Asthmatic and breathless 6 weeks after vaccine

[BG2015]

I had my first AZ vaccine on the 11th July. Had a few symptoms, very achy, tired, headache for about 48 hours. But just took paracetamol

My asthma has steadily got worse and worse over the past few weeks.

It's usually really well controlled.

I have also just had a cancer diagnosis, surgery and am waiting to start chemo in September so the nurse said it could be stress related.

I can't even walk to the corner shop without feeling breathless, coughing and having to use my inhaler.

She wants me to do a peak flow readings for a week which isn't really helping me in the short term

Anyone else struggling with this?

I’m so sorry about your diagnosis.

Have you been to the GP? You could have an ordinary chest infection causing your asthma to flare up.

Double dosed with AZ and no difference to my asthma (until I got a chest infection, which is totally normal for me).

Stress often makes my asthma worse and I'd say you're under some considerable stress! Has the asthma nurse suggested an increase in preventer inhalers? Is you cancer respiratory related?

Yes, sorry, also meant to say AZ made no difference to my asthma.

Also, sorry if this is stating the obvious, but have you done a Covid test?

I had AZ and have asthma and had shortness of breath for 9 weeks following my first vaccine. This was even longer than when I had Covid as my shortness of breath “only” lasted for six weeks then.
Was fine with the second dose though.

I've upped my preventer morning and night and am using my blue inhaler far too much.

Not got covid. Only saw the nurse, who suggested the peak flow, which I'd started recording anyway. It wasn't even my own surgery but a local surgery that does an out of hours appointment system - it was a waste of time.

I aren't coughing anything up, no temperature and if I'm sitting doing nothing I have no symptoms.

My asthma flares up when I go from hot to cold and with exercise, but I've always used my inhaler just before exercising which has been fine.

I'm 52 and have had asthma since I was 19 and I've never had anything like this.

I really need to get it under control before my chemo starts, plus I want to be able to go for walks as it's my only form of exercise.

I think I'm going to ring the drs again and push to be seen.

Definitely call and push for an appointment with the GP. Maybe you need a shirt course of steroids to help you manage it for now. It's definitely also something to make your oncology team aware of.

Have you had a chest x ray?

Spoke to a dr this morning. He's given me a 5 day course of steroids.

Historically my best peak flow readings have been 400-450. This morning it was 170.

I haven't had an x ray but will probably be having a CT scan as part of my cancer treatment in the near future.

I'm hoping it begins to improve soon.

That is very low, I'm glad the doctor has given you steroids. Did the GP listen to your chest? Has anyone checked for signs of infection? Asthmatics often have respiratory infections without fever. Please make sure your oncology team know about the changes to your asthma too. Wishing you all the best for your treatment

No one has checked my chest, the nurse didn't even make me do my peak flow when I saw her on Wednesday which I'm astounded at.

The GP appointment was over the phone!

I've just taken my second lot of steroids this morning and my peak flow was 210 so a bit of an improvement.

In the back of my mind I'm thinking has the cancer spread to my lungs.? But really not trying to think about that.

My lymph nodes are clear and clear margins from the tumour.

Lymph nodes are your defense so if that's clear then you're good. Understandable concern. I would be worried about infection tbh, no one would blame you for going to A&E to make sure.

That is shocking care, they should have seen you with your history of asthma and being under oncology. I had Covid and then AZ, after the second vaccine my breathing worsened after improving post-Covid and prior to first vaccine. I did not have asthma prior to Covid. I now have inhalers, my peak flow was low prior to starting them and I was breathless just standing in the kitchen. I wasn't seen face to face either. Let your oncology team know too.

Taken my lunchtime peak flow and I'm up to 310.

Feeling so much better, steroids are obviously working now.

Why couldn't the nurse couldn't have prescribed me steroids is beyond me.