To want her to shut the fuck up?

[Helpmeoutpleasee]

Annoying housemate has a cough which she won't go to doctors for. She has been off work for a week (this is a separate issue - she is constantly off work...) and splutters/coughs loudly and everywhere, not covering her mouth. It's driving me up the wall

The doctor can't do anything for coughs.

Earplugs? All you can do is ask her to pipe down really.

Most people don't go to the doctors for a cough, there's nothing they can do for a viral cough.

Earplugs for you

Could you tell her how you feel about it?

Get her to go to the doctor by perhaps scaring her a little. It could be throat or lung cancer or acid reflux burning her throat. I had a cough for ages and eventually went to the doctor, got fobbed-off with cough mixture, when back again and was diagnosed with sarcoidosis (an incurable autoimmune disease that can destroy your lungs!). My lungs are now damaged permanently.

Tell her all this and you might get her to the doctor!

Pass her this article.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23129270

Oh, I've just seen that she's an 'annoying housemate' - would it be difficult to talk to her about it, or even approach her in the general?

Yanbu, I cannot stand coughing it really annoys me, even my own cough pisses me off the worst thing about it is I know that people can't help coughing, but something about it just gives me rage.

You can't do anything about the cough.

She absolutely does not need to go to the GP for a normal cough lasting a week.

But you can tell her to cover her mouth, that's just gross.

Pillow over the head at bedtime.

Hers not yours!!

Not covering her moth? Gross.

But yes, people sometimes get a cough. There's nothing she can do about that...

Lots of cough medicines in chemist will lessen symptoms at least. Could you treat her to a lemon and honey one from the supermarket. Maybe bring her something else as well so doesnt look too pointed !!

I've had a terrible bone shaking cough for several weeks now. A colleague heard they are currently called 100 day coughs.
I have pulled chest muscles with it and now coughing, yawning and breathing hurts like a bastard.
No point going to the docs because it just has to run its course. I do not have a chest infection and would go to the doc if I did.
So I'm sorry this is an inconvenience to you. Also - get over yourself.

I don't think unless you've and a cough for a good few weeks, you need a doctor really. I wouldn't go to the doctors for a cough

She can't help having a cough, your just have to deal with her coughing unfortunately.

Ear plug?
Confine yourself to your room?
Tell her to cover her mouth when she coughs?

99% of the time docs can't do anything about a cough so it's a total waste of time going.

Just tell her nicely that she needs to cover her mouth when she coughs and also needs to keep surfaces clean. Other than that there's nothing else she can do. Cough medicine does precisely fuck all in most cases.

Don't go if you've been coughing a week, but do go if you're coughing for 4 weeks +. I left it 7 weeks and now have infection induced asthma. It isn't going away, it's grim. Dr said I should have come in at the 4 week mark. I too thought that "there isn't anything that they can do for a cough", and "I don't want to waste their time" Turns out I was wrong on both counts.

Radishal - you might have mycoplasma, a bacterial lung infection. I had the same as you - my chest muscles are gradually getting better. Still live in fear of sneezing though. It was suspected mycoplasma which is apparently doing the rounds. It's treatable with specific antibiotics.

has a cough which she won't go to doctors for

bravo to her, assuming she's had it for a week as per your OP. What exactly is the GP meant to do for her likely viral infection? get her to a pharmacist.

How long has she had the cough for?

I'm sure it's not the best solution, but I'd be passive-aggressively cleaning everything she touches while glaring at her.

Well, rogue, I have taken your suggestion and made a doc appointment for this afternoon- amazed I got a same day appointment, actually.
Even more amazing was the sympathetic receptionist when I mentioned how I was pulling chest muscles all the time.
I have MS, and prefer to tough out trivial stuff like coughs and muscle strains.
There you go, op, tell your annoying housemate that even though a random on Mumsnet thinks you are being insensitive, said random is still going to get the cough checked out.

There's not much a doctor can do for a cough unless it's turned into a chest infection - even cough medicines only soothe the throat briefly (believe me, I have tried them ALL!) I know it's annoying though, I've apologised profusely to my housemate and upstairs neighbour for my constant barking over the last eight weeks.

The not covering her mouth is more of an issue though and I would probably mention it if I was you. It's one thing having to listen to her coughing, but you don't want to end up doing it yourself.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/pages/introduction.aspx

When to see your GP

There's usually no need to see your GP if you or your child have a mild cough for a week or two

However, you should seek medical advice if you've had a cough for more than three weeks

your cough is particularly severe or is getting worse
you cough up blood or experience shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or chest pain
you have any other worrying symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in your voice, or lumps or swellings in your neck

A persistent cough may be caused by:

a long-term respiratory tract infection, such as chronic bronchitis

asthma – this also usually causes other symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath
an allergy
smoking – a smoker's cough can also be a symptom of COPD
bronchiectasis – where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened
postnasal drip – mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose, caused by a condition such as rhinitis or sinusitis
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – where the throat becomes irritated by leaking stomach acid
a prescribed medicine, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor), which is used to treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
Rarely, a persistent cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as lung cancer, heart failure, a pulmonary embolism (blood clot on the lung) or tuberculosis.

The doctor can't do anything for a cough but I do sympathise, my wife has been coughing on and off for a few years, I've asked her to see a doctor but she refuses. Just this weekend she was coughing like mad and at one point was all red faced with tears streaming down her face because it made her choke.

That sounds serious Onion.

I don't understand. Why do you think the doctor cannot do anything? If your wife won't see the doctor, he cannot possibly diagnose or help.

Even the NHS advice is to see the doctor. If there was no point, you can bet they wouldn't be encouraging us to go along and clog up GP waiting rooms.

Your wife could be suffering needlessly.

Do encourage her as best you can. Show her the NHS literature. She's probably afraid of a bad diagnosis.

Well there was an advert campaign that was encouraging you to see your doc if it went on for much more than a week. Its not a normal situation a cough apart from when the lungs are irritated by some muck that shouldn't be there.

Does she smoke or does she work in smoky environments at all?, I is possible it might be the early stages of lung cancer it has been known to show itself like this. You say she is off work lot then i wonder what these other reasons are and might they be linked.

Try to get here to see the doc anyway for her sake and yours!