Lung crackles - No appointments available today with NHS or Privately

[rustypoon]

I've had a cold recently and it hasn't been too bad but a lot of mucus. In the last couple of days I've developed some crackling on exhalation. I've still been working but I have been experiencing breathlessness walking and going up stairs and a bit of dizziness at times.
I'm not sure what to do. Has anyone else experienced crackling that cleared up by itself? No fever at any point..

Crackling is normally sign of an infection and needs antibiotics. If it is not an infection it will need further investigation and this won't happen in one day privately or via the NHS. Most likely to be COPD.

Crackle suggests infection.

A pharmacist might be able to help and prescribe antibiotics. If not, keep trying to get gp appointment or call 111.

Stop working. Rest, sleep, good food.

Do you have a walk in centre near you?

Assuming it's fundamentally benign, it should clear up on it's own in the end , but it will take some time and you will need to look after yourself as @AuntieJune suggests to make this happen.

@AuntieJune @TheOtherHotstepper @cocksstrideintheevening @TheOtherHotstepper

Thanks everyone for your replies. I called 111 and got through very quickly. A doctor called me back within an hour and then I received a call with an appointment at a walk in centre nearby at 5pm today.

I have run myself into the ground a bit lately with work and i'm a single parent with two young ones. I have had a bath, a nap (the children have gone to their father for the day) and I'm off work until Tuesday. Hopefully there's nothing more to it and it's just an upper respiratory thing..

@AuntieJune @TheOtherHotstepper @cocksstrideintheevening
I'm feeling quite worried this morning. I am sleeping quite well but the crackling, bubbling sound when I breathe and bouts of breathlessness are frightening. The doctor said I had acute bronchitis after a quick check and he could hear a wheeze. I have this kind of heavy feeling in my left lung and my breathing is constantly restricted, cough is very rattley. The mucus I coughed up is light green and when I blew my nose it was green with small amounts of blood in it.
Sorry to go on about it but I have two young children and I am on my own and I can't help but worry and think the worst.
Should I get a second opinion or just keep taking the antibiotics do you think?

Keep taking the antibiotics

When I had bronchitis I was told that it’s not treatable by antibiotics and to just take it easy and eventually it would pass

it was the worst I’ve ever felt, so my sympathy is with you @rustypoon

plenty of fluid
green is infection
allow the antibiotics to work

Everything you've described is consistent with when I had Bronchitis OP - hopefully that puts your mind at ease slightly.

I had to have over a week off work with it, and was still breathless and coughing when active weeks later - you need to give yourself time to recover 💐

@DustyLee123 @MzHz @Willmafrockfit @Popcorn640

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your replies. I've got to get on with the day but I think I might take a few days off work once the children are back at school to allow myself time to recover.

you should rest op

I would ring 111 again and ask to be seen. The fact that you are breathless and coughing up small amounts of blood would be a concern. Did they give you a home sats monitor? If not ask to be seen and have your oxygen saturations checked as you are now experiencing more breathlessness. Good luck.

@Janiie Thanks for your reply. I have one at home because my son has asthma and it's been reading between 98-99 which is reassuring. In the past with infections it's been 95-96. The blood is only from the nose when I blow it and it's red the mucus I cough up is completely green with no red so I suspect my nose is sore from the blowing (hoping that's what it is anyway). I've decided I will call my local doctor tomorrow now and speak to them, unless I get any worse of course.

Oh well that's great. I'm no expert but from what I understand the difference between management at home or in hospital is when sats dip and you need a bit of 02.

If it's only blood stained from your nose try steaming to moisten airways (though with 2 young dc sitting in a steam filled bathroom or head over a sink may not be possible lol). Just drink lots of water, stay hydrated and airways won't be so dry.

@Janiie Thank you so much for replying. They're quietly watching TV so I can rest for a bit now. I had a steamy bath earlier too which helped and I've managed to take our dog on a little walk but it did tire me out.