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

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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Hello Everyone, I am new here and glad to find a group people who may understand me. 52, female. I got COVID in July, 2022. (So regret to go to CA for my son's tournament) Three days high fever and very bad throat pain. Then I felt better and just like a common cold symptom. However, three weeks later, heart beat increased and I felt shortness of breath. My SPO2 was around 95. Since then I started to use Symbicort 80/4.5 irregularly, on and off for two months. (A Pulmonologist prescribed for me .)The symptoms are easy flare up if I caught a cold or stressful with my life. I went to a POST COVID program and the doctor there gave me Trelegy 200. Have you ever tried this one? I feel it is too strong especially I haven't used a higher dose Symbicort yet. If I use Trelegy which is the highest level inhaler for Asthma, what can I use if the symptom get worse down the road?

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@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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I’ve been dealing with this too since August 2022 following a mild case of covid. (Detailed story in ‘post covid phlegm or mucous in throat, somethin like that !).

CHEW GUM! It is my savior! Keeps me swallowing and therefore less mucous. I’ve read to try and avoid coughing. Makes sense that it encourages more. Sugar free gum is likely best; my fave is Extra- Polar Ice - blue package. I do not like the green one, Spearmint I think. I get the big 35 stick packages and go through 5/6 pieces daily. Definitely helps after eating for like an hour or two. And my gum wrapper chain is nearly 3 feet long in less than 2 months! It will grow until I’m done with this crud (Xmas tree garland lol!) Also, I purchased an alkalizing water filtration pitcher and drink about 1.5-2 liters daily. This in addition to Symbicort 160/4.5, 2puffs, twice daily, albuterol as needed (practically never).

May the Gum be with you. God I hope this ends for all of us!

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@sarahying

Hello Everyone, I am new here and glad to find a group people who may understand me. 52, female. I got COVID in July, 2022. (So regret to go to CA for my son's tournament) Three days high fever and very bad throat pain. Then I felt better and just like a common cold symptom. However, three weeks later, heart beat increased and I felt shortness of breath. My SPO2 was around 95. Since then I started to use Symbicort 80/4.5 irregularly, on and off for two months. (A Pulmonologist prescribed for me .)The symptoms are easy flare up if I caught a cold or stressful with my life. I went to a POST COVID program and the doctor there gave me Trelegy 200. Have you ever tried this one? I feel it is too strong especially I haven't used a higher dose Symbicort yet. If I use Trelegy which is the highest level inhaler for Asthma, what can I use if the symptom get worse down the road?

Jump to this post

I find that using Symbicort as prescribed helps a lot. I am on 160/4.5, 2 puffs, twice daily. After about 5 weeks I felt improvement and messed around with single puffs and missed days and started feeling the symptoms again so went back to the prescribed plan. But I still thought (hoped) hmm maybe I can start getting of it so I messaged my pulmonologist about it. Was told to cut it in half, 1 puff twice daily. Nope, after about 3-4 days I felt distress and resumed the regular dosage. Frustrating for sure but consistency works. Only thing is I’m sooo hoarse! Any advice from anyone out there about that?

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@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

I have the same hoarseness problem, especially at work after a couple hours talking. Never had that problem before Covid Pneumonia and post Covid lung scarring (still waiting for definitive diagnosis 6 months after getting Covid then pneumonia but being treated like I have asthma, diagnosed as "small airway disease", which isn't a medical diagnosis.

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