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?

Hi OP, sorry you’re having such a rough time of it. Based on your update I’d either return to your GPs practice but ask for a second opinion/different doctor; or if it’s acute, call 111 who may be able to arrange a booked slot at your A&E. It depends a bit on how your local A&E works. We have no minor injuries unit in my city so A&E triage lots of non-emergency cases and tests. I’ve been A LOT this past year due to GP or 111 referrals for myself or my baby/child (or my own instinct, for my baby). Most recently I was referred to A&E by my GP for a chest xray & tests, due to similar symptoms to you, which ended up being severe bacterial pneumonia. Worse comes to worse if A&E can’t/wont treat you they’ll just refer you back to your GP.

A relative had a cough that was relentless. Finally diagnosed with eosinophlic asthma.
now has regular injections and is much better. Look it up to see if it sounds right. Then tell doctor. Do you have inhalers?
my relatives main symptom was the coughing. The inhalers only helped a little

This is what I was thinking and Eosinophilic esophagits being the other. They go hand in hand. I have both and have swallowing issues and constant cough. I know you had a camera but most gastros don’t look for EOE as it’s classed as quite rare

• ask them to document their refusal of a chest x ray on your notes
• have they given you a pulse oximeter? If not, can you afford to buy one? You can pick one up in Boots. I was given one on the NHS the last time I had Covid.
• What bloods have they done?

YANBU!
I had a similar thing at the beginning of the year. Persistent cough, that didn't seem to move anything. At one point I felt that I was going to choke, and there was no-one else in the house to call for quickly.

Long story short, two courses of antibiotics prescribed by local Urgent Treatment Unit made a difference, but it needed a third of a different type to really get things moving. Then came the scary climax. GP went round me with her stethoscope, located a very deep-seated chest infection, and whisked me off to have a chest X-ray pronto.This led to a CT scan to see if the "thing" they could see was Cancerous. Turns out not - big sigh of relief.

Moral of story, don't ignore anything persistent.

@LeopardPrint21 purely because you mention being able to sleep (mostly) through the night and also if there is no coughing whilst eating or drinking, have a wee look at this site.

It may give you some useful information.

I know I will get slated for this but if you feel at the end of your tether, and in this current weather I wouldn’t be surprised, then go. They might be able to give you something that relieves it temporarily at least. Or maybe an urgent care centre tomorrow.

I would seriously consider changing surgeries.

My surgery would never minimise my clear suffering the way yours does.

OP, that sounds miserable. Keep going to the GP, as hard as it feels. It may be serious, it might not but, honestly, it sounds as though the relentlessness has worn you down.

I had similar post-Covid; I thought I was sleeping during the night but I was still coughing, just too exhausted to wake up. It was brought under control with expectorant containing a cough suppressant (was beyond desperate and broken; wouldn’t normally suppress a cough) but also a steroidal inhaler. Took about a month to feel human and several more to recover.

You know something is not right. Make it clear how miserable you are feeling and how it’s impacting your every day life. I hope you get sorted and feel better soon.

A&E; I’m not certain how much they can do. Is there a walk in clinic if you can’t get a GP’s appointment?

It sounds like asthma, possibly brought on by an allergy (could be dust allergy, pollen, pets? anything changed in the house recently?) My DB has the same thing and it's asthma. He's had chest x rays and scans which are all clear, but he has two inhalers now. His is caused by pollen but his is something to do with Mast cells? mask cells? Worth looking into.
And get that asthma referral immediately!

Slightly different situation and slightly controversial, but from my recent experience, if you go into A&E reporting chest pains, you might be strapped up to an ECG and having bloods taken like I was.

Those pendant won't help you but I'm pretty sure I was then taken for a chest x-ray a little while later.

I don't know if the procedure is different for women to men and whether the x-ray I then had was the normal procedure or because of something that might have shown up during the initial ECG. Someone here who works in that field might be able to guide you.

But they might also say that what I'm suggesting is incredibly unethical and a waste of resources.

Im so sorry you're going through this op. It sounds horrendous.
When I first read the title of your thread, my first response would be 'no', but after reading your symptoms then I would suggest you do go to A&E. If you're not getting anywhere with your GP and things are taking forever and you're frustrated and struggling like this, then A&E can speed things up for you and get you on the necessary medication asap. Good luck x

GP has already refused a chest xray because the one last year was clear !!

This is what happened to my DH. He was coughing and had various other symptoms, including eye problems which I thought were really concerning. GP said it was probably an infection. Started him on antibiotics, no change. Sent him for a chest X-ray - said it was clear. DH went back to the GP who examined him with a stethoscope and said his chest sounded a bit crackly - by this time it had been going on for a couple of months.

GP gave him some antibiotics. Two days later DH collapsed and was blue lighted to hospital. On call doctor said he had one of the worse chest infections he’d ever seen - long standing and had progressed to bilateral pneumonia. DH was placed on a ventilator to give his lungs a rest, and given strong intravenous antibiotics while they decided the best course of action.

I told the consultant my concerns about what I had thought were sign of lung cancer - which the GP had effectively dismissed. He took them seriously and ordered a CT scan, which showed that DH had what the doctor called a ‘pancoast’ tumour at the top of one lung. They’re really difficult to differentiate on an ordinary Xray but the CT scan and various other tests showed that it was an aggressive lung cancer which by then had spread to his spine, ribs and bones and was responsible for setting up the chest infection, which led to pneumonia. He died six days later.

As a layman I could see something wasn’t right and cancer was one of my concerns. Completely dismissed by the GP.

Yes I would go to A&E

Oh my gosh. I’m so sorry about this x

OP have you been tested for lung chlamydia? It doesnt show up on a regular bloodtest nor on a CRP. You need a special bloodtest. My kid had it and the symptoms sound the same.

No. You haven't bothered for 18 months.

I am so sorry to read this.

How is something which has been ongoing for 7 months an accident or an emergency?

This can’t be a serious question.

I’m so sorry 💐

Hi OP

I was in this position a year ago. Had been unwell for months, persistent cough and sometimes struggling to catch my breath when walking. Had had many tests from GP.

I took myself to an and e one day and they admitted me immediately as my ecg was abnormal. After tests it turned out I had been walking around with pneumonia for months. It’s called walking pneumonia and it took me ages to recover physically.

i think you should go.

Thank you. Sorry, don’t know where that came from - probably my total mistrust of GP’s ever since. I simply can’t fathom how the GP has allowed OP’s condition to progress and worsen for seven months without referring her on. The NHS’ own guidelines say that after three weeks a cough is a concern.

Simply because it’s been going on for seven months and has got worse - and the GP doesn’t seem overly bothered despite the fact that there is a severe cough involved and OP is now unwell.