What the hell is this cough thing?

[Whenwillthiscoughgo]

Can anyone help? feel dreadful.
Started coughing badly on Tuesday night and been mainly in bed since, literally can’t stop coughing, an awful, strong cough that makes me wee myself badly (sorry tmi) I feel exhausted so want to lie down, but I seem to cough more, it’s really bad most of the night. I now have a bad headache and just don’t feel it’s getting better. O feel short of breath sometimes but oxygen level within range, although not ideal

Has anyone had this? How long does it last and what to do to help it?

*I feel

Sounds like Covid to me - remember when the first wave happened, that started primarily with a cough and breathlessness was a symptom. Taken with the otherwise feeling tired and unwell I’d say it will be that or a similar virus. It is winter after all, there’s a lot of it about. Rest, fluids, the usual stuff, and I hope you feel better soon.

Honestly? I'd suggest you ask a medical professional rather than a bunch of internet strangers with v limited medical knowledge. Pick up your phone and ring your GP or 111.

But I hope you feel better soon!

https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/cough/

Prop yourself up with a extra pillow or two at night. Take decongegtant tablets like Beechams before you go to bed, it will stop the cough for a few hours. Any with phenylephidrine and paracetemol but no caffeine for night time. Beechams also have guaifenesin which helps to thin mucus.

Do see a doctor or pharmacy if you’re at all worried. However yes, my whole family had it most of this month. It did finally shift -in our case it wasn’t Covid or bacterial, our GP thought viral.

Rest and patience were the only big things that helped. Hope you feel better soon.

Two girls in work just back after Covid. Started with similar sounding cough. One of them was in hospital with it for two nights

A spoonful of honey is quite soothing too. I always make a jug of honey and lemon.

I had an absolutely awful virus over Christmas that started with a cough. My ribs hurt so much. It evolved but lasted ages and I was so fatigued. I’m still not 100% now. I tested negative for COVID an Influenza A&B twice. Eventually had a course of antibiotics but not convinced I actually needed them really. I was told it could have been RSV as I didn’t test for that.

Yes, I had it for 2 and a half weeks recently. I went to the GP because I thought I had pneumonia, he said it was probably Covid. I felt like absolute shit.

Get some Night Nurse. It has a cough suppressant so I was able to sleep. But I coughed literally all day long otherwise

Hubby's got it, been with us now since early Nov. My sympathies OP.

I’m the same OP. It’s awful and I can’t shake it. It’s been a week of it and my baby isn’t sleeping so I’m absolutely exhausted. I hope you feel better soon

If everyone who had a cold or cough phoned 101 or tried to get a GP appointment the service would be overwhelmed.

I am also full of germs, and cursing whoever was generous enough to share them with me!

It started off as a sore throat last Saturday. By Monday night, I felt sick. By Tuesday morning, I had a temperature, a phlegmmy cough, a cold, and a headache that decided to turn into a vomiting migraine (very helpful when you don't have anything in you to throw up!). I took to my bed and everything, which is unlike me! I was still exhausted yesterday. Today, my throat feels disgusting and I'm still coughing. I've been downing all sorts of things to get rid of it, and it is still lingering!

I had it last week, fluey, fever, knackered, dry cough, but it only lasted two days. Beechams, hot honey and lemon, Berocca and plenty of drinks really helped.

I’ve got it at the moment. The cough is bloody brutal and I feel like shite.

I’ve been up and about and working, but it’s been a chore.

So sorry

I’ve not been able to work, feel so exhausted but worse when I lie down but need to put my head down

Did you have your flu jab?
Make ginger, garlic, honey and lemon in hot water...drink.

Mine’s just about cleared, it was absolutely intense and horrendous for three weeks (the cough was wracking my whole body), then I got antibiotics which have kicked in.
I was using extra pillows to raise my head and chest, helped me sleep a bit better. Also ginger & lemon in hot water. Steaming is recommended but it did tend to bring on attacks, might try it again now my chest is drier and it’s more of an irritating tickle. I slapped on Vic’s at night too. See the gp if it’s still around in three weeks op.

Look at the NHS link.

• "your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse – for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing
• you feel very unwell"

Both match what you've said above and that comes under the category of asking for an urgent GP appointment or ringing 111.

My sister is a GP, and our 70yo dad was unwell with a cough at Christmas. He came downstairs Christmas morning and said how he'd found it harder to breathe while lying on one side. She listened to his chest and picked up reduced lung sounds, used an oxygen monitor thing on him and he was far too low. He had pneumonia, had to go to out of hours doc for antibiotics.

I’ve been to the doctors for mine this morning - had turned into a chest infection and I’ve got antibiotics now. Praying that clears it up.