Asthmatics

[BraveLittleDragon]

Update guidance on Asthma UK for shielding - some people will be shielding unnecessarily if they don't read it.

Too complicated to post it all but many steroid inhalers have been removed for the list, however, several other criteria have been changed.

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/#SteroidDose

Not an AIBU - just a high traffic area.

@Pinkywoo I'm like you. Higher dose of seretide and on montelukast. I've had 2 doses of steroids in dec. No letter and dint know whether to speak to gp about it. They are snowed under at the moment. Asthma uk advice is to still shield as much as you can if on those meds..but that won't wash will my body if school opens again before then and I say I want to shield and not come in.
Dh still working in a busy factory too.

I think I'm going to try to call the doctors and if there's no answer email them, just in case it gets to the point where only the high risk can get shopping delivered.

@InkogKneeToe thanks, that is very clear and I haven't had that, so think I don't have to shield. Thank goodness!

Thank you so much for this as I know now I should definitely be shielding. We've not been out for over 3 weeks now anyway. I'm just worried how to get supplies if the dds can't really go out and pick up supplies. And ds shares my bed. I'm a single mum which is not helpful in this situation. I think I'll start my own thread for advice but thank you so much OP.

Let us know what they say, pinky. I'm contemplating doing the same.

I've emailed as couldn't get through so will update you when I hear back, it said it may be up to 48 hours though.

Where is the new list please?

www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/#SteroidDose

Hi all. What is the high daily steroid dose for set event. The asthma uk guidance states the following- A combination inhaler that also contains a long-acting bronchodilator (e.g. Seretide, Fostair, Symbicort) at a high daily steroid dose (see the table below)
However, the dose of Seretide is not on the said table. I currently take Seretide 125, 4 times a day.
Thanks

Serevent not set event haha

I mean Seretide (oh my)!

I've worked it out. Seretide is fluticasone. I am 50 micro grams per day below the daily dose. So close to being in the shielding group and I still have to attend work. My anxiety is through the roof!

@Jambalaya76 Are you a key worker, can you work from home?

I work for local government so classed as key worker. We were issued the key worker letter last week. My role can be worked from home however my boss wants me in the workplace for part of the week. I am so anxious about this as I feel it's an unnecessary risk. He knows how I feel about this but has said if I'm not in the at risk group, he still wants me in work. I am so close to being in the at risk group but still having to risk catching the virus!

I’m on Ventolin & Symbicort.

I’ve been told to take my symbicort up to 8 times a day, so my intake is between 1,200 -1,600 micro grams of budesonide depending on how bad my asthma is.

I’ve never been hospitalised by it but I used to take oral tablets for it along with my inhalers.

Should I continue to shield?

@Jambalaya76 Do you have the BEIS contact for reporting your employer? Do look into it if not - this is crazy if you can work from home - you must. The government have been clear on this.

I’m on montelukast fexofenadine
Highest dose symbicort and bricanyl
However no other steroids or admissions in last year so assumed that was why I hadn’t had the letter or text

Brave little dragon I wasn't aware of this

I've been on 2 weeks paid leave as I am borderline. I was told if I needed or felt I needed to shield furher then I would have to take unpaid leave. I have tonight received notification from my CEO that they will pay the 'borderline vilnerable' the full 12 weeks in order to shield. As I work in a supermarket, this is a massive weight lifted for me. I can only hope that some of your employers follow suit, or that the shielding list is broadened to cover other asthma sufferers too.

Jambalaya, you're in the at risk group due to having asthma, just narrowly missing the extremely vulnerable group.

My son is 4 and takes Clenil 50 (two puffs twice a day) which as I understand is a low dose BUT he has been admitted to hospital three times in the past 6 months. Two one-night stays where it took a while to get his breathing under control and one a couple of weeks ago where we were only in A&E for half a day. Does this mean he needs to shield or not? We didn’t receive a letter or text.

Excellent post thankyou OP .Explains it much more clearly. I am on fostair 100/6 and prednisone if i need it.Still working as a community carer just being very careful .

I spoke to the receptionist at my doctors surgery who said letters and texts are from the government not the surgery. When I pointed out that on the gov.uk website it says if you haven't had one to call your doctor, she just repeated that it's nothing to do with them. I have received a text now from the government saying that I have registered as at risk with them (I did this last week on their website).

Silly question, but would being treated in a&e class as being admitted to hospital?

@Pinkywoo I spoke to my GP surgery and they gave the letter, unsure why some are not doing this? Granted the receptionist initially told me I was wrong, they practice staff called back and sent the letter.

@MangoMonkey12 Not too sure - were you in for a while? I know sometimes i have been in a and e for 24 hours due to ITU bed shortages and i would definitely class that as an admission.