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Has anyone else been diagnosed with COPD after COVID?

Posted by bentleyoakguy @bentleyoakguy, Jun 13, 2022

Howdy,

I'm a 52 year old guy that was diagnosed with COVID on May 6th. I also tested positive for antibodies in Fall 2020. I'm not / nor have I ever been a smoker. I have no history of Asthma, but my mom has COPD (stage 2). After 2 weeks of rather mild covid (no breathing issues / fever) I developed what the urgent care dr told me was acute bronchitis. We started me on prednisone, Mucinex, and promethazine DM for cough. After a week, I had to go back and got another round of prednisone and Albuterol. I followed up with primary care and she prescribed Trelegy and said that this is likely Post Covid / COPD.

I'm having shortness of breath, wheezing, and cough with a little mucus. I'm being told to stay on meds and wait 3 months. I'm extremely down after fighting this for 6 weeks and now getting COPD on the table. I have asked for a pulmonary function test but beyond that, I'm lost on how to proceed. My pulse O2 is always above 95% and in the last 2 days, I forced myself to the gym (indoor track) for a brisk 2 miles, which I can do without exhaustion.

Does this scenario resonate with anyone? Is anyone else diagnosed with COPD after COVID? I'm staying on the primary Dr for a pulmonary function test to see what is going on with my lungs and get a baseline (sorry I'm an engineer and must have data).

Thanks for reading.

Jay

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kauaiblue | @kauaiblue | Nov 28, 2023

Hi Jay

Hoping that things find you improving by the day.

Yes it resonates with me as well. Im 59 yrs old and over 3 wks battling post covid but also with a new wonderful copd on the plate. Good oxygen, clear lungs, but total exhaustion, and a catchy post nasal upper cough that is beyond annoying.

My chest xray shows 'hyper inflated' lungs...i dont smoke, no health issues really at all. An incidental xray i had last April showed nothing of the sort. Seeing a pulmo soon to do a baseline pulmonary function test and hopefully a ct scan or at minimum repeat chest xray.

So i believe we do not really have copd, but remnants of the ravages that the virus imposes on all of us. I live in cold weather and i absolutely despise it. I believe that for some of us it really does take that long to recover. I will be returning to the warmer weather just as im able. Thanks for your comments.

REPLY
1 reply
kauaiblue | @kauaiblue | Nov 28, 2023
In reply to @kauaiblue "Hi Jay Hoping that things find you improving by the day. Yes it resonates with me..." + (show)
@kauaiblue

Hi Jay

Hoping that things find you improving by the day.

Yes it resonates with me as well. Im 59 yrs old and over 3 wks battling post covid but also with a new wonderful copd on the plate. Good oxygen, clear lungs, but total exhaustion, and a catchy post nasal upper cough that is beyond annoying.

My chest xray shows 'hyper inflated' lungs...i dont smoke, no health issues really at all. An incidental xray i had last April showed nothing of the sort. Seeing a pulmo soon to do a baseline pulmonary function test and hopefully a ct scan or at minimum repeat chest xray.

So i believe we do not really have copd, but remnants of the ravages that the virus imposes on all of us. I live in cold weather and i absolutely despise it. I believe that for some of us it really does take that long to recover. I will be returning to the warmer weather just as im able. Thanks for your comments.

Jump to this post

I forgot to mention that I concur with the other comment that it is best to go easy on cardio at this time. It changes things for the worst. Slower is better. Patience a virtue of which i have little of as well..

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jjanes | @jjanes | Nov 28, 2023

I have had similar issues now for over a year. All of my issues stem from my severe acid reflux that developed post covid. It is still not under control, even after seeing several doctors. I aspirate the acid into my lungs which then causes repeated respiratory infections. I can't work due to this ongoing problem as it also zaps my energy and other functions.

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katey122 | @katey122 | Jan 20 9:37am

Yes, I was butvI had been a smoker and my mother had emphysema stage 3. So I wasnt surprised. My oxygen levels are also always over 95, generally 97.

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lsk246 | @lsk246 | Feb 20 12:14pm

I am having a similar situation. I just recovered from my second Covid infection and after a follow up chest x-ray I am told I now have COPD. Never had it before. Have always been very healthy and active but now my primary is scheduling me for pulmonary function tests to investigate COPD I have returned to exercising four times a week with no issues, but I’m now a little bit concerned about the new news.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Feb 25 4:45pm

For anyone wishing to connect, there is a support group dedicated to living with COPD here:
- COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Support Group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/

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drk1942 | @drk1942 | Feb 27 6:12pm
In reply to @lsk246 "I am having a similar situation. I just recovered from my second Covid infection and after..." + (show)
@lsk246

I am having a similar situation. I just recovered from my second Covid infection and after a follow up chest x-ray I am told I now have COPD. Never had it before. Have always been very healthy and active but now my primary is scheduling me for pulmonary function tests to investigate COPD I have returned to exercising four times a week with no issues, but I’m now a little bit concerned about the new news.

Jump to this post

I don’t have COPD, but I’ve been taking N. A. C. since COVID, which I think is helpful for my lungs.

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janualmarie | @janualmarie | Feb 27 9:59pm

I was just diagnosed with COPD after having COVID in 2021. To say the least, life has been hell. Everything about my life has changed and all I get from the doctors is this is still new. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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cynthia69 | @cynthia69 | Feb 28 10:07am

Have you had chest x-ray? I would go see a pulmonologist instead of a PCP. I had covid and have COPD now. Cynthia 69

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