What are underlying health conditions?

Maddyone me too. Would like to know if it would be best to stop HBP medication to protect against CV. Also I don't use a preventer inhaler for my asthma because of the effect of the steroids on my voice but take Montelukast instead.

BoBo53 Also I don't use a preventer inhaler for my asthma because of the effect of the steroids on my voice

I had a problem with a permanently rasping throat from my preventer inhaler and it got to the point where I could hardly make myself understood on the phone. I was getting nowhere with the asthma nurse or my GP so I rang Asthma UK and she was very helpful and suggested an alternative preventer inhaler called Alvesco Ciclesonide. She said "It's available on the NHS and your GP might quibble as it's expensive, but point out that it will last twice as long because you will only need 1 puff daily instead of 2."

My GP and asthma nurse had never heard of it and did not believe they could prescribe it, but checked and found that they could, and it has made all the difference to my hoarseness.

I have been prescribed Montelukast in the past for a chest infection and had nasty side effects which are apparently common.

bobo and sparkle
Montelukast is the drug in Singulair. Singulair is just the brand name. It suits me, I’ve taken it for years and has improved my asthma.
The hoarseness you both speak of is apparently very common, I was nagged and bullied for several years about only using a long acting bronchodilator because all of the several steroid inhalers I tried gave me hoarseness. I was a teacher, I needed my voice. Eventually I changed GP Practice after unbearable bullying (they refused to prescribe any more Ventolin until I went in and agreed to use a steroid inhaler) and the new asthma nurse said I absolutely didn’t have to have a steroid inhaler if I felt it caused me problems, but she knew about a different kind of inhaler, a new one, would I like to try it? Didn’t matter if I didn’t. I decided to try it, I’ve never looked back. It’s improved my asthma symptoms so much. It’s a powder inhaler, and it’s name is Relvar Eliptor. Ask your asthma nurse about it.

Maddyone, I was a teacher and permanently hoarse from using steroid inhalers, which weren't doing any good. I had so many asthma flare ups and off work frequently.

I have been taking the highest dose of Relvar, for four years now, as well as Ventolin and Braltus. It was precribed by the consultant, who was monitoring my brittle asthma and bronchiectasis.
Relvar is a combination of a steroids and a bronchodilator, but doesn't seem to cause the hoarseness, that others do.
It has reduced my chest infections dramatically.

I used Singular years ago, with dreadful side effects. My four year old granddaughter was also precribed it recently , but had to stop, as it was causing night terrors.

Marydoll
Relvar is the best and most effective drug that I’ve used. It’s dramatically reduced the coughing fits that I suffered from daily, and I’m no longer as reactive to triggers such as dust, car exhaust fumes etc.

Maddyone totally agree, but GPs don't seem to routinely offer it.
If I hadn't been referred by my RA consultant to the respiratory consultant, ( it was thought I might have rheumatoid lung, which is fatal, ) I would never had been on it.
He put me on the highest dose for life, saying that my asthma was very unstable. What a difference it has made. It has taken 40+ years to get something which works. Too late for me, as I was forced to retire on health grounds.

Another consideration should be severe gum disease or Pyrrhea. Both are basically open surfaces and can make disease response lessened.

Marydoll
What surprised me was that it was never offered by my old GP, as you say it’s not routinely offered, and yet they were quite prepared to deny me any Ventolin whatsoever, unless I took a steroid inhaler, that we all knew would make me hoarse. That didn’t matter apparently, so long as the practice met government recommendations which are that all asthma sufferers must be on a steroid inhaler. This upset me so much, because whilst this battle was ongoing, my father died. I actually dissolved into tears in the asthma nurse’s office because the practice refused to prescribe any further asthma medication until I went to see the asthma nurse, it was explained that I was supporting my mother 240 miles away, as my father had just died, we hadn’t even had the funeral. I had to return home just to go to the practice. She then insisted I had another steroid inhaler before I could also have Ventolin and Serevent (long acting bronchodilator.)
The new practice was a breath of fresh air, listened to me, understood my problem, but offered, only offered, no compunction, Relvar Eliptor. It’s changed my life.

The consultant I saw also put me on tiotropium, (Braltus), said my present medication was totally useless!

Asked why I stopped coming to the chest clinic after 30+ years and why wasn't I doing my daily chest exercises.
I explained, I had never been advised to do chest exercises to clear my lungs and I had been discharged by the new consultant, who was obviously doing a cull!
Totally changed his tune after that and couldn't do enough for me.
I wish I had been on Relvar , when I was teaching, but no using moaning about it now.

