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Original poster

People with day to day coughs

49 replies

Gemzee · 26/04/2021 09:36

Just wondering how people who cough every day are getting on at the moment? I mean people with smokers cough or asthma etc. Are you getting dirty looks in the street?
I don't have this problem myself but know some smokers who cough alot and was curious.
I think some people may have forgotten that people can have a day to day cough and that it isn't nessesarily covid!
I'd imagine it is harder going out and about now while coughing.

OP posts:
mdh2020 · 26/04/2021 09:37

My grandson, who has ADHD, has a nervous cough was sent home from school despite the school having been told this.

AuntieStella · 26/04/2021 09:39

I'm beginning to cough - hayfever and post nasal drip, so it's more like clearing my throat

I've not noticed dirty looks (yet?) but perhaps that's because it's occasional and doesn't sound dry/continuous. But I'd happily call out 'hayfever' if I notice CEV anyone looking nervous.

And of course I'm not that close to strangers anyhow

nonaomi · 26/04/2021 09:40

I feel so bad for these people as I'm one of those people who literally jumps away from them as a reflex, out of absolute fear ! Blush I don't give them dirty looks but I try to stay as far away as possible. But I do that generally with people anyway.

DazedandConcerned · 26/04/2021 09:42

I have asthma and have had some rather severe exacerbations recently. Every time I cough I get dirty looks.

I wear a mask. The mask makes me cough. I just can’t win! So I just glare back or give them the business if they are particularly hateful.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 26/04/2021 09:42

My daughter had a cold , we knew it weren’t Covid , she tested negative , twice still the school wouldn’t let her back until she isolated for 10 days , she was coughing 2 weeks ago , LF test negative, I knew the school would send her home so I took her to Brighton for the day , the cough went after 2 days ,
I cough at the moment and sneeze a lot , my hayfever is off the chart , I don’t get as much dirty looks as I did this time last year when I had a chest infection for 3 months

Scarby9 · 26/04/2021 09:42

It is incredible how very few times I now hear coughing when out and about, compared to how frequently you used to hear it.
I was on a pedestrianised street at the weekend when someone coughed and everyone turned to look. It has become so socially unacceptable which must be a nightmare for asthma sufferers, hayfever etc.

PutOnAHappyFace · 26/04/2021 09:43

I've got a viral cough (still coughing nearly 3 weeks later) I find it clears the aisle in Asda pretty quick.

WetJan · 26/04/2021 09:45

My mother's had a cough for over five years. Been given inhalers by the GP but no cause found as yet. I'm really conscious of it when we're out and about but luckily she has a much thicker skin than me and doesn't worry about other people too much.

Medianoche · 26/04/2021 09:46

I have a regular cough related to allergies. I’m much more conscious about keeping it under control since Covid. I used to put up with it as a mild annoyance but I’m now on regular inhalers and antihistamines, mainly because I don’t want to scare people.

nonaomi · 26/04/2021 09:47

@PutOnAHappyFace a good way to get everyone out of a queue.. Grin

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 26/04/2021 09:49

I haven’t noticed any dirty looks

Mine is a quite dry little cough so maybe I’d get more looks if i was hacking up a lung

Babdoc · 26/04/2021 09:50

I have long Covid, so a permanent cough. It’s very useful- if I see a bunch of unmasked people approaching on the street I just start coughing and they rapidly give me a wide berth!
I’m less worried about avoiding reinfection now I’ve had both vaccine doses, but I still don’t want people too close to me.

RufustheBadgeringReindeer · 26/04/2021 09:50

Well obviously id deffo be getting looks if I actually coughed up a lung

Should have said is it sounded like i was...

CagneyNYPD · 26/04/2021 09:50

My DS has a cough at the moment. It is the same cough he gets at the tail end of a cold. Every time.

We did 2 Lateral Flow Tests over the weekend to make sure. Both negative, of course, because it is just a cough. I have sent him into school but am half expecting a phone call 🙄

PutOnAHappyFace · 26/04/2021 09:51

@nonaomi speeds the weekly shop up. I understand coughing makes people nervous but there is obviously the same coughs and colds and allergies around.

indiakulfi · 26/04/2021 09:51

I have asthma and hay fever so am always coughing. I was told to get out of a supermarket the other day. I may have had a slightly more prolonged coughing bout at the shock. I test twice a week anyway.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 26/04/2021 09:51

Yes to dirty looks. Usually if we're at a playground or similar. I have asthma & allergies as do dc4(5) & dc5(3), dc5 especially get looks as he has a very bad asthmatic cough. The constantly changing weather doesn't help any of us either. I was having a coughing fit in the bedroom recently & passer by on the footpath outside almost gave himself whiplash looking where the coughing was coming from (it's not the first time that's happened)

Twickerhun · 26/04/2021 09:52

Yeah we all have asthma coughs here and as pp said wearing a mask makes it so much worse. We don’t go out much as it does worry people when we start persistently coughing.

idontlikealdi · 26/04/2021 09:53

I had bronchitis a few weeks ago. It was awful - I wanted to hold up a big sign saying NOT FUCKING COVID

CrunchyCarrot · 26/04/2021 10:03

I cough due to allergies. Masks actually make me cough after I've been wearing them for 15-20 mins. I had to go to a hospital appointment and was sitting wearing my mask with others when the tickle started. I had to quickly get up and into the loo to get a drink, because I was embarrassed and worried others would think I had Covid. It's really difficult if you have a cough!

Pinkywoo · 26/04/2021 10:04

I have asthma and hayfever so cough quite often. I've not noticed any dirty looks as I try to avoid shopping etc, but I did use it to my advantage in the queue in Boots the other day when a bloke was standing far too close! Grin

nonaomi · 26/04/2021 10:05

I would use it to your advantage !

But also, as someone who freaks out when people cough near me- you could just say. ' I have asthma ' or something. Just an idea.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 26/04/2021 10:07

I have a cough from allergies/hayfever - wearing a mask makes my nose run which makes it worse! If it happens when I am out I cough into my elbow and say, “sorry, it’s hayfever”. Not sure what else I can do really? I am already on prescription medication. I went to the dentist for a checkup last week and actually rang in advance to explain and check it was okay.

LindaEllen · 26/04/2021 10:21

I get a cough to accompany my hayfever between April-September. Every year since I was a child. Not bad, but bad enough to not be able to go in a shop without coughing. I actually stopping going in shops last summer because people would look at me, and one bloke actually stopped me and said I shouldn't be in a shop with a cough. Wtf.

I'm not actually as concerned this year as I think people are slipping more into normality. But last year was a bit miserable.

Pinkywoo · 26/04/2021 10:24

@nonaomi

I would use it to your advantage !

But also, as someone who freaks out when people cough near me- you could just say. ' I have asthma ' or something. Just an idea.

Yes if someone looks worried I always say that I'm asthmatic, I had to shield for the first lockdown so understand being careful, I might just be a bit more theatrical with my coughing if someone refuses to keep their distance!
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