DS coughing all night long

[SausageWrappedInBaconSmuggler]

When DS was about 3 months old he developed a cough we took him to the doctors who said it was bronchilitus, there was nothing they could do and it would go on it's own.

Since then whenever he gets ill it goes to his chest and he gets a horrible cough. He turned 1 at the end of October and since then has had a spate of illnesses meaning the cough is always there and is worse at night. We're all exhausted from lack of sleep and it just breaks my heart hearing him cough so violently. I want to take him back to the doctors about it but I really don't know what they'll do, if anything. I've become really disillusioned with GP's because they just fob me off all the time.
Should I take him and if so how should I deal with the GP?

If he's been coughing this long and it's worse at night, it could well be asthma. You might be disillusioned with your GP, but any GP should consider asthma if the symptoms are a cough that gets worse at night.

You need to see your GP, tell him exactly what you have posted here, and if he tries to fob you off then ask for a second opinion. Childhood asthma isn't something you should take chances with.

Hopefully it's not asthma and he'll feel better soon.

When I took him originally I was told that they don't diagnose asthma in under 2's but they gave me an inhaler and aerochamber just in case. I've been using this but it's not really helped. If we've taken him to the docs for something else and he's coughed the GP (large practice, rarely see the same person twice) may comment on it but none have been concerned because his lungs are apparently clear and he's generally very healthy. They aren't living with it though.

DH and I are both up trying to settle DS after a massive coughing fit and I've had a bit of a cry. Will definitely take him to the docs tomorrow but need strength to be assertive about it. Get told so many different things it's hard to know when someone has got it right.

I'd ask about the possibility of a chest x ray.

The thing is, does he have other cold symptoms?if so its probvably normal. If not then I'd ask for referral to a paed and possibly some antihistamines to try.

You need to go into the doc and say 'I'm aware I'm here a lot and I wish I wasn't but I really feel that we're all missing something here and I want a plan of action of how we're going to move forward with this because the situation isn't resolving at all, in fatc, it may well be getting worse'

He does have a cold at the moment but the cough is there pretty much all the time. I did want to have him reassessed now he's over a year old but he needs something to help him in the meantime but I really don't know what. We've tried everything that has been suggested to us (olbas, vicks, a humidifer, propping the end of the cot up etc) and we're just at a loss.