Shortness of breath every time I have a cold - possible long Covid related

[SureLight]

For the past few years (possibly since having Covid but it was pre-testing so I can’t be sure I had it) I have been experiencing awful shortness of breath every time I get a cold. It only really affects me when I’m lying down and really effects my sleep.

It’s hard to describe but it feels like I just can’t get enough air in and I only get relief when I force myself to yawn.

I’ve been to multiple doctors - one of which was a long Covid specialist who said there has been a huge rise in similar symptoms since Covid. He believed that messaging between the brain and lungs is scrambled and the brain thinks the lungs aren’t working hard enough. I was sent for a lung function test which showed perfect function and I was asked to keep a log of blood oxygen levels and peak flow which were also both normal. I was then referred to a respiratory physio to learn some breathing exercises.

Sadly I have seen no improvement in my breathing and it’s really affecting my quality of life. I have a very slight cold at the moment and it means my sleep has been terrible for nearly a week. I wake in the night finding I just can’t catch my breath and whe it’s really bad I feel almost panicked like I’m suffocating.

Before I go back to the doctor again (who I don’t expect to be able to do anything to help) I thought I would see if anyone here had experienced anything similar, and what treatment had helped.

Is it anything related to sleep apnoea? Could that be a way forward?

Is there any history yourself or direct family members of any eczema or hayfever?

And when you did the lung function test , did they do "reversibility" as well? (Did they give you any kind of inhaler half way through then ask you to wait 20-30 mins and do the test again)?

Yep, I have this. I had covid pre jabs and for 4 or so months after I could not take a full breath in. Like you my SATs were decent but it was honestly horrible, I went to quite a dark place and tried everything. Thankfully it eventually went, but everytime I get a cold now I get it for a few days and it's miserable. I've had a chest X Ray, blue inhaler, peak flow diary, spirometry (sp?)- the only thing that really manages it is if I use the combi inhaler they prescribed at the very start of a cold.

It is bloody miserable I empathise so much! I'd highlight how much it's affecting you.

He believed that messaging between the brain and lungs is scrambled and the brain thinks the lungs aren’t working hard enough.

This is interesting, why would it only happen with a cold though I wonder?

@Happii interesting what you said about ithe combo inhaler.

I work as a respiratory specialist nurse and we are seeing a massive increase in asthma diagnosis post covid. People that have certain blood markers, specific history of atopic conditions - or family history of - etc who never had symptoms of asthma before covid but for some reason having covid "awakens" their asthma. It is the same theory of diagnosis of asthma in adults who have perhaps moved location, had a pregnancy (linked to specific hormone change), changed job etc.

All these people were pre-disposed to asthma and their asthma was simply lying dormant having never caused an issue. A change in circumstances sets it off. So theory has it the same with the covid disease and what it does to your lungs.

So going back to your combi inhaler -
I'm assuming this is something with a steroid and long acting best 2 agonist (formoterol probably?) We know these medications do very little for people without asthma, so there is perhaps a possibility of asthma here.

I have this but from pneumonia in 2015, it left me with some mild scarring on the lungs. Usually day to day it doesn't bother me but when I get a cold it goes straight to my chest and I get very short of breath. I now have the pink combi inhaler which I take to prevent this and relieve the breathlessness.

Though on thinking about it, I have also had Covid and I wonder if that has piled more asthma on top of whatever the pneumonia left behind. The GP told me that women are often diagnosed with asthma for the first time in their 40s.

I had a terrible cold this time last year. GP prescribed me a salbutamol inhaler as there was no infection, but she could tell something not quite right. The improvement I saw within 24 hours was outstanding.

I have since used it before bed when I have had a cold, I tend to get a dry unproductive cough with the tiniest of wheezes - only when I have a cold virus. Two puffs of the inhaler before bed seems to solve things.

Literally everyone in my family has asthma, my DS has it (and DH doesnt) so what you say makes a lot of sense! It's never affected me prior to the covid infection where shortness of breath followed, id also had DS a year prior so perhaps that contributed. The doctor did ask about family with asthma etc and said that's why they were curious to try the inhaler and see. I didn't realise it could lay dormant and be activated- that is interesting thank you for sharing :) they haven't formally diagnosed anything but I do have an appointment with the asthma nurse soon to check in so be interesting to know more.

No history of asthma or eczema in my family, but some family members have hayfever.

They did repeat the test after using an inhaler and it made no difference.

Interesting how many others have similar symptoms, but a lot seem to be linked to asthma which has been ruled out in my case.

I don’t experience my symptoms alongside coughing or any significant congestion. I’ve also had a chest xray which showed no lung scarring (although I appreciate they’re not always very accurate). I also don’t experience any real shortness of breath during the day or when exercising.

How do you tend to sleep? Do certain positions make breathing easier I.e when on your front?

Position seems to make no difference. When it’s really bad and I can’t catch my breath in the night I have to sit up which seems to help slightly (or it could just be a distraction).

I naturally sleep on my side.

That does sound really horrible, hopefully the GP can help, when mine was really bad the first time I was offered a sleep study (think that's what it's called) where they'd monitor you asleep in a hospital bed basically- thankfully didn't seem to need it, but hopefully there's options for you. Also sounds a bit weird but have you tried Rennies?

I paid to do a private home sleep survey and it ruled out sleep apnoea.

My GP has been hopeless. The respiratory consultant and respiratory physio were both private and cost me a fortune.

I'm so sorry OP it sounds miserable. Can you change your GP?

I've had this for a while. I called the ambulance twice having never had an ambulance before, also visited A&E
It's more that I can't get a deep satisfying breath.
I've had chest xray, countless blood tests as it can be connected to low iron and low B12 apparently.
I'm booked in for a lung function late October.
The GP prescribed pulmicort inhaler and salbutamol (which I've never used)
They think it's stress related or anxiety, it's much better now but i honestly felt like o was going mad as at times I felt so unwell, and they were unable to find anything wrong.
Now Im scared to stop taking the inhaler even though im unsure if it's that what is making it better.
I'm rarely ill and am quite a resilient person, I'm late 50's and this really affected me to the point I was scared to drive in case I had an attack and there was no one to help me, so I really feel for you and hope you get it sorted.

That sounds very similar to what I’m experiencing. Is it worse at night/when you’re lying down? Please let me know the outcome of your lung function test.

This is so interesting.
I went to borderline medical-attention- being-needed oxygen saturation when I had covid, and my lips were blue.
I have come to the realisation since then that with every cold I now get really breathless ( not only at night) and I'm suspecting it's linked to covid. Lung damage maybe?
I was already an asthmatic, but this is unlike asthma in that it doesn't give me asthma attacks.

You might find this interesting

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/patients-long-covid-show-abnormal-lung-perfusion-despite-2024a1000gkv?form=fpf

Wouldn’t a symptom of this be low blood oxygen saturation? Mine is always 99% even when I’m gasping for breath.

@SureLight
My sats were also 99% when the ambulance turned up and when I was in A&E
I will let you know re:the lung function however I'm not convinced they'll find anything.
One doctor I saw in the urgent treatment centre told me I had walking pneumonia and gave me antibiotics.
It seems to have gotten so much better it still happens but not nearly as bad as it was. I think the inhaler is helping but I've also read to get your vit B12 checked and iron.
Mine could come on anytime, watching tv, driving etc etc
Maybe it is stress/anxiety related....

That’s very interesting. Last time my bloods were taken my B12 and iron were normal.