Coughing up strange stuff - don't read whilst eating.

[Jinglywoo]

I have had a cough since the middle of October- had 2 courses of anti-biotics and been told it's upper respiratory. After 6 weeks it started to get better and I had about 3 days of coughing less. Last week I got a cold though and of course cough is back as bad as ever. It is tickly and chesty at the same time - I am constantly coughing up yellow phlegm but yesterday I started coughing up what I can only describe as 'skin' - yesterday I had a piece that almost looked like a fern with central stem and kind of leaves. Today only little bits but when I looked closely and felt it, it is like the thick skin you get on a blister or something. I can't seem to get a doctor to take me seriously but I am feeling quite desperate now. I can't take another night of not sleeping and am starting to worry that something is seriously wrong with me as I just can't shake this off.

bump - I know it's grim but I'd be interested to hear if anyone out there has experienced anything similar.

Tonsil stones? Has been discussed before on MN

Do you think you could have pneumonia? Go back to the GP, if no joy go to A&E.

Do you have night sweats? (sorry grim question, but it is a symptom of pneumonia)

do they smell

can you take a sample with you to your GP?

Tonsil stones - the pic on the link of the smaller bit looks quite like what I've been coughing up but the bits I get do not smell at all, nor does any of the stuff I've been coughing up. I haven't had any night sweats and apart from the cough I just feel ridiculously tired (not helped by having 20 month old up loads at night and when she does sleep, I'm up coughing).
thanks for the info, I'm going to have another look at tonsil stones and make an appointment to see the doc tomorrow.

Am not convinced on tonsil stones - it looks as if they really really stink and have confirmed with dh that I don't have bad breath at the moment - great link though, I love looking at photos of weird stuff you can find in your body.

it may be what I had after a cold. It was really odd. When i coughed in a morning, it was a thin sheet (hard to explain) with bits in. It was just residual stuff off chest, just thick mucus. Went away after a few weeks

If you like weird shit, Martianbishop posted a horrific but strangely compelling link once of a bloke squeezing a boil that just went on and on and on. Gives me nightmares still.

Well I saw the doctor who says I have a chest infection and temperature but also asthma (my mum has it but it was still a surprise to me). The 'skin' I've been coughing up is described as mucous plugs which are fairly common in asthma. If you're feeling brave here is a link to a massive mucous plug: [[www.library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/LUNGHTML/LUNG051.html] - mine are much smaller but do look the same as that - freaky. I coughed up a chunk last night with blood as it was obviously kind of fused on to my airways. .

Anyway, I have a course of anti-biotics and a Ventolin inhaler and last night for the first night in weeks I hardly coughed (pity dd2 took the opportunity to be up all night or I might have actually slept quite well..).

I'm still intrigued by the tonsil stones and have decided mil must have them as she has peculiar poo smelling breath - but how do you approach the subject..