Help! Too embarrassed to go to GP?

[Derry30]

Really stupid I know but just looking for a bit of advice

I’ve got a really bad cough as a result of a recent flu. I’m otherwise recovered but cannot shift the cough, and it’s to the point I’m coughing so hard at night I’ve vomited a few times (not because I’m sick, but just because of how hard I’m coughing) and the coughing is keeping me awake now - if I cough hard I vomit, but if I don’t cough hard then the brown phlegm feels like it’s blocking my chest

I’m asthmatic and at my last plan they said if I get any lingering colds I should contact them for an appointment because I’ll probably need steroids.

but last time I was at the doctors surgery the nurse said ‘I’ve met you before haven’t i?’ I wasn’t actually sure so I just said probably yeah because I’ve had bad luck recently in terms of my health, and she joked ‘yeah I feel like you’ve probably met everyone in here by now you’ve had that many appointments!’ It sort of stung a bit and I’m now really, really self conscious and paranoid about going. For context- that was a few months ago and was because I had a new lump which had grown suddenly and quickly on my neck (and needed a 2 week referral so it wasn’t for nothing IYSWIM). previously to that I had several appointments over the last few years (maybe averaging 3-6 a year) for a few things but it’s all been legit (asthma, psoriasis, heart condition etc)

I know the comment wasn’t meant in a bad way but it’s really made me nervous about going back and being seen as difficult or a time waster because it’s obviously been flagged that I go a lot 😬 but at the same time I cannot take another sleepless night from coughing! How do i suck up the embarrassment and make an appointment tomorrow? Thanks

Don't take her comments personally, I'm sure it wasn't meant like that. Always see a professional wherever your health is concerned, that's what we all pay NI for. My friend didn't like to "bother" the doctors as she knew how busy they were as we both worked for the NHS at the time. She thought she had painful piles for months, when she eventually got a diagnosis she found out it was anal cancer but it was too late, she was only 54. I'm not saying by any means that you will have the same diagnosis by any means. My point is, go to the GP & get treatment. Fuck what staff say. It's not their health, it's yours, x

Just go to the GP FFS

Your condition sounds like when I had pneumonia. Get seen!

Do you have an oxigmeter at home? I am asthamtic and the DR saw me as soom as I phoned and sent me to hospital. Asthma kills.

You have a valid reason to visit your gp.
It's usually recommended to see pharmacist to deal with minor problems as the pharmacist is unable to assist you it's better you see your gp they can offer prescription medication.
It's in your plan so just follow it before your chest gets worse, you might not see that nurse again if you do and she makes the same comment point it out to her your following instructions it's in your notes. She's probably not read them.

I'm sorry you feel upset, but you can suck it up by knowing that she was probably trying clumsily to welcome you/ make you feel part of their work 'family', and also by knowing that you are absolutely entitled to get this help.

No, that's green. Brown is just congestion.

In resus with my DC recently a nurse said exactly the same thing to us, and yes it stung.
Later the consultant said, bring him in sooner next time... same applies to you. Get yourself to the GP.

Yes, why can’t they manage something more appropriate like, ‘I’m sorry to see you are poorly / suffering / unwell again. I hope we can help you more effectively this time’.

Well that nurse is very lucky to be blessed with perfect health. Tactless twat. Get yourself to the GP, you .might need an x-ray, antibiotics and maybe even steroids. My partner has asthma & COPD, his GP lets him a course of prednisolone steroids and antibiotics at home as an emergency measure.

Hey, I was given steroids for 5 days to try and help lift the cough. Really glad I went and hoping it starts to settle soon.

At first the doctor seemed a bit funny with why I was there and he said a few times ‘sometimes you just have to let it run its course’ and I think he initially thought I was one of those people who went to the GP for a cold and obviously antibiotics won’t help with that (even though I wasn’t asking for antibiotics). I did say look I only came here because I was told in my plan to and I wasn’t asking for medicine specifically but I was just concerned. And when I was talking to him I quite literally couldn’t finish a sentence from having to cough and take a breath from it. He listened to my chest, didn’t really say anything about the results of it but then he said he would give me some steroids so I assume he knew from listening I wasn’t just being dramatic

then he said it’s nothing serious because my oxygen is fine so he’s not concerned. Hoping once the steroids kick in I’ll be feeling better again soon

thanks so much all again!

I think you need to find a new GP surgery. Yours doesn't seem very compassionate or caring at all, especially towards someone who understandably will go to see them because they have a chronic condition that they are concerned about.

"And when I was talking to him I quite literally couldn’t finish a sentence from having to cough and take a breath from it."

OP, this is a red flag in asthma!

I'm glad he listened to your chest. I'm glad he gave you steroids.
Did he "safety-net" you, as in book you in for a telephone appt, for example, tomorrow, when the steroids should have had a chance to start alleviating your symptoms?

I'm sorry, I've got to rush out, now and haven't got time to read back on your posts, but what treatment ( i mean, REGULAR treatment are you on?)

Hoping you are feeling better.

I do wonder whether you should change practice, if you can...communication sounds poor, to me.

Agreed!!!

Edit, just seen your update. Agree with pp that your gp surgery isn't very empathetic.

I had a horrendous time with multiple respiratory infections including pneumonia earlier in the year and there was a month where I was constantly at the GPs. I ended up on 4 lots of antibiotics and one hospital admission for 24 hours.

I can't imagine what my notes say but I don't care, there will be people going more than you for less than what you have.

Hope you get the treatment you need and feel better soon.

Don't ever feel embarrassed. If you've got a cough that's making you vomit or dark phlegm these are signs you need medical intervention. Especially if you've Asthma. They are often symptoms of pneumonia.

I had a friend due of pneumonia because he didn't want to make a fuss over a "bit of flu".

Wow GP is shit too. I agree find a new surgery if you can?

My partners GP surgery take his asthma and COPD very seriously, which includes persistent colds & infections. These conditions can kill you. Change your surgery.

Make that appointment TODAY! WHO cares what she said.? It’s your health at stake. Imagine an asylum seeker being this sensitive? It would t happen. Get to the Drs asap!

Ooof, that's really unprofessional of the clinician. It sounds like behind the scenes at least a couple or a few clinicians or admin have discussed that you attend frequently, but that should never be something that a patient hears. If they need to speak to someone about overuse/abuse of the service it should be done in a professional and kind way. The fact that she let slip they've been gossiping about you is very stupid of her.