Coughing constantly!

[Zizou04]

Hi there

I have had a bad cough for about 7 or 8 weeks now. It is painful and it's a bit of a bark. It chokes me at times when I have a coughing fit but there is no wheezing etc in my chest.

Any ideas how I can get rid of this? I can't get an appointment at the doctors for weeks! It's really bothering me now. 😔

Ask at a pharmacy as they have stronger cough medicines behind the counter. Be sure to tell them exactly what you have tried.

Are you on blood pressure medication as cough can be a side effect.

I would think after that length of time you'd be classed as an emergency. A constant cough needs looking at.

I have same, for even longer. Chest X-Ray fine. Now doctor thinks acid reflux and the pills do seem to work. It's odd as I have never had reflux before. Dr thinks it could be a post Covid thing but it's gone on for ages. Good luck!

Could be acid reflux. I coughed for 6 weeks before seeing gp and she diagnosed it straight away. I hadn’t even considered it. Had to have a chest x Ray as I had been coughing for so long but the tablets started working fairly quickly. I had to adjust my diet as the cough kept coming back and now I’ve tested +ve for heliobacter pylori. Hoping the antibiotics will sort me out once and for all.

Until you see the GP I’d get some gavisvon for after meals/before bed. Also try to cut down on spicy/tomatoey foods and also coffee/chocolate. No wine either, it’s very acidic! Been a bloody miserable few weeks here but cutting these things out definitely helped.

From what little I know, after 8 weeks of a cough, a doctor wants to see a patient if the cough has gone on that long.

I can't believe a GP won't see someone who has been coughing for that long.
Have you tried phoning NHS 111 for advice?

Thanks everyone. I'm not on any kind of medication. I'll try phone the doctors again tomorrow but I'm pretty sure I'll just be fobbed off again.

I came on to say acid reflux as well OP. Do you have any Gaviscon in the house? Definitely worth a try.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

It's possible to have asthma with no wheezing and cough being the main symptom. Asthma can develop at any age.

@Zizou04 does your GP have an online service? Mine does and it means I can describe symptoms and then they will decide whether I need to been seen/need treatment.