1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Long-Haul Covid and Asthma Diagnosis (anyone)?

Posted by otter2154 @otter2154, Sep 24, 2021

I was horribly sick for a several months last year (Nov, Dec and into Jan) with severe Covid-like symptoms. My PCP would not see me in person because of the Covid symptoms and only offered pep talks through video chat … so I suffered through it all at home. Finally got to a pulmo in Jan and after testing he immediately diagnosed me with moderate persistent asthma (I am 57).

Fast forward to today and I am doing much better. Still working with pulmo group and through addition testing they have ruled out COPD, Bronchiectasis, lung cancer, ILD’s, etc. And my current spirometry results show “stunning” improvement per my pulmo. So he remains adamant in his asthma diagnosis.

Now he agrees that I likely had severe Covid late last year and the asthma is my gift that keeps on giving from Covid. He also says that at this point it really doesn’t matter what triggered my asthma (Covid or whatever) because my lungs are fundamentally fine and suggests that it’s pointless to dwell on what might have caused this. Anyway, my asthma is seemingly improving, very slowly, over time … I have a few good days, and then a bad one where my chest tightens-up, breathing feels labored, and I produce sticky, white phlegm (annoying and tiring). Has anyone else received an asthma diagnosis post-Covid, and if so … do you see it improving over time?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

avc529 | @avc529 | Nov 16, 2022
In reply to @otter2154 "Yes, me too. My story is on here somewhere, but quickly; I had Covid BAD a..." + (show)
@otter2154

Yes, me too. My story is on here somewhere, but quickly; I had Covid BAD a bit less than two years ago and persistent asthma was my long-Covid gift. A notable pulmonary group here in Atlanta has given me every imaginable test and they have been resolute in their diagnosis. Fast forward one year and ten months, I am GREATLY improved; no SOB ever and there is nothing physical that I can’t handle (which is remarkable considering that I could barely walk 10-feet at one point). Yet I still produce excess mucus at times (this still comes and goes). And I’ve weaned off most of the meds, save for a steroid inhaler (that I now use only every other day). So yes … Covid can yield asthma and I suggest that it could take some time to settle. I was told up to two years (and that seems to be the case for me).

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I’m wondering, did you have pneumonia when you had covid? Did you have any history of bronchitis or pneumonia in your past?

REPLY
birdiemomma | @birdiemomma | Nov 17, 2022
In reply to @avc529 "I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in..." + (show)
@avc529

I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in late July and went on paxlovid. Then about five days or so after the last dose of that started with shortness of breath. Upon going to urgent care and my doctor for a couple of weeks trying to to get it figured out, I then went to pulmonologist and was told by him that I have had an asthmatic reaction post-Covid. I do not have a history of asthma though, but have had some episodes of bronchitis a few times. Just wondering if anybody else has had this happen. I am on a steroid inhaler for at least until I see him again after Thanksgiving.

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I had asthma before I had a mild case of COVID, but the asthma was very well-controlled. I had allergy testing twice prior to COVID, and it is documented that I have no allergies to anything. It was determined that my asthma was from silent reflux; the asthma manifests itself with severe coughing. My asthma symptoms have worsened since I had COVID. I now have to use a steroid inhaler, an Albuterol rescue inhaler, plus Singulair and Omeprazole. I still have breakthrough symptoms, including shortness of breath and coughing.

REPLY
1 reply
avc529 | @avc529 | Dec 3, 2022
In reply to @avc529 "I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in..." + (show)
@avc529

I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in late July and went on paxlovid. Then about five days or so after the last dose of that started with shortness of breath. Upon going to urgent care and my doctor for a couple of weeks trying to to get it figured out, I then went to pulmonologist and was told by him that I have had an asthmatic reaction post-Covid. I do not have a history of asthma though, but have had some episodes of bronchitis a few times. Just wondering if anybody else has had this happen. I am on a steroid inhaler for at least until I see him again after Thanksgiving.

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I had my follow-up appointment w/pulmonologist. He said it’s hard to know if Covid caused the asthma reaction or if I had an underlying mild asthma/predisposition and Covid brought it out. I can see it either way actually. He hasn’t diagnosed me with asthma yet as he wants to see how I do over time. He’s continued my Rx for a daily inhaled steroid and another follow-up visit in 6 months. I do feel better but still occasionally notice a deep breath escapes me sometimes, but this is also slowly improving. I hope I stay well this winter to not aggravate anything.

