topic Re: Asthma + A Cold in Wellness

Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:05:31 GMT

For two winters in a row now, I've come down with a bad cold which is made much worse by then having an asthma flare with it.

Here's my question:

How do you know if the horrendous cough you develop with a cold is the cold or maybe bronchitis, or is it your asthma kicking in?

Re: Asthma + A Cold

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:08:36 GMT

If I were you, I'd contact my Dr or go to an outpatient clinic and let them listen to your chest.

Why take a chance?

Re: Asthma + A Cold

gulf coast girl — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:12:08 GMT

I suffer with my asthma every day of my life.I can't even sneeze without wheezing right afterwards. So whenever I have the slightest feeling that I'm developing a cough, I always start taking any or whatever nasty cough syrup that's in the house. If I take some 2 nights in a row usually by the 3rd day I'm all better and not really coughing at that point. I use Advair daily and Albuterol as needed, which for me is everyday of my life.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

151949 — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:12:40 GMT

For me when i cough with a cold I cough a few min and stop - when I get bronchospasm from my asthma it starts out as a cough that I can't stop coughing and it escalates up to the point that I am actually choking and gagging. I have to sit up if I am lying down and the continuous coughing will last for several min. when I can barely get a breath in. The difference between coughing with a cold or bronchitis is mild in comparison to the bronchospasm from an asthma attack. When I finally stop coughing I am gasping for air , wheezing and usually my chest really hurts.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:13:49 GMT

On 1/17/2015 annabellethecat said:
If I were you, I'd contact my Dr or go to an outpatient clinic and let them listen to your chest.

Why take a chance?

I did go, Thursday. She couldn't tell by the sound so I had a chest x-ray. It wasn't pneumonia (which she thought it might be) but it had progressed to a pretty bad asthma flare.

I wish I'd caught the asthma reaction sooner, that's what I'm wondering about. I had no idea asthma was involved.

I don't know how to tell the difference when it's happening.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:18:59 GMT

On 1/17/2015 gulf coast girl said:
I suffer with my asthma every day of my life.I can't even sneeze without wheezing right afterwards. So whenever I have the slightest feeling that I'm developing a cough, I always start taking any or whatever nasty cough syrup that's in the house. If I take some 2 nights in a row usually by the 3rd day I'm all better and not really coughing at that point. I use Advair daily and Albuterol as needed, which for me is everyday of my life.

Thanks! I get what you're saying, preventative care!

I did take my usual Coricidin, but it got so bad it had no effect. It's been 11 days now and that dang cold is still going strong.

Now I'm on Dulera for as long as I have the cold (off QVar for that time) and Albuterol if needed.

I'm wheezing and yucky still

Re: Asthma + A Cold

sfnative — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:19:29 GMT

Noel,

Slip into an urgent care center and have at least an NP listen to your chest. Best would be for you to see if your PCP could open up a 5 minute slot for you so he/she could listen to your chest and visually check out your throat and nose.

Get better soon!

Re: Asthma + A Cold

betteb — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:19:56 GMT

Noel, I'm sorry you are feeling bad.

Do you have a rescue inhaler? Since you know your lungs are clear, you might try a couple of puffs next time you start coughing.

I don't tolerate inhaled steroids for asthma control very well, so I only use albuterol when I start having a flare.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:21:45 GMT

On 1/17/2015 happy housewife said:
For me when i cough with a cold I cough a few min and stop - when I get bronchospasm from my asthma it starts out as a cough that I can't stop coughing and it escalates up to the point that I am actually choking and gagging. I have to sit up if I am lying down and the continuous coughing will last for several min. when I can barely get a breath in. The difference between coughing with a cold or bronchitis is mild in comparison to the bronchospasm from an asthma attack. When I finally stop coughing I am gasping for air , wheezing and usually my chest really hurts.

That happened a couple of times for me, too, with this bout. This is new to me, I've taken treatment for years and this is only the second time the asthma has been a real issue.

I'm drinking coffee today instead of tea, since coffee is supposed to help.

