Recurring chesty cough - will the GP just send me away?

[Aberchips]

I had a really nasty chesty cough for about 8 weeks before Christmas. to the point where I managed to pull muscles in my ribs coughing.
It took a long time for me to get over & I was coughing up nasty green stuff (sorry TMI!) for weeks.

I thought I'd got rid of it around the beginning of January, however for the last 2 weeks I have been feeling unwell, which turned out to be a cold which then went straight onto my chest. I have exactly the same symptoms as before.

My mum is urging me to go to the doctors, but I'm not convinced there is much they will do. Am I right?!

I would go to the GP and seek medical advice. It warrants further investigation and perhaps antibiotics.

Thanks Attila - rang up yesterday. Apparently they are full for this week & can fit me in next Thursday [eyeroll] otherwise I'm going to have to ring for an emergency appointment on the day. Will have to wait until Thursday now when I'm not at work.

No wonder A & E is overrun at this rate!!

I think the magic number is about three weeks as that is how long a normal cold virus may take to clear and they can't do much about a virus. However, Longer than this and you may have a chest infection that needs antibiotics so go to the GP. You are always wise to get a long-term cough checked out.

Finally managed to speak to the doctor this morning to be triaged & they have given me an appointment for this afternoon. Hopefully will get this knocked on the head once & for all!