Some actual concrete advice from Asthma UK would be great! I’ve looked on the NHS website and it says if you have severe asthma. Well that’s open to interpretation as I got told they don’t use the term brittle asthma anymore, they call it severe, so is mine severe or not?
Luckily my peak flow only ever dips when I have an attack and I’ve never been in ITU but when I do have an attack I get put on back to back nebs and blue lighted.
It also says people most at risk will be contacted from the 23rd March, and in the meantime we do what? Feel anxious, still go out if it’s essential? Drive ourselves crazy? 😂 I really expected Asthma UK to have some advice on this.
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RD23
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I was just logging on to ask the same. It isn't clear if those with asthma need to isolate or not. Mu husband has eosinophilic asthma and I'm sure he should be working from home and should be isolating.
Luckily work had already told me at the end of last week that I could work from home, it took an argument with my manager in the middle of an open plan office 🙈😂but still.
Hopefully he gets some advice soon and is allowed to work from home, stay safe
I’m doing that anyway but the thought of having to stay at home for 12 weeks and not have any visitors is daunting and will possibly drive me crazy or make my anxiety bad, which will set off my asthma and then I’ll end up in hospital anyway.
I know Asthma UK must be busy with enquires but surely this was on the cards, why have they not given any advice? I work in a comms team and we have things drafted all the time just in case.
I am happily staying at home, thinking it's a better option than 12 weeks in intensive care.
You can still go out for walks and keep in touch with folk through modern technology. We are very lucky to know about Covid-19 and the associated risks, unlike the Chinese who were the first victims so couldn't take precautions and lost many loved ones.
We live in a country where we have the information we need to protect ourselves and loved ones, the NHS, access to medication, a plentiful supply of food, great infrastructure etc. Many poorer countries will really struggle with this pandemic.
We should take a leaf out of the Italian and Spanish book and come together, albeit virtually, to cheer on our health care workers and each other.
If you have a bad day, please reach out on this forum so that we can support you. We are all in this together.
I know what you’re saying and totally agree. I’m working from home and have been finding things to do round the house but I still see my parents for lunch or dinner and I know I’ll struggle if I don’t have that contact.
Thank you, I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful I’m just feeling slightly daunted and overwhelmed.
Any chance you can do whatsapp or skype? It's not the same as face to face but at least it is seeing another person... 👍 My relations are in Spain so I do catch up that way with cousins and aunt... I also check and message them on face book and one had put up a very funny photo of half a dozen saint bernard dogs with loo rolls around their necks and a caption saying we are ready to help.... and an alsation and pup ... did you wash your paws?
I’ve checked the latest Asthma UK advice and I’m still not sure if I fall into the ‘severe’ or ‘difficult to control’ category (I’m expecting lots of sarcastic comments on this one from people who know me😂) so I’ll keep doing what I’m doing; working from home, avoiding large public spaces and limiting my contact until I hear otherwise from the NHS.
RD23 I agree it's really tricky to know where we are in terms of vulnerability and I'm just watching Scottish ministers' questions where it would appear that we may have to go through 111 in the future and not our own health centre for information about our health. I am doing wait and see if I get a phone call or email over the next few days and in the meantime distancing myself as much as possible.... but I am a volunteer at the local Church centre serving lunches, snacks teas and coffees etc... so I am in a real quandary as I know that many of our volunteers are in their 70s and 80s.... I'm retired but not yet 70 though I do have the underlying health vulnerability and have been having the flu jab for as long as I can remember. Hopefully we will get the necesary information when we need it! 😊
I work for a water company and our heads of departments have been having incident meetings for months now to asses the situation and stay up to date with the latest advice. We have communications issued every day!
If a water company are prepared then why aren’t a charity who support people with one of the named underlying health conditions? The website says they are receiving high volumes of calls, well issue a statement then so people know where they stand and I bet the calls go down!
We’ve had enough warning so it’s not like it’s been sprung on them! I don’t think I’ve seen any replies to people’s concerns on here from the moderators.
I’m also feeling utterly deflated and worried about being isolated.
I need human contact, I have complex ptsd as well as brittle (severe or whatever they call it this week) asthma.
So mental health is also a concern.
From what I’ve read about how it attacks the lungs I know I have no choice.
It’s a shame we couldn’t of had places to go where others are in the same boat and we all learn crafts, watch films and eat popcorn until it’s over lol.
Sorry, I was a bit clumsy in my wording. I appreciate many asthmatics have front-line jobs. Those that don’t should be allowed to work from home where possible.
I and my husband are over 70, so we have to self isolate. My Asthma isn't severe, but I also have Bronchiectasis and several autoimmune diseases so take immunosuppressants. Another mark against me venturing out. HELP, GET ME OUT OF HERE, I'M A WRINKLY!! 😱😷🙄
I spoke to my Gp yesterday ( I have non corona chest infection) she says regardless of my chest infection I must self isolate due to severe asthma and so must my 11 year old son (also due to his asthma) He is really happy for now but I do worry about him getting lonely when novelty wears off. We are going to try to make this as positive an experience as possible but it is a bit daunting...
