Underlying health risks such as asthma

[two sheds]

Don't really know, sorry . Have you recovered from fluey type thing? Is Fostair making a noticeable difference to you? It does to me.

Perhaps talk to doctor, also ask whether you could alternatively drop the dose to 1xtwice a day or 2x in evening only? If you're not taking the blue inhaler 3 or more times a week they're saying your asthma's controlled. Whatever you do you'll have Fostair for emergencies (although I think it takes time to kick in). I'd also do the social distancing thing as if you are at high risk.

Eta as I say I've arranged a phone interview because I don't want to go near a doctor's surgery or hospital for a while - they're anyway not doing routine face-to-face appointments, so perhaps phone the surgery and arrange a phone interview?

 

[Big Bertha]

I use fostair to deal with pet allergies, so being out of the house is actually better for me!

 

[Reno]

I've called my GP about this, but I haven't heard back yet. I get asthma when I get hayfever and its kicked in this weekend. It's a fairly mild form of asthma, tight chest, shortness of breath, occasionally a cough but I've never had a full on asthma attack. I'm not sure how seriously to take this and I'm working this afternoon. I know you aren't more likely to catch the virus, but more at risk of pneumonia, but what with a mild case of asthma ?

 

[Reno]

My GP has called back and I'm off work for the rest of this week.

 

[Pingety Pong]

Don't really know, sorry . Have you recovered from fluey type thing? Is Fostair making a noticeable difference to you? It does to me.

Perhaps talk to doctor, also ask whether you could alternatively drop the dose to 1xtwice a day or 2x in evening only? If you're not taking the blue inhaler 3 or more times a week they're saying your asthma's controlled. Whatever you do you'll have Fostair for emergencies (although I think it takes time to kick in). I'd also do the social distancing thing as if you are at high risk.

Eta as I say I've arranged a phone interview because I don't want to go near a doctor's surgery or hospital for a while - they're anyway not doing routine face-to-face appointments, so perhaps phone the surgery and arrange a phone interview?

Yes, thanks, it made a big difference and I am absolutely fine now and I haven't used the blue inhalor for several weeks. Also, my GP has prescribed me a spacer which seems to be working well. I will see if I can speak to an asthma nurse over the phone if they are not too busy.

 

[ringo]

Thanks two sheds that's really helpful. I use Fostair but only one puff, once a day, so am not high risk.

 

[Dogsauce]

Got my NHS text about an hour ago. Ah well. 12 weeks cooped up in a basement flat with two toddlers, it’s not the Coronavirus that worries but the state of my own sanity. Work was kind of an escape from this!

 

[Dogsauce]

Text for an

Suspect there will be dodgy spam texts/emails with the same wording soon with a link to dodgy site or dodgy attachment.

 

[two sheds]

Just had really good phone call from my doctor (who's a star ). I was told I had a routine appointment last week so wrote a letter with the background and saying I'm socially isolating so didn't want to come in to the surgery, but give questions I was asking for advice/decision in bold. Appointment isn't til Friday but she phoned me this morning.

I asked whether I could buy a nebulizer in case I do get severe attack/cv (I had a nebulizer test which showed it was effective for me but specialist had said he doesn't like prescribing them unless you're actually in hospital or recovering from hospital). she said yes, in view of cv risks, buy it (only costs about £30-40 I understand) but she won't prescribe the capsules yet so they aren't just left in a drawer getting old - if/when I need them she'll happily prescribe them. So result

She also said that they tend to recommend people (particularly kids who are having severe attack in the meantime before being taken into hospital) to take up to 10 puffs of blue inhaler in emergency - particularly through the spacer - and that this was the equivalent of a nebulizer dose. I've never considered this because 2 puffs was the maximum I'd thought was right. Not suggesting this for everyone but worth checking with doctor if people think they may need it . Will test this if I do need it, particularly since I don't find the regular dose of blue inhaler works for me any more.

