Asthma worsened after Covid and confused about what GP said.

[AprilZh]

Hi everyone, I'm grateful if people could share some wisdom please. I'm struggling with uncontrolled asthma for a few months, which worsened after contracting with Covid over a month ago. I still have tightness in chest, shortness of breath, wet cough, bad sleep, I'm on fostair now, which helped to a degree. My recent PEF is between 415-450. My GP and a private consultant (phone consultantation) both said my symptoms don't look like asthma exacerbation and they are reluctant to step up my doses rather suggest anxiety, post covid and breathing disorder driven. I'm so confused now, it seems they dismissed my symptoms due to normal PEF reading, Is it right? Covid really kicked me hard with severe tightness and being breathless for almost a week. I now probably suffer from post covid complications or it make asthma worse. Anyone has similar problems? How do I get the right treatment. My GP just ask me to give more time to recover.

Thanks all!

[Bevvy]

I have known several people who are not asthmatic who have struggled with their breathing post Covid. It may well be post Covid and nothing to do with your asthma. Especially if peak flows are normal…. Does ventolin help? Again some post Covid people improve with ventolin but because they are not asthmatic they don’t use preventative inhalers. Friends of mine HAVE improved over time and you are still early in your recovery, so hopefully things will resolve over time.

[AprilZh in reply to Bevvy]

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Bevvy. That's really helpful! My symptoms from pre covid were not so different and that's why I am unsure what's going on is post covid or asthma. I use the preventer inhaler as reliever now and it does offer quick relief most of the time because Ventolin made me feel worse when I had Covid infection. I had no idea a normal peak flow could rule out asthma exacerbation? The reading does drop when the symptoms came on. Thanks a lot for offering great information. maybe it's a mix of both

[Bevvy in reply to AprilZh]

If gp thinks some sort of breathing disorder what is he doing about it? This problem has come up with others so search for it on the site. Possibly you would benefit from seeing a respiratory physio?? If they think is anxiety related then again what does gp propose to do? I think whilst gp might be correct with assessment in my opinion that simply isn’t good enough without some sort of follow up/action plan! Even if plan is “let’s give you another month to recover more from Covid then review you again”…..

[AprilZh in reply to Bevvy]

The plan is GP checks on me over the phone in two weeks..he did try to prescribe something for my phlegm, but realized I'm currently breastfeeding so didn't go ahead. He said he probably would order some tests at some point.. My anxiety is probably postnatal related which I really don't think it is what to blame for my symptoms. Yes, you are spot on with seeing respiratory physio, which is suggested by consultant not GP. I don't know if GP will refer me to one or not.

[Itswonderful in reply to AprilZh]

I think it might be helpful to ask your GP if they are going to do the referral to the Respiritory Physio and at the same time ask the same question to your Consultant. Perhaps the Consultant has already referred you but maybe he hasn’t because it would be at an extra cost? It seems odd that they haven’t clarified it with you so it sounds like you need to chase them and get the clarification and the referral you need. Btw Respiritory Physio can be very helpful.

[AprilZh in reply to Itswonderful]

Thank you so much for the advice. I paid the consultant myself because of a long waiting to get a GP appointment. Will definitely request a referral. Consultant did mention a long waiting time if it is NHS physio..

[Itswonderful in reply to AprilZh]

The wait may be shorter than you of the consultant imagine. Once you’re on the list you will be moving forward. You can also ask that department to go on the cancellation list and that you can take a last minute appointment. The other option is to pay for a private Resp Physio appointment. I would imagine it will less that the consultant fee. You may only need one or two sessions. I did same as you and paid privately to see an airway consultant specialising in asthma and unexplained cough. He then referred me for NHS appointments for aResp Physio and Speech and Language. Both helped me no end. Well worth seeing. I had virtual appointments.

[AprilZh in reply to Itswonderful]

That's super useful info. Thank you, Itswonderful. Will certainly raise it with the GP. For private option, I think it costs less than the consultant. Mine charged 250..Really appreciate all the valuable advice!

[hilary39]

It took me three months to recover fully from covid--I was left with lingering heart issues. Be patient but also stay on top of it (as it sounds like you're already!) and keep seeing your GP etc. What inhalers are you on? You may need to add one and step up your regime temporarily.

[AprilZh in reply to hilary39]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, hilary. 3 months is really long time! People I know who caught it esp. omicron all recovered reallyquickly, incl. my own family. I'm on fostair 100/6 for 3 months now, used to be a low dose steriod only inhaler which didn't work well anymore. I basically use fostair as reliever now, so 3-4 puffs throughout the day for maintenance and add more if symptoms are too bad. I moved to the UK a few years ago from abroad. My home country has different health care system. I'm not used to having to push doctor for more😅

[hilary39 in reply to AprilZh]

Same here! I'm American but live in France now where they are much more conservative with meds.

I think the first variant was more intense than Omicron for a lot of people especially for those who have been vaxxed. But Omicron is obviously still quite severe for a lot of people who are winding up in hospital! I'm so glad you and your family recovered quickly.

I hope your lungs calm down soon! Take care.

[AprilZh in reply to hilary39]

Hope you have great weather in France! I live in Scotland and am vulnerable to cold air. Thank you very much again for your kind words and help! Stay healthy.

[Poobah]

I can't post a link here as it's in pdf format, but some NHS Hospital Trusts have published post covid-19 recovery packs that contain information to assist with ongoing covid symptoms of breathlessness, productive cough etc. If you Google "post covid-19 recovery pack" you should find some useful info, especially the breathing exercises and when to seek further help from 111 or your doctor.

There are several videos on YouTube aswell, explaining how to do post covid-19 breathing exercises. These are very similar to the exercises given to me by a respiratory physiotherapist for my dysfunctional breathing , not uncommon for some asthmatics.

There's quite a waiting time for physiotherapy so definitely pursue a referral with your GP, but in the meantime you could try the breathing exercises.

[AprilZh in reply to Poobah]

Dear Poobah, thank you so much for your help! I just downloaded one of those packs with 20 pages. Looks really good. Hope it can help my symptoms. Will start breathing exercise once my terrible rib pain goes away.