I apologize for the frequent posts recently. May I ask whether your GP/Consultant gave you a covid action plan, or if this is available online? I.e. what to do in different scenarios, when (and whom) to ask for antivirals, when to start taking high steroids etc?
Several of my colleagues with whom I interact daily got covid within the last week. They tested negative until they were, essentially, recovered and got back to work. I have been having low-grade fever and chest tightness for the last 2 days, and today got body aches, but I am still negative (with the official NHS test folks here told me how to get ). Staying at home just in case. No issues with the taste/smell.
I am not sure at what point I should request antivirals, but I hear they can help only if used early in the disease. I haven't started taking high steroids yet b.c. I want to give my immune system a chance, and I just took them 2 months ago for a regular cold. My GP knows nothing about asthma; my consultant does respond, but with a delay of a 1-2 days.
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Do you have a priority testing kit? If not then I guess you need to continue doing LFT’s to see if reaction. IF get a reaction I would phone 111 for advice. It’s a different one because just because colleagues have Covid doesn’t mean you have caught it. Unfortunately there are plenty of other viruses still out there.
It’s a difficult one because when I contacted Covid in December I was unaware that I had contracted it until a hospital contacted me to offer me antivirals. I was in another hospital at the time which is where I contracted Covid!! However I had few symptoms of Covid apart from taste issues and subsequently discovered that could be antivirals actually causing the problem. What I would say is whether it is the fact, that I had antivirals or the strain of Covid I had but in all honesty I have had worse colds!!!
What is puzzling is that my co-workers only tested positive after they were mostly recovered (and shedding most particles?) Until then (for a week), they tested negative. I wonder if I wait until I finally test positive (after a week of symptoms) it will be harder to treat. I had another cold 2 months ago, this is different, and consistent with a viral infection (I have experience with these, just like you probably do! ).
I guess in your situation I would 1. Contact my consultant and say is urgent. Hopefully consultant would contact you before weekend. And 2. I would contact 111 to see what they suggest. Finally there has been a lot of debate as to whether or not taking steroid tablets is a good idea. I wouldn’t unless was really struggling to breathe and then would wonder if virus has changed to a bacterial illness - which tends to happen with me when I have a simple cold. Whatever I hope you are feeling much better soon.
Thank you, Bevvy. I now have a positive test, too. But it's from a popular amazon kit, not the official free LTS I got from the NHS. The NHS kit result is negative ("great") making it even more confusing. I.e. I can't order antivirals from the NHS until I get a positive result with their kit. I guess I could go to A&E and ask for a PCR test (which should be more sensitive).
Sorry to hear you have now tested positive. I would still contact 111 and consultant for advice. Also just to try to reassure you, statistically it has been shown that those with asthma are at no greater risk from Covid than anyone else. I was given antivirals due to additional health issues.
I did not take any extra steroids. I concentrated more on not doing things that would provoke my asthma. My asthma is allergic based, so it basically dislikes me doing things.
So feeling done in with covid, meant I sat around in my conservatory, or slept more in the bedroom. Both places are free of things that provoke my asthma.
So I would super look after your asthma and avoid your triggers.
I am already sitting in my filtered-air tent which is how I deal with asthma usually. But I feel like my asthma prob gets triggered by the virions inside of me, no matter where I go
I didn't have a plan, didn't ask for one and didn't tell my GP or consultant team I had it (except accidentally - was on the phone about something else and coughing a lot so said sorry I have COVID). Took me several days to test positive too.
They seemed a little surprised afterwards lol as it seems I was down as high risk but I didn't see what they could do as I didn''t expect or particularly feel I needed antivirals. My hospital team are zero use for asthma and might have just tried to reassure me which I didn't need or want. I wouldn't have taken steroids unless I needed them for COVID - they don't really help my asthma now.
It wasn't an experience I'd recommend and it did set off my asthma somewhat, but not hospital level - the main problem I had was that the COVID really wanted me to be flat and my lungs weren't so keen on that. Also was hard to eat - not really much appetite anyway so didn't feel like an issue, but I couldn't sit upright at a table when I tried, it was too much.
I think swine flu and RSV were worse for me though - RSV was definitely worse for my asthma. I've not had lasting problems from COVID personally either in general or from asthma (Vs RSV which was the gift that kept on giving) but I was able to rest during and after, and made myself.
