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.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 29, 2022
In reply to @fab66 "I had covid in August 2021 and have had the shortness of breath issues. My pulmonary..." + (show)
@fab66

I had covid in August 2021 and have had the shortness of breath issues. My pulmonary doctor has run several test and I have finally been diagnosed with asthma from covid. On a scale of 1 to 4 I am at the high end of 3 and on 2 inhalers. I have a high heart rate, brain fog, and my eye sight has gotten worse. Has anyone else gotten the asthma? Thanks Fredia

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Welcome, @fab66. You'll notice that I moved your question about post-COVID asthma to this existing discussion (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-haul-covid-and-asthma-diagnosis-anyone/) that @otter2154 started where they asked a very similar question "Has anyone else received an asthma diagnosis post-Covid, and if so … do you see it improving over time?"

I moved your question so that you can read through the past posts and connect with Otter, @baker00l @sueinmn @ellen307 @shmorri4424 @eric211 and others.

Fredia, are the inhalers helping?

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1 reply
baker00l | @baker00l | Jan 29, 2022

Hello! Yes, I had significant chest pain and shortness of breath 24/7 after COVID (June 2020). I was diagnosed with asthma one year post COVID (June 2021) and began using inhalers with good results. Diagnosis was revised to reactive airways at 18 months post COVID, but treatment is the same.
My asthma/reactive airways symptoms improved the first 2 months after beginning inhalers, but no further improvement has occurred in the last 6 months. I still require both the maintenance and rescue inhalers every day. I also have good days and then days with tons of phlegm and slight cough. Wondering why the phlegm increases. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

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2 replies
eric211 | @eric211 | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Full disclosure: I did not have Covid. However, I have asthma and bronchiectasis and had deeply..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Full disclosure: I did not have Covid. However, I have asthma and bronchiectasis and had deeply seated, long time mycobacteria and pseudomonas lung infections that weren't diagnosed until June 2018, by which time I had diminished from an "energizer bunny" to a "couch potato" - I couldn't walk a block without pausing. Then I started 19 months of antibiotic therapy - using up to 4 antibiotics at the same time - needless to say, unpleasant although one infection resolved and the other improved, but the meds were killing me. Those were stopped in December 2019, and it took until April 2021 to feel like I was back to normal.
My takeaway - lung damage can heal, or lungs can learn to compensate, but it takes a VERY long time. And pushing may not work, so you need to listen closely to your body.

You can find a lot of help here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/ Some of the videos there speak about using a very slow rate in exercise increase to be more successful. That is, throw out the old "10% increase every 10% days" mantra
Sue

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Hello, your story is very inspiring. Thank you and I’m glad to hear your feeling better. Did you have a lot of sputum discharge? I was wondering how they knew you had infection and how to treat it. I feel like I have a chest infection but my doctor doesn’t think so. I have burning, frequent pain, and phlegm that seems to be giving me congestion but doesn’t produce if I cough. It’s going on 2 months now for me and I have experienced savers fatigue in the meantime. Other then the antibiotics was there any other things that were helpful in your recovery? I’m looking for something to try because I’m struggling at the moment and waiting on a diagnosis/treatment option. Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,
Eric

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1 reply
fab66 | @fab66 | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome, @fab66. You'll notice that I moved your question about post-COVID asthma to this existing discussion..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome, @fab66. You'll notice that I moved your question about post-COVID asthma to this existing discussion (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-haul-covid-and-asthma-diagnosis-anyone/) that @otter2154 started where they asked a very similar question "Has anyone else received an asthma diagnosis post-Covid, and if so … do you see it improving over time?"

I moved your question so that you can read through the past posts and connect with Otter, @baker00l @sueinmn @ellen307 @shmorri4424 @eric211 and others.

Fredia, are the inhalers helping?

Jump to this post

The inhalers are helping some. I just hope the asthma is just short term.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @baker00l "Hello! Yes, I had significant chest pain and shortness of breath 24/7 after COVID (June 2020)...." + (show)
@baker00l

Hello! Yes, I had significant chest pain and shortness of breath 24/7 after COVID (June 2020). I was diagnosed with asthma one year post COVID (June 2021) and began using inhalers with good results. Diagnosis was revised to reactive airways at 18 months post COVID, but treatment is the same.
My asthma/reactive airways symptoms improved the first 2 months after beginning inhalers, but no further improvement has occurred in the last 6 months. I still require both the maintenance and rescue inhalers every day. I also have good days and then days with tons of phlegm and slight cough. Wondering why the phlegm increases. Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Jump to this post

"Reactive airways" means something in your lungs or brain is raising an alarm every time something irritating or unusual is sensed and your lungs respond. One of the responses in fighting "aliens" is that your lungs can produce more mucus.

