Has anyone had chronic asthma due to Post Covid(Omicron) Pnuemonia?

@mkportzen, and all... Wow! You've really been through some difficult times with this mess. I'm so sorry you're experiencing this and am sending you a virtual Connect hug...I'm 77, had Covid last July and November. I was pretty ill the first time and developed bronchitis after. My primary used Paxlovid the 1st time that worked quite well with no issues. Then came the bronchitis with a vengeance. He put me on Augmentin and Prednisone for the bronchitis and Combivent for constant asthma. Augmentin is now my preferred pulmonary and sinus antibiotic. It works well with little gastro involvement. Combivent is a miracle for me with no side effects as I get from other emergency inhalers.

And YES~ Since the first Covid infection in July, I have had daily attacks of asthma. Never in the past. During the Spring blooming season, from February to August here in Northern Florida, I've had asthma issues and sinus, but handled them with Flonase and daily Singular for years, I never had asthma as I do now, since the 2nd Covid in November, daily and often during the day.

After the 2nd Covid, I developed new PMR and GCA that hit me suddenly and was tough. The 2nd Covid infection was worse and really caught me by surprise. I was pretty ill quickly. Treatment this time was immediately beginning Regenerant IV infusions for 3 days, while taking Prednisone 10mg for PMR and something else??? for GCA. These were completely new autoimmune diseases for me. I've had Sarcoid and was quite ill in my 40s with pulmonary Sarcoid. Since, Prednisone has stopped numerous flares of Sarcoid in my eyes, skin rashes, pains, feet and hands issues, pulmonary, etc. Frequent bronchitis since Sarcoid as well.

I had an immediate improvement in symptoms after the 1st day infusion. Impressive. Then, 2nd day began feeling worse with shortness of breath, headache, more fatigue, fog and pain. The 3rd day the Mayo staff refused to allow me to leave my car for the infusion and sent me asap to the ER for care. I was having for several days worsening chest pain in the sternum area under near the left breast, It wasn't heart.

Tests in ER showed pulmonary embolism until a CT scan indicated Covid pneumonia. As I was in ER, my O2 kept going down and I was put on O2 as well as IV for dehydration. I was able to go without O2 and keep my level above 90...about 90-91. I use a Bi-pap with O2 at night, so they sent me home with my clear understanding and promise to get back to Mayo ER for admittance if my O2 went below 90.

I then went the next day for the 3rd IV infusion and home to bed for 2-3 weeks of difficult recovery. I used the Bi-pap and O2 during the day for 3 days as well as at night since my O2 went to 89 once and never above 91 for 3 days. I was close to being hospitalized for this Covid and I refused to let that happen. I would not have stayed home or certainly not recovered as well without home O2. I'm a very grateful lady.

Today, I'm beginning to get some energy and not be in bed during the day. Only this week has that happened. I've been in bed resting most of the days since Covid in November. I'm taking 10mg Prednisone daily, 7.5 mg Methotrexate weekly, Combivent inhaler daily, sinus rinse nightly with double dose Bumadizone and saline. I had a severe sinus infection a couple weeks ago, with Augmentin and Prednisone pulling me out of that. It wasn't fun!

I noticed a sudden improvement in my energy level several days ago, possibly due to the Methotrexate kicking in full force. I'm still in bed more during the day every day until today. 2 days this week up in the recliner with puttering, cleaning and straightening my mess from being ill.

Mayo called today to set up appointments with testing and an appointment with the post-Covid Internal Medicine department. X-ray, overnight O2 testing, bloodwork, urine, ECG, neurology headache referral, and online visit with the Long-Covid class psychologist. This surprised me. I didn't expect the referral but am pleased as I've had such a time with this stuff and it's never-ending and changing.

I'm self-isolating now as I don't intend to get Covid again. I may not be as blessed the 3rd time! I order everything online, which I've done with illnesses but not to this extent since 2020-2022. I began to get out last year for a couple of events and special times at church or whatever, but my immune system can't handle the world anymore. So, I've set myself upstairs with a little kitchen and whatever I need for a few days in case or when I can't handle the stairs, and I'm enjoying my life with my kitty and online/phone friends.

