Asthma Or COPD After Covid
About 1 month after getting covid, I noticed when swimming I couldn't hold my breath for long.
I went to the doc and he gave me Acutide inhaler 50/500.
He thinks it's asthma but can't be sure, says if need special tests in a Bangkok hospital, which is far from my home.
Says could be COPD. I've been taking inhaler now for 4 months and everything feels OK. Didn't take it one morning and didn't notice until night, but felt a little out of breath.
Is it possible to have asthma that is always the same? I mean, nothing seems to trigger it.
This acuhaler is about $100 a month, is they're anything that does the same thing, but cheaper?
Would it be OK to stop taking and see how I feel? Doc says to take it for life!
Thanks in advance for any info.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with us and for your questions -- they are good ones. And nice to hear from you all the way from Thailand. As one doctor once explained to me, sometimes the job of being a doctor is like being a detective. This is because you cannot see inside a person to see exactly what is going on. So, doctors often have to investigate (ask questions, perform tests) to determine what is going on inside of you. And this, I think, may explain why your doctor wants you to go for further testing. Thankfully, doctors do not have to wait for this testing to begin treatment if he/she suspects you have asthma or COPD. The acuhaler is a common inhaler used to help control both and is a good place to start. Are there other cheaper inhalers? There are, but I am not sure what is available in your area. A good option for you may be to talk to your pharmacist or doctor to see if there are less expensive options for you to try. Likewise, if you think you would like to try not taking this inhaler, this is also something worthy of discussing with your doctor. What do you think? John. asthma.net community moderator Thanks for the reply John, some great advice, like asking the doc for cheaper meds.
I'm seeing the doc next month again but I'm pretty sure he'll just say the same as last month - "no issues, keep taking it".
Doctors here are very high up the hierarchical social ladder and don't like being questioned, especially this one at the best private hospital. He doesn't actually want me to go to get the 'asthma test' as he is convinced I have asthma. He said if I want to know for sure, to go get it done. I just think that it's strange getting asthma just after Covid, when I haven't had it since I was 5. 58 now.
Also, as I have no wheezing, noise when breathing, like my father used to have.
I believe if I do see another doctor, I should not take the medicine for a couple of days, so they can make a proper diagnosis?
Hi CM9f0492, and thank you for continuing to engage in this conversation. I have read both of your comments and also the excellent suggestions offerred by my good colleague, , and I concur with all that has been said.
I also have something to contribute.
For some folks, asthma can manifest itself at different times in one's life. For some, it takes a trigger or unexpected/unusual event. I would call having COVID, one of those events. This may have been the 'trigger' for you, especially if your airways were susceptible to the virus. Clearly, asthma affects everyone differently and so this may be how it happened in your case.
As John has said, doctors can often times determine a diagnosis for a patient through physical examination, patient history and narrative, and presenting symptoms. However, there are diagnostic tests which can provide a definitive diagnosis - one of these is a complete pulmonary function test (PFT).
It is really up to you as to how you proceed and how much trust you have in this one physician. I do understand he is at the top of the hierarchy but, still - you must have your own opinion, too.
I thought you might gain some additional insight from this material, which focuses on asthma and diagnosis: https://asthma.net/diagnosis. I do hope you find the information is helpful in a practical way.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
Thanks Leon,
Very useful indeed.
2 questions, could the asthma totally go away?
Is vasthma viral?
Kind regards
JohnnyHi again, CM9f0492 (Johnny) - I'm glad to hear this was helpful for you.
To answer your questions (as best as I can), asthma can be controlled for some folks. Some people may use the term - 'it goes away' but, medically speaking that would not be correct. I know patients who have not had an asthma episode for years and years. Then, for some, it recurs based on some trigger they were not expecting or, did not experience prior.
For some patients with an asthma diagnosis, a respiratory infection (caused by a virus or bacteria), may trigger an episode of asthma. For me, when I develop acute bronchitis, I have to be wary of asthma acting up. In those instances, I medicate accordingly.
I hope this brief reply has provided information that is helpful for the two concerns you shared here.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
I was diagnosed with asthma at 56 following a severe respiratory event (I had intense, textbook Covid symptoms though I was never tested … could barely walk 10-feet!) My pulmonary team here in Atlanta has suggested that this may have been the catalyst that “awakened” my asthma. My mom was diagnosed with mild asthma at 46, while mine is moderate (Dr’s have also suggested genetics may be an influencer). If it helps, I am doing significantly better two years out … there’s nothing I can’t do physically, while my lingering issue is excess mucus production that comes and goes. I’ve had several PFT’s and even a CT scan … Pulmo very pleased with my last set of numbers. Hi otter, and thanks for lending your own support and encouragement here. We also appreciate you sharing your own personal experience managing this disease as it relates to the 's expressed concern.
This is a large part of what our community is all about - sharing our experiences and providing support for one another.
We value your input.
All the best,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)
