Hi all. I’ve just found this forum as I’ve been lokkkng for help for quite some time. I’ve had the weirdest thing happen……
Bit of a back story first…..I never had asthma my entire life. Until I got COVID for the first time in August 2021. I was considered high risk as it was as I also have rheumatoid arthritis and 10 other auto immune diseases. So my body generally loves to hate me. On day 8 of having COVID my husband had to call 999 as I couldn’t breathe. Paramedics came and my O2 was at 78. I was hospitalised for a week and ALMOST put on a ventilator. Dr told me I have COVID lungs and was now an asthmatic.
So I’ve had a few more asthma related issues. Every time I get COVID it goes straight to my lungs. I ALWAYS get a chest infection. I struggle sometimes for no reason. Get wheezy etc. But the latest thing……is CRAZY!
I went to a gig. In a very small venue in Lincoln. I saw one of my favourite bands, Echobelly. It was an intimate setting……with a fog machine. It was blowing so much fog that the band was suffering. As soon as it started spilling into the audience (I was front and center) I started coughing. Not lots. But enough. Tried to wave it past my face but it was THICK. Smelled funny and tasted funny too. Finally on the last song the lead singer asked for them to turn it off. I was still coughing periodically after it stopped. But nothing to write home about. By the time I got home…..I was wheezing so bad. I thought….Hmmmm that’s strange. Must be a fluke and went to bed. Woke up, coughing, wheezing, voice sounding weird. All of it. Started my inhalers and nebuliser. I was flying to the US in a few days so called the GP for some antibiotics just in case it turned into a chest infection. Which it didn’t. Once I got to the US it got soooooo much worse. I ended uk with tonsillitis so used the antibiotics I’d gotten from the GP. This amount of coughing and tonsillitis was not fun by any means. Got over the tonsillitis in a couple of days. Cough remained. I got back from the US in a complete mess. Can’t breathe, ribs hurting, coughing like mad. I flew in on a Tuesday and went to GP on Wednesday morning. I told them the story of the fog machine everything. GP said I’m having an asthma attack (severe) from an infection. Like chest infection Which I don’t think I had. So it’s been a month now. And here I sit. Coughing, wheezing. Any ideas? Any help? Thanks in advance!
Written by
Gonewiththewindddddd
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I've been triggered by smoke machines esp when performing on stage and it's piling out. This is despite the fact it's dry ice and supposedly 'safe' and shouldn't. But I also have a condition called ILO (induced laryngeal obstruction) where these sort of irritants change the usual air you breath can trigger and if I don't do the breathing exercises I now have to reopen my upper airway then it can turn into a full blown asthma exacerbation.
I would say talk to the asthma UK helpline for advice as you've had more than just the theatre incident causing your asthma to worsen. A long flight to US and back with air changes and the like prob not helped. (Have you flown distances like that before and been ok?)
When you get something new on top of other conditions things are never that straightforward to separate out what's going on unfortunately. Good luck with getting some answers and plan in place to help get you more symptom free
wow so crazy! Yes I travel back and forth quite often as I’m an American living in the UK. I’ve never had a problem…..but on my flights back home it really set me back once I got back in the UK. I’m just not sure what to do? Like I said I’ve been to the GP currently in steroids….day 3, with little change. She said it could last another 3-4 weeks!!!!!! Ugh. I’m just at a loss as I’ve never ever had this happen before!
Hi, Yes, after suffering from asthma since I was a child which was controlled, I was diagnosed with severe, difficult to treat asthma and I'm now on Fasenra injections and yes during the two concerts I've attended in the last 12 months I have an asthma exacerbation on both occasions. The second time I took a mask with me and we fortunately found some empty seats towards the back of the theatre, both of which helped.
Wow. In a way it’s good to know I’m not alone…..or indeed going crazy! But it’s awful that it comes to this? I mean if it happens again I’ll have to leave? Seems like there should be some kind of effort made on the venues part?????