I spoke to my GP this morning as my usually very mild asthma is really not good. He’s put me on another week of steroids. He said I must self isolate for 7 days. I pressed him about longer term. Eventually he agreed that while asthma remains on the list for stringent measures of social distancing then I should stay off school (I’m a teacher).
Yep, I'm feeling the same. Don't know what constitutes severe asthma. Have Qvar inhaler Serevent inhaler plus Ventolin when they let me have it, + montelucast tablets. Usually my asthma is under control but have just got over a chest infection that went on for over a month. Caught the infection from a shop assistant serving me ! I've had asthma all my life and am now 65 but don't feel ready to throw in the towel just yet. Can't get a delivery slot for groceries ……….
That criticism is not accurate. We don't live in an authoritarian society such as China and have fought world wars to retain our freedoms and democracy. But the downside is that some people behave selfishly and that is why there are specific shortages.
Our government continues to consult and follow advice from scientific and medical experts. Part of that advice centres on behaviours and the need to predict the spread of this virus. It's not rocket science to listen and follow advice, including not panic buying.
As for medical resources, I would say we have been too lax with those who avoid paying the right amount of tax in the past. And anyone who says it's not them, if you've ever paid for services "cash in hand" then tax has been avoided. Every penny not paid is a penny less for our national services, be that education, health, community services. I hope that this teaches people how important taxes are to delivering the kind of services that they want.
It's not just about the government now, it's about us as a society, as a community. Social responsibility is always important but at times like this, it's vital.
As for panic buying toilet rolls - Australia imports theirs from China so folk started to panic. For some reason the Brits followed suit even though we make toilet rolls in the UK and there was no threat of a shortage.
I have poorly controlled asthma and on regular course of steroids ... I’m probably categorised as vulnerable and maybe in the higher risk I don’t know ... I am also a frontline worker for the ambulance service !!! Currently on stand down due to exacerbation last week and not receiving normal treatment from AE ... they wanted me out of there rapidly with no follow up meds !! Self isolating for 14 days now at their advice despite my Covid swabs being negative .... my protection apparently !! Thankfully my lovely GP stepped in after I struggled for 4 days and now On steroids and home nebs ..
so now to deal with work .... waiting for OH advice .... and I’m not prepared to put my life at risk until OH put something in place !!! Let’s hope they don’t wash over this and I’m forced back frontline because of pay .... I can’t afford to receive SSP .... it’s less than a quarter of my regular pay .... so tough decisions ahead !! It’s so stressful !!!
But trying to concentrate on getting better and looking at the sunshine outside !!!
Stay safe everyone it’s rubbish out there !!!
Some film maker is going to make a packet out of this in the future 😂
I’m in the same boat as you, I am a nurse in A&E. I’ve had 12 admissions in the last 6 months and have been off on long term sick leave since then, my asthma is just out of control. I’m starting Benralizumab injections on Thursday this week 🤞🏻. If I respond well I could be back at work within 2 weeks - before my full pay runs out. I have spoken to my HR team today and they have advised me that they are taking it to senior management as really I wouldn’t be sick but following guidelines. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they come back with some solutions otherwise I won’t be able to pay my rent and will be homeless, on the flip side if I get the virus my lungs just wouldn’t cope and it would be likely that I would be off work for an extended time for recovery.
Good luck ... it’s a nightmare for frontline workers whether it’s porters, pharmacy , shop workers or medical staff it’s a tough call isn’t it .. work have a duty of care to us but they could enforce SSP !!! I’m nearly up to my max sick pay in the year with 8 admissions and multiple steroid courses and def can’t go on SSP for financial reasons ... currently on stand down so not classed as sick ... they could relocate me but they need to ensure it’s to an environment where I am not mixing ... not easy in the least and Can’t really work from home can we !!! Ah well I wait to see what OH say and my “Welfare call “ tomorrow could be interesting !!!!
Good luck with the new treatment I’ve read good things .. keep us posted it’s nice to hear good news xxxx
It's so very scary, & the worry of it can make asthma worse - it does with me at times. I have no idea where I sit on the severity scale. I take ventolin & clenil twice daily & montelukast at night & have nasal polyps which don't help. I've never been hospitalised (apart from having 3 ops in 5 years for nasal polyps) but have had steroids for it many times & spring & autumn are my trigger seasons.
Also my 18 year old has jia so is low immunity & takes an immunosuppressant drug - was told she has to self distance so we're in it together, but she doesn't know either whether she'll have to self isolate for 12 weeks or just social distance as we're doing now. Originally info said anyone who had flu jab due to underlying health issues such as asthma & low immunity - that would be both of us. But now they seem to be clarifying this more but it's still so very unclear. Someone please let us know, it's utterly horrible being in limbo.
My employer asked me to check with my dr whether id be in the at risk category his reply was yes anyone who is on daily meds for their asthma is in the at risk category .
I am a support worker and work 24hr shifts with adults with autism and learning disabilities. Was hospitalised for 5 days in February and have been on Pred since then. Have managed to reduce to 5mg but my asthma is still not fully controlled. Also on Fostair, Loratidine and Montelukast. Have been referred to resp team at the hospital but appointment not till May. I am still working but only in supported living now as day centres and respite services pose too much of a risk. Waiting to see if NHS tells me to self isolate.
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