Can Asthma make you feel consistently unwell

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At the beginning of february I developed a cough which became a chest infection. I had 2 courses of antibiotics which seemed to clear the chest congestion during the day but I never started feeling better. I developed a night time cough and wheezing and just feel generally weak and rubbish through the day, particularly in the morning. Sometimes I up for a few hours later in the day.

In the midst of all of this I had covid but have since returned to what my baseline was prior to covid.

I suggested to the doctor that it could be asthma and have been prescribed a blue inhaler, which definitely helps at night but it's not making me feel any better through the day.

I'd really appreciate some input from people with asthma as to whether uncontrolled asthma can make you feel consistently unwell. I also have an upset stomach to boot and six weeks of being unwell is getting really tiring.

Thanks all.

I'd push for bloods and a chest x ray. I had similar this time last year and it was pneumonia

Thanks, I've had an x ray and that was clear. Blood tests did show some inflammation and I'm having those repeated on wednesday

Worth being seen again in case of an ongoing problem. Have they given you a preventer or combination inhaler? What are your O2 levels?

I have asthma that was diagnosed about 8 years ago and what you've described is exactly what happened to me, minus the COVID. A blue inhaler will help with the coughing but you'll probably need a steroid inhaler to prevent the attacks. I pushed the doctor for an appointment with the asthma nurse at my practice, he didn't think it was asthma but the nurse said I was pretty textbook. So might be worth pushing for the same if you have an asthma nurse at your practice!

@LIZS thanks. My 02 levels are fine during the day, 97/98. They do dip a bit at night and have been down to 92 but often more around 94. I dont feel terribly breathless just really congested and that i have to cough to clear my chest to breath. At the moment they've given me a blue salbutamol easyhaler, which definitely helps but I don't feel like it's addressing the issue. Wondering if I might need steroids to calm the inflammation.

@dempsey73 thanks, that's reassuring to here. Did it make you feel unwell day to day? I feel groggy/weak and unwell in the mornings. Usually improve in the afternoon to a functional but pretty rubbish feeling state.

I've been asthmatic since the age of two and apart from the wheezing and occasional attacks as a child I don't ever remember it presenting any other symptoms

That sounds familiar. I rarely feel breathless or have typical symptoms, but seem to struggle with low sats at night and fatigue. Before Christmas I had a cough brought on by the cold snap and had to up my inhaler (Symbicort). At my asthma review I was also given blue ones for use with a spacer if needed. It took about 2 years from diagnosis to settle on Symbicort.

I had exactly the same as you, was treated for uncontrolled asthma, loads of drugs. By chance gave up wheat because if upset stomach issues, and six weeks later my asthma symptoms pretty much disappeared. I don’t take any inhalers at all now.
apparently ‘wheat wheeze’ is a real thing but not one medical professional mentioned it. This may not be the case for you, but worth mentioning in case.

I would say yes. I got diagnosed with asthma in my 20s, and when I finally got my inhalers right it was a revelation.

I felt as if I just hadn't known what breathing was supposed to be like since childhood. Also coughing all night makes you tired, and for me was triggering migraines as well.

Blue inhaler is fine but to feel really well you need a preventer.

Yes, I'd had years of feeling ill all the time, and every time I caught a cold, it turned into a cough then a chest infection, for years. I'm not skinny and the dr kept telling me it was reflux. I now take Symbicort, one puff in the morning and one in the evening and I hardly use my blue inhaler anymore. Look up Asthma/Eosinophilic Bronchitis, it used to be called ‘cough variant asthma’, it's a predominantly nocturnal cough, it may not be what you have but I would get it investigated because if that's what you have, getting some proper treatment will change your life.

I’m mildly asthmatic and get chest infections in the winter, maximum 1/2. This winter I’ve had 4, Covid and some stomach issues.

I’m going to go get my asthma reviewed. I’m on Simbacort too. Just feel so ill recently.

I've been wondering this too. I just can't seem to feel better

As it's not resolved I'd push to see the asthma nurse for a chat. GPs on the whole are good at acute treatment but defer to specialist nurses for long term treatment. This looks like it may be establishing as long term.

If you can maybe call asthma uk helpline and speak to a clinical practitioner. They will go through your symptoms and it might make asking for the asthma nurse appointment a bit easier.

If you are needing a reliever and are not on any prevention you are not being managed correctly.

Thank you all so much for your responses. All very helpful.