REPLY
sonrodriguez4 | @sonrodriguez4 | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @birdiemomma "I had asthma before I had a mild case of COVID, but the asthma was very..." + (show)
@birdiemomma

I had asthma before I had a mild case of COVID, but the asthma was very well-controlled. I had allergy testing twice prior to COVID, and it is documented that I have no allergies to anything. It was determined that my asthma was from silent reflux; the asthma manifests itself with severe coughing. My asthma symptoms have worsened since I had COVID. I now have to use a steroid inhaler, an Albuterol rescue inhaler, plus Singulair and Omeprazole. I still have breakthrough symptoms, including shortness of breath and coughing.

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What is silent reflux?

REPLY
birdiemomma | @birdiemomma | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @avc529 "I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in..." + (show)
@avc529

I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in late July and went on paxlovid. Then about five days or so after the last dose of that started with shortness of breath. Upon going to urgent care and my doctor for a couple of weeks trying to to get it figured out, I then went to pulmonologist and was told by him that I have had an asthmatic reaction post-Covid. I do not have a history of asthma though, but have had some episodes of bronchitis a few times. Just wondering if anybody else has had this happen. I am on a steroid inhaler for at least until I see him again after Thanksgiving.

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It is like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) only the patient doesn't notice any symptoms. It's also known as Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

REPLY
gizmo12 | @gizmo12 | Dec 5, 2022
In reply to @avc529 "I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in..." + (show)
@avc529

I was diagnosed with an asthmatic reaction post-Covid back in August 2022. I had Covid in late July and went on paxlovid. Then about five days or so after the last dose of that started with shortness of breath. Upon going to urgent care and my doctor for a couple of weeks trying to to get it figured out, I then went to pulmonologist and was told by him that I have had an asthmatic reaction post-Covid. I do not have a history of asthma though, but have had some episodes of bronchitis a few times. Just wondering if anybody else has had this happen. I am on a steroid inhaler for at least until I see him again after Thanksgiving.

Jump to this post

Same for me. No history of any lung problems ever and now on a daily inhaler. Had covid in July. Some days I feel like it helps and some days not so much.

REPLY
aviatress | @aviatress | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @otter2154 "Yes, me too. My story is on here somewhere, but quickly; I had Covid BAD a..." + (show)
@otter2154

Yes, me too. My story is on here somewhere, but quickly; I had Covid BAD a bit less than two years ago and persistent asthma was my long-Covid gift. A notable pulmonary group here in Atlanta has given me every imaginable test and they have been resolute in their diagnosis. Fast forward one year and ten months, I am GREATLY improved; no SOB ever and there is nothing physical that I can’t handle (which is remarkable considering that I could barely walk 10-feet at one point). Yet I still produce excess mucus at times (this still comes and goes). And I’ve weaned off most of the meds, save for a steroid inhaler (that I now use only every other day). So yes … Covid can yield asthma and I suggest that it could take some time to settle. I was told up to two years (and that seems to be the case for me).

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What are you using for the thickened throat mucous? I have been dealing with it for 2 years now. I try to clear my throat constantly but I cannot.

REPLY
2 replies
aviatress | @aviatress | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @trfb "Reply to otter 2154: This is very encouraging. I was diagnosed with asthma 3 months after..." + (show)
@trfb

Reply to otter 2154: This is very encouraging. I was diagnosed with asthma 3 months after covid. Thank you!

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Me too.

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law59 | @law59 | Feb 7, 2023
In reply to @aviatress "What are you using for the thickened throat mucous? I have been dealing with it for..." + (show)
@aviatress

What are you using for the thickened throat mucous? I have been dealing with it for 2 years now. I try to clear my throat constantly but I cannot.

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My doctor suggested citrus drink etc to increase saliva and help loosen things up. I found sucking on vitamin c gummy couple of times a day helped the thick gunk🙃. Hope this helped!

REPLY
hope2work | @hope2work | Feb 13, 2023
In reply to @trfb "Reply to otter 2154: This is very encouraging. I was diagnosed with asthma 3 months after..." + (show)
@trfb

Reply to otter 2154: This is very encouraging. I was diagnosed with asthma 3 months after covid. Thank you!

Jump to this post

I have never had breathing problems or asthma (40 years old, healthy worked 70+ hours a week for physical work and hobbies). Started this summer on Albuterol, then this fall on Advair. They both helped until I got Covid again in December. I have tried Trelegy, Wixela, along with albuterol. The only thing I have noticed was that when I switched to a different inhaler I had 1-2 days where I could breathe. When I can breathe, I don't have fatigue, fog, or racing heart.

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