Help! Too embarrassed to go to GP?

You’re asthmatic. You have to be cautious, particularly where your breathing is concerned.

Don’t worry about what she meant by her comment. Don’t waste any time analysing it. It doesn’t matter. Your health does.

Go to your GP if youre coughing up coloured stuff and vomiting. Please!

How long have you been coughing? Anything over 4 weeks (I think?) needs checking.

You’ve got every right to look out for your health and your GP was unprofessional to say that to you. Shaming people for asking for help is not ok!

Maybe the nurse was being a bit socially awkward, maybe she was clumsily trying to show empathy, maybe she was being sarcastic and mean. You can never know the answer to that

What you objectively know, is that a gp told you to make an appointment if you experience the symptoms you currently have. You probably won’t even see the same nurse, but even if you do, the frequency or reason for your appointments isn’t hers - or anyone else’s - to pass judgement on

Try to look at it as she was sympathising about the ill health you've been suffering, not that she was implying anything bad. You need to go to the Doctor your breathing is being seriously affected and with the asthma you could get long term consequences from ignoring this cough.

People's comments can only affect you if you let them. You cant control other people but you can control how you chose to react.

She may have been sympathising about your run of bad health luck, it may have been a misplaced joke.

Your being silly if you let one comment stop you seeking medical care when you need it. Specially when you have asthma and have been told to seek medical care after a cold.

The nurse was indiscreet and inappropriate

3-6 appointments a year without an ongoing medical condition that requires regular management is an awful lot

Yes you do have to make an appointment now as it’s in your asthma plan

It's only the nurse op. That comment won't have flagged anything on your record. She probably doesn't even work there now if she's that unprofessional!

You need to go to GP. When I had cough for 2+ weeks they sent me for chest Xray even though im young and healthy, they do take it seriously.

Your health is more important than embarrassment, just keep reminding yourself that. She may have also meant the comment about lots of appointments in sympathy? Again not your fault you're so poorly!

You need to see your gp, appointments are given for need, not rationed based on usage history. If any comments are made just ask for a loyalty card for frequent flyers.

As the old advert used to say "Don't die of embarrassment, see your GP."

(Which always used to suggest to me that they would kill you off instead...😆 I guess that's why they stopped running that one!)

Sit with your feelings for a few minutes.

Accept you feel embarrassed.

But then move on to saying to yourself "but there is no rational reason to feel that way and my health is important"

Say it ten times.

Book the appointment.

That was really unprofessional of that nurse. I think you’d have grounds to complain, but I can see you might not want to make a fuss. You definitely need to see your GP OP, it sounds awful. And it’s in your asthma plan, so go!

Exactly this. It was a passing comment of zero significance.

Good grief. Stop being silly (yes, you know you are), make the appointment, go to the doc - and if the nurse is there put on a big smile and say - hi, it's me again!

Op get to your doctor asap! Your clearly unwell and im certain your gp will want to see you to check you're ok. Pls call them or contact them now and wishing you well.

Sorry this hcp upset you op. As you have asthma and a heart condition you need to see a GP today. Pharmacists are fine for minor and occasional ailments but not management of asthma with an infection on top. Good luck .

If you are asthmatic, don't mess about with a productive cough, especially if your sputum is not clear. Brown would indicate blood probably as a result of small haemorrhages caused by excessive coughing. It could also indicate infection. How's your peak flow? Personally, if I have a cough that hasn't cleared after a week, I go and see the asthma nurse.

I think they can now (not 100 per cent sure if they do for chest infections) but our local chemist does for a few types of infections like uti but if they are concerned they refer you to gp.

I had this too. I'm asthmatic and every time I got covid, I ended up with a prolonged cough which eventually turned into a chest infection because I didn't deal with it quickly enough. Go to your GP now for this and then book an appointment with your asthmatic team to talk through your daily treatment. It may be that they can manage your asthma better to stop basic coughs/colds turning into something more sinister. Also, make sure you get the flu and covid vaccines.

Hope you feel better soon, I've done the coughing til I'm sick thing a few times. Please get help.

How many appointments have you had this year? It sounds like a case of mistaken identity because you don’t sound like you have had many. How would the nurse know you had had a lot of GP appointments? She wouldn’t. So I think she’s talking about someone else, someone that she has seen for a lot of appointments or procedures.

Also, I work in a health care setting, and might well say ‘we’ve met before haven’t we’. This is because I’ve seen my name when I’ve reviewed your notes. I’m saying that to make you feel more comfortable, not because I really remember you telling me about your ingrown toenails 6 months ago.

You need to take control of your health and assert yourself . Persistent cough needs to be seen by a GP not a pharmacist or practice nurse

Asthma can be very dangerous @Derry30 especially if you’re coughing until you vomit. You definitely need to see the GP urgently - please try to ignore that rude nurse, she was likely having a bad day and you happened to be in her proximity - nothing to do with you x