Would you go to A&E for a cough?

[LeopardPrint21]

Had a cough for 7 months. Have had some tests done for gastro as the GP initially thought acid reflux, have literally today been referred for chest x-ray and lung tests.

It has gotten to the point where I cannot stop coughing. Literally having fits of coughing every few minutes and this lasts from the minute I wake up until the minute I go to sleep and sometimes throughout the night too. I also feel unwell with it and I’ve felt unwell since the cough started at the beginning of the year. I feel like I can’t cough up whatever is there but I also can’t swallow it back down so it just feels stuck in my throat and all the constant coughing is leaving me feeling like I can’t breathe properly.

I have been in tears all day because I genuinely can’t go on like this, I dread every second of the day because of how bad it is. I am at my breaking point with it.

Would you go to the hospital for a cough that is constantly there and you’re never getting a let up from it along with everything else I’ve written?

Haven't read the full thread so sorry if I duplicate anything. Assuming you don't smoke/vape and you have no underlying lung disease (which the X ray and lung function tests are to rule out), the three main causes of a chronic, persistent cough are asthma, Gastro esophageal reflux and post nasal drip from rhinitis and all three are very common and can co exist.

Ideally, you need sequential (one after the other - if you do it all at the same time, you don't know why has worked or hasn't worked)trials of meds for each of these - eg Omeprazole or similar for acid reflux, a preventer inhaler for asthma and a steroid nasal spray for post nasal drip. These need to be at high dose and for at least 8 weeks before concluding that they are no working.

I would be going back to your GP and asking for these. Good luck

And have you/do you tried antihistamine in case allergy related?

This is my feeling too. GP’s are notoriously bad at identifying signs of cancer. Having had two relatives who were admitted to hospital as emergencies after being constantly fobbed off by their GP after reporting long standing coughs, I have first hand experience. One collapsed and was blue lighted to hospital. The other was admitted on attending A&E. Not saying this is what OP has but whatever it is clearly needs urgent attention.

If only......

Was just about to say the same thing.

Which could take at least 7 more months, if not longer. OP shouldn't be left coughing with a low grade temp and generally not feeling well for that long, it's been long enough already and could be something serious where time is of the essence. She needed this referral about 6 months ago.

Possibly one of the stupidest and most dangerous posts I’ve ever seen on MN.

Absolutely this.

Absolutely this. No wonder UK cancer survival rates are so piss poor. I sometimes wonder if GP’s ever believe anything at all might be cancer, because some appear to be deliberately obtuse about the possibility.

I feel like I can’t cough up whatever is there but I also can’t swallow it back down so it just feels stuck in my throat and all the constant coughing is leaving me feeling like I can’t breathe properly.

I have cough variant asthma and this sounds similar to my experience. Had asthma since early childhood but it evolved into cough variant in my 30s.

There was one particular trigger but it took forever to isolate it.

Has anaemia been suggested?

It sounds like you are feeling like you are struggling to breath properly so I would go to A&E. They may say it's just a feeling and actually your airways ARE clear enough for you to breath properly and that there's not anything they can do you need to get your GP to put in a referral to a pulmonologist, but you won't have lost anything except the time waiting in A&E.

Do you have any urgent care centres nearby? A lot of our A&Es have urgent care centres where you can go and be seen (kinda like A&E but not A&E) though you'd have a long wait. Could be worth a shot?

Has she seen a doctor today or has she just been advised today that a referral has been made?

Have had some tests done for gastro as the GP initially thought acid reflux, have literally today been referred for chest x-ray and lung tests.

I still don't understand why ASTHMA isn't being considered.

Thank you for all the responses. Just to clear some things up - I have been back to the GP a minimum of 6 times this year alone for the cough (so a minimum of once a month) and each time they were fixated on it being a stomach issue, so I was sent away for Gastro tests or given Gastro medications and then once they came back fine, or it was clear the medications weren’t working, I would book another appointment straight away but would often have to wait 2-3 weeks to see anyone face to face and the receptionist wouldn’t class it as a same day emergency. I have just had a gastroscopy that came back fine and I’ve been on all the PPI’s.

This is the first time they have mentioned anything to do with the chest, however I mentioned it to another health care professional that I saw a few months ago and specifically asked for another chest x ray but they said because I had one a year ago (I had to have screening for a medication for something else) and that was fine, they wouldn’t give me another one despite my cough starting roughly 6 months after that last x-Ray.

The GP today has also asked the asthma nurse to see me at some point and run some tests but warned all these things could take weeks to set up.

Its not that it feels urgent today in particular - its felt urgent for a while because I know I don’t feel right but the cough is getting worse and harder to deal with by the day and I just don’t know how much longer I can go on feeling this way.

Yep. Despite the fact that 1 in 2 of us will get cancer and cancer rates in the under 50s are rising.

You are told to see a GP if you have a persistent cough for more than 3 weeks. At that point they should refer you for an X-ray. 7 months! What the hell has been going on here? Did OP delay going to the doctor or was the doctor just crap. Combined with fatigue she should have been referred months ago.

Ok just seen the update - sorry OP what a staggering lack of care you have been shown. Focusing on stomach issues with a cough for 7 months. I would write a serious letter of complaint.

You should be able to ask your GP to refer you for an X-ray then go to your nearest walk in centre for it once he has referred you.
I would call and ask for a chest X-ray to put your mind at rest.

You need to ask the GP why they haven't implemented Jess' rule since you have been back with the same symptoms at least 3 times.

NHS England » Jess’s Rule: Three strikes and we rethink

Yes that's what I have done recently. Got a referral from GP then went next day to walk in hospital xray dept

No it’s not an emergency issue. As awful as it is they won’t do anymore other than some bloods and an xray, then back to your gp or who you’ve been referred to already.
Contact your gp again and ask that your referral is expedited

Have had some tests done for gastro as the GP initially thought acid reflux, have literally today been referred for chest x-ray and lung tests.

Have you had endoscopy ? a camera down your throat ?

What are the swallowing issues? Could you describe more about that?

Is there any problem with swallowing?
Any excess of saliva?

Chest x-rays can be misread. It happens- particularly if the mass is located in a busy spot (eg near centre of chest) cause it's a 2 D image of a 3D shape and sometimes they are difficult to spot.