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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.
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2 Reactions@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.
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2 ReactionsSue,
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.
I was diagnosed with Adult Onset Asthma at 56 after a severe run of Covid in late 2019 and into 2020 (it was horrible). A skilled pulmo group here in Atlanta helped me recover and affirmed that a major respiratory “event” can awaken asthma in adults and that there is often a genetic component in adult asthma … sure enough, my mom was diagnosed with it at 46. There is a strong mucus component with my asthma and my pulmo team tells me that some adults who develop asthma have this … and that science simply hasn’t found an answer for it yet. They assure me it’s an annoyance and will not affect my lifespan. The inhaler Trelegy helps greatly, as does limiting fatty foods and dairy, cutting back on alcohol … and getting good, quality sleep and exercise. Overall, I feel great these days … but do have to manage the mucus.
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2 ReactionsA good pulmonologist can help you. Once diagnosed with COPD mine didn’t get any worse. I am also asthmatic and as long as I am not exposed to sick people I do well with it. I use a twice a day longacting asthma inhale, symbiont. On any given day I do not need the rescue inhaler. I know what I’m allergic to.
If I’m exposed to a strong perfume, industrial odor, have to wait in a freshly painted hall, have excessive heat running in a closed room, or have an injury to a rib, it is a respiratory emergency.
When I have an allergic reaction, a cold or covid, RSV, or flu I have to take prednisone.
I think people with chronic asthma for a long time are considered to have and are co- treated for COPD. The treatment is the same. was not diagnosed with asthma until 40.my asthma doctor says I’ve probably had it all my life. I had food allergies. Hayfever, sinusitis, pulmonologist suggested 2 sinus surgeries to improve my lung function. Both my children had asthma very young. My father had it all his life and a cousin.