One tactic for dealing with the mucus, beyond using your inhalers, is to intentionally cough it out. People with chronic lung disorders like Cystic Fibrosis or Bronchiectasis are taught a variety of active airway clearance techniques. Here is a demonstration on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJkZ5fGU7c

It is best done a few minutes after you use your inhalers, and only take a few minutes.

Has anyone suggested airway clearance to help with the mucus?
Sue

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @eric211 "Hello, your story is very inspiring. Thank you and I’m glad to hear your feeling better...." + (show)
@eric211

Hello, your story is very inspiring. Thank you and I’m glad to hear your feeling better. Did you have a lot of sputum discharge? I was wondering how they knew you had infection and how to treat it. I feel like I have a chest infection but my doctor doesn’t think so. I have burning, frequent pain, and phlegm that seems to be giving me congestion but doesn’t produce if I cough. It’s going on 2 months now for me and I have experienced savers fatigue in the meantime. Other then the antibiotics was there any other things that were helpful in your recovery? I’m looking for something to try because I’m struggling at the moment and waiting on a diagnosis/treatment option. Thank you for your time.

Best Regards,
Eric

Jump to this post

Please take a look at my response to @baker00l here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-haul-covid-and-asthma-diagnosis-anyone/?pg=3#comment-676273
I wonder if you are experiencing the same thing. If so, it's possible airway clearance might help. If you can't get the sputum out, there is a relatively inexpensive positive expiratory pressure or "PEP" device that can help loosen mucus so you can cough it out. 2 commonly prescribed ones are Aerobika or Acapela.

Maybe you could check with your doctor?
Sue

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1 reply
eric211 | @eric211 | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Please take a look at my response to @baker00l here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-haul-covid-and-asthma-diagnosis-anyone/?pg=3#comment-676273 I wonder if you are..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Please take a look at my response to @baker00l here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-haul-covid-and-asthma-diagnosis-anyone/?pg=3#comment-676273
I wonder if you are experiencing the same thing. If so, it's possible airway clearance might help. If you can't get the sputum out, there is a relatively inexpensive positive expiratory pressure or "PEP" device that can help loosen mucus so you can cough it out. 2 commonly prescribed ones are Aerobika or Acapela.

Maybe you could check with your doctor?
Sue

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Thanks for the reply! I have been looking at those devices and watching informational videos about them. Maybe I will purchase one. I have heard mixed reviews about how effective they are I guess it depends on the technique and the disease.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @eric211 "Thanks for the reply! I have been looking at those devices and watching informational videos about..." + (show)
@eric211

Thanks for the reply! I have been looking at those devices and watching informational videos about them. Maybe I will purchase one. I have heard mixed reviews about how effective they are I guess it depends on the technique and the disease.

Jump to this post

Used with airway clearance (breathing/coughing) they are quite effective. I believe you will find the need for it to be temporary, as you continue to recover. But sometimes a single illness can mean that lungs will be more susceptible to problems in the future, and you may need to go back to using it after future colds or other respiratory events.
Will you let me know if the huff coughing or PEP helps?
Sue

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1 reply
eric211 | @eric211 | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Used with airway clearance (breathing/coughing) they are quite effective. I believe you will find the need..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Used with airway clearance (breathing/coughing) they are quite effective. I believe you will find the need for it to be temporary, as you continue to recover. But sometimes a single illness can mean that lungs will be more susceptible to problems in the future, and you may need to go back to using it after future colds or other respiratory events.
Will you let me know if the huff coughing or PEP helps?
Sue

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Ok, I will keep you posted. I have one in my shopping cart online right now and I’m reviewing the second style. I might just get them both. Thanks for your optimism and encouragement.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @fab66 "The inhalers are helping some. I just hope the asthma is just short term." + (show)
@fab66

The inhalers are helping some. I just hope the asthma is just short term.

Jump to this post

Hello, Fredia - If you will read through some of the posts in this discussion thread, you will see that there is hope for improvement. Also, I have written about some strategies for managing the congestion and shortness of breath. Another thing that can help with asthma at the more serious end of the scale is replacing inhalers with a regular schedule of nebulizing the medication. The nebulizer moves the medicine deeper into the lungs, and can better relieve symptoms for a longer time.

My former pulmonologist's excellent nurse had a great rule of thumb - if asthma is suspected to be short term, and 6 weeks of inhalers doesn't manage it, time to see a pulmonologist and explore using a nebulizer & possibly other medications.

Also, if one of your inhalers is albuterol, it may be contributing to the high heart rate. There are others the docs can try.

Are you seeing a pulmonologist or your primary provider?
Sue

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