To go to A&E over this cough

[tothinkimhaving]

I know this sounds ridiculous and if I saw this thread title I would tell them they are being ridiculous to go to A&E for a cough, but hear me out (though fully accept I will probably be told that I am being unreasonable and will accept that!).

I caught my son’s cold on Monday and had a cough accompany that. I am over the sniffles but this cough has remained and is worsening by the day!

I can’t breathe in without the overwhelming urge to cough and when I do it’s a full on coughing fit happening every 5-10 minutes to the point my chest and tummy is in pain and I’m at the point of vomiting. Every time I cough it’s like it’s not enough and it won’t stop!

i haven’t slept properly in days because I am waking up constantly in a coughing fit and it’s led me to having problems breathing properly during the night so I’m currently having to sleep sat up.

I’m getting breathless doing simple things like walking up the stairs or even just drinking for longer periods of time, and where I’m coughing so much I’m getting bad head pain and feeling as though my breathing is very light afterwards and I’m really having to try my best to breathe properly.

I’ve had a lot of pain under my rib cage and no appetite at all.

I went to the doctors today for something completely unrelated and while there she took my obs and my resting heart rate was very high (120 she checked minutes apart because she was concerned that it wasn’t going down) and my oxygen levels were low but ‘acceptable’. While this isn’t overly worrying generally, because of how I’m feeling it has made me worry.

I have had a collapsed lung before due to bacterial pneumonia and while I know it hasn’t happened again, I’m worried there’s something wrong and want to get my lungs x-rayed.

Would it be totally stupid to go to A&E for this or should I just wait it out and hope it goes away? I’m feeling awful in myself and no amount of Lemsip or cough meds is helping.

again, fully accept being told I’m unreasonable because I partly know I am being

Ring 111 for advice

What did your GP advise?
It's not really an accident or an emergency.

So what did your GP advise?

Ring 111 and maybe buy a blood oxygen meter if you can (Amazon has them) so if it does drop, you know asap.

I'm exactly the same. Coughing endlessly when talking, breathless going upstairs, sleeping sat up for the brief periods I am asleep. Been like this for 9 days now.

GP prescribed antibiotics yesterday and today I'm still coughing but feel like I'm turning a corner.

My GP said I would need to book a separate appointment to discuss because the one I was there for needed to take priority, I didn’t get to go in-depth about what had been happening due to this

Do a covid test

Call 111 op

Covid?

If you call 111 and mention chest pain you will likely get an ambulance because that's their protocol. Just a warning as I'm pretty sure you don't want one!

Have you done a covid test?

So did you book another appointment?

YANBU

111 would likely ring an ambulance due to your symptoms. Go to A&E and get it seen to. A resting heart rate of 120 and shortness of breath is reason enough.

If you caught your son's cold on Monday it is unlikely that at this stage you have a bacterial pneumonia. You are probably in the middle of a viral infection although it does sound like your lungs are infected . You should definitely do a covid test and after that I would phone 111 and explain your breathing difficulties rather than presenting at A and E.

I find breathing pretty essential, and not being able to do so is usually a bit of an emergency.
OP do you have an urgent care centre near you?

I bet it’s Covid, OP.
That was me last week (not as bad as you though but I had a couple of scary moments). Went to Superdrug, got a pack of antigen tests. Positive.
Is there urgent care where you are?
I would be worried enough to seek care. And I think a trip to urgent care/A&E is a sensible move. Better to be safe.

Ease don't do this. Unless you actually have genuine chest pain. And not pain caused by coughing.

High heart rate can be a sign of infection. Call 111, or call your GP now.

Do you have a temperature?

Have you done a Covid test? Test first, then call 111.

As others here have said OP, I'd recommend calling 111. The resting heart rate of 120bpm does suggest there's something wrong, whether that be an infection or something else.

You're lucky you managed to see your GP today - mine won't let anyone through the doors if they have Covid symptoms. I especially struggled with this during the summer when my hayfever made me sound like I had the lurgy 24/7.

I’d call the GP right now and ask to speak to a doctor as an emergency. Tell them everything. I can’t believe they said to make a separate appointment to discuss something as potentially as serious as this. If no joy, call 111 or take yourself off to A&E. I’m speaking as someone who has had admissions to hospital for lung issues. Please don’t leave it.

TBH OP it sounds like a chest infection - none of the symptoms you've described sound that out of the ordinary. If your GP didn't ask you to book an immediate appt or go to the walk in centre then she must have felt there was no cause for worry.

If you didn't book the GP appt as directed then perhaps call 111 over the weekend if your symptoms get worse.

Because of your history, have you looked into getting Pneumococcal Vaccines? I get them - because I'm old.

It sounds similar to the sort of paroxysm that you get with Whooping cough, which often has post-pertussive vomiting as well. (vomiting after coughing)

Not suggesting it's that, more that it sounds like your chest is spasming which is painful. Do you also have a fever above 38C?

It always happens on a Friday!

I suppose you need to decide what you would want from A&E?
Do you think you're getting worse rather than better?

If you do go to A&E I would take a recording of your coughing spasm, just in case they don't witness it.

They can listen to your chest and assess it, sort out an X-ray if clinically indicated as well as antibiotics if deemed useful. They're also the right place to be if you need oxygen.

Things that might help a bit if you do stay at home: Steam in shower or hot bath or even head over bowl of water - it will loosen up any mucous.
Honey and lemon/hot drinks to ease the throat
Painkillers - I imagine the coughing is quite painful
Warmth - hot water bottle/wheat bag around your ribs and abdomen - will help relax the muscles

One thing to say is these things often get worse at night, so if you are going to go it might be better now, especially if you would struggle for transport/ child care during the night.

Yes, i think YABU to go to A&E. It sounds like a cough/ covid/ chest infection.
Can you ring your doctor for an emergency appointment, or see if you can get one with an OOH doctor from 111?