Out of hours tomorrow or try to ring GP first thing Weds?

[drspouse]

And in the future how can I stop every bloody cough from turning out like this?
Background: I have cough variant asthma, so I cough a lot.
Started with a cough nearly 3 weeks ago and it got bad really quickly, thought my chest was rattly, went to GP, no chest infection.
Thought it was getting better so didn't go back.
Now it's worse and I can't seem to walk about the house without coughing.
Thing is, my chest feels really wheezy despite taking all my inhalers, but I don't have a temperature and I'm not sure if there's any point in going to the GP or OOH.
So, which will be less busy/less of a waste of the NHS' time?
And how can I tell if it's actually a chest infection without a fever?
And how can I keep from having awful, awful coughs ALL BLOODY WINTER?

GP today. Honestly. You need steroids. Call OOH NOW

Asthma kills, don't leave it another day.

Is the coughing stopping you from doing ordinary things? That's my litmus test.

Walk-in will be quiet now, though, so if you go, go now not 6pm or later.

I've never needed steroids before, except my daily inhaler. Only antibiotics and even then they always suck in their teeth and say "well I'm not completely sure you've actually got an infection".

Actually yes Ragged it is.
We only have OOH appointments here not a walk in.

I thought with asthma there were often 2 types of inhalers given. One daily & one for flare ups. Do you only have one type of inhaler?

xpost... they can only treat what they see. If you don't have enough signs infection they may be able to give you stronger steroids, instead. Have to research that one.

ragged I have 3, steroid and a long lasting reliever daily, and then Ventolin.

Another one here with asthma. Got a cold at the beginning of the month, sputum showed no chest infection, but both lungs were rattling, even after five days on steroids. Ended up with a four day hospital stay with nebulizer every four hours. Call oho Dr, you know you can't mess with asthma. Meanwhile, do you have a spacer? If so, using your blue ( reliever) inhaler, ten puffs into spacer and slow breathes. Failing that, a couple of cups of v strong coffee can sometimes help.

You may well not have needed steroids before but there is a first time for everything. It sounds like you have poorly controlled asthma anyway and need an entire review of your inhaler strategy as GP is likely correct, these aren't infections but uncontrolled asthma. It has been uncontrolled for a long time now.

You are wheezy, you have tried your normal strategy for managing, it is not working. You need medical advice today.

I am really really not joking.

I think I will ring 111 and see what they say.
The DC are completely feral and DH is manfully doing the turkey and roasties.
But we live 5 mins walk from the hospital and I've had OOH appointments there before so he might not have to take me.

Will you sleep tonite if you carry on this way, is someone around you to keep an eye on you if it gets a lot scarier?

I'd hate going, too, but it doesn't seem like waiting will be a good choice for you.

Oh I'll also try blue inhaler w spacer, I just took it but without.

Ok have just had OOH appointment through - 15 mins time at hospital.

Good luck OP, I hope you get treatment and are back before the gravy is cold.

Let us know what they say or do for you. x

I hope you don't have to wait to long and are feeling better soon.

All done, my O2 was 98 (which begs the question, why am I feeling so short of breath) lungs seemed OK but with asthma and 2-3 weeks of cough he's given me antibiotics. Gravy is apparently not started but chemist doesn't shut till 3 so I think I'll send DH while I get in my PJ's with a film for the DCs.

You can still feel short of breath with sats 98%! I've got asthma, never wheezed, never had sats drop but still know when my chest is tightening up and a lot of my colds aren't colds, they are asthma.

If you aren't better in 48 hours with the antibiotics, or you feel yourself getting worse, you need to go back.

Have you got a written asthma plan and seen the practice asthma nurse? If not, you need to make an appointment to do this ASAP after the Christmas break so you don't keep ending up like this in the winter.

Op pleaser go back if you get worse asthma is an unpredictable bastard, hope you feel better soon xxxx

By coincidence I have my annual review with the asthma nurse on Friday.