Apologies to the OP for going off topic here but I just picked up on something you’ve said in your second para ie that steroids don’t really help your asthma now. I’m finding the same, even at 40/50mg, and wonder why this is, do you know? Tia x
I wish I knew! There is research that people can become insensitive to oral steroids but will still respond to injected ones. If you have a responsive asthma team who are open to discussion on this kind of thing (which I'm not going to assume!), you could ask them about other options for when you need steroids, or if you're on them permanently (for example, triamcinolone (Kenalog) injections, and hydrocortisone IV for attacks). Ideally, that would be on some kind of official paperwork to make it easier to get.
For myself, I'm not sure if I ever did respond to oral or injectable steroids or it was just what I got and other things were doing the work - I get all sorts for attacks so it can be hard to work out whether something is helpful sometimes, though I have a good idea now. My asthma isn't eosinophilic or allergic (unsure if yours is) so it makes sense that I don't respond well to steroids as my type of asthma tends not to. However, my theory is that I do have some eosinophilic component that's mostly well controlled by the Fostair, and that the uncontrolled part is not steroid responsive or typical. I have friends with 'mixed' severe asthma where it seems like steroids are helping one part.
One of two useful things my current consultant did for me is get me off the non-working steroids (the other is give me home nebs, for very weird reasons which probably made sense in his head, but don't to me. I don't care, as long as I can use them the way that works for me, and I am sensible with them). Other than that, they don't listen to anything I say, and they still seem to think I want to constantly demand steroids I don't need every time I use my inhaler more than once. I'm actually delighted to be off them and for the adrenal insufficiency to have resolved, though it would help to have more options for attacks! I know what I do on this topic because I did my own reading and also did some medical communications work on asthma/COPD (so I know my way around a scientific paper and my home reading is based on that too).
That was a bit of a ranty way of saying I don't really know for myself because I don't have anyone to discuss it with - so not massively helpful if your asthma is similar to mine. But if you used to respond, as I said, then oral ones not working does seem to be something that can happen.
I find that if I had had a long break after the last high-steroid treatment (a few month), the oral prednisone feels like a miracle. But if one does it frequently (e.g. once a month), it no longer feels as great.
I found that too for a while, then pred stopped working completely! For about 10 years I’ve taken a small daily dose of 5mg as I have adrenal insufficiency, so whether that’s why I don’t know 🤷♀️
Thanks so much for that detailed & extremely helpful reply. I used to find steroids massively therapeutic but sadly no longer. My team (the Brompton) don’t seem very surprised by this & I haven’t pressed them because I don’t think I’d understand the answer (I do NOT know my way around anything scientific!)
My asthma is partly allergic & I’m on Xolair, but again, from being revolutionary at the beginning, it’s now less helpful. Mind you, I no longer need 4 x daily nebules of Ventolin & Atrovent, so it’s still doing something. It’s complicated because I have other lung conditions in the mix. Currently the team are investigating options. I never knew asthma could be so complicated!
I’m so pleased you’ve managed to overcome your AI, it’s a bit of a pain. Thanks again x
Hi apply for free COVID PCR’s, if you get a positive result put your result online our use your NHS COVID App. Someone will contact you within 1 day and offer you antiviral tables or IV. I chose tablets
I didn't have a covid plan either. After shielding I caught Covid last March. I sent my priority PCR test and was contacted by the NHS . I wasn't considered suitable for the antivirals but was placed on a virtual ward . I had a courier delivery of an oxygen reader and kit . Stayed at home texted four oxygen readings a day and had regular phone calls from the covid doctors. They told me to take my predisolone (rescue pack). I felt very reassured and well looked after.
Yesterday I tested positive again. Registered my test on the website and had a message that I would get a call within 24 hours. I received a text stating that I am again not eligible for the antivirals and no mention of the virtual ward. maybe discontinued? I am feeling very rough and don't want to take too many steroids as I was diagnosed with diviculular disease a couple of months ago.
No covid plan. Caught it from having a scan in September 22. Two people me masked they weren't. I hadn't been anywhere or socialised at all just unlucky I guess. Headache vomiting nausea for a week stayed in bed. My chest issues started as soon as negative 10 days from positive and still struggling with breathlessness and horrendous cough. Im can't take steroids unfortunately. Friends have taken antivirals and felt these didn't help. I would ask your consultant and see what they say. I've lost over 2 stone in weight its definitely affected my appetite but I'm still around. Count my blessings.
