Chronic cough and GP not helpful

[Atethehalloweenchocs]

I have been sick for about 6 weeks now - cold, then covid, then chest infection. Finished antibiotics a few weeks ago and a few days after I stopped taking them, the cough started getting worse again. At its worse, I am bursting blood vessels at the back of my throat or retching because the cough is so powerful. I have also wet myself at its worst.

The GP is just really blase about this. I pointed out that this has been happening about this time of year for the last 4 years. That in the past I have required 2 courses of antibiotics to shift things (she has put me on an inhaler because she says my body is just used to coughing - which does not explain why it was better on the meds and worse again after I stopped them).

I am so sick of not being taken seriously. I have had two periods of sick leave in 6 weeks because I cant talk for more than a minute or two without having a coughing fit which leaves me gasping for breath, and the things I mentioned above.

Any ideas why this is happening? In my 50s, otherwise fit and healthy, a bit overweight but walk every day 2/3 times with the dogs (unless I am too ill to leave the house), never smoked but grew up around very heavy smokers. I am sick of not seeming to be taken seriously by the GP.

Can you see a different GP, OP? You shouldn't be coughing like that every year, and your GP is, in my opinion, negligent because she should be looking into what is causing it.

I do have coughing fits at times, allergy-driven. It's no fun!

I developed bad acid reflux after I had Covid. My cough was as you describe it. Cough sweets had no impact. I took gaviscon and this really helped. I then went on the acid watcher diet which stopped the coughing. It’s a common thing to have acid reflux after Covid. Could this be what you have? You could find out by taking Gaviscon after a meal and before bed and see if there is improvement.

Thanks for the tips both of you. I will definitely try the Gaviscon @Mustardfan . Would it be linked to meal times if it is that? And @CrunchyCarrot yes I think that is a good idea. I am considering paying to go private, not that I have the money but I am sick of not being taken seriously. The symptoms are getting steadily worse again since I stopped taking the antibiotics last week, so it seems obvious to me that this is the problem. But this particular GP is very hot on not giving out antibiotics and god knows, I realize there is a massive problem with them. But I get to the point of not being able to manage my day to day life because of the cough and she is treating me like I have a mild case of the sniffles.

Try taking a daily antihistamine like loratidine in the winter. Avoid benadryl as it's linked to dementia

I'd see a different doctor. "Used to coughing" sounds made up.

Have you tried co-codamol at all? The codeine can suppress a cough. And make you feel a lot less shit.

Has the GP checked for pneumonia...I'm guessing no?

If your cough is related to acid reflux (which it may not be), the cough could come on after a meal, or later. It would probably be worse if you lay down, which is why it can be worse at night. I found that even sitting made it worse, especially if I was slightly reclined. I was better standing.

I really dont think it is acid reflux, because I dont think that would have improved on antibiotics? I think it may be bronchitis/pnuemonia and yes, have decided on going back on Monday and throwing my toys out the pram until someone takes me seriously. The cough gets worse every day, today I managed to wet myself when I was out because I had such a strong coughing fit. I just cant keep doing this.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I am feeling truly awful today, had a headache all weekend and seem to have developed a cold as well - went back to the GP and saw a different doctor who has prescribed me another course of antibiotics, a nasal spray and sent me for a chest x-ray. He reviewed my notes and has signed me off work for a month! I hate that it is a surprise to be taken seriously!

I had this a couple of years back after covid.

Ended up seeing a private specialist. She gave me a strong inhaler (used for people with COPD).

I had chest X-rays too as I had crackles.

The inhaler helped. She reckoned I'd had a bug then covid, then RSV on top. My lungs were irritable. Had to wear a mask outside to shelter my lungs from the sudden shock of temperature changes.

It just took a lot of time to settle (months in fact). This was coupled with fatigue too.

I also saw an ENT man because my hoarse voice stayed and they thought I had damaged my voice box with all of the coughing. Turned out I needed to retrain myself to talk normally as I'd got so used to protecting my voice box from the coughing the hoarseness had become a habit.

If you haven't already, try echinacea and turmeric. I've been told that olive oil with turmeric can also be good.

I'm now in week 8 of post covid illness second time around. It's bloody wretched so you have my sympathies

Get well soon

I've had an inhaler too when I get a cough and it won't shift. They make a massive difference and give your body a chance to recover.

That's great OP! Now what you need is to get to the bottom of what's going on. No-one should have to feel their doctor isn't taking them seriously.