Asthmatic cough in Covid times

[PattaCake]

Hi everyone!

I can feel the start of my usual Autumn/Winter asthma flare up. I’m using preventer but still staring to get bouts of coughing. A couple of puffs of blue inhaler and increased fluids helps a lot. So not an issue of feeling safe and controlling it.

My worry is that in Covid times, a persistent cough is obviously a major worry for others. I am a teacher, our school’s policy is if you have a cough you stay off until you get tested. I’d be off all the time if I adhered to this.

I’m almost worried to raise it with HR because if the (necessary) strictness of the policy. I’ll potentially be sent straight home and have to deliver lessons over video link. (This is a really hard way to do my job). But at the same time, I know I need to make them aware because if a child goes home and says: my teacher has to leave the room coughing but then carried on teaching, parents are going to be alarmed. I’ve noticed colleagues also looking concerned. Which I totally understand. I say I have asthma but they are still scared. Feeling self conscious and anxious tends to make the coughing worse.

I’m really not sure how to handle it and worried about these next two terms. It was already hard dealing with the fear of being clinically vulnerable in school with little room for social distancing. Dealing with asthma symptoms and how they are (understandably) perceived is just another thing. Feeling a bit down about it.

Thanks everyone. I hope you’re staying safe and well.

[Mariachristina76]

I have the cough for five years.and notice the dirty looks off people can be very annoying.

[PattaCake in reply to Mariachristina76]

It’s tricky. Hope you are doing okay.

[Mariachristina76 in reply to PattaCake]

Is life have to put up with it 😓

[Bevvy]

What is your relationship with with head like? I would discuss with them about ways forward. Also head could email staff to advise this NOT a new cough that is COVID. But rather a regular situation....

[PattaCake in reply to Bevvy]

Thank you. That phrasing is simple and explains the situation concisely. The head is overwhelmed atm, but relationship okay.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Hi, I don't have much useful to add about the school situation.

However, while I know you say it isn't a control issue, I have to wonder if you're as controlled as you think, given you're getting these asthma coughing fits fairly frequently and needing to use your blue to control them?

It isn't unusual to be worse in certain seasons (as you probably know by now!) and sounds like autumn/winter is your worse time. How often are you needing to use the blue inhaler? Even if it helps each time, if it's more than 2-3x in a week, you might need to look at increasing/changing preventer to get on top of things, even if it's just over autumn and winter while you're worse. It should be completely possible for most people with asthma to not have coughing fits and other symptoms regularly.

If you find your GP and/or asthma nurse helpful, you could discuss with them about potentially tweaking your preventer. It may also be worth giving the Asthma UK nurses a call (AUK helpline - 0300 2225800 Mon-Fri 9-5; AUK WhatsApp - 07378 606728).

[PattaCake]

thanks. I actually think you’re right. I’ve just gotten used to it, but like you say - it’s not really under control when I’m depending on my blue inhaler quite frequently. When I was last very bad I was told to increase my prevented to morning and night. So maybe I need that dose in Winter. I should check with my Asthma nurse. Thanks for making me see it this way. It would be better to not have the coughing fits in the first place! All the best.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to PattaCake]

Yes that would solve the school issue (and be better for you overall!) It definitely sounds like you're not that controlled at the moment - hope the asthma nurse can help.

[lovedisney]

Hi, your asthma sounds very similar to my asthma. I normally take my preventer once in the morning and once in the evening. But for example if I get a cold my asthma flares up and I start coughing lots. I increase my preventer to twice in the morning and evening. It is something I was advised to do by my asthma nurse. Once the cold is over I slowly reduce the preventer till I get it back to once in morning & evening. I would definitely speak to your doctor or asthma nurse that should make things better for you. I work in a massive open plan office and there are some people who have conditions or allergies that make them cough. Management obviously are aware of this and don’t send them home so it might be worth speaking to someone if it takes a little while for example for the preventer to start helping. Take care. xxx

[PattaCake in reply to lovedisney]

Thank you! I have only just seen your kind reply. When I spoke to Asthma UK nurse, I was given that same advice about increasing preventer. Next time I will know to do this immediately. I hope you’re doing well. Xxx

[Poobah]

This is something that HR should have already resolved by using their occupational health services.

Have a chat with HR and explain that you have asthma plus a related cough and it will be impossible to have repeated covid tests to satisfy a protocol that has not considered your health challenges - that's why occupational health get involved, to recommend and advise safe and practical solutions for those who may face discrimination because of a one size fit all protocol.

At the end of the day, all you're doing is trying to ensure that you have equal access to the workplace. That's not an unreasonable request.

[PattaCake in reply to Poobah]

Thanks Poobah. I have now raised it with HR. I don’t like feeling like I’m adding to anyone else’s workload at this time, but as you say I’m just asking to be safe at work which is really for everyone’s benefit on the end. I hope you are very well. These aren’t easy time’s to be asthmatic! Thanks for your advice.

[Destiny10]

Hi PattaCake

I had the coughing bouts the other yr constantly coughing all the time, and using the blue Inhaler, I went back to the Dr's and he put me on a hire dose for a couple of months then when everything eased off , he I was put back on the original one too see how things went.

Hope this works for you xx

Stay safe x

[cathmc58]

Hi Pattacake, hope that you are feeling much better now, remember asthma can be tricky triggers like stress (worrying about people's thoughts on coughing) can aggravate it, how about a small experiment at school for those who don't understand what its like as an asthmatic. Take a paperbag with some marg/butter spread inside flatten the bag sides and ask them to try and blow it out...it shows our struggle daily..of trying to inflate our lungs.Stay well, stay safe, keep your chin up x