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Hi, I Had Covid Back In March. No Breathing Issues.

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Posted on Tue, 8 Dec 2020
Question: Hi,

I had covid back in march. No breathing issues. Healthy 34 year old male. After a few months I feel like it’s a bit hard to take in air. When I lay down, when I sit hunched over. I also have bad anxiety.
I went to do an x-ray and the radiologist said everything was fine.
I went to a pulmonologist yesterday and he said he sees slight inflammation.

I did a spirometer test and he said i am only using 50% of lung capacity. I don’t know if its because of my anxiety or something else.

I would definitely like a second opinion please.

Thank you, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Hi,

I had covid back in march. No breathing issues. Healthy 34 year old male. After a few months I feel like it’s a bit hard to take in air. When I lay down, when I sit hunched over. I also have bad anxiety.
I went to do an x-ray and the radiologist said everything was fine.
I went to a pulmonologist yesterday and he said he sees slight inflammation.

I did a spirometer test and he said i am only using 50% of lung capacity. I don’t know if its because of my anxiety or something else.

I would definitely like a second opinion please.

Thank you, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Please send me your spirometry report.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
Your chest x ray is absolutely normal.
May I know your spirometry report?
Anxiety can not cause 50% reduction in lung capacity.
You might be having post infectious bronchitis.
Lung infection can cause bronchitis after healing.
So you might be having lung inflammation (bronchitis).
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Please send me your spirometry report.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
Your chest x ray is absolutely normal.
May I know your spirometry report?
Anxiety can not cause 50% reduction in lung capacity.
You might be having post infectious bronchitis.
Lung infection can cause bronchitis after healing.
So you might be having lung inflammation (bronchitis).
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)
Hi Dr XXXXXXX

Yes, that is what he said I had. He has Giving me a five day supply of steroids which sees to to be helping.

I don%E2%80%99t recall having bronchitus when I had covid in march.

I will see if I can get the spirometer readings from the doctor.

Do you think my lungs will go back to normal after treating the inflammation since the xrays look normal?

Warm regards, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Hi Dr XXXXXXX

Yes, that is what he said I had. He has Giving me a five day supply of steroids which sees to to be helping.

I don%E2%80%99t recall having bronchitus when I had covid in march.

I will see if I can get the spirometer readings from the doctor.

Do you think my lungs will go back to normal after treating the inflammation since the xrays look normal?

Warm regards, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Chest x ray is almost always normal in bronchitis.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Chest x ray is almost always normal in bronchitis.
Diagnosis of bronchitis is made only on the basis of spirometry.
So try to get spirometry report and let me know once it is available.
Also consider about inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) because inhaled treatment is best for bronchitis.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Chest x ray is almost always normal in bronchitis.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Chest x ray is almost always normal in bronchitis.
Diagnosis of bronchitis is made only on the basis of spirometry.
So try to get spirometry report and let me know once it is available.
Also consider about inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) because inhaled treatment is best for bronchitis.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 hours later)
Hi Dr XXXXXXX

i%E2%80%99m still working on getting them but I am still feel breathlessness here and there. Its very sporadic. Feels like I am taking empty breaths if that makes sense. If I take the breath from the mouth it feels better and a deeper breath.

I dont know if its all the air maybe trapped inside from doing lung exercises. My Blood oxygen level is at 98.

I%E2%80%99m on day 3/5 of the oral steroids and not sure if I should continue taking them.

Any suggestions?

Warm regards, XXXXXXX
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Hi Dr XXXXXXX

i%E2%80%99m still working on getting them but I am still feel breathlessness here and there. Its very sporadic. Feels like I am taking empty breaths if that makes sense. If I take the breath from the mouth it feels better and a deeper breath.

I dont know if its all the air maybe trapped inside from doing lung exercises. My Blood oxygen level is at 98.

I%E2%80%99m on day 3/5 of the oral steroids and not sure if I should continue taking them.

Any suggestions?

