To worry about DH

[SomewhatMental]

A bit of background, my DH is 39, he was unvaccinated as a baby and child, the only vaccine he has had is the ‘sugar cube’ as his parents thought vaccines would make him ill…and as a result DH has been very needle phobic his entire life and passes out at the sight of needles. He caught whooping cough as a baby and has ended up with asthma and a problem with his oesophagus. Our two children are fully vaccinated as am I, I’m pro-vaccine and DH is not anti vaccine himself, he’s just needle phobic.

This winter he has been very unwell. He has had a chest infection for two weeks, I rang 111 and got him an appointment with out of hours on Wednesday because he was struggling to breathe and experiencing constant coughing fits, and honestly sounded like he was choking. They diagnosed the chest infection and he was prescribed steroids, an inhaler (he had been using an out of date one!) and antibiotics. 4 days on now and I’ve noticed he sounds just as bad and it looks like his breathing isn’t getting better? I just think he’s so young to be having these issues…I really thought all the medication would help him get better. I’ve told him he needs more help/advice, but he says he is scared to seek advice in case he ends up in hospital over Christmas. I can see where he is coming from, so I’m reluctant to contact 111 again and go behined his back like I did on Wednesday, but I am still very concerned, he is covid test negative but he sounds like those breathless people with covid that they used to show on the news when he talks…it worries me. Am I right to be worried or am I worrying too much?

You are right to be worried. My friend delayed going to hospital with Covid. She nearly died and is now severely disabled.

Go! They will not keep him if he's OK and if he's not OK then he needs to be there. Better than being dead or unable to walk/speak.

Has he got one of those devices for a peak flow? They're usually given to asthmatics, he should have also been given a leaflet at his asthma review, that would highlight the point he needs to access medical care.

Sometimes a chest infection can really affect your asthma and can take quite some time to calm down.
I would get him medical advice, there's all sorts they can do...
He sounds like I did when I got a chest infection that I couldn't really shake, and it made my asthma really bad for months.

I did finally get better, lots of antibiotics and steroids, and I think it was finally montelukast that got my asthma under control with fostair and salbutamol.

You need to ring 111 if he can't breathe properly. One of my school friends died about 5 weeks after giving birth to her first child. She died of asthma. She couldn't get across the room to get her inhaler and it was before the days of mobile phones. She was only 25 and on her own at home her DH was at work.

Me and my pops have been quite ill with similar symptoms- and an extended illness that antibiotics weren’t improving. My dad’s ended up being pneumonia. @SomewhatMental your DP needs follow up care. Better to be here in Christmas Day than so I’ll be can’t stay awake or needs an ambulance calling as he can’t breath…

You must take him to hospital, OP. This sounds very similar to my ex BIL's partner. She left it too late. She developed a blood clot, it went to her lungs, she is no longer here.

Take him to a and e, whatever day it is, Xmas or not it’s more important he gets sorted, illnesses can’t turn nasty very quickly. Don’t take argument from him, just take him.

My partner is needle phobic too due to a bad childhood op we can now allow one nurse to do a blood test one go only whereas it used to take 6 of us to hold him down. he has also now had to do weekly injections and has got his head around that so major progress. I know if he was ill he would refuse to go to the hospital and has told me he could not stand seeing me in the hospital with a cannula etc; when his father was in the hospital he had his arm with a cannula in covered over. when my partner was in a bad accident he needed to go to hospital on the advice of paramedics but refused so I quite understand where you are coming from. however with breathing issues there really is not room for ignoring it so yes difficult as it may be to get him there you really do need medical advice pm anytime

I've heard of a number of healthy people being diagnosed with pneumonia this winter. He may need IV antibiotics. He really does need to seek medical help.

Did your DH go to A&E, OP?

I have asthma and when I get a cold ect it gets pretty bad. Have they not offered him steroids like prednisolone? That really helps after a few days.
Asthma isn't something to mess around with when you have a cold/flu ect call 111 when possible for advice.