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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to not go to the doctor.

37 replies

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 22:40

I have a cough, mostly in the morning which is productive and usually makes me vomit. Not bad during the day then bad of an evening but not really productive of an evening.

This had been going on about 3 weeks, following on from a heavy cold.

Now it is clear to me that it is the tail end of bronchitis, perfectly normal symptoms and no cause for concern.

My DP is being really shitty with me because he thinks I should see a doctor. He said a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks can be a sign of lung cancer.

I understand that he is concerned and I appreciate that he cares but I have no other symptoms of lung cancer, I am in my early 30s so not at risk there, never smoked in my life and don't get exposed to passive smoking or any of the other known lung cancer risks.

So AIBU to not waste the doctors time with this? Is he being unreasonable to be shitty with me because I won't go.

OP posts:

Fortheloveofscience · 05/02/2019 22:41

I wouldn’t go. Typically takes me 6-8 weeks to completely get over a cough and I’m otherwise completely healthy.

RaininSummer · 05/02/2019 22:43

I agree with you OP. I have never had a cough last less than 6 weeks.

Singlenotsingle · 05/02/2019 22:44

Maybe he'd like some sleep. Have you got a spare bedroom?

recklessruby · 05/02/2019 22:45

I think it's up to you. You're an adult. There's been a nasty virus going round that ends with a rotten cough and my friend has had it since early January. Neither she or her partner smoke.
Doctors might give you antibiotics but mostly they just tell you it's a virus etc etc.
We have all that the horrible thing in our house.

combatbarbie · 05/02/2019 22:46

My hubby had an irritation cough that was making him vomit.... went to docs twice had inhalers etc, 3rd time saw a different doc who referred straight to hospital, x-ray showed massive shadow. End result acute bronchitis and pneumonia....in hospital for a week. He now also has asthma as a result and gets bronchitis every winter.

Original poster

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 22:46

Singlenotsingle we sont live together. He mostly phones me in the evening and obviously can hear me cough a lot on the phone. When he does stay over he has noticed me throwing up of a morning.v

OP posts:

Kintan · 05/02/2019 22:47

A relative of mine died after a chest infection turned into sepsis. I agree with your partner, get checked out, that’s a long time for a cough.

Original poster

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 22:48

Was he otherwise unwell combatbarbie? I have a head ache and feel achy but nothing bad enough to stay off work so I don't feel like I need a hospital stay.

OP posts:

Original poster

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 22:49

Sorry to hear about your relative Kintan

OP posts:

Letitgo2018 · 05/02/2019 22:52

It's up to you... But it sounds quite dramatic to make you vomit every morning so perhaps go to the GP who can listen to your chest and if there are crackles etc, might give you an antibiotic.

bridgetreilly · 05/02/2019 22:52

I would go. If you're right, great, there's no cause for concern. But you might not be and 3 weeks of that sort of cough could easily be an indication that there is something else going on as well.

garethsouthgatesmrs · 05/02/2019 22:57

If i had a cough that was regularly making me vomit I would go. There are things between cancer and "Just a virus" that need to be treated and could get worse without treatment. Chances are you will have to wait for an appointment anyway so it might have been 4/5/6 weeks by then and if it passes you can cancel the appointment.

justasking111 · 05/02/2019 22:58

I struggled for a while like you OP. Ended up at the GP because I was vomiting. I needed antibiotics my chest was very crackly apparently. So it would let the GP give you the once over. I was asked why I had not come in sooner.

QuestionableMouse · 05/02/2019 22:58

If it's bad enough to make you throw up, you need to be seen.

IWantMyHatBack · 05/02/2019 23:01

I'd go in this situation, but then I ignored a chesty cough for three weeks thinking it would go away and ended up with pneumonia that needed two different antibiotics to shift.

Why not make an appointment? If you start feeling better you can always cancel it.

combatbarbie · 05/02/2019 23:04

OP it was initially a normal winter cold but the couch wouldn't budge, I could hear him rattling during night, no-one was getting sleep etc. Please just make an appt....a persistent tickly cough is one thing, coughing til you vomit is a whole different level x

Original poster

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 23:06

Thanks everyone, seems I need to concede on this one and book an appointment.

OP posts:

BusySnipingOnCallOfDuty · 05/02/2019 23:15

You can ask for a telephone consultation and they'll be able to tell you if itd worth coming in. My surgery is also trialling appointment via videolink!

SaturdayNext · 05/02/2019 23:18

A bad cough can make me vomit simply because I have a sensitive gag reflex and a tendency to reflux anyway, and the irritation and the spasms from coughing just makes me retch. It doesn't mean there is any serious underlying illness. However, if what you produce is yellow or green, that would indicate infection which needs to be checked.

YesSheCan · 05/02/2019 23:19

GP here. Advising you to go to doctors

LizB62A · 05/02/2019 23:26

My doctor practically laughed at me when I went there to talk about my cough, that had been going on for literally weeks and was so bad that I was throwing up and having nosebleeds.
I mentioned the NHS ad campaign about persistent coughs maybe being a sign of something more sinister and he sort of raised his eyebrows.
I'm still here (although I do think he should have taken me more seriously, so I booked another appt with a different GP who did send me for a chest x-ray as they were concerned)

Rainbowsandcupcakes · 05/02/2019 23:30

No, unless you’re struggling to breathe then I wouldn’t as you won’t be given anything even if it is productive. I had a chest infection and pleurisy before Christmas and they still ummm and aaahh about giving me anything and I’m asthmatic!

mumsastudent · 05/02/2019 23:32

what colour is your sputum - if its not clear you need antibiotics - your dp is concerned I think he has reasonable concerns

PoffleWaffle · 05/02/2019 23:32

A friend of a friend of mine has just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, aged 29. A non smoker.

Obviously very very unusual but I would go. I am a worrier though.

Original poster

Dextrodependant · 05/02/2019 23:34

The phlegm is yellowish green.

There was blood once but that was at the very start when I had a really sore throat too. Now it's just green phlegm.

I might hang fire another week and see how I get on. I am not struggling to breathe or short of breath, a bit headache and generally achy but nothing serious.

OP posts:

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