Whole interview took 10 minutes, sorted everything I wanted to ask.

I did say that in view of NHS cuts over the years I didn't think I'd be suitable for taking up a hospital bed if I did get cv, but she did say that since I was quite young and had an excellent quality of life we'd discuss that again if it happens. (I'm coming up to 67 )

As I say, she's a star .

 

[Voley]

I haven't had an asthma attack in over a decade but I've just made sure I've got a Ventolin inhaler again. Don't want to be caught out

 

[two sheds]

I haven't had an asthma attack in over a decade but I've just made sure I've got a Ventolin inhaler again. Don't want to be caught out

Neither had I, but the specialist remarked that I had 'untreated' asthma and that (I think) I should have been on preventive inhaler. Might be worth checking when all this sorts itself out.

 

[Voley]

Neither had I, but the specialist remarked that I had 'untreated' asthma and that (I think) I should have been on preventive inhaler. Might be worth checking when all this sorts itself out.

How you getting on out your way mate? You feeling okay/ got enough food in and stuff?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I haven't had an asthma attack in over a decade but I've just made sure I've got a Ventolin inhaler again. Don't want to be caught out

Yeah, I renewed my two-year prescription for ventolin the other week. Thankfully I rarely have to use it but the old inhalers (barely used) were approaching their use by date. Better safe than sorry.

Stay safe fellow dodgy lung people.

 

[two sheds]

How you getting on out your way mate? You feeling okay/ got enough food in and stuff?

yep ta - been socially isolating for the last 20 years since I moved here . I get deliveries from local shop and I just found out that Aldi do emergency alcohol supplies.

Just spoken to neighbour and we'll be dog walking separately from now on which is a shame but there you go.

You ok?

 

[Voley]

yep ta - been socially isolating for the last 20 years since I moved here . I get deliveries from local shop and I just found out that Aldi do emergency alcohol supplies.

Just spoken to neighbour and we'll be dog walking separately from now on which is a shame but there you go.

You ok?

Yeah fine thanks. Can still walk in the countryside for the time being. Got food in. We'll survive.

 

[Epona]

Nate didn't get one of those texts, despite having severe asthma that has resulted in him being hospitalised when he has had a cold previously. He's due at the GP on Friday for spirometry tests to determine whether he has COPD - he reckons he will be told not to turn up but I think as they are investigating a respiratory issue they will still want to do the tests - then probably tell him to stay at home for 3 months.

 

[Epona]

Yeah fine thanks. Can still walk in the countryside for the time being. Got food in. We'll survive.

Just make sure you don't go anywhere that other people may turn up - I guarantee you no-one in those photos in the press from the weekend thought "fuckit let's go out somewhere that is going to be really busy"

 

[Voley]

Just make sure you don't go anywhere that other people may turn up - I guarantee you no-one in those photos in the press from the weekend thought "fuckit let's go out somewhere that is going to be really busy"

I'm lucky that this is really easy to do here. Even if half of the bloody Home Counties have decided now's a good time for a Cornish holiday, it's still the middle of nowhere here.

 

[David Clapson]

I have ME and opinion on whether it's high risk is divided. Maybe pneumonia would be especially terrible for people with ME, maybe it wouldn't. Nobody knows. It also seems likely that the virus could bring on quite a severe relapse of the ME, making for a very long recovery period. And I think I read somewhere that the WHO classifies ME as high risk on the grounds that it's (probably) a neurological disorder. I'm being treated by one of the doctors who believes that ME is all about mitochondrial dysfunction, and I took the ATP profile test, which said my ATP production was impaired. Don't ask me what any of this means. I have no fucking idea. Which is quite normal for someone with ME. We are in the dark about everything. Some of us are angry about it all the time, others have accepted that there won't be a cure in our lifetime, so we just shrug our shoulders and live from one day to the next. Hey ho. So...maybe I should self-isolate until there's a vaccine? But fuck that, I'll just risk it. I'd get so depressed if I never went out that I'd probably jump out the fucking window. My flatmate and all her colleagues are from North Italy. They are all WFH but presumably after the imminent Surge in hospital patients there'll be a period when the rules are relaxed and they all go back to the office, so I dunno....anything could happen.

