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Original poster

If you have a phlegmy cough it's not covid is it?

73 replies

InMeJimJams · 23/12/2020 15:25

Just that really. All our family (kids as well plus MIL) have the same phlegmy cough have done for a few days. OH says there's no need to be tested as it's not a dry cough. Have felt a bit headachy and tired too but starting to feel like it's on its way out now. Other family members have said not to bother with test too but I'm an anxious person. We're not really particularly ill, just the phlegmy cough. It is a dry cough that we should be worried about isn't it? Not a productive cough?

OP posts:
Original poster
InMeJimJams · 23/12/2020 15:28

It's not continuous either. Worse in morning but lessens throughout the day.

OP posts:
heathcliffthe2nd · 23/12/2020 15:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MillieEpple · 23/12/2020 15:28

Its a cough. The testing doesnt say anything about whether its dry or phlegmy

Cornettoninja · 23/12/2020 15:29

It’s any cough. There’s no distinctive ‘covid’ cough, not unless you’re talking about the later stage cough very ill people have because their lungs are very congested.

Tomatoandbasil · 23/12/2020 15:30

It. Is. A. Cough.
Get. A. Test.

itbemay1 · 23/12/2020 15:31

I had a blocked nose and phlegm cough and tested positive

Original poster
InMeJimJams · 23/12/2020 15:32

When I went for my audiology appointment there is a sign that says the symptoms and the first one is 'new persistent dry cough'.

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 23/12/2020 15:34

Ok, well I work in a hospital and it’s any cough.

Floraflower3 · 23/12/2020 15:34

Why are you so reluctant to get a test? It seems that you can have a whole thread of people telling you to get a cough etc. And you’ll still be saying ‘but, but!’

IHeartKingThistle · 23/12/2020 15:35

I had Covid and a phlegmy cough. Sorry.

snookercue · 23/12/2020 15:45

Fuck me. Months down the line and people are still having difficulty with a 'cough'

Get a test.

mooncakes · 23/12/2020 15:47

Any cough, and more than 3 times a day.

buffyp · 23/12/2020 15:47

@heathcliffthe2nd

FFS. Do you not watch the news??? It’s a fucking cough. Get a fucking test.
Out of order. How about responding civilly like an actual human being.
Iggly · 23/12/2020 15:47

A quick google brings up the testing criteria around coughing

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

MoirasRoses · 23/12/2020 15:47

My daughters & OH were positive with a phelmy, arguably not persistent cough. Weirdly, I was positive without any cough at all. But any cough needs testing. Just get one, it’s two minutes of your time.

Iggly · 23/12/2020 15:47

Nothing about phlegm. Nothing about it being worse in the morning.

So, why not err on the side of caution?

Cornettoninja · 23/12/2020 15:48

I think it’s about denial and avoidance @snookercue.

Frustrating but I get it. It’s much nicer to think this whole thing is passing you by with as little disruption as possible.

SmellsLikeAHamsterCage · 23/12/2020 15:48

My daughter had a phlegmy cough at the beginning of October. I rung 119 and they said she didn't qualify for a test as it wasn't a dry cough.

I would call 119 ask. They criteria may have changed since then.

testingtesting321 · 23/12/2020 15:50

The government guidance gives this definition of a cough:

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

No mention of dry/wet/phlegm.

If someone has a cough, IMO it's COVID until a negative test proves otherwise.

ANY Cough = test.

heathcliffthe2nd · 23/12/2020 15:52

Sorry for the swearing but I was just watching the latest briefing with the truly terrifying statistics. Can’t actually believe people wouldn’t get tested when they have one of the main 3 symptoms.

Cornettoninja · 23/12/2020 15:54

Well I would suggest complaining @SmellsLikeAHamsterCage because that’s wrong.

One of the reasons people struggle to breath with covid is because of the mucus it overwhelms the lungs in (alongside other things like causing tiny and larger blood clots in the lungs and other organs). Whether your having a weaker case with a seemingly dry cough or a productive cough with phlegm makes little difference to diagnosing covid.

Original poster
InMeJimJams · 23/12/2020 15:59

People wondering why I'm hesitant. Because I've been told by several people that I'm just being silly and and anxious as per. I was feeling fine but now I'm having a full on panic attack about it. I've been tested twice already and been negative, I have no issues with being tested but my family are telling me I don't need to worry. But I am and I do worry. I don't know what to do because logically we don't meet the criteria. But then people on here are saying they had it with a productive cough so I'm worried now.

OP posts:
Original poster
InMeJimJams · 23/12/2020 15:59

Sorry to be clear, been tested twice once last month, once I'm September.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 23/12/2020 16:00

@heathcliffthe2nd

FFS. Do you not watch the news??? It’s a fucking cough. Get a fucking test.
Did you mean to be so rude?
Iggly · 23/12/2020 16:01

Don’t let others make the decision for you.

Get tested!