Post viral

Hi new to this but giving it a go! I'm a mild asthmatic (more allergy related) but always get chesty cough with a cold which I've had 3 times this winter! This last one has almost cleared up but let me with a breathless feeling most of the time, peak flow normal & not improved with ventolin & dont feel wheezy has anyone else had this reaction from a virus? Many thanks

[twinkly29]

It can take time to recover - I'm always caught off guard by that realisation even though I really shouldn't be by now! While it does sound post-viral rather than asthma (given pf ok and ventolin not helping) you could maybe speak to a GP if you're concerned.

[Sparkywoo]

Agree with twinkly29. It can take weeks for your lungs to fully settle down. That is the point my anxiety around it kicks in and makes it worse.

[Hidden in reply to Sparkywoo]

Thanks for your reply & I think with the present climate my anxiety now is off the scale! I think some of this breathless is anxiety related I just want to get back to feeling normal again.

[Poobah in reply to Hidden]

If you do think you have anxiety that's affecting your breathing then speak to your GP. A short course of anti-anxiety meds will help you to sleep and take the edge off things. If you don't fancy that then you could browse YouTube for relaxation techniques that you can use everyday to bring some control and calm back into your life.

If your not sheilding at home you could think about someone in your family or community that may need help because they are sheilding at home alone. Little acts of kindness can help them but can also help you to focus on something positive. We all need each other in times like this.

All the best.

[Sparkywoo in reply to Hidden]

My asthma nurse advised me of several things to sort out asthma from anxiety. 1. Are you ok when you wake up and are you sleeping well? If so it’s probably anxiety. 2. And this is the best thing for me, when you feel your chest is tights and you can’t breath, breath into and out of a a paper bag For a minute or so. It redresses the carbon dioxide levels in your blood which become unbalanced when your breathing is affected by anxiety. This really works for me physically and also calms by brain down too. She advised me that if doing this doesn’t change anything then it probably is asthma. I know what you mean, I just want normal again too!