Anyone else have asthma or lung issues and working with COVID pts?

[Tabitha871]

Anyone else have asthma or chronic lung issues that are ‘high risk’ for getting a more severe version of the disease, and are in direct patient contact with + Covid patients?
I literally just got diagnosed with asthma, I guess due to my bad allergies(??) and am kinda on the verge of freaking out a little. I work directly with covid patients. I’ve never had asthma just bad allergies but where I live didn’t have a Winter basically, is one of the worst places in the US for people with allergies, and it apparently hit hard enough that I had asthma symptoms and got diagnosed with allergic asthma?? First time ever having the chest tightness and the wheezing with my allergies. 2 rounds of antibiotics and steroids and still don’t feel 100%....
Anyways, anyone else have asthma or other lung conditions? What are you doing to help out? How are you handling it mentally?

[sadpandaRN]

Hi Tabitha,

sorry that you are not feeling well :( I have asthma and also feel scared. I have taken care of covid patients. I spoke with my doctor and she does not want me exposed like this. She wrote me a letter that I handed in to HR. I have gotten a lot of pushback from certain supervisors because of this and also co-workers. It’s making me feel guilty and horrible. We know people with asthma are at a higher risk of complications from covid. That’s the culture of my facility for you. I think you need to take care of yourself and have a discussion with your provider. They may not want you being exposed to covid patients. Just a thought. Good luck and feel better!

[wedontcare]

3 hours ago, sadpandaRN said:

Hi Tabitha,

sorry that you are not feeling well :( I have asthma and also feel scared. I have taken care of covid patients. I spoke with my doctor and she does not want me exposed like this. She wrote me a letter that I handed in to HR. I have gotten a lot of pushback from certain supervisors because of this and also co-workers. It’s making me feel guilty and horrible. We know people with asthma are at a higher risk of complications from covid. That’s the culture of my facility for you. I think you need to take care of yourself and have a discussion with your provider. They may not want you being exposed to covid patients. Just a thought. Good luck and feel better!

what are your options for income? are you on PAID disability?

[sadpandaRN]

I wish! I am working on my hospital’s “clean” floor. Although you never really know if patients are carriers. I don’t know if I would actually qualify for disability, but if I’m able to help in some way I want to. However, is my asthma were to impede my ability to work I may apply for disability. Are you struggling to breath at work? Are you wheezing?

[Tabitha871]

I’ve been having chest tightness for a month and a half from my allergies inducing the asthma symptoms and I’ve take 2 rounds of steroids for it.
I was just trying to see how that population was protecting themselves from covid, since they are saying we are at a higher risk to get a more severe disease... but we can’t say no to taking care of covid patients and are having to use N95s in appropriately.

[sadpandaRN]

Ugh, that puts you in a tough spot then. I would talk to your provider and see what they think. I am lucky my facility still has a “clean” floor. If they didn’t, I don’t know if I would keep working.