Should someone with asthma self-isolate for 12 weeks?

[mymoonmyman2020]

Is this what the new guidance says? Anyone who qualifies for flu jab is this correct? Even if young and otherwise healthy (apart from asthma)?

Another one here who has mild asthma that hasn’t bothered me for years and has suddenly flared up. I have no other Coronavirus symptoms so don’t know what to think really. Maybe stress?

I have very mild asthma which is aggravated by colds and flu etc so absolutely no idea what I should do

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

So even if you are in the vulnerable group, you are supposed to go to work if they can’t arrange home working. Ludicrous.

Details finally available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults Someone posted it on a separate thread.

It's not even self isolation, just vague "advice" for social distancing for anyone who gets a winter flu jab on the NHS

I'm really scared too.

I suppose I'm only in the same boat as everyone else but it's really worrying me, not knowing whether I'll just be a bit wheezy like I am if I get a chest cold, or if I'll end up possibly dying.

I was hospitalised several times between the ages of 2 and 22. I'm now 44 and over the past 22 years my asthma has been well controlled. I use Seretide twice a day and Ventolin when needed - maybe once or twice a week (usually exertion related and generally just a mild wheeze).

However I've been admitted to ICU and needed a ventilator twice and I really dont want to experience that again so I'm terrified.

Does anyone know if steroids would work if we did contract it?

I have asthma that is managed to a large extent with my two preventive inhalers to a large extent.I’ll be self isolating for as much as possible for as long as possible.I was sick in January with a cold that turned into a horrible chest infection and I couldn’t even walk to the front door.I will protect myself as much as possible no matter what BoJo says.

just did a thread with the NHS advice here. Really takes some finding on the website

basically, severe athsma only and the NHS will contact you if you are affected

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3850595-The-NHS-will-contact-you-if-you-are-in-the-12-week-isolation-group

There is a whole lot of debate about steroids. The tablet steroids (NOT Inhalers) does nothing or may even make non asthmatics worse, but are still recommended for asthmatics.

One of the inhaler steroids has been shown to block Coronavirus replication in people with pneumonia, whether they have asthma or not. The inhaler was one used in America.

I am not a doctor or an expert of any kind.

If you are regular user of steroids it's worth asking for a prescription to have at home. It's what they always do for my son.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.11.987016v1

The steroid.

Asthma sufferers who are entitled to a flu jab, which is those who have a brown inhaler And/or those who have ever had an hospital admission because of asthma

Brown inhaler was not strong enough for me - I take a different steroid. And I was hospitalised with pneumonia and sepsis 2 years ago after I caught flu. Are they telling me not to leave the house for 12 weeks? My fear is that if that's directed at someone as healthy as me there will be many more than 1.6 million people out of the workforce for a long time.

What about children?

Just in to day that a 'brown' inhaler isn't a sign of severity in itself. There are many other colour preventers, pink, purple, green etc

My work have told us all to stay home for the foreseeable anyway. My chest has been bad for a few days as well!

I fall into the controlled mild asthma category and wont be self isolating as a preventative. If I show actual signs of anything I would.

I have got new inhalers as when I checked my old ones I use ocassinally, were really old. I ordered online without prescription, something I found an old mumsnet thread about

simple online pharmacy it was £17.05 for 2 blue inhalers delivered there are other online pharmacies These people have delivered what I ordered and quickly. I did a quick assessment form as part of the order process.

I am physical contact restricting. DH is doing the shop runs and morning school run so I'm not loitering with others in the playground. I'm trying to walk around the park each day for fresh air, I work from home, minimal people contact but to ensure my lung capacity continues to be as good as it practically can be. I'm another one who with all this talk of tightening airways feels a bit like I've got tightening airways.

I think its a bit like when everyone is talking about nits and the first reaction is to scratch.

@Rhubardandcustard the advice specifically mentions problems with the spleen

@ScarletPower you sound similar to me, my asthma's been controlled reasonably well for the last 15 years except that 18 months ago they took me off seratide ("too expensive!") and put me on Fostair. I went from half marathon running to grinding to a complete halt within six weeks, it's still not quite right but I count myself as controlled because it doesn't flare up randomly (I can predict and manage what will cause an attack).

I'm clueless. The advice sounds precise on the surface but actually is so vague.

I have asthma and work as a radiographer in a cancer centre. I was hospitalised numerous times from the ages of 2-25 and have had pneumonia three times. Should I be in work?? Busy outpatient department? My boss doesn’t know the answer to this!!!

@ScarletPower I was taken off Seratide and out on fostair too! It is definitely a far inferior inhaler

@ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule - sorry, I didn't see your reply to my post - I've not been invited to an asthma review in years but on yours and @Emoconns recommendations, I'll dig my heels in if they try and take me off Seretide.

I've sent a message to my GP today to ask if it's possible to get a prescription for Prednisolone "just in case". I'm waiting for them to get back to me.

My dr tried to switch me from symbicort and I refused as I've been on it for ten years since I had a major asthma attack and I've been controlled for most it since. I think I have had to take steroids twice (one being back in Jan) since I've been on it and my dr allowed me to stay on it. I'm self isolating for 12 weeks, I struggle with a normal cold let alone the thought of the virus.

So I'm not risking it and I'm lucky I can work from home. I think if anyone is unsure speak to your GP or listen to your gut. Mine told me to get away from the crowds and office to protect myself. I don't want to be in hospital adding to the problem because I took a risk going out. It's not worth it

Severe asthma is actually a diagnosed condition (otherwise known as brittle asthma). It is a rare form of asthma and difficult to be diagnosed with. People with severe asthma take more than the usual 2 inhalers, they have add on treatment like montelukast.

Per my earlier post, my GP surgery have just rang back to say I can have a 5 day course of steroids and they've sent the prescription to my pharmacy. I'm quite relieved and very impressed

@ScarletPower that's brilliant, it's always worth asking. We always have extra antibiotics and steroids at home for my son, he is on them long term now though.