Doctors with different diagnosis
In December of 2020, I was diagnosed with Covid-19 and double lung pneumonia. Upon release from the hospital after 5 days in isolation, my release instructions were to use Oxygen 24/7 for the remainder of my life. The day I got back home from the hospital, I forced myself to exercise by walking every day and within 2 months I was walking 2.5 miles a day and was able to take myself off oxygen. I have not needed to use it since. (My resting Oxygen levels remain around 95 both day and night.)
Shortly after stopped the use of oxygen, I started having "Wet coughing" spells which typically were in the morning. Periodically I get them in the afternoon. I've tried using Albuterol to treat the condition without any success.
Because the coughing continued, about 3 years ago, I decided to contact a pomologist to see if they could determine what was the cause of the coughing. After the breathing test, I was diagnosed with COPD. (I had quit smoking some 32 years earlier.) The doctor decided to treat the COPD with 2 puffs of Spiriva Respimat each day.
After a couple more years, I noticed my COPD was not getting any worse and got to thinking that this is not typical of COPD because it is a condition that gets progressively worse as time goes by. I called a different pulmonologist to get another breathing test, trying to determine what exactly what is really causing the wet coughing. Upon completing the second breathing test, the doctor told me I didn't have COPD. I was advised that I have Age Of onset Asthma. So, now they are treating my Asthma with 2 puffs of Spiriva Respimat in the morning and 1 puff of Mometasone in the morning and 1 puff 12 hours later in the evening.
I still am struggling with prolonged wet coughing spells daily. They are also treating me for Ipratropium nasal spray for a diagnosed Rhinitis issue. Has anyone experienced anything like this? I really need help and don't know where to turn.
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@lhabada Has a pulmonologist ordered a lung CT scan to determine if Covid caused permanent damage? It sounds like mucus is trapped in your lungs. Once they diagnose why, you can learn proper techniques to clear it out. This is important because trapped mucus is a safe harbor where germs can grow, causing repeated pneumonia or other lung infections.
@lhabada
This link may be useful to you (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/asthma-vs-copd). Not sure what tests you had but there are links on the page to descriptions of pulmonary functions tests (PFT's) and spirometry.
Sue,
Yes, I had a CT Chest W/O IV Contrast W/CAD Diagnostic test on 1/2/2024. The doctor told me results of the test were inconclusive other than I do have Bilateral calcified & non calcified pleural plaque consistent with asbestos exposure. I suspect there is not enough information on long covid to help them to know what to look for on a CT test. Thanks for your suggestion.