 

[two sheds]

saw this on asthma uk, quite useful although I don't know what the fuck I had last month but it was none of them (I'm presuming it's ok to attach a pdf: compares common symptoms of coronavirus, asthma, hayfever, cold and flu)

 

[danny la rouge]

saw this on asthma uk, quite useful although I don't know what the fuck I had last month but it was none of them (I'm presuming it's ok to attach a pdf: compares common symptoms of coronavirus, asthma, hayfever, cold and flu)

I got that email today. It’s fairly useful. Perhaps more for family members.

 

[William of Walworth]

I have one of the the conditions listed as 'underlying' in this contexct (I'm not going to out myself on what it is here, but some Urbans know).
My question is : where the hell, on any NHS or on any Public Health website, does it specify that those with any of the relevant underlying conditions (e.g. asthma, high blood pressure, etc. etc.) need to self-isolate for twelve weeks???

The only advice that I've been able to find seems much more general, focussing on taking particular care, advising on what you need to do when you show CV symptoms (which I don't have), etc.

I'm now wondering whether my memory of once having seen a reference of twelve weeks self-isolation, staying away from work for that long, etc. exists/existed only in my imagination?
(At the moment, as from Friday 27th onwards, everyone on my floor at work in my Civil Service agency, maybe 100 people, has been sent home, but for no stated period -- they've just all been put on 'Special' (i.e. paid) leave -- it's a CS thing -- and like me they're not WFH. The same now as I've been since Wednesday 18th March, which was the day that I was sent home, along with about ten or twelve others with underlying conditions ).

The text that Dogsauce quoited above (where twelve weeks are stated) is not one that I've had, but he mentioned Crohns Disease, which makes me think that the twelve weeks thing is only specified by the NHS for those with certain more serious condions??.

Any guidance (or links/citations!) on the twelve week thing in relation to those with more general underlying conditions will be welcomed.
Thanks, Urbans!

 

[Sue]

It's here.

People at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

www.nhs.uk

12 weeks' isolation is, I believe, only if you're in the 'most at risk' group.

Have a look at the website of whichever body/charity deals with your underlying condition -- they should have more detailed information.

 

[William of Walworth]

Cheers Sue -- that comes as no surprise.

I suspect I'll end up going back to work when it's allowed to reopen in general, now.
That's not looking likely to be any time soon, but may?? end up being a bit sooner than twelve weeks.
No bother, really -- I just didn't like the uncertainty of whether the twelve week thing appled to me or not.

Anyway, I think I'd already seen the page you linked to. I'd previously been under the impression that twelve weeks HAD been specified at some point for the less 'most at risk' categories (including mine), but I'm now concluding I must have have been wrong.
My own charity** doesn't mention twelve weeks, just 14 days confinement indoors if symptomatic, and a great deal of additional carefulness generally.

**They do say it's OK to go out for walks and shopping -- just as well, because we've been doing this for exercise most days!
While being very careful about social distancing obviously, and carefully obeying the distancing rules in Sainsbury's, etc.

 

[Epona]

Cheers Sue -- that comes as no surprise.

I suspect I'll end up going back to work when it's allowed to reopen in general, now.
That's not looking likely to be any time soon, but may?? end up being a bit sooner than twelve weeks.
No bother, really -- I just didn't like the uncertainty of whether the twelve week thing appled to me or not.

Anyway, I think I'd already seen the page you linked to. I'd previously been under the impression that twelve weeks HAD been specified at some point for the less 'most at risk' categories (including mine), but I'm now concluding I must have have been wrong.
My own charity** doesn't mention twelve weeks, just 14 days confinement indoors if symptomatic, and a great deal of additional carefulness generally.

