I started with covid at the weekend. The last few days I've had a chesty cough, and today it's producing thick yellow mucus.My peak flow is low, I have on and off tightness, especially after coughing & SoB.
Before covid, my asthma hadn't be that controlled, but I hadn't got so far as seeing the GP.
How do I know if its just a covid cough, or a chest infection?
You could find out if you still have the covid by taking a test - a GP might want you to do this anyway to check if you are still able to pass it on before seeing you. I think you may have developed a chest infection (bacterial) and should check with a GP.
Many thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm still testing +ve unfortunately. I did wonder as my husband and daughters cough is a dry cough. Mine is significantly more wet and hurts when I cough.
I will get a Dr's appt once I test -ve.
I had an awful chest infection after having my first Covid infection. I knew it had gone bacterial when I had severe pain in my chest (not just asthma tightness) and a temperature. Could you not have a phone consultation with the doctor before anything gets out of hand?
Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. I've had pneumonia before which was just as you describe. It hurts but not lots, and my temp is up a little but not fever high. I will monitor it though.I've missed my chance with my GP until Monday, I guess. I'll ring 111 if things get worse in the mean time though.
I have been using my ventolin, and that is helping and have nothing but sitting planned for the weekend.
It wasn't good at all. Thankfully the second time around I still ended up poorly but not as bad. My advice is definitely not to let it get worse. With Covid it rarely seems to just get better of its own accord. I hope your weekend of rest helps. x
This is my 2nd time. This is definitely a different variant to last time, very different symptoms. Last time didn't affect my chest at all, just my brain. I will take heed of your advice and will call 111 tomorrow if I'm no better in the morning.
My pf is only 60% at best so I don't have lots of room to play with
Hope you're ok today Butterfly!
Thank you for asking.I was waiting quite some time for a call back from 111, but got seen yesterday afternoon (tested -ve earlier in the day)
The Dr doesn't think it's an infection, but does think the covid has unsettled my asthma.
Advised to see Gp on Monday, rest, drink plenty and use ventolin as needed. Also have prescription for steroids.
At least that's something. Hope it settles soon!
Yeah, will be seeing GP ASAP tomorrow though, I'm not convinced it's not an infection now, I feel rubbish feel generally ill, hot/cold and achy and feel like I'm drowning. At least the steroids can be kicking in I guess.
Hi,
I would certainly advise calling 111 and if your peak flows is that low I wouldn't even wait until morning they are 24 hours. If your ventolin stops helping though go for 999 instead. COVID patients can be seen if needed just make them aware you are positive when you call and they will bare that in mind when deciding where to see you.
Go see your asthma nurse at surgery too once you are clear of COVID to get your asthma reviewed and back on track. It really makes a difference when you catch something if the asthma is well controlled in the first place. I had a chest infection earlier this year which really upset my asthma luckily when I was prescribed my second course of steroids a month later the GP changed my preventative dose and thankfully I was well controlled when I caught COVID recently so only had a minor flare up of the asthma which I could deal with effectively by following my asthma plan.
Hope you get better soon
Thank you for your reply.
Yes, I'm very much regretting not having had better control beforehand. I think it had been quite a gradual thing, and silly me put off going to the GP.
I guess I'm a little cautious because I've had some fair to useless asthma nurse advice over the years at our surgery and don't even have a plan in place for worsening symptoms. But in hindsight, I therefore really ought to push them for better support.
It's definately my plan to get it sorted once I'm clear of covid.
Also good point re 24 hours, it seems as though its more of an emergency to ring 'out of hours' though. I'm managing at the moment, ventolin certainly calmed down my cough/tightness when I woke an hour ago, the minute it doesn't, I will call 999.
I just had a positive COVID test 10 days ago and I have severe asthma. I got Paxlovid, increased steroids and strong cough meds pretty quickly and after 5 days was feeling moderately better. I am now 10 days out and I still have pretty significant fatigue, still have chesty cough that I cough up light yellow stuff and some nose stuffiness. This variant seems different.
Glad you got the antivirals and other medication quickly. Even with that though, it seems recovery is going to take a while.
Yes, this variant is different to what I had last time, though the rest of my family say its similar to what they had before. I managed to catch it first and didn't spread it to the rest of the family the first time. So was still immune when they all caught it. So we obviously had different strains.
Im on day 7/8 now - I still have lots of stuffiness in my nose and ears, and feel wiped out. The mucus seems to have settled a bit, but I think it's there, just trapped if that makes sense. If it was looser I could cough it up which would help. Having ventolin helps loosen it a bit. I'm drinking plenty of water but all the mouth breathing because of the stuffy nose, means I get a dry throat pretty quick.
Chest infection still! What next?
4 courses of steroids for chest infection
Viral chest infection, feeling like crap
getting over a chest infection, still breathless and activity 