I'm sorry to read it gets so bad for you, HH

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:25:19 GMT

On 1/17/2015 sfnative said:
Noel,

Slip into an urgent care center and have at least an NP listen to your chest. Best would be for you to see if your PCP could open up a 5 minute slot for you so he/she could listen to your chest and visually check out your throat and nose.

Get better soon!

Hi sfn

I did, Thursday. It was so bad, my MD thought it was pneumonia, but no, the chest x-ray ruled that out, it's asthma triggered by the cold. She said: "Well, at least now we know your trigger."

DH never gets colds and he coughed with this one for almost three weeks. Awful sounding, deep.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:27:20 GMT

On 1/17/2015 betteb said:
Noel, I'm sorry you are feeling bad.

Do you have a rescue inhaler? Since you know your lungs are clear, you might try a couple of puffs next time you start coughing.

I don't tolerate inhaled steroids for asthma control very well, so I only use albuterol when I start having a flare.

bette!

I do have the Albuterol and DD is after me to use it more often.

I do hope you're OK. There are just too many of us with asthma, my daughter, also.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

Toppers — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:27:20 GMT

My asthma tends to get worse when I get a cold. Colds tend to go straight to my chest when I get sick.

I usually end up with a bronchial cough when I get sick, and I can feel it in my airways, too, as they tend to get tender and hurt when I cough. I get one of those "barking-like" coughs.

I usually end up with bronchitis.

I am usually sick for several weeks or months at a time. When I get sick, I tend to get quite sick.

I have one of those plastic asthma peak flow meters.

I got it for free one year from one of our health plans. It is good to check your asthma peak flow when you are well, so you know what is normal for you. Then you check it while you are sick. If your peak flow changes and starts to go down, then you know that you need to have your asthma medications adjusted when you are ill.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:31:05 GMT

On 1/17/2015 northernlights said:
My asthma tends to get worse when I get a cold. Colds tend to go straight to my chest when I get sick.

I usually end up with a bronchial cough when I get sick, and I can feel it in my airways, too, as they tend to get tender and hurt when I cough. I get one of those "barking-like" coughs.

I usually end up with bronchitis.

I am usually sick for several weeks or months at a time. When I get sick, I tend to get quite sick.

I have one of those plastic asthma peak flow meters.

I got it for free one year from one of our health plans. It is good to check your asthma peak flow when you are well, so you know what is normal for you. Then you check it while you are sick. If your peak flow changes and starts to go down, then you know that you need to have your asthma medications adjusted when you are ill.

Hi northernlights,

I'm sorry it's so bad for you. I agree, the flow meter is a great help. I used it this time and was only showing mild reduction so I thought it was OK.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

goodstuff — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:37:45 GMT

If you have asthma, you can pretty well count on colds, flus, and coughs being more troublesome for you and more likely to lead to complications like bronchitis and other breathing difficulties. Respiratory infections can trigger asthma symptoms or full-blown asthma attacks in some people. I'd suggest you talk with your doctor about the problems you've been having and get some inhalers and medications on hand to help keep your breathing as free as possible. My daughter has asthma and has a system and meds to self-administer breathing treatments at home. You need to be watchful and not hesitate to go to the ER if your breathing becomes very constricted, you develop fever, high heart rate, etc. Asthma and respiratory infections aren't a good combo.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

NoelSeven — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:45:35 GMT

On 1/17/2015 GoodStuff said:
If you have asthma, you can pretty well count on colds, flus, and coughs being more troublesome for you and more likely to lead to complications like bronchitis and other breathing difficulties. Respiratory infections can trigger asthma symptoms or full-blown asthma attacks in some people. I'd suggest you talk with your doctor about the problems you've been having and get some inhalers and medications on hand to help keep your breathing as free as possible. My daughter has asthma and has a system and meds to self-administer breathing treatments at home. You need to be watchful and not hesitate to go to the ER if your breathing becomes very constricted, you develop fever, high heart rate, etc. Asthma and respiratory infections aren't a good combo.

