Any other asthmatics shitting themselves?

[HermioneWeasley]

I’m not even badly asthmatic, but a cold will usually leave me wheezy so I’m genuinely worried about needing hospitalisation, and even worse, the nhs being overwhelmed and not able to help.

I’m washing my hands regularly and dettoling my house and desk regularly. What else are others doing?

I'm terrified for my son he is almost 13 and has brittle asthma. I have him home after the school allowed a trip to france to go ahead and 200 children went. I can't risk it, he takes 3 inhalers including fostair, montelukast tablets and he has been on azythromycin for a few years now. He also carries an epi pen. He has just finished 7 days of steroid tablets which he has at least once a month.

I'm not taking him out, and avoiding shops etc myself. luckily we have no friends or family so nobody will be coming in. He can go from fine to within an hour having an asthma attack, he never just gets a cold.

Yes my area has it and both kids have asthma.

Confirmed college with it and a rumour today from a teacher their school has a confirmed case but both still open. No cleaning.

One of my kids has just tried to improve their lungs by going back on the steroid inhaler again.

I am absolutely shitting myself (no pun intended in the current climate of people stockpiling toilet rolls)!

I have moderate asthma but also Addison’s disease and other autoimmune conditions which make for a very nasty combination (Addison’s is a rare but potentially fatal condition where my adrenal glands don’t work so I take daily life long steroids and can go into adrenal crisis if my asthma flares up or I am unwell etc - I can literally die). I am horrified by everything that’s happening and feel really anxious about it all.

I saw a report listing the underlying conditions of the deaths from CV and asthma was one of the lowest percentages of underlying conditions. Dr. John Campbell on YouTube did a video on it. I think if healthy people start with an immune system of 0, asthma adds 2-3 points, others add a lot more. It is scary all round but I don’t think you have that much more to worry about than the average person in your age group.

At this stage though regardless I would work from home if you can and take your kids out of school. That is what I am going to do. Either way it is coming down the line.

Yes, another asthmatic who is non too comfortable about the present situation.

I'm carrying on as normal, but paying particular attention to hand washing and I'm using antibacterial gel after I've used public transport.

In short, I'm trying to control those things I have influence over (getting family that I live with to do the hand wash, gel things) and just keeping an eye on those things I can't control.

To be honest, it doesn't fill me with confidence when Johnson says we should ride it out and take it on the chin. I would happily feel a bit shit for two weeks in order to ride it out. BUt, fuck me, I'm not prepared to die. Though of course I might, I'm 70

I get the kids to wash their hands when they come in from school and when they come in from anywhere. I’m driving them crazy but if it makes any difference it’s worth it.

I have asthma, and sarcoidosis , not panicking

Same here. I have becotide inhaler and taking every day but like op, any kind of cold virus is what sets off my asthma

I dont blame you @FthisS

I have mild asthma though i am taking a steroid inhaler at the min. Im not worried but i am otherwise healthy.

Mild asthmatic, I am just being more diligent about making sure I use my prevention inhaler and keeping an eye on how much seems to be left in my reliever. Trying not to panic and order repeat prescriptions when I don't need them. Luckily I don't work so could self isolate very easily but i don't feel the need to yet.

Wondering if i should try and get a stronger inhaler. Ceratide.

I go from mild panic and frantic handwashing to wishing we'd just all get it and get it over with.

My son has just had more chest xrays and lung function tests, it is looking like he will be diagnosed with copd. He has been like this from birth he is unwell even with the azythromycin. His asthma is so serious it impacts everything i want to keep him home in a bubble.

My son is 3 and has “asthma” they won’t properly diagnose till he’s 6 but he has a blue inhaler and the brown inhaler. I am concerned for him. The PP who said it raises the risk slightly has made me feel better, his age also goes in his favour I believe aswell. I try to get them to wash their hands as much as possible but 3 under 7 on my own as DH works away a lot is difficult to be there at every hand wash to ensure it’s done properly

I've been in the meh camp until now but it's moved to my local area now and I'm asthmatic. I'm not panicked, as such, I've no plans to self isolate unless I show symptoms or am told to by work/medical professionals and I'm not stockpiling loo roll and pasta but I have phoned my GP and ordered new inhalers including the strong preventative I usually only use if I have a bad cold or flu and I'm taking it daily as of now with the agreement of the GP.

I still think, on the whole, for the wider population, the issue is still meh, you'll feel ill for a few days and then recover but as I'm in the small minority who might not recover it is something that is niggling at me, iyswim?

My mother is her early seventies with asthma and bronchiecstasis, and very active and goes out to a lot of social events. She has now stopped most going out, but I'm very very worried.

I am, asthma well managed and never need to use my blue inhaler but I am scared & not convinced that the rest of the family understand
I think they forget I have it! ☹️

I am shitting myself, OP. Have got my inhalers.

SebandAlice - relieved to hear your comments from Dr John Campbell about asthma - do you have a link for where he said this, as googled but couldn't find it?

Thank you.

is dettol helpful? isn't that just for bacteria?

Well controlled asthmatic here, in admittedly very cynical but in definitely not panicking at the moment.

I have however ensured I've upped my foststair and restarted my montelukast a little early to make sure my lungs are as healthy as possible

Not shitting myself, no. But am trying to make sure my asthma is well under control and as minimal as it can be. Also I have checked by inhalers and tablets are plentiful and have prescriptions ready to pick up.

Trying to be sensible, keep calm & carry on but yes, shitting it...

Yes, my asthma is usually mild (caused by allergies) but it has deteriorated in the last couple of weeks and I am getting quite worried. My peak flow keeps dropping even when sitting at my desk. Got an appointment with the asthma nurse at my GP practice later this week.