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Covid

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Original poster

Asthmatics, how do we feel about when lockdown is lifted?

20 replies

SinisterBumFacedCat · 27/04/2020 12:16

I’m not on the shielding list but both myself and my DS have asthma and use preventer inhalers everyday. I do understand that it has to be lifted at some point, but it worries me as it seems most people are going to get Covid at some point, and as asthmatics we could get very ill. I feel a bit like a sitting duck.

I am going out twice a week to shop for my mum who has early signs of Alzheimer’s. Apart from that we stay home. I worry about returning to work because if a bug is going round the office I always get it!

Just wondering how other asthmatics feel about it because it seems lots of people are impatient for lockdown to end.

OP posts:

SpudsAreLife84 · 27/04/2020 12:18

I'm asthmatic but have been working still as I'm a key worker. How do I feel about it? To be honest I don't really worry, if I contract covid-19 then I will seek help and hope that I recover but I won't worry about it. This isn't going away, I have a job which I cannot do from home so unless I plan to make myself unemployed I've got to get on with it.

Bigfishylittlefishy · 27/04/2020 12:46

A bit worried. My husband and son have asthma. My son usually comes off the steroid inhaler at this time of the year but we are keeping him on it, well forever now!... until a vaccine. Other than that there isn’t much we can do is there?

YogaFaker · 27/04/2020 12:53

I'm worried. I'm on a low-ish dose (2 puffs twice a day) of the steroidal preventer & rarely need ventolin now. So well-controlled asthma.

But - when I get the ordinary corona virus (ie common cold) I get it very badly - usually in bed for about 2-3 days, and then it goes to my chest - for up to 2 weeks. So I really worry that I am in that 20% who get COVID-19 v. badly.

And I won't know, until I contract it - which is quite likely once lockdown eases, especially if we have to teach undergrads face to face. They are such virus carriers, and as 18 year olds really don't take enough responsibility for their health or that of others, in my experience.

SpudsAreLife84 · 27/04/2020 13:08

yoga there is evidence to the contrary that children and teenagers are not significant spreaders of covid-19, there are many posts about it already so worth a read to reasure you.

LilacTree1 · 27/04/2020 15:52

I’m asthmatic with a preventer

I didn’t want lockdown

I can’t see the point in destroying everything for one disease when we’re highly at risk every day.

God knows how much I’ll be paying for inhalers when the NHS packs up completely.

maleficent53 · 27/04/2020 15:55

Not any different to how I feel now working in a healthcare setting. We just have to get on with it

1990shopefulftm · 27/04/2020 16:00

My asthma quite controlled and I got taken off preventers last year but I m pregnant at the moment so been worried from the fact there's less medications they could use on me without risk to the baby and I don't want my asthma to go downhill with any infection when I ve less treatment options for me.
I m lucky in that I just go out for a walk every couple of days and DH can pick up food.

namechangenumber2 · 27/04/2020 16:18

DS and I are asthmatics- neither badly though

I'm not too anxious, we're both in a position that means we can pick when we decide to go out - I work very part time in jobs that I imagine won't start back straight away - and DS is year 11 so no education for him until September at the earliest.

I think I would be a bit anxious if that was different though

fuckweasel · 27/04/2020 16:31

My asthma is pretty mild until I get any respiratory infection. A cold caught in early February had me coughing for about six weeks and went through a blue inhaler in a few days at the worst of it. Peak flow was less than half its usual for a week or so. This happens every year almost! Also, I had pneumonia a few years ago and was ill for months. As a teacher, I'm dreading the schools reopening (especially as I am a very long way from suitable hospital facilities). It will be interesting to see the advice for the vulnerable but not shielded group as lockdown eases. My headteacher was brilliant and sent all vulnerable staff home before schools closed.

namechangenumber2 · 27/04/2020 16:44

My SIL is also an asthmatic teacher fuck and thankfully her headteacher has been great up to now, she's really nervous about schools reopening properly though

SpudsAreLife84 · 27/04/2020 19:01

@fuckweasel I'm sorry to say the provision for those deemed vulnerable will be non-existance. I work for the MOJ, my DH the MOD and unless in the extremely vulnerable camp self-isolation is not "supported" so all still in work and social distancing as best they can.

WrongKindOfFace · 27/04/2020 19:07

Snap (except I could mostly work from home but we’re not being set up to do it).

Unfortunately we are probably all going to get it. All we can do it take precautions and hope we don’t get it too badly.

(I may have had it already but it wasn’t possible to get a test at the time.)

Redlocks30 · 27/04/2020 19:11

What’s the current advice for asthmatics?

When the first set of guidance came in about asthmatics/diabetics/pregnant people-it was suggested they were vulnerable and should wfh/stay home where possible. Has this changed now there is a more serious ‘shielding’ group?

HermioneWeasley · 27/04/2020 19:11

I’m a key worker with moderate asthma but it’s very well controlled. I’m concerned about catching it, but reckon it’s inevitable at some point

caramac04 · 27/04/2020 19:43

I take preventer inhaler daily and don’t need ventolin very often although I did for a few days last week. I’m also T2 diabetic but not hugely overweight and exercise regularly.
My DH is doing all the shopping at present.
I’m retired but think I will be a bit twitchy about shopping and mixing with people after lockdown ends although I think social distancing will continue for some time.
I worry about my husband probably more than myself even though I’m technically more at risk.
It must be very scary for those with more severe asthma

SpudsAreLife84 · 27/04/2020 20:21

@Redlocks30 it is still to work from home where possible, but if your employer won't/can't let you work from home it is business as usual. Same with those who are pregnant etc, at our place they are trying to find smaller or single workspaces for them rather than shared offices but they are still working as normal.

Springcatkin · 27/04/2020 20:24

Only worried if ds gets it at the same time as hayfever which can make his asthma really bad. Once the hay fever season is over we wont worry too much.

trumpisaflump · 27/04/2020 20:32

How do I feel about it? Well I work in a covid ICU in a big, busy hospital so I don't really give it a second thought now. I thought there was evidence that the incidence of asthma in covid patients has been underreported which suggests possibly a protective effect in asthmatics?
The most important thing is to take your asthma medicine as prescribed and make sure your asthma is well controlled.
I don't worry about it at all. You just need to get on with it and live your life.

ravensoaponarope · 27/04/2020 21:52

I am in the flu jab group so have asthma and take the preventative inhaler one puff twice a day. My GP thinks I am very low risk.

Tfoot75 · 27/04/2020 22:01

I have asthma, I was taking a double dose of my preventer, had coronavirus about 5/6 weeks ago (I assume, not tested) and it was extremely mild, few breathless spells but no lingering cough like I usually get after a cold. I had a bad cold at the start of January and coughed constantly for a month as well. This was completely different, in fact I'm not sure I've ever actually had a dry cough before this. My coughs are always productive and post viral.

I know it's anecdotal, but I have an acquaintance who's a nurse in a related field and she said it isn't really affecting asthmatics.

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