What's the next step? Private GP?

[Bellabelloo]

I have had a really bad cough for over 3 months now. It keeps me awake, so I haven't slept properly in months. I am constantly exhausted and I cough to the point of vomiting and sometimes wetting myself during the day (thanks pelvic floor muscles!)!! My ribs hurt. My head hurts. My throat hurts. I've done numerous PCRs - and it's not covid, so my GP isn't interested. I have been able to get a Livi consultation snd got some antibiotics snd an inhaler that made me feel better for a few days, but it was just as bad by the time I finished the course. I rang my GP today in tears and they said I could have a phone consultation, but not until January! They told me to call 111, but the advisor there told me I had to go through my GP.

I don't know what to do. It's so debilitating. I've missed so much work and am being a crap mum as I have no energy or patience. Not to mention the evil looks I get when I have a coughing fit in public!

I can't afford it, but is my only option going private?

Beneden health is £10 a month and you get private GP appointments on telephone or zoom, same day or next day.

Wow! That's a great service! I obviously won't be able to get cover now for something I've been suffering from for so long though.

It also makes me think about all of the people being dismissed with symptoms for underlying serious conditions. Scary!

It is shocking your doctor hasn’t seen you for this or referred you on - for a chest X-ray in the first instance. You really need to call them on Monday, explain again and demand a referral. Contact the practice manager if they refuse. Keep advocating for yourself - no one else will.

Are you on any medication? Some drugs have cough as a side effect, such as ACE inhibitors

Could it be acid reflux?

Do you smoke?

I agree you need a chest x-ray after this amount of time

@Blinkingbatshit I have tried so many times (keep hoping I'll get a different, more friendly receptionist), but have just been sent from pillar to post. They keep telling me it's not an emergency and the next non-emergency appointment isn't until January. I have begged (and cried - out of frustration!) But I haven't got bolshy as in my experience that never works. I'll try again on Monday. My husband wants me to go to A&E, but that seems a bit extreme. (I am keeping him awake every night too!)

Beneden GPs can refer you on if you need it. You can join and have an appointment the next day. I did that as my GP wouldn't see me.
It's worth a tenner to investigate. You can't wait til January!

@GreenLunchBox I'm on thyroid medication. And I do have acid reflux. Can that cause an awful cough?

@GrrrlPwr Thanks. I'll look into it. X

Have you written to the practice manager?

If you write and say you're worried about TB, whooping cough, pleurisy, pneumonia....I think you need an urgent appointment. I'm not saying you have those but the health system seem to have triggers.

I have chronic health issues and had a few sets of antibiotics to get rid of a chest infection in 2018.

@DaisyNGO It's worth a try. I'll write a letter and post it through the letterbox this weekend.

[quote Bellabelloo]@GreenLunchBox I'm on thyroid medication. And I do have acid reflux. Can that cause an awful cough? [/quote]
Yes it can. www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315888
Do you take anything for it?

[quote Bellabelloo]@DaisyNGO It's worth a try. I'll write a letter and post it through the letterbox this weekend.[/quote]
Worth a try
I was trying to get mum seen - she is 83 - she called first and no luck. She had major stomach pain and they offered a phone appt in 3 weeks.

Then I rang up and explained I was calling on her behalf. Asked receptionist "should I take her to A&E because it could be pancreatitis". She actually said "now you've said the word pancreatitis, I think I can get your mum a call back today".

I think receptionists are in a tough spot, having to listen out for certain things.

Hope it works out fine

I had similar some years ago and was diagnosed with a chest infection and subsequently asthma with a referral to hospital for xrays etc. Can you push for an urgent f2f appointment, perhaps with nurse practitioner.

@GreenLunchBox That's really interesting. Thank you. I don't take anything prescribed - just Gaviscon. But often have to sleep upright as it feels like my stomach contents are going to crawl up my throat when I lie down!

I had acid reflux that made me cough and vomit

I'd change GP practice. Some are definitely better than others.

@LIZS I have asked numerous times to be seen in person, but they say not until January because it's not an emergency! I've said it kind of is and have explained how much I am struggling, but computer says no. I'm going to call again on Monday and say it's got worse and I have chest pains to see if that constitutes an emergency. 2nd choice will be to see if I can get a private appointment on Monday and just pay it. If that doesn't work, I'm going to A&E.

Okay well you definitely need that looked at. Acid reflux to the point you have to sleep upright is not good and gaviscon is a sticking plaster.

You do really need seen about this. It isn't just an annoyance. A young healthy person should not be kept up by GERD and if left untreated long term, it can increase your risk of Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal cancer.

Acid reflux can make you cough. I’d go and have a chat with your local pharmacist tomorrow morning. I take gaviscon but when that’s not working well I use omeprazole which can be bought off the shelf. Worth checking your meds with a pharmacist before taking anything new.

Do you really think A&E is appropriate?

You can get great anti acid meds over the counter from pharmacist. I say try those and join benwnden.

@FrankiesKnuckle No! I absolutely don't! But I can't get seen on the NHS. I'll try again on Monday. I will write a letter and call them again. If I get dismissed AGAIN I'll try and see someone privately. If I can't do that I don't know what to do. I'm broken.

I have same thing OP
Receptionist told me I wasn't an emergency..... until I said I had chest pain which I have ....but from coughing.
Got call back from Dr and put on antibiotics and inhaler.

When you ring emphasise your pain.

Good luck.

It does look like acid reflux. DH has got awful cough (I couldn’t sleep) and generally was not well. He went to GP as at some point he even had chest pain. He’s on Omeprazole now, slowly getting better. It’s actually the second time. The first time he was taking omeprazole for 2 or 3 months.
He also was taking Gaviscon for a week before the visit, it’s useless.

This is a campaign currently being run by the NHS. There’s a 30 second video accompanying it which I’m not savvy enough to attach, but can be found on YouTube. I suggest that you ask your surgery if they are aware of the campaign as the gist of it is that if you have a non Covid cough for longer than three weeks then it should be investigated, so they should have been following this up weeks ago.

Obviously not trying to frighten you as it’s very unlikely that your cough would be due to cancer, but it may galvanise them into action!