Warm regards, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No, don't continue with oral steroids.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
No, don't continue with oral steroids.
Better to start formoterol and budesonide combination.
Start foracort inhaler.
Will you able to get this inhaler?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
No, don't continue with oral steroids.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
No, don't continue with oral steroids.
Better to start formoterol and budesonide combination.
Start foracort inhaler.
Will you able to get this inhaler?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Is this for permanent or just till I feel better?
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Is this for permanent or just till I feel better?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Mostly for 4-6 months.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
Take for 4-6 months.
Repeat spirometry after 4-6 months. If improving then we have to taper down.
May I know which anxiety medicine you are taking?
Any smoking habit?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Mostly for 4-6 months.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
Take for 4-6 months.
Repeat spirometry after 4-6 months. If improving then we have to taper down.
May I know which anxiety medicine you are taking?
Any smoking habit?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)
I am not taking anxiety medication. Very very rare i take a tiny bit of xanax but i try to avoid.
No i dont smoke
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
I am not taking anxiety medication. Very very rare i take a tiny bit of xanax but i try to avoid.
No i dont smoke
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I think, you should definitely start anxiolytic medicines.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy.
In my opinion, you should definitely start anxiolytic medicines.
May I know last time before how many days you have consulted psychiatrist?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
I think, you should definitely start anxiolytic medicines.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy.
In my opinion, you should definitely start anxiolytic medicines.
May I know last time before how many days you have consulted psychiatrist?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 hours later)
they had to redo the test as they put my height wrong
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
they had to redo the test as they put my height wrong
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Ok. This mistake can cause false positive result.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Oh. This mistake can give you false positive result.
Do let me know your report with correct height.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Ok. This mistake can cause false positive result.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
Oh. This mistake can give you false positive result.
Do let me know your report with correct height.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Yes that is the correct one. All the ones that say 67 inches as height on top
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Yes that is the correct one. All the ones that say 67 inches as height on top
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Ok ok. You will be having normal report now.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
This is gross mistake.
In my opinion, you will be having normal report when you do it again with your correct height.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Ok ok. You will be having normal report now.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
This is gross mistake.
In my opinion, you will be having normal report when you do it again with your correct height.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 hours later)
?
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Means??

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
Why you put question mark in follow up question?
Please write something.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Means??

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
Why you put question mark in follow up question?
Please write something.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
The images i sent were the correct results.

I spoke to a friend who’s a doctor and he said they were supposed to spray something in my mouth before the test and the test looks incomplete.

Is this true?

Also, will blowing a balloon be considered a good exercise for my lungs a few times a day?
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
The images i sent were the correct results.

I spoke to a friend who’s a doctor and he said they were supposed to spray something in my mouth before the test and the test looks incomplete.

Is this true?

Also, will blowing a balloon be considered a good exercise for my lungs a few times a day?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, we do Pre and post bronchodilator test.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
It is still showing 67inches.
In spirometry, we do two test twice.
1. Pre bronchodilator
2. Post bronchodilator.
So the test you had done is considered as Prebronchodilator test.
Ideally, we give Nebulization after Prebronchodilator test for 10 minutes.
We do repeat spirometry after 10-15 minutes. Which is known as post bronchodilator test.
We have to compare both the results, Pre and post.
This is complete spirometry study.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Yes, we do Pre and post bronchodilator test.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Ask a doctor forum.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
It is still showing 67inches.
In spirometry, we do two test twice.
1. Pre bronchodilator
2. Post bronchodilator.
So the test you had done is considered as Prebronchodilator test.
Ideally, we give Nebulization after Prebronchodilator test for 10 minutes.
We do repeat spirometry after 10-15 minutes. Which is known as post bronchodilator test.
We have to compare both the results, Pre and post.
This is complete spirometry study.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Dr. Drkaushal85

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Hi, I Had Covid Back In March. No Breathing Issues.

Hi, I had covid back in march. No breathing issues. Healthy 34 year old male. After a few months I feel like it’s a bit hard to take in air. When I lay down, when I sit hunched over. I also have bad anxiety. I went to do an x-ray and the radiologist said everything was fine. I went to a pulmonologist yesterday and he said he sees slight inflammation. I did a spirometer test and he said i am only using 50% of lung capacity. I don’t know if its because of my anxiety or something else. I would definitely like a second opinion please. Thank you, XXXXXXX