To ask when you’d go to the Dr about a chesty cough?

[Ilovenyfan]

I’ve been ill since Friday- I suspect it could be this new covid variant but who knows. I’ve been so, so rough and last night was yet another night of no sleep due to coughing all night. I have an irritated, tickly throat with a phlegmy/ chesty cough!!

About an hour ago, I coughed so much I thought I was going to be sick, I brought up a huge lump of phlegm (sorry, gross I know) and it was like a really, really dark green with perhaps a few specks of red (which I’m assuming is because my throat is so inflamed)

Do I just continue to ride this out or would it be worth troubling my GP?

DD has also got it, but she’s on day 8 and also doesn’t seem to be improving much and she’s just a baby.

I know I sound like an idiot but o never know when it turns from just getting over it at home to needing to see a dr!!

If you are in the uk op can you call 111 for advice?

Have you taken a Covid test?

I would be worried more about the baby, if she’s bad after 8 days then I try to get to see GP. Green phlegm is usually a sign of bacterial infection, so you may need antibiotics.

I don’t have any to hand, live rurally and am
on my own with a sick baby this week so not sure I’ll be able to get one

Medic here.
Are you getting better ( even if slowly) or getting worrse ? If you are slowly improving I would keep going with paracetamol, fluids and rest.
If you feel you are getting worse and/ or you are feeling breathless doing everyday things ( going to the bathroom, making a cup of tea) then seek medical advice.
Do you have a fever ?
You don't say how old your Dd is I am assuming school age, if so same advice for her as you.
If she is a baby/ toddler you need to look at her chest/ maybe count her breaths as little ones can't tell us how they are feeling.
Hope that's helpful.
I am on the train for another 45 minutes if you have any other questions, but need to be at work for 8:30.

I’d definitely ring the gp or 111 today, sounds like you both need to be seen. It sounds like a chest infection or even possibly pneumonia to me which would need antibiotics.

green i understand is infection
so i would call GP

Hi, thanks for your reply!!

I do feel a bit better today in myself, glands aren’t as swollen, temperature has gone down, but the cough has got worse. I guess I’m just a bit concerned about the huge lump of dark green stuff I brought up.

DD is only 1. She had croup last Wednesday evening, was given a dose of steroids which cleared the croup but she’s been left with this chesty cough. It seemed to be getting better but then last night she was coughing more again as well and I was coughing all night.

OK provided neither of you are struggling for breath, I would probably rest up today, plenty of fluids (boring I know) quiet day on the sofa with Cbeebies and toast ?. If tonight is as bad as last night, think about seeing a Dr before the weekend. Is LO eating drinking and peeing OK?

I recently had similar - negative Covid test, after a week of feeling progressively worse including 6 days of a high temperature and coughing up pink tinged yellow/green mucous (sorry!) I called the doctor and they prescribed me antibiotics.

48 hours later my temperature was gone, still coughing but not coughing up gross stuff anymore and I generally started to improve so seems like it was the right call.

Looks like most people would call the doctor today. I am sure I sit on things longer than others because of my training( also I try to avoid antibiotics) Do what feels right for you OP

Thanks all.

Went to the dr. She said she could hear stuff on my chest but it wasn’t in my airways or something like that, so she didn’t want to give antibiotics.

I literally cannot stop coughing, it’s every 2-3 seconds and I’m constantly bringing up green stuff. I’m so disappointed that she wouldn’t give me any antibiotics.

Got DD checked out, thankfully she said she was okay and also didn’t need any antibiotics.

Have had to call in sick for the rest of the day at work which will no doubt go down like mud as I’m only just back from Mat leave 😞

No idea how I’m going to look after a toddler whilst feeling this ill 😭

i am glad you went at least
rest as much as you can and drink fluids,
cough is bringing it up at least!