes I need to wait and I can't do nothing. My asthma consultant who is a pulmonologist actually, he doesn't know what to do. According to him there is no need to worry but the thing is, I didn't have those wheezing before covid. I had x-ray, blood test and everything is good. But sometimes I have this feeling I can't breathe.
I had my antibody test from the lab, I asked to my doctor the process and he help me through.
In my opinion doctors, specialists they don't know what is this virus.
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