Adult Whooping Cough

[Peachslice]

Hi
never normally sick, but for last 3.5 weeks I’ve had all the symptoms of whooping cough, with virtually no sleep and feel like I’m in h*ll! Relentless hacking cough followed by gasping, and clear mucus vomiting then sore ribs that feels like they’ve splinted whenever I cough. To now the last 3 nights waking up several times like something from a horror film where I’m suffocating with mucus and literally in my knees coughing and vomiting. I’ve contacted my surgery twice, first time saw GP associate at 1.5 weeks who said lungs clear and as it’s clear mucus no ABs indicated. Today spoke to a GP who prescribed a strong nasal spray decongestant. Anyone else been in ax similar situation? When does it improve?!

I didn’t have it confirmed with gp, but I have had all the NICE symptoms for WC, with the 3 stages. Stage 1 - where you think it’s a horrible but normal cough. This is when I saw GP associate who said chest clear and I wasn’t being sick with anything green or yellow. I had started being sick with clear mucus with white in it (that I’ve read is a feature it WC) I’ve also read about a mum with a 12 week old baby who had it and said been in hospital twice with it including HDU, in between baby’s chest clear .
Stage 2 - Sudden sore rib to the point I initially thought I’d been stung by a wasp or sharp splinter had entered my chest. Coughing with whooping and vomiting, often more frequent and ferocious at night. I was on all fours at times, and waking up with an immediate cough and vomiting. This then moved into feeling like cling film was wrapped around my nose and mouth, with the mucus. There’s a YouTube video of a 64 year old man in hospital bed with WC, my whoops were worst than his. Had a brief chat with a GP where I told him all the symptoms but the amount of coughing at night had reduced very slightly so he just said I did sound poorly and prescribed a strong decongestant. I wished I’d insisted on a WC test, but having the symptoms is enough for a diagnosis to be made!
Stage 3 - Much less coughing for sure and ribs felt tender but not sharp pain, I’m very tired. I pushed myself last week carrying my heavy work bag, my dog pulling me on lead for about 10 minute and that evening the sharp pain has returned to left rib and not gone for nearly 2 days despite painkillers and ice pack.
When you tell people you’ve had WC they always say that did GP say, but I know I’ve had it!