Learning about Asthma through Covid-19

[_Badger_]

Hello,

I can honestly say, that I have learnt more about my asthma in the 3 or so months since the pandemic started than anyone ever told me about it in the 20 years prior.

When suddenly I was classed as "vulnerable" I did some searching to find out why. Turns out I really didn't (don't?) understand my asthma. I have always understood asthma as a tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and wheezing, I'll get that if I try and exercise in the cold but I've got an annoying cough that's just a part of life and a side effect of being asthmatic right? Wrong! Turns out that cough IS my asthma!

I had my asthma review just before the pandemic hit. I told her it doesn't affect me at night (my cough does though), I told her I don't really need to use my reliever inhaler (even though I have a cough all the time. A few times I tried a couple of puffs for the cough but it didn't easy it so stopped trying). I told her I couldn't remember when I last had an asthma attack (did I run last winter?) yet through the winter I have a few times a week when I will get uncontrollable bouts of really bad coughing that I just can't stop and struggle to breath through. Turns out that is an asthma attack!?

How have I gone 20 years knowing the cough was related to asthma (it's part of what diagnosed it) but didn't know it WAS my asthma!?

I feel I still have a lot to learn. When does the cough go from being a "things aren't controlled all that well" cough in to an asthma attack cough? Do I take my reliever for the "niggling all the time" cough or only for the "nothing I do is stopping this" cough? How much coughing is too much coughing? How do I know if it's an asthma cough or an infection cough or a covid cough or a combination of them?

So many things I still don't understand!

[Troilus]

Oh yes, the cough! I had a niggly dry cough last year. It was very irritating, but only occasionally, not the kind of thing I could bother the doctor with.

How wrong was I ! One night my nuisance cough became a big asthma attack. I didn’t even know I had asthma! It was a 999 situation.

Now, whenever I start, I take my blue inhaler on a spacer. This usually stops it. I’m not taking any chances!

[TabKit]

Thanks for sharing this! I too am coming to under stand an asthma cough. Totally didn't think a light cough warranted using my blue inhaler, but then the light cough turned into a heavy cough, and spoke with my GP, who told me to take sabutamol every 4 hours- and I felt so stupid for not remembering that!

I agree, very confusing as well having a cough in these covid times and having to explain to colleagues etc.

Anyway, slightly random reply long after you wrote, but I'm glad to share the experience.

Hope you're doing well now.