Chesty cough for 5 weeks, now rib pain - what is it?

[IHeartKingThistle]

I have had this cough thing since the last week of January; this has involved lots of coughing up green stuff. Every time I think I'm better it hits me again. I've had pain between my shoulder blades since before then so maybe unrelated, but as of last night I seem to have done something to
my ribs on the front left side. I can feel it all the time but worse when coughing. My throat is achy too.

What have I done to myself? I haven't seen the GP yet as I know they don't do much for coughs, and anyway I would like to avoid antibiotics as I have had stomach issues.

[IHeartKingThistle]

No-one had this?

[EmmaGellerGreen]

Same here. Chest infection and strained muscles from all the coughing. I've done it so many times. Hurts so much that I can't drive to the doctors to get antibiotics. Sad state of affairs.

[MrsPMT]

Do you feel well otherwise? Because if you feel weak/fluey then you probably have a chest infection & will need antibiotics.

The rib pain will be from so much coughing, I would think.

I always go to docs if I have a chesty cough just in case, but am prone to chest & sinus infections.

[flow4]

Green phlegm generally means a chest infection not just a cough: you should go to your GP; you may need anti-biotics.

The rib pain may be a pulled muscle. It's very easy to pull something when you're coughing hard.

[IHeartKingThistle]

I've felt weak for the last 3 weeks tbh! Haven't got through a day without a nap for a while, which is pissing the DC off no end! Haven't had a temp at all though.

[MrsPMT]

I'd go to GP, I've done this in the past, carried on for weeks feeling poorly and got a gentle 'telling off' from the GP that I should have come in sooner.

Get yourself to the GP!

Hope your feeling better soon.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Urgh I am going to have to go aren't I? Will ring tomorrow.

[telsa]

My DP had this and it turned out to be pneumonia...so best to get it checked.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh god, don't say that!

[GobblersKnob]

I have had the same for a while, but feel pretty much fine in myself (did a three hour dance class yesterday). So figure I can't be that poorly.

Same as children, look at yourself overall, and go on that. Some coughs just drag on forever.

[babyjane67]

If youre coughing up green stuff or mucus that is brownthen yiu have an infection&need to see gp
Ive just done same as ive had nasty cough/brown mucus
I also get asthma so when i went down he said its a respiratory/brochitis infection&put me straight on antibiotics&steroids!

[IHeartKingThistle]

Well the doctor said she can't hear anything in my chest (yay!) but she's not happy with the time it's been going on for and wants me to take antibiotics (boo). I said I was worried that it might bring all my stomach problems back so she said to take painkillers and call her back in 2 days if not improved and I'll have to go on them then.

Quick! How can I get better in 2 days?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Rib pain awful today.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Any advice? Sore and miserable here!

[telsa]

Sorry to hear this. I still have a phenomenal chesty cough after the same amount of time and lots of mucus. No rib pain here, but head and neck aches. I also feel so tired. I am just hoping it is a nasty flu that is taking a while to leave because I have not really been able to rest...small DCs, also Iill DP etc. so no advice just solidarity.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Thankyou!

[zipzap]

Is the coughing worse at night time?

Apparently there's been a resurgence in whooping cough over the last few years - the vaccination isn't a forever one, immunity wears off after 20-30 years for many people.

However, the cough in adults doesn't have the whoop bit in it like it does for children and thus is often not recognised as such, particularly by younger doctors (under 50!) because they came up through med school believing that vaccinated adults didn't really get it anymore. And the patient coughs lots, especially at night but the lungs don't sound congested like they would with a normal cough and cold, so they assume that means there isn't a problem. (probably oversimplifying lots but you get the idea).

Bad news - its also known as the 100 day cough.

Worth looking up the symptoms and seeing if they fit...

[zipzap]

Oh and there's lots of para flu around this year too which is sort of half way between a nasty cough / cold and flu.

Does having live yoghurt with the antibiotics help with your stomach problems with antibiotics? I have to make sure I have plenty of live yoghurt as soon as I start taking them otherwise I get problems.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[IHeartKingThistle]

That's really interesting zipzap. Not coughing much at night I don't think, so hopefully it's not that! Rib pain is bad at night though - can't get comfy.

[telsa]

I finally broke and went to Dr. He has given me strong antibiotics and a slip for a chest x-ray. How are you OP?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh telsa, hope you feel better soon. I went on Monday - she couldn't hear anything in my chest but has given me antibiotics because it hasn't gone away. I'm in two minds whether to take them though - they're going to mess up my stomach and if this is a virus they won't touch it anyway. Rib pain is bad but this morning the cough is drier and I feel a bit less tired. I'm tempted to leave it a couple of days and see if things continue to improve. That said, I've thought I was better twice now and the bloody thing's come back!

[telsa]

I have to say I am really happy I have the anti-b's now - as this is never going away on its own - even though I kept thinking it was lessening. I don't have the stomach problems you have though - perhaps probiotics could help with that??

[iggy4]

for your tummy try using acidopholus [ from holland & barret ]....i take 2 each lunchtime & they have helped me enormously.....i found their own make not much use & i buy the ones by quest....if you work out the billions of good bacteria in one tablet you need to have literally bucket full of the so called drinks & live yoghurts etc.........please give them a try i have been using them now for about 4 years & the dr's are puzzled by my so called cure....lol..please double up your quests when on antibiotics [ least thats what i do ...i have to have a very strong form of AB's at the ready at all times as i have a lot of metal in my left leg.any form of infection via blood could mean the next operation is to remove it soooooo hence my use of the good stuff............good luck with the chesty cough which ive had for a few months now..i will have to drag myself off to the docs.....hate going.......good luck all again