Hope you keep well.
I may have to lock myself away in a cupboard, the only way of staying virus free!

Thank you so much both Maddyone and Marydoll for your advice. I have made a note about Relvar.

Perhaps I’ll join you

sparkle
Ask to try it, your GP practice can prescribe it but it’s often not routinely offered.

Here was me thinking I have no real health issues ,I do have HBP and at the moment gum disease ..so thats me in trouble .Think I'll avoid posts on CV from now on ...lol

But paddyanne we’ll only have each other to chat to if we all end up self isolating.
I

I have COPD and bronchiectasis .For 4 years I was on Relvar and Incruse inhalers, then Incruse was changed to Braltus.Last year I was given a TRELOGY inhaler which combines these two.
10th February admitted to hospital,pneumonia.
6th March re-admitted , pneumonia and blood clot on lung. I am in complete lock down, not even going to Church,which is devastating for me, especially in Lent.I am fortunate that DH is not vulnerable and can shop , look after grand- daughters etc. but I must admit to being very worried.
Shove up Marydoll ,I'm coming into that cupboard!

Jan, I'm so sorry to hear that, I had no idea. I've not being going to church either, too risky.?

The thing is, the numbers in the cupboard may exceed the number of people allowed to gather. It's getting a wee bit crowded in here already. ?

I'm beginning to worry that my new biologic treatment may not go ahead, as it will compromise my immune system even further. I'm starting to get really concerned.

There is actually no point in worrying, I will probably be dead anyway ! ⚰️?

250 Deaths today in Italy .Its not looking good .good old Boris needs to up his game and cut risks by advising much stricter measures .

If I join u all in the cupboard will someone please answer my genuine question as to whether epilepsy is considered an underlying illness? I’ve been epileptic for forty one years now.?

Pussycat This may help.

www.epilepsy.com/article/2020/3/concerns-about-coronavirus

You can in the cupboard, if you bring supplies!

Pussycat 2012 I answered your question yesterday at 16.25.04 but you obviously missed my post. I hope you checked out Marydoll's link anyway and it has put your mind at rest x

I take 12 different medications daily.reckon I'm vulnerable.
That cupboard is starting to get crowded. Dare say I'll start my own....under the stairs possibly.

Maddyone - here is a link explaining about Amlodopine
bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/amlodipine.html?fbclid=IwAR1vnve5cgJ2DBkT2ih7VXE-7kAOgrX9J-mutHmZ-yjayiPHXYFGadLf6p0 - hope that helps?

I have inflammatory arthritis, treatment for which compromises the immune system, along with a number of other auto immune/ other health issues on the list of things that raise your risk of catching the virus and it being very serious if you do.

The advice I've found on line for people taking biological treatments is to keep taking the medication as it keeps you as fit as possible to fight the infection if you get it. I'm washing my hands and about the wipe everything down with a bleach solution (again). I haven't self isolated and had a long booked trip involving flights to Europe a week ago. Like what feels like the majority of grandparents, we are child care for working parents one day a week plus emergency or regular baby sitting. I expect the schools to close in a week or so and have suggested to the parents that they arrange rota's with other parents so they each have a couple extra one day a week, thus avoiding grandparents being expected to do the impossible.

Iam64, the latest advice for those on biologics is, if you have a fever and are feeling unwell, is to hold off your next injection and contact your health professional.

If you receive the infusion in hospital, they will be able to make the decision.

Both DH and I have had the Pneumonia vaccination, he on age related grounds, and me due to being insulin dependent type 2 diabetic, Bronchiectasis, have heart failure and high blood pressure, and haave been Asthmatic all my life, im 62 and had the vaccination early due to these long term conditions. Im wondering if this would give any added benefits to those in the older age group, and sufferers of long term conditions should they be unfortunate enough to come.in contact with the Corona Virus, given the Pneumonia that is said to follow as part of this virus? We are self isolating as much as possible, having food deliveries and only going out in the car for essential journeys such as collecting our prescription medication, and delivering some items to the Care home that my 92yr old Dad is in, although it was just a 'drop off' call and l didnt go inside the building myself. They are not yet in the Lock down phase, but its set up more.like individual units with care, rather than an open plan communial home. My DD asked us yesterday if my 13yr old Grandaughter could join us for our self.isolating, she suffers from Asthma really badly, especially at this time of year, whilst both her parents work.in jobs that put them on the front line dealing with the public on a daily basis. We are still considering this request, as much as we love DGD, shes a typical teenage handful at the moment, and im.unsure if we would be able to cope with her 24/7 for what could turn out to be several weeks stay.