Would you see a GP for a cold?

[user1469032438]

I have had a cold for 6 weeks, it just won't clear sometimes it get a bit better but then it gets worse again but it's making my asthma worse, I am waking up 2 or 3 times a night for my inhaler because my chest is so tight it hurts and I can't breathe hardly, my asthma is usually well controlled.

I'm shattered because I'm not sleeping and I still have a house and a 5 year old and a job and I'm just miserable. I cried in work yesterday for the first time ever over something stupid because it was just one thing too much if that makes sense.

But I feel stupid going to the doctors over a cold :( would you go the GP?

Thanks

YABU to go GP
YANBU to go GP

When I read your headline, I thought ‘I would if ir was flaring up my asthma’. So there you go.

You’re not going for a cold. You’re going for an asthma exacerbation. It’s not safe to be needing your reliever so often.

With your history and that is hasn't gone away after that length of time, it think a doctor's appointment is necessary. Whatever it is, it is not clearing up

Simple cold, no. Six weeks and affecting asthma, yes.

Hope you feel better soon.

All you need to say is that your asthma is not controlled and your inhaler is not working.

Yes you definitely need to see the doctor as this is not just about a cold now. Dh has asthma and would have been at the docs before now. I always dread him getting a cold or chest infection as it can affect his asthma. Sounds like steroids are needed

Misunderstood the voting as I thought I was saying YABU for not going to GP.

You're not going for a cold, you're going because you've been unwell for six weeks and are experiencing concerning asthma symptoms.

To add to my previous answer, I think you'd be a bit of a twat NOT to see the doctor, you need medical advice.

Agree with PPs, you're going to GP because it hasn't cleared up in 6 weeks and you have a tight chest. It's not just a "normal" cold.

Make that appointment and when you speak to receptionist or whoever triages at your surgery make sure you mention you've had it 6 weeks

It sounds likes it's started as a cold but has developed into something that you should see your doctor for.

You need to see a GP because your asthma is very bad and you’re currently at much higher risk of a severe asthma attack. Call them today.

That’s not a cold. Go see your GP

I had bronchitis in June, I eventually went to the doctor when I accepted over five weeks of a barking cough was not actually ok.

I second this advice.

This is what my DH does and they are really on the ball.

Hope you get it sorted soon OP.

Colds dont last 6 weeks. It might have started as that but it's obviously not that now. Just don't mention cold to the GP receptionist.

You are minimising by calling this a cold. A cold is when you have a slight runny nose, a little cough, a few sneezes.
a doctor will help you, a doctor is what you need.

Are you sure it's a cold and that you don't have mould or high humidity in your house? I have moved away from the UK now, but when I lived there I constantly felt like I had a mild cold, always coughing, waking up at night needing to clear my nose etc. I didn't have asthma, but our house was quite damp, and now that I have left I have none of those symptoms anymore.

Yes because your asthma is not currently controlled. Sounds like you might need a course of steroids.

Do you have an asthma plan? Mine says if I am having to use my reliever inhaler more than twice a week then my asthma is uncontrolled and I need to speak to someone.

You definitely need to speak to someone, don't say cold, say asthma is uncontrolled, your chest is tight and you are using your reliever inhaler a lot, they should see you ASAP.

In your case I would be going to the GP for exacerbation of asthma symptoms. My daughter is asthmatic and we’re always told that if we’re struggling to control her normally well controlled asthma, she needs to be seen.

I thought I had a bad cold. I actually have walking pneumonia. Thankfully dh & my mum made me ring the gp as I was quite unwell.

At my surgery the nurse practitioner is the asthma specialist. I’d go and see her. Check with your GP receptionist who you should see about asthma issues. Don’t tell them it’s a cold.

For a cold no.
For asthma getting worse then yes.
Asthma is a serious illness, take it seriously.

A few years ago I had a “cold” that lingered on, I felt awful with it and ended up going to the Dr, feeling rather silly and dramatic.
Anyway, the Dr said a cold shouldn’t really last longer than 10 days and should be improving by then, and if it isn’t, it means there’s probably some underlying problem like a chest or sinus infection, asthma etc and that I was right to go. I did have a sinus infection that after a couple of days of antibiotics cleared up and I felt back to normal again.
So yes, in your situation I would definitely go, it could be bronchitis or pneumonia or a chest infection that needs antibiotics or antivirals.

I hit the wrong button on the vote because I am a numpty, but YADNBU. You should definitely go and be checked over for worsening asthma symptoms ASAP.