Smoke machines are a really bad trigger for me as well. I've had to leave performances but sometimes it depends on what kind of smoke machine, not all of them are dry ice, some are some sort of oil base. Once you flare up, its easy to get an infection, or at least I find that.
Wow! So crazy. And also…..a bit scary? I go to sooooooo many gigs! I’m hoping that it never happens again. Can I ask how long it lasted? I’m seriously a month in. And I just am SICK of it!
Its really difficult to know, for me it depends a little bit on how my lungs were before being abused. If I am really well then I get over a little attack really quickly. If wasn't all that well (In asthma terms) then it can take a few weeks. So an example for me would be, that I am only just getting back to normal numbers after I was unwell at easter. If I encountered a smoke machine today, I might be alright if I wasn't too close to it. About 6 weeks ago I would have had to have left the venue if they started using smoke. If you are going to a theatre performance you can always ring the theatre beforehand and ask if you think smoke might be on the agenda. Normally they are very helpful. Its harder for music gigs, but you can always trying asking the venue. I would say avoid putting yourself in this situation unless you are really well (in terms of asthma)
Thanks for that! I was completely fine before the gig. Nothing. No problems. I king EVER get asthma before from covid so this one has really thrown me. I just feel so awful. I have no voice. Coughing day and night. It’s probably time for another call to the GP. My doctor surgery is cited the second worse in the UK so getting a hold of them is quite difficult! Tomorrow is day 4 of steroids and I really haven’t noticed a difference. And I don’t know if that’s normal or not either! It’s all new to me! Thank you!
Hi Gonewiththewindddddd - Reading you nenver got Asthma before Covid.- Just lateral thinking he, It could be covid that given you these problems. I had asthma and still do to a degree. lots of thinks kick mt off like scents from air freshioners, I went worse when I cot COPD as my asthma was under control - Smoke machince would get me going and would a lot more.
Reading what you have said ignoring the smoke, I think being this has been sinse covid -You I think need testing for your asthma-like symptoms .
I agree…..answers would be great! My husband is calling the venue today to see WHAT they used in that smoke machine! Maybe something will lead somewhere!
I suffer similarly with Smokey atmospheres. Log burning stoves and diesel fumes are a particular bugbear. I find that wearing a good face mask of FP2 or 3 standard which seals well around the nose and mouth really helps. I always carry one when I go out. Not a good look but very effective for me.
Sounds like covid left u withsensitive Airways.ru protecting yrself frm viral infections on plane,at airport,gigs etc? U really should as common vold,flu,covid etc can all set asthma off and lead to infections/ exacerbations/flareups.I carry handgel + masks everywhere + use vicks rescue nosespray+ coldzyme throat spray - both neutralise viral particles
U need to avoid people with viral infections+ atmospheres that trigger yr asthma.perhaps choose seat furthest away frm smoke,nr door + use salbutamol beforehand.
Hope u soon feel better.perhaps using salbutamol inhaler more often may help? Pollens v high in uk at present - maybe worth trying otc antihistamin to see if helps
Thanks so much for this! I do protect myself as best as I can. Especially since I take injections of chemo to combat the rheumatoid arthritis. So I don’t have much of an immune system as it is! But because I was feeling completely fine……and the smoke machine was the only difference I didn’t think it would be a big deal at all! What is salbutamol?
I’ve just gone back to GP! He said……..I need to go to ENT to get my voice box checked which I think is ridiculous. It’s not my throat! I don’t have a voice from coughing so much!!!!!!! Also since the gig my throat was weird straight after! I got a chest X-ray. And he wants to order a chest CT. I’m not exactly sure???? Why????? He just said that there’s nothing he could really do to help me today. The steroids didn’t seem to work. He said I should keep doing my inhalers. My chest is hurting more today than my lungs? Honestly I feel like a hot mess. I feel just so……poisoned.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
New adult onset asthma
new diagnoses: chest infections 
Asthma remission for 6 months
Post covid asthma diagnoses 
Covid or chest infection?
