Waste of a doctor's appointment?

[mypickleliesovertheocean]

Hi all, I've booked a (non emergency) drs appointment but just wanted to make sure I'm not wasting their time as this could be something normal, I don't know.

I've had a persistent cough now since August. It flares up and then eases off but it's never fully gone; sometimes it's dry and sometimes it's productive. I get chest tightness and chest pain occasionally (mild, nowhere near heart, not like aching from coughing but a sort of sharp pain).

I feel daft walking into the doctors and saying "I've had a cough since August" but I'm concerned it could be something like asthma maybe? Would I be taking up a doctors appointment unnecessarily? I don't want them to think I'm a total twat

No definitely not a waste! I had a cough for ages that I should've gone to the doctor about, turns out it was actually my stomach that was the problem. I had no idea it can cause a persistent cough. Hope you get some answers.

Definitely not you need to get this checked out

That should always be checked out. My partner had an appointment today as he's had a cough for 3 months and been given asthma pumps and a chest X-ray to check for an infection. His is either dry or productive depending and has been a nuisance so not a wasted appointment at all. Hope all goes well

You've got symptoms that you are concerned about and a doctor needs to investigate - that's not a waste of an appointment. The people that truly waste appointments are those that book and don't turn up (151 last month at our surgery).

Dd has had similar since December, saw a gp and has got a blue inhaler short term. Definitely not a waste as untreated asthma can be serious.

Thanks for the reassurance. I get so nervous going to the doctor as I'm worried they're going to tell me I'm wasting time (worst thing is I work for the NHS and I'm constantly reassuring people that they aren't wasting our time!).

There's a long family history of asthma so I'll feel better even if all they can do is rule that out. Thanks all :)

I get this from reflux and post nasal drip. It does need to be dealt with by a Gp to rule anything else out.
There's ads around that say if you've had a cough over a certain length of time then see your Gp.