Hi GoodStuff,

I was diagnosed with asthma years ago (probably 15 - 20) and have been on inhalers ever since. But I never had these problems before, it was controllable.

Unfortunately, any cold (and anything else) is a real issue for me anyway, I have SLE, lupus. Asthma is commonly part of the lupus profile, since they're about inflammation/inflammatory flare.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to change my lackadaisical ways with asthma and go in for a treatment anytime I have a cold + cough from now on.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

Desi — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:56:44 GMT

Noel, I think I got the same cold and asthma you did, around Jan. 3rd. I was also concerned that with my symptoms it might be bronchitis, pneumonia or asthma. Still have the cough, though much better, some head congestion, and the remnants of the wheeze. Hadn't had any asthma symptoms in yrs. and it was so scary I went to the Doc. Got an Albuterol inhaler like you did and was told to take several OTC things. I think the inhaler made my lungs feel like they were on fire so I stopped it. Tried again the other day. Not convinced it helps, but then again I never mastered the technique and most doesn't get to my lungs. At least you got an X-ray. The cold air here definitely makes it worse, it's barely above the teens and plummeting now.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

betteb — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 00:56:45 GMT

On 1/17/2015 NoelSeven said:
On 1/17/2015 betteb said:
Noel, I'm sorry you are feeling bad.

Do you have a rescue inhaler? Since you know your lungs are clear, you might try a couple of puffs next time you start coughing.

I don't tolerate inhaled steroids for asthma control very well, so I only use albuterol when I start having a flare.

bette!

I do have the Albuterol and DD is after me to use it more often.

I do hope you're OK. There are just too many of us with asthma, my daughter, also.

Thanks for your kind wishes. I'm not having too much trouble right now, but I always have my inhaler on me. If it gets too bad, I have a nebulizer and supplies.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

goodstuff — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 01:28:28 GMT

On 1/17/2015 NoelSeven said:
On 1/17/2015 GoodStuff said:
If you have asthma, you can pretty well count on colds, flus, and coughs being more troublesome for you and more likely to lead to complications like bronchitis and other breathing difficulties. Respiratory infections can trigger asthma symptoms or full-blown asthma attacks in some people. I'd suggest you talk with your doctor about the problems you've been having and get some inhalers and medications on hand to help keep your breathing as free as possible. My daughter has asthma and has a system and meds to self-administer breathing treatments at home. You need to be watchful and not hesitate to go to the ER if your breathing becomes very constricted, you develop fever, high heart rate, etc. Asthma and respiratory infections aren't a good combo.

Hi GoodStuff,

I was diagnosed with asthma years ago (probably 15 - 20) and have been on inhalers ever since. But I never had these problems before, it was controllable.

Unfortunately, any cold (and anything else) is a real issue for me anyway, I have SLE, lupus. Asthma is commonly part of the lupus profile, since they're about inflammation/inflammatory flare.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to change my lackadaisical ways with asthma and go in for a treatment anytime I have a cold + cough from now on.

I'm sorry you're having these problems and think it's a great idea to discuss this with your doctor. My daughter has a pocket inhaler for daily use, but when she is ill and has breathing problems associated with a cold, she has a home nebulizer and meds so she can give herself home breathing treatments similar to what she'd get in a doctor's office. If that doesn't help she has to go to the ER, but often the nebulizer makes that unnecessary.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

Toppers — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 02:02:28 GMT

I hope that you feel better real soon, Noel.

It's unfortunate that we are all affected like this when we get sick.

I have had coughs linger for quite some time after I have been ill, but eventually they do go away after awhile.

Re: Asthma + A Cold

Old Lady — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 04:57:26 GMT

Oh geez I know exactly what you mean and how you feel. I have allergies and asthma. After so many years of dealing with the confusion, I gave up and would call my allergist right away and he would get me a script for the asthma and if necessary med for the flu/cold. I have learned to head off the horrible cough, choking, wheezing and lack of sleep. Hope you find a way to manage. It is awful.