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Before and After RSV
Life Before and After RSV: My New Normal

Released: May 22, 2026

Bruce Coleman
Bruce Coleman
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Key Takeaways
  • RSV infection can cause severe illness in older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic conditions, such as asthma, COPD, or heart failure.
  • Severe RSV infection can lead to hospitalization and long-term impacts on day-to-day function.

This interview details the experience of a man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who developed severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, requiring hospitalization. His story shows how, even after his infection cleared, RSV had long-term consequences for his quality of life.

Before you got RSV, how did COPD affect your breathing and activity level?
Before RSV, I felt like I had my COPD fairly well under control. I would just take my fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol inhaler in the morning, and I didn’t have to use albuterol as a “rescue” medication at all. The only time I ever needed to use supplemental oxygen was occasionally upon exertion, and even then, I could normally sit down and quickly catch my breath without any oxygen.

When your symptoms started, did they feel like your usual COPD symptoms?
I was having more difficulty breathing. I had a hard time catching my breath and doing basic activities like going to the bathroom without becoming really short of breath, even with supplemental oxygen. My ability to do my normal activities was very restricted.

How did your hospitalization for RSV affect your comfort and ability to function?
The hospital had the means to handle any problems that could arise, which gave me comfort. I was on supplemental oxygen almost the whole time, except for the last 4 or so days, when I could finally wean off it. However, even with the supplemental oxygen, I was still restricted in my ability to function. I could handle going to the bathroom and lying in my bed, but that was it.

After you left the hospital, what was your quality of life like while you were recovering?
My quality of life was diminished but not as much as it had been with RSV before I went to the hospital. I still couldn’t go on long trips or even make grocery store excursions. I had my daughter get groceries for me or send things to my house. It was a while before I could go out into public and feel confident enough to walk around.

Does RSV affect your current ability to do normal daily things?

“I feel like I’m on the road to recovery . . . but I don’t feel like I’ve ever gotten back to where I was prior to having RSV.”

Right now, I’m able to go to the grocery store, Target, and places like that to shop, but I still require the aid of a shopping cart to support myself while walking. The positive is that I can go a little bit longer without the need for oxygen. I feel like I’m on the road to recovery as far as that goes, but I don’t feel like I’ve ever gotten back to where I was prior to having RSV. It is also hard to differentiate between COPD progression and the consequences of having had RSV.

Your Thoughts
How does this man’s experience compare with those you have heard from patients, family, or friends who developed severe RSV? Leave a comment to join the discussion! And to learn more about the impact that RSV can have in adults, please join us for a live webinar on June 2 at 12:00 PM ET.

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