I have also had 2 iron infusions the last 1 1/2 years for recurrent low ferritin levels. So, this may be of importance re Covid. I tested last week above 100 for the 1st time ever since being tested for ferritin! 160! Thrilling! Mayo hematology helped me with this. I'm truly blessed with my Mayo team and the ongoing help and oversight they offer. Truly blessed...

Well, that's my story, or a snip-it of it... I'm looking forward to the post-covid tests and learning more. I'll keep in touch as it proceeds...

Blessings, Elizabeth

Elizabeth, you sure have been through the mill, my prayers go out to you.
That covid does a number on you. Before I was in the hospital with covid pneumonia, my health was very good, except I have had hypothyroidism and hashimoto autoimmune. But was doing very well and hadn’t been sick in 5 years.
But that whalloped my rear!
I went by ambulance because I was so weak and my O2 kept dropping fast with every movement. I was on 45 liters of bpap at night with anywhere from 15-30 liters during the day. I could not move without my oxygen levels dropping. A doctor ( I call him my angel, because I never saw him before or after he talked to me) came into the ER and told me id I didn’t lay on my stomach, I would never make it out of there alive. And that’s exactly what I did whenI was in bed, and I sat up in a recliner during the day doing movements.
I’m sooo blessed as I was told after my pulmonologist saw my ct scan that I was lucky to be alive.
Sadly, my former pulmonologist took me off prednisone too fast after I was on it for 5 months and I ended back in the hospital with pneumonia. Then had shingles which lasted for 3 months, they kept putting me backwards, once we moved to lower elevation, I am off O2 during the day unless I go above 4,000 in elevation, and I use it at night with an ASV machine.
I too either wear a mask or don’t go to large functions unless they are outside and not real crowded. I went on a 5 day trip with my husband, we drove, and when I got back I ended up with pneumonia again, light case, but it just reminds me that I have to-be very careful with germs from everywhere.
I think my best time to help get more strength when we decided to leave the higher elevation and move, I pushed my self to pack and unpack in our new place, and I started water walking and it helped to develop more my lungs to get stronger to breath easier and not get out of breath so easy. I-need to get back to it since this pneumonia, it took me back a little.
Again sending prayers for more strength and healthy recovery.

I was diagnosed with chronic asthma post COVID. Last summer, the humidity & heat here were awful. I stayed sick with my lungs almost the entire summer. I was put on the Albuterol nebulizer and Albuterol rescue inhaler. I started clearing up about mid September and I have not had to use my Nebulizer since, just the rescue inhaler. If I get a sinus infection, bronchitis or pneumonia, my asthma goes into overdrive. I also now have exercise induced asthma. I am so sorry you are battling this. It's hard and so tiring. I am praying for you tonight and that the new med will work wonders for you. I care.

Thank you, we have been praying too. So far just one injection has helped some, so I feeling positive.
My prayers are with you too that your health stays good and your asthma minimal.

I would use albuterol inhaler a few times a week prior to getting Covid 5 weeks ago. Now, post Covid, I'm using same inhaler about 5 times a day. Absolutely, Covid does impact those who have asthma.

I too have a history of allergies and asthma, however my asthma was generally controlled until last year, with flare-ups occurring during respiratory infections but otherwise no symptoms and no medication required.

Then after my 4th Covid infection my asthma became debilitating. I was unable to do anything and at times simply couldn’t breathe even when I was resting. My asthma does not manifest as low O2 so it was difficult to get doctors to understand the severity. My O2 would read fine but I was unable to get a full breath. My best indicator was peak flow measurements.

Finally I saw a pulmonologist who found my allergic responses were severely elevated. My IgE level was almost 7 times over the normal reference range.
Eventually it was decided I should try Dupixant injections. While waiting for an insurance approval I had deteriorated to the point where I was using Albuterol via nebulizer a minimum of 4 times daily.

The good news - after 2-3 injections I was considerably improved. After a couple months I wasn’t using my rescue inhaler, had reduced my maintenance inhaler and had no oral steroids prescribed in that time. It’s been about 7 months now since starting the biologic and I am no longer on any maintenance inhalers, and my rescue inhaler will probably expire before I use it all.

Good luck, hope it works well for you!

I’m so happy for you, I pray I get the same results as you do. I can see somewhat of a difference already.