Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Advice please do I go a&e?

109 replies

MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 05/01/2023 08:30

Past 5 days I've had a dry hacking cough, that is leaving me gasping for breath. I'm very breathless.
Coughing up foamy white mucus with brown/red flecks in it sorry TMI!
My chest In the middle hurts and feels like a elephant sat on it. Got a headache non stop, feel dizzy & faint. The back of my throat at the top feels damaged I've coughed that much.
I have asthma on top and my inhalers despite being strong ones aren't helping. Drank more than enough water and it's not helping, have cough medicines that aren't doing jack sh^t!

Tried for two days to get through to my GP to be seen and can't get an appointment. No walk in centre by me.
It's killing me off, last night I barely slept as I kept waking up gasping for air and coughing. 😭
Not sure if I'm being over dramatic but it's so damn painful. Haven't been anywhere to get a cough, all my family & people I've seen don't have a cough/cold neither so I don't think it's a cold I've caught.

OP posts:
WomensLandArmy · 05/01/2023 08:31

I would try 111 before a&e.
If you can get through!

stackhead · 05/01/2023 08:35

It's a no from me. Keep trying with the gp or 111 for an appointment. But it's not an accident or an emergency.

It's just flu.

Rest and fluids. Humid air where you can.

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2023 08:36

No it sounds like you need a GP but not A&E

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Poonicorn · 05/01/2023 08:37

Have you done a covid test?

Original poster
MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 05/01/2023 08:37

Okay, I'll keep trying GP & 111.
I have postural tachycardia syndrome as well which I don't think is helping the situation. Just feel like death. I've had the flu before and this doesn't feel like the flu.

OP posts:
LionsandLambs · 05/01/2023 08:38

stackhead · 05/01/2023 08:35

It's a no from me. Keep trying with the gp or 111 for an appointment. But it's not an accident or an emergency.

It's just flu.

Rest and fluids. Humid air where you can.

I disagree. Op has chest pains no is breathless. She has history asthma. She needs A&E assessment to exclude pneumonia or PEs.

Realitea · 05/01/2023 08:40

You need your oxygen levels checked and might have a bacterial infection. Try 111 and GP.

Shouldbedoing · 05/01/2023 08:40

Definitely A & E for this.

Irisheyesareshining · 05/01/2023 08:41

If you are struggling to breathe it should be AE, trust your own instinct. You may have pneumonia.

Fuuuuuckit · 05/01/2023 08:42

Covid test?

Irisheyesareshining · 05/01/2023 08:44

Even if it’s covid , breathing problems this bad need assessment.

CarpetDiem · 05/01/2023 08:50

ED.
Your asthma is uncontrolled on top of flu type illness. You might just need some nebulisers & steroids but asthma needs addressing ASAP

kittensinthekitchen · 05/01/2023 08:51

Call 111. It is literally their job to advise and signpost you.

For others - she has a cough that is causing breathlessness. That can be perfectly expected with some coughs. That doesn't automatically = struggling to breathe!

Happytohelp74 · 05/01/2023 08:51

Pharmacy appointment?

Crackstone · 05/01/2023 08:53

111 and see what they say. There will probably be a different route they can find for you and we need to keep A&E as clear as possible.

I suspect there is a walk in centre that will be better placed to help with this.

JoeMaplin · 05/01/2023 08:55

Can you do 111 online? It should trigger a call back within 30 mins for something serious like this - I did one last week for my mum who has COPD.. 111 made her GP see her that day, although they’d already refused an appointment as they were full.

i know it’s impossible to get through to 111 by phone. I tried and it just rang for over 2 hours.

ButterBastardBeans · 05/01/2023 08:56

If you think you are coughing blood - A & E definitely. If your sats are low. A & E.

Original poster
MeMyBooksAndMyCats · 05/01/2023 09:02

CarpetDiem · 05/01/2023 08:50

ED.
Your asthma is uncontrolled on top of flu type illness. You might just need some nebulisers & steroids but asthma needs addressing ASAP

Asthma was controlled up to when I got this. Just spent 6 months getting it under control with new inhalers.

I've managed to finally get a gp appointment DH threatened to take me a&e and put in a complaint so a slot has magically come free. I can't breathe everytime I do it's coughing so painful. Thanks for all advice xx

OP posts:
TortillaChipAddict · 05/01/2023 09:05

Glad you got an appt! I’ve also had this bug, asthmatic and struggling to breathe. Not fun. Beginning to feel a bit better now I have a different inhaler and antibiotics

HappyGrumpyDoc · 05/01/2023 09:07

Just read you have a gp appointment now. I would definitely have presented at a and e otherwise. Struggling to breathe is an emergency!

LaCerbiatta · 05/01/2023 09:13

Isn't coughing up a foamy mucus together with the crushing feeling on chest a potential sign of PE? I would go to AE now. Scary how dangerous people's advice can be! Pharmacy??? really?? And how the narrative that misuse of emergency services is responsible for the status of the NHS😡.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 05/01/2023 09:14

You can do 111 online and if the online form thinks you need to have a call or an appt it sets up a callback or directs you to an out of hours service.

ChocHotolate · 05/01/2023 09:16

A&E is totally full of people with coughs. You would be in good company

Kpo58 · 05/01/2023 09:16

Happytohelp74 · 05/01/2023 08:51

Pharmacy appointment?

The pharmacy is pretty much useless for anything that's not a very minor problem that you probably already know how to treat. All they would do is tell you to see your GP.