**They do say it's OK to go out for walks and shopping -- just as well, because we've been doing this for exercise most days!
While being very careful about social distancing obviously, and carefully obeying the distancing rules in Sainsbury's, etc.

My parents got the 12 weeks text (and I think letters) - they are elderly and both have heart/circulatory issues. Apparently they are not deemed vulnerable enough for their local supermarket to prioritise delivery to them, they've had to be using click and collect

Interestingly, Nate didn't get the 12 week text, despite having been fairly regularly hospitalised with severe asthma, he was once in hospital for a week due to having complications from a cold or similar virus (there was a nasty respiratory bug going around that year, nothing like this of course but he wasn't the only one who ended up in hospital that winter)... Mind you I'd have to nail him to the sofa to keep him indoors entirely for 12 weeks, I just hope he doesn't catch it. He's been fairly good with the hand sanitiser and is doing social distancing on the occasions when he does go out for a walk (not often) but he does love touching his face...

 

[William of Walworth]

Not impossible (IMO) that the twelve week message is being sent out inconsistently.
It would not be too surprisng if that's the case.

 

[Wilf]

I noticed the flu jab thing as an easy definition of vulnerability seems to have been and gone. The original message was something along the lines of 'anyone who gets an annual flu jab on medical advice, for example...', which then went on to list specific conditions. I picked up on that as I've been told to have a flu jab for years, but not for any of the conditions listed. The advice now seems to have taken the flu jab reference out:

People at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

www.nhs.uk

Tried to check with GP and was told to smartly fuck of to the NHS website, which didn't resolve the issue. Doesn't make much difference for me personally though as I'm now working from home (lol) and only going out for state approved promenading.

 

[Wilf]

Anyway, I think I'd already seen the page you linked to. I'd previously been under the impression that twelve weeks HAD been specified at some point for the less 'most at risk' categories (including mine), but I'm now concluding I must have have been wrong.
My own charity** doesn't mention twelve weeks, just 14 days confinement indoors if symptomatic, and a great deal of additional carefulness generally.

Mine too. I think it was something along the lines of: position 1 - everyone with flu jab and one of these conditions = self isolate 12 weeks. Then, maybe just before the lockdown it went to 'those most vulnerable will be hearing from us re need for full 12 week isolation'. My partner's daughter was caught up in that. Her Asthma meant she'd be self isolating and, I think, getting paid from her aldi job as in position 1. But when the further advice came out it went to something along the lines of 'serious asthma, which includes those having been hospitalised in the last year'. She's now having to go in every day facing dozens of members of the public with asthma and is shitting it about catching corvid.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I noticed the flu jab thing as an easy definition of vulnerability seems to have been and gone. The original message was something along the lines of 'anyone who gets an annual flu jab on medical advice, for example...', which then went on to list specific conditions. I picked up on that as I've been told to have a flu jab for years, but not for any of the conditions listed. The advice now seems to have taken the flu jab reference out:

People at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19)

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

www.nhs.uk

Tried to check with GP and was told to smartly fuck of to the NHS website, which didn't resolve the issue. Doesn't make much difference for me personally though as I'm now working from home (lol) and only going out for state approved promenading.

The guidance is still on GOV.UK but its odd if the NHS guidance differs. I'm sure the page below did say twelve weeks but that seems to have disappeared.

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

 

[William of Walworth]

The guidance is still on GOV.UK but its odd if the NHS guidance differs. I'm sure the page below did say twelve weeks but that seems to have disappeared.

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK

www.gov.uk

The flu jab reference remains, yes, but if there was ever any reference tp 'twelve weeks' (??), that's been removed.

Ther only 'twelve weeks' advice still being given (by text, etc.) is to people in these more severe categories :

People falling into this group are those who may be at particular risk due to complex health problems such as:

• People who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication
• people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
• people with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma (requiring hospital admissions or courses of steroid tablets)
• people with severe diseases of body systems, such as severe kidney disease (dialysis)