When is a cough a chest infection?

[AnonAnonEmouse]

Have been feeling really unwell since Friday. Literally non stop dry barky cough- feel like every breath in tickles the fuck out of my throat and makes me cough. Still have a fever - every time meds are wearing off I get chills. Aching all over from all the coughing and not getting any sleep. According to the NHS online there's no need to see a GP unless you've had a cough for over 3 weeks - the thought of feeling like this for another 2 weeks is horrendous!

Goodness knows I've had what sounds similar for 4 weeks and they still won't let me speak to a GP

Oh no @ahemfem ! I really feel for you, this is literally torture

I've been coughing so much I've been puking.

Coughing until you vomit could be whooping cough. There's lots around at the moment

I had it in January. Can I get it again??

I had this and eventually went to the GP after 4 weeks, did have chest infection. Five days of antibiotics and I was much better, still have the remnants of a cough tho. One of the questions I was asked was whether coughing had made me vomit. So I’d def go.

There seems to be some nasty stuff around at the moment.

I think a chest infection cough is more wet? I tend to know it's becoming a chest infection because I can taste it (yuk!) and my chest feels tighter.

I always thought that this advice is just for cough, if you have fever, headaches, tiredness it’s a different matter.
Chest infection usually gives the feeling of being unusually tired. So if you had this I would contact GP.

TMI ...but yellow or deep green phlegm is a sign.

I had a bad cough, lots of coughing fits, generally feeling tired and unwell. Then felt like someone was constantly smothering me with a pillow, and couldn’t walk up the stairs without being totally out of breath. Had to sit up all night because I couldn’t breathe properly lying down. Really rattled and wheezy breathing. Coughing up bright yellow phlegm. I did that for 4 days and then called the GP. Got a same day appointment and given antibiotics. I’m a couple of days into the meds and feeling like I’m on the mend (slowly).

Not sleeping since Friday due to coughing has made me exhausted- not sure how I'd know if this is why or if it's fatigue

Have also vomited several times from coughing. Great fun so it is

@AnonAnonEmouse i would call your GP. The 3 week guidelines are for a persistent cough. You sound like you have more than that!

A chest infection is just a generalized term meaning some sort of infection inside the chest.

There are lots of different types - URTI (upper respiratory tract infection) - often nasal/back of throat symptoms, Bronchitis, bronchiolitis, pneumonia (usually related to the lobes)

Each of these can be caused by different things - frequently viruses, also bacteria and rarely fungal

Most can cause coughs.

So a cough itself is a poor indicator of what and where the infection is and what is causing it or what will help it.

Most coughs are caused by viruses, which there is little treatment for so supportive measures are suggested - in a severe case this may included oxygen and even support to breathe.

Where bacteria is suspected someone might take a mucous sample to better decide on the causative bacteria and provide antibiotics that can help deal with this.

If at any time you are having increasing difficulty in breathing you need to seek immediate medical help to assess your oxygen and listen to your chest sounds to see how effective your breathing is.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chest-infection/

Do you feel you can inflate your lungs properly or have pain in your back? Is your capillary refill good?

I have a horrible cough also keeping me awake, also non stop tickle.

But it's upper airway. It's like phlegm recycling that I can't get up but it isn't in my lungs, it's higher.

If you are breathless and wheezing see a doctor but if it is as above you have to wait for it to go. It is irritating as hell and hoping I don't pull intercostal muscles as did that once before and it took months to heal.

I feel I can take deep breaths in but walking up the stairs leaves me breathless and a bit sweaty. Oxygen sats are OK. Just feel rotten and very sorry for myself!

You may need to see a doctor then.

Do you have any night nurse? I can't take a full dose but half or less (under 10ml) is enough to help me sleep. It is also like paint stipper going down so eases coughing for a small time.

I felt weak and rotten for 4-5 days. I now feel okay in myself but the cough and snot is still going strong 12 days in.

@HowYouSpellingThat10 I took a full dose of night nurse together with cough suppressant last night and was awake coughing my guts up less than 2 hours later. Couldn't open my eyes but was sitting up barking my head off 😒

Just hoping I feel a bit better tomorrow. Glad to hear you're feeling less rotten. Snot can linger for a long time can't it

Chest infection has mucus deep within the lungs and there would be a rasping / rattling sound. You’d be more unwell with a temp I think. I’ve had a few of them. Hoping you feel better in the meantime though.

Have u done a covid test?

I've been like this. The hot and cold the ache the up all night coughing and it's covid.

Not that you need to test but it sounds like it.

I remember having one as a student, I actually felt liquid in my lungs, felt so horribly awful for a couple of weeks before conceding and going to the student health centre.
I am sure I had one 2 years ago too - phlegmy cough, green snot, temperature. Closest thing to flu I have felt. That one burned itself out after 3 weeks, was too afraid to go to the doctors in case they started going on about covid - sadly I had to work and couldn't be signed off.

'm signed off but I literally couldn't go into work.

It has made me wish I had a wfh job th t I could just do a slow day for

@SageBlossomBunny I had covid 3 weeks ago, with fever/chills but no cough, was more like a head cold. I've tested again and it's negative so obviously some other shitty virus 😷

Omg no! I expect its the covid still rattling on!

A good indicator of a chest infection is when you can feel a crackling or bubbling in your chest when you breathe. I had an awful cold bug in Feb. Coughed so hard I completely bolloxed my pelvic floor and ached everywhere. First time I went to the doctor he said by chest was clear. About day 8 days it changed, I could feel crackling in my chest, went back and it was a chest infection in both lungs.