Asthmatics’ during Covid19

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Would anyone like to join this thread for asthmatics during this outbreak?

I’m mid 30s in England. Have had asthma since childhood, hospitalised a few times (not for 5+ years now) and the odd course of oral steroids for flare ups plus daily inhalers. I got the extremely vulnerable text message today.

Thanks @CaffiSaliMali I'll try to hold out until the end of the week I think and see if a letter appears.
@SentimentalKiller I understand your frustration, hopefully someone will be along soon and have more information. It's frustrating all this uncertainty. Take care everyone.

I'm on Montelukast and seretide 250.ehich is on the list. And have had oral.stweiids x 2 at Christmas.
No letter yet.

Still no letter or text. Fostair 200 and montelukast.
Getting a bit anxious now, not because I want to be stuck in for 12 weeks, but because it alerts health professionals if I do get sick.

Those who have received a letter, are you all NHS in England? And did you expect to get a letter, I mean were you aware you were classed as severe asthma? Thanks.

Thank you all for this thread - my husband hasn't had a letter yet and was certain he wouldn't be in that group but the info you've all shared re medication made me look on Asthma UK and he is indeed high risk. He's now taking it much more seriously so I'm very grateful.

Stay safe everyone.

Hi. I'm definitely not on the 'shield' list although I have asthma. Can someone explain what's happened to the previous list of 'vulnerable but not extremely vulnerable' people including all asthma? Has that category disappeared? I've had a message from work that if I don't get the letter then I might be required to go in.

No text or letter for my Ds (8) yet.

He's on 200mc Clomil 2 puffs morning and night, took Montelukast for a year before it lost its effect. He's had 2 courses of steroids and one hospital admission (blue light's) in past 18 months. He goes downhill so quickly, always triggered by colds/viruses.

We have emergency steroids at home but I would feel a little reassurance if we had a letter.

Hi, I'd like to join please. I've had asthma since I was 10, now 46. I've been on steroid and mention inhaler since then, it changed to qvar a few years ago, used to be becotide. I've been hospitalised a few times about 20years ago and had steroid meds when having a bad chest infection.
Last week I had persistent cough, my asthma was really bad and on Thurs I had trouble getting breath in the right lung, it felt very restricted. The doc prescribed antibiotics over the pnone, and said he doesn't think covid-19 because of no temp.
No text or letter been sent.

FiveFoot, no, that category has not disappeared. The ‘just’ vulnerable category need to be “especially stringent” in their social distancing.

No mention now of steroid courses being a trigger for the letter now the advice page has been updated.

I should still get the letter due to the asthma and the montelukast I take, but I'm thinking I won't get one.

I’m in England.
On the list - Relvar Ellipta 184/22 plus salbutamol when needed.
No letter or text.

Hi I am 58 and on Fostaire preventer and Subutonol reliever. In 2019 I had to have Predisonol three times and steroids twice. Hospitalised in 2018. I was also ill with virus, sore throat that felt like I had swallowed glass and a dry cough in mid January and stayed in bed for almost two weeks having to prop up on pillows as could not breath lying down. I used so much Salbutinol I had to request an additional inhaler after only two weeks. I gradually felt better but cough carried on and on and through it all I lost my voice. I went to see GP in mid Feb about loss of voice and she sent me for a nasalscopy so person could view my vocal cords but they ok, and GP also said I had crackles in my left lung and gave me 10 days if antibiotics which cleared it up. To be honest I do now wonder if I could have had Covid then. I feel like I have only just got better and can't face being ill again. I have not had a better or text from NHS, I thought I might be in sheltered group and have stayedcat home since Friday not even going out to exercise as I have large garden I have been out in and been on excercise bike at hone as scsred to go out now. Dh is also asthmatic and on Fostaire but not Sabutinal but he is also on daily steroids for inactive adrenals so carries blue card. He has not had NHS text or letter either. He has also been staying in since Friday.

So many uncertainties with all this, but a lot of your histories would surely put so many of you in the high risk category without even having to look at this list.

I read again and noticed it said along the lines of that medication dosage alone would not be the only indicator for high risk category, so to me it would make sense to also be looking at history etc. Perhaps this is what GP's are using to categorise?!? But strange that so many don't have letters or a text yet.

Woke up to quite a, bad asthma attack. My chest has been tight for ages, but this was a full blown attack, fortunately my dh was with me, but it's scared me, I am not leaving my house, I don't want to be in hospital on my own.

@IamH - are you ok now? Have you sorted the asthma attack with Salbutamol?

If yes, you need to let your GP surgery know - they may want to provide oral steroids, or increase your preventer inhaler.

If not, please call an ambulance - don't stay home due to Covid-19 if you need medical help. The paramedics may well be able to treat you at home.

Stay safe

Kion yes I’m in NHS England. I’ve had the text rather than a letter (but yes it is the official “you are extremely vulnerable so stay at home for 12 weeks” text rather than the more ‘general’ texts - I’ve had them too!).

Did I know my asthma was severe? I suppose so, yes, as I’m currently under the care of a respiratory consultant (my fabulous GP eventually admitted defeat!). The resp guy added in tiotropium to everything else I’m on, which I gather is quite hardcore. I was surprised though when I looked at the Asthma UK list that I fit the criteria for 3 separate reasons!

IAmH hope you are ok. Must have been scary.

I am struggling to speak in sentences so I will be staying in bed again today. Worried about using inhaler too much and not being able to get another.

I am better now, chest feeling a bit tight still, really scared me. I'm waiting on a call back from the doctors.

SentimentalKiller I think the Spiriva alone should mean that you qualify for shielding. If you don’t get a letter/text by 29th I think you should chase this urgently.

egghead agreed.

Sunshine you sound similar to me. I’ve made it to the sofa but still feel awful, just had my fourth dose of oral steroids...waiting to feel better!

Sorry to hear that *@FaithInfinity. I hope you feel better very soon. I am doing the bare minimum and then needing to rest. I'm under orders to stay in bed again today. DH is doing everything which worries me as he as a heart attack last month and I've been doing everything since then. DS1 is making me cheese scones as I was craving one last night but I don't feel I have an appetite but dh says I have to eat regardless.

I’m off work at the moment (supermarket cashier) self isolating. I’m due back on Monday and am very concerned as I’m older (60), have asthma and my inhaler/dosage is on the Asthma.org list. I want to know where I stand so that I can give work adequate notice if I’m not going to be in although they are aware of my situation. And also because if I’m not classed as severe, I’m scared of going back to work - I feel very vulnerable.
I’ve just rung my GP practice for advice.
They told me they don’t know who will get letters/texts and referred me to the 111 website for further information. As we all know, the 111 website just mentions ‘severe asthma’ without a definition, so back to square one.
However they did give me a (local) phone number to ring if I haven’t heard anything by Sunday.
I’m beginning to think that the lists on the Asthma.org website may be wrong/misleading us all.

So who is sending out the letters then? I thought gps were the ones who were going to be asked to do it but when I enquired of the practice manager at my gp practice whether they were flowing the asthma uk criteria they replied to say I should wait and see if I get a letter...as if they weren't in charge of that.

My surgery has advised that NHS England are sending the letters, not the practice. I thought I might get one because of the medication I’m on and the two courses of steroids I’ve had this year, but nothing.

I wonder where nhs England gets its info from?