DH ill for months and no anti-b's given, now more worrying

[lazymumsmh]

My DH has been ill since before Christmas with various chest infections, sore throats, sinus pain. He's been to the doctor 4 times and every time they have said it'll clear up on its own / he doesn't need anti-biotics, I think because he has had 1-2 days in between each illness they are seeing them as separate occurrences.

Last time he went he got quite annoyed with them an insisted on a blood test as we can't understand why he keeps getting ill constantly. His blood test results came back as flagging inflammation and he's got to go back on 4th April and have another test to see if its still there. He also just received a letter saying his blood test showed high sugar levels (he got 42, whereas anything under 42 is normal) and is pre-diabetic and to make lifestyle changes.

He's now been coughing up thick, green and brown and yellow mucus for weeks (sometimes so thick he says its more like a solid) and he even smells ill.

I'm at a loss. What do we do?

I would change GPs, that's a dreadful experience. Hope he gets some answers soon

Get a second opinion
See a private doctor

He has seen several doctors at the same practice. Going private isn't affordable for us unfortunately. I just have no idea whats going on.

That sounds very worrying. Maybe try A&E?

Coloured mucus is usually some bacterial infection, sinusitis likewise. I was on antibiotics for six weeks to shift mine last year. He needs to go back in and demand a referral as this sort of persistent crap is just unliveable.

He needs to address his pre diabetes, as a fellow sufferer i recommend a low carb approach. That should help to reduce inflamation in his body, please have a look at dr ken berry on youtube. Very interesting stuff. I would also be pushing the drs for more answers.

Well wait for 4 April and ask for referral to a specialist

It sounds similar to my cousin's experience. She's had a poorly chest for months. She had great difficulty getting antibiotics and had to keep going back as it didn't clear. She also has LOW white blood cell count. She is now on the mend after they finally found she had pneumonia from a sputum test. Has your DH's sputum been tested?

You are obviously right to be concerned. Could you phone and book a telephone callback from a GP and explain your worries. I don't know what smelling ill means but that may be important.

My husband had these symptoms. It was resolved with Montelukast every night (tablet) and inhalers. His sinus congestion/infections were dripping into his throat, irritating his chest resulting in constant chest infections and tight constant coughing. He is totally fine now.

Does your area do an extended hours service? Ours has recently set up one to run from the local hospital. Gp appointments but not during work hours I think they run from 6pm-9pm or something. Separate to out of hours. It may be worth that just to get an appointment with someone different.

I once had bronchitis for 8 weeks with many synptoms you mention above. Short term for your DH, follow your gut instinct and press for more antiBiotics if you can. Long term, fixing sleep problems, high dosage VitD (20k units daily for a month) and lots of zinc in winter have helped to prevent a recurrence.

Thanks for all these responses!

So we called the doctors and managed to get an emergency appointment for this evening. We finally have a course of antibiotics! 🙌 and he’s been given a sputum pot to give a sample in tomorrow to see what’s going on.

Hurray! But I wish you hadn't said "sputum pot", it's the only bodily fluid that really squicks me out :D

Lazymum, I’m just recovering from a similar bout of everything except the chest infection. I’m so glad your DH has finally got antibiotics, and I hope he recovers soon. I got them on my third appointment. Sometimes an infection seems to settle in and need antibiotics to shift it.

Singlenotsingle, A&E???? You serious?!

Sorry to revive this old thread.

DH has been well for a week now after the anti-biotics did the trick. He has a blood test tomorrow to see if the inflammation has gone.

Meanwhile today he has developed this insane rash. Its all over his body head to toe and its really red and angry in some places and he says its really really itchy. We went to the pharmacy who suggested anti-histamines but he's had two today and they've not done anything.

One other thing we've noticed is he has some kind of yellow lump under his tongue at the back. It won't move or come away.

Any clue?

It's probably a post viral rash, but if it doesn't clear up, back to the doctors!
Btw pp who said a sputum sample had picked up pneumonia, I'm pretty sure pneumonia is only diagnosed by a chest X ray, they aren't special bacteria that cause pneumonia, they are the same ones as a common or garden chest infection.

I get those rashes after s viral infection. they usually go after a day or two. may just be harmless.

Oh! That looks like the rash I had with glandular fever. It apparently rly comes up if you try to treat GF with antibiotics. If he’s been ill for ages I be that’s what it turns out to be.

Is the rash rough like sandpaper? If so it could be scarlet fever. Is his throat sore? Im not 100% on this but with my own experience of "viral" rashes in children they don't tend to itch like mad.

Did he get any answers OP?

@Hidingteacher Not really! Rash got worse the following day so he went in for a same day appointment and the Dr's (there were two) were both stumped and had no idea what it was. Both agreed it wasn't from the antibiotics but couldn't say what it was from.

He's still got it very very faintly now, but I think its on its way out.