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Original poster

What is wrong with me?

17 replies

BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 07:26

In March I started with a little cough...not covid. Since then it has become chronic. I have a stuffy nose and terrible mucus on my lungs. I am coughing, wheezing and have difficulty breathing worse at night and in mornings. I can cough up lots of thick mucus. It's so scary not being able to breathe. Been to GP many times. Had a chest x-ray (clear) and been prescribed strong antihistamines, nasal sprays and inhalers. GP says hayfever but I have never had hayfever before. Pollen levels low at the moment but I have been woken up again this morning with the terrible cough and breathlessness. My lungs are on fire. A few puffs of a blue inhaler has helped. I just want this, whatever it is to go away. It is severely impacting my life and making me very down. Could I have developed an allergy to something else?? Has the covid vaccine triggered something?

OP posts:
atajs · 04/08/2021 07:40

Ask GP to organise lung function tests. ?asthma ?COPD

emmathedilemma · 04/08/2021 08:02

Allergy induced asthma? I’d be trying daily antihistamines, steroid inhaler and blue one max times a day to try and get on top of it.

emmathedilemma · 04/08/2021 08:04

Don’t go off pollen levels being low, I’ve woken up sneezing and itching my eyes this morning, there’s something in the air that’s really set me off this week! A lot of people have reported much worse hayfever symptoms this year.

Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 08:16

Thank you all for replying. That's the thing, I don't get the classic itchy eye thing and I've never had hayfever or asthma before. It is mainly congestion, awful cough/wheezing. My lungs feel so sore and my ribs hurt from coughing. Is it possible to suddenly deveop it like this in your late forties? The antihistamines don't seem to do much but the Avamys nasal spray helps a little bit I think. I never realised hayfever could be this awful. I feel sorry for anyone who's had it their whole lives!

OP posts:
Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 08:17

GP has given me a peak flow to do . I have a couple of weeks left on that

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emmathedilemma · 04/08/2021 10:49

It does seem unusual to be hit so badly so suddenly. Do you use your inhalers daily? At my worst I take my brown one 2 puffs 3 times a day and blue one 2 puffs 4 times a day. Have you also got a spacer as that really helps with how much you actually inhale when you take them. I would give it 2 weeks and full whack antihistamine, nasal spray and inhalers and if it doesn't improve they need to give you something else or find another cause. I assume an infection would have shown up on xray?

dizzydizzydizzy · 04/08/2021 11:48

Your GP might be right. I have hay fever this year. Last time I had it was about 1997-2000. I thought I was going to die in 1997!

Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 12:01

Yes, in desperation I'm using max of everything prescribed. It's very odd. I wonder why so many are suffering this year. ...and I can relate to thinking you were going to die..I was close to going to A&E last night

OP posts:
Willdoitlater · 04/08/2021 12:10

Acid reflux? Every one of my friends who had persistent cough, catarrah, feeling chesty turned out to have reflux. GPs never seem to suggest it as a possibility.

bloodywhitecat · 04/08/2021 12:13

Are you on a preventer inhaler as well as a reliever? Are you using a spacer device too? It does sound like my asthma when it gets a grip on me (which is about once every five years or so)

Justilou1 · 04/08/2021 12:20

I was going to suggest reflux too. Could you try some Gaviscon (best) or Mylanta after dinner for a couple of days and see if your symptoms ease up a bit. If they do, you will still need to go to GP and let them know and ask for a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor.

Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 12:21

I had heard about acid reflux but I don't have heartburn or anything. How would I know if it was that? I have been half heartedly using a preventer inhaler but maybe need to up that?

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FatCatThinCat · 04/08/2021 12:21

I've developed this in my late 40s and for me it is allergies. Not just grass inducted hayfever. I'm still trying to work out all the triggers. So far, I have grass pollen, mugwort pollen (currently season for it), kiwi fruit, cola, dust, ibruprofen, amyltriptaline.

The allergies trigger Post Nasal Drip, which is what causes the coughing. It's bloody awful when it's not controlled. I felt like I was drowning in my own gunk.

DownUdderer · 04/08/2021 12:25

It's not mold spores is it?

Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 12:30

Fatcatthincat that sounfs just like how I feel. It's horrible. Very antisocial to be coughing so much at the moment too. ...I don't think it's mould spores as my house isn't mouldy but who knows?

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Original poster
BLACKTUESDAY1 · 04/08/2021 12:32

Justilou. Good suggestion about the Gaviscon. Worth a try if only to eliminate reflux

OP posts:
Justilou1 · 04/08/2021 14:00

Absolutely… Silent reflux is a thing in adults.

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