To believe it's time DH speaks to a GP?

[historyrocks]

DH has had a cough since late January/early February. He saw a GP after a couple of weeks and was given anitbiotics (no test for corona virus, this was before things really took off).

He still has the cough, bringing up loads of really thick phlegm. He's had breathing difficulties on/off for weeks. Over this weekend he's had a rapid heartbeat that starts/stops. He's told me he felt so unwell over this week that he wondered if he would wake up the next morning. He's not someone prone to being dramatic so he must have felt poorly.

The cough just isn't going and surely it's time to speak to someone?

This is vaguely-coved 19 related as 1) he thinks that he may have had corona virus, therefore he just has to wait it out; 2) he feels a bit better today (but that's how it's been for weeks--he feels better for a few days and then it gets worse; 3) he doesn't want to bother the GP with so much strain on the service; 4) if he hasn't had CV, he's worried about going anywhere that he may pick it up.

AIBU to think that it's time to speak to a GP? And if so, how the heck do I convince him to do that?

I'm tempted to ring the GP myself and see if they can do something.

Sounds like chest infection. And yes he should definitely speak to a gp - try the out of hours service.

He should call the GP, mainly its phone appointments now anyway so he wouldn't have to go in. Especially with those symptoms, they would suggest a phone call.

Thank you. He's really prone to chest infections so it wouldn't surprise me at all if he has one. But he just refuses to do anything about it.

My dilemma is whether I ring the GP myself once they're open and hope they either do something, or he will begrudgingly agree to talk to someone. It could go either way.

You know your husband best. You either tell him if he doesn’t make a phone appointment you will. Pointing out that the nhs has told people not to ignore their health issues until they have worsened and require hospital treatment, which won’t necessarily be available. Far better to get antibiotics now.

Or you make him an appointment yourself without his knowledge and when it’s time to ring the doctor/doctor ring him just keep an eye on his whereabouts, answer the phone/dial the doctor, and pass the phone over saying ‘it’s the doctor for you’. You can discuss who made the phone appointment after, by which time he will have spoken with him/her.

How do you usually get him to do what you want (when the chips are down)?

With dh, we would have a row, I would get really upset, and he would give in and ring the doctor for mistake.

BiL is v different. With him, his dw has to call the doctor, explain the situation, and ask the doctor to invite him in for a check up (he has heart related issues).

For my sake not mistake

Most GP surgeries are open tomorrow OP, even though it's a bank holiday (I work in one). Ideally he should talk to them as they can usually tell just by him speaking if he's breathless, talking in full sentences etc plus they can ask him further questions you might not be able to answer. A post viral cough can last week's but it has been going on a long time. Please don't worry about 'the strain on the service' - we are dealing with routine things every day, a phone call in the first instance and if deemed necessary, a face to face appointment with PPE.
I hope he feels better soon

Yes I definitely would. They say if you've had a cough for longer than a couple of weeks you should see your doctor.

My DD had a cough for a while and it turned out she was allergic to hay/rabbits. And I had one too and then I got a dehumidifier because my home was damp and it cleared up almost immediately. So it may not be anything serious but it's good to get it checked.

Many thanks. I usually have to nag and nag and nag before he’ll go to the GP. Constant, fairly gentle nagging. Arguing doesn’t help. But he’s being particularly resistant at the moment.

I am prone to chest infections, and like your dh usually wait it out until I go to the gp, not once have they improved by themselves, not once. In this climate, I call early, gp can send prescription to the pharmacy, you collect, job done.

Surgeries are open tomorrow btw as bank holidays have been cancelled due to the crisis. Tell him to phone and book a telephone consultation.

Yes. And maybe in the meantime he could eat some potassium.

Any cough that has lasted more than 3 weeks should be checked with a GP.
He is also bringing green phlegm whihc is a sign of infection.

If he is getting so sort of breath and is so unwell, he needs to see a GP. Actually he should have seen someone a long time ago.

AIBU to think that it's time to speak to a GP?
Perfectly reasonable as he's had it some time now and the antibiotics didn't clear it. Maybe it wasn't an infection and is actually a virus or even CV.

I'm tempted to ring the GP myself and see if they can do something.
I wouldn't do that. He is an adult and should be allowed to make his own decisions (unless he lacks capacity).

Yes!

You should push him to speak to a GP. Y genera understanding is that Covid19 coughs are dry, but breathing difficulties and bringing up phlegm suggest bacterial infection. The GP may well be able to assess him by phone or video chat (I’ve talked to my GP practice with this). My practice can do electronic prescriptions to our local pharmacy. He definitely needs to discuss this with a doctor, it’s not going away on it’s own.

It’s a wet cough, it’s not the virus. There’s no need - YABU

I dont think it is CV. It seems too early—he’s been coughing since late January. DD2 actually had it first, but that was a dry cough and went with antibiotics.

DH initially had a dry cough, but it didn’t go after the antibiotics. He started bringing up phlegm after a month or so. Admittedly, he does seem better today.

Howfar12 what a dumb post. There are things other than "the virus" that need medical attention.

Howfar12 you know there are other illnesses that require medical attention other than covid19 right? Everything else hasn’t just gone away.

@historyrocks definitely ask him to phone the GP. A persistent cough and abnormal heartbeat both need investigation. I would not rule out Covid19- there have been many reports of people testing positive/experiencing symptoms who appear to recover/test negative, only to become unwell again. It’s unclear if the virus is “reactivating” or they hadn’t fully recovered in the first place. Also many reports of it being cardiotropic, which could explain the irregular heartbeat you describe. Hope he starts to feel better soon.