Hello, I had a cold/flu and an infection in my sinus with an exhasabation of my asthma and ended up with high dose steroids for 8 days and 5 days of antibiotics. Afterwards I received and email from: Professor Stephen PowisNational Medical Director
NHS England and NHS Improvement
Informing me that I will be sent free Covid tests and antiviral meds if I report a positive test. As I had been flagged as someone vulnerable to the Covid virus. All the telephone numbers and information was in the email.
The strange thing is that I have had Covid (Jan 2022) and it was very mild and didn't cause any asthma.
I had Covid in December. Like you, it took days to test positive. I registered the test and was informed NHS would contact me within 24 hours. No one did of course! Didn't really expect it. Spent ages on 111 waiting for various nurses to contact me. Anyway in the end they said I wasn't ill enough for anti virals. Their only red flag for more help needed was if I had a high temperature that wouldn't go down with Paracetamol. They didn't seem worried about it going on my chest. Thankfully it was mild and I didn't need anti virals but it was stressful trying to get access to them!
I caught Covid early last November, following an emergency trip to A&E (not asthma related). Consequently, a few days later I tested positive and reported it immediately via the government/NHS website. Someone contacted me within a few hours, checking to see if I truly qualified for antivirals. I seemingly did - and a few hours later, I received a call from an NHS COVID doctor, who confirmed I definitely fitted the criteria for antivirals - and that she was writing up a prescription for me as we spoke. She said that they would be delivered to me the following day. Early the following morning, I received a call from the hospital pharmacy to say someone would be with me within the next hour. 30 minutes later, my husband answered the door - and the person kindly handed over the meds - along with strict instructions for me to start the medication immediately and adhere to the instructions on the box. They certainly did help - a lot. I was so immensely grateful to the NHS and its Covid Centre….they truly were so kind and reassuring to this elderly lady….😊
I ended up getting the antivirals, and the first infusion was today (it was by an IV at a hospital). It took 2 days of symptoms to develop a positive test. Interestingly, non-official tests I bought from amazon (in case there was a delay with the NHS ones) turned out to be more sensitive than the official NHS tests. But they are not recognized by the NHS reporting app. So I had to wait for extra ~6 hrs for the weak positive band to appear on the official test as well.
Reported it to the NHS, got a phone call next morning, and was on IV at 11 am. Thus, overall, I am happy with the experience -- except for the fact that the official tests appeared less sensitive. Perhaps, they also show less false positives, who knows. 24 hrs later, the "positive" band looks stronger than the control. So I guess I caught it early, while the infection was still developing, and I got the antivirals when it just hit the max.
The drug is remdesivir, I actually reviewed a paper on it with students 2 years ago. It's a nucleotide that blocks the enzyme that replicates the viral genome.
My symptoms remain mild, and the only major issue (also reported here by Lysistrata) is sleeping horizontally. I hope the mildness of the symptoms is due to me having had 5 vaccinations.
P.S. When administering the remdesivir, they told me not to skip high steroids (I was planning to, thinking that I would suppress my immune system by doing that). They assured me that the steroids won't interfere, and are important to take.
Interestingly, I was faffing around on my phone the other day and had a look at the NHS Covid app. (yes I still have it) . I noticed that it said that you can now enter paid for test results. I haven't tried it out as I haven't had Covid-yet.
So if you can get them to give you the Anti Virals its best to start taking asap, but you can't get them until you log 3 positive LFT tests on the NHS website, then someone is meant to call you if you are on the magic list, (which as you got the free tests you are). However I did this and no-one called, it says on the web site you are meant to then call your GP, however my GP won't talk to anyone about Covid!!! so catch 22. End the end I had a call with my consultant, who said by that point it was a bit late for Anti Virals, However he asked me to hold back on OCS as I had a course in December. However still got low numbers, and a horrible wheeze, so he is probably going to start me on them at the weekend. I was also told to use my nebulizer twice a day, however as per always everyone's asthma is different.
you need to update the nhs app ic you are showing positive for covid - you may be eligible for intravenous antiviral and try will contact you within 24-48 hours. If needs to be administered within 3-4 days of first symptoms and being asthmatic is no longer a reason to ge eligible . The emergency testing kits system issued to the clinically vulnerable is no longer operational. Test every few days . You msg just have a cold!!
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). Staying at home just in case. No issues with the taste/smell. 
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