Whooping cough

[TheletterZ]

I have suspected whooping cough, saw OOH dr who agreed it sounds like whooping cough and will treat it as such but no tests. It is really classic whooping noise when breathing in during a coughing fit.

I’ve been given antibiotics.

Anyone had this as an adult and how long will it last? I’ve heard it also referred to as 100 day cough, which I really hope isn’t true especially if I have antibiotics.

I’m 7 weeks in and still not back at work….feel really unwell with it still….had bowel issues with the antibiotics which didn’t help …..diarrhoea for 2 weeks

The clear mucus stuff is so weird. It is inoffensive because it’s so clear and not massively gloopy, but I feel like I’m drowning in the stuff half the time and no matter how much you cough it just sits kind of just below the back of your throat and won’t budge.

On a gross level I’ve been coughing up the mucus in an old washing up bowl, and the the shower head blasting it still struggles to shift the mucus, it’s like glue, imagine that sat on our lungs!

I'm 3 months down the road. Coughing is occasional and not causing retching etc. anymore, so that's better. I'm sleeping well. However, my pelvic floor is fecked and I've gone to the women's health physio to try to get back on track. Still likely to pee myself if I cough. Laughing seems to trigger a cough every time. I think my son had this before me but it didn't get picked up. He's been very tired for a while now so I'm going back to the GP to get him checked out as it's beyond normal at this stage.

My Daughter had BOB the bowl

she went everywhere with Bob

it was so thick the mucus I had to boil a kettel to clean Bob

im even triggered writing about it

Yep, I'm still coughing 2 months on. Not all the time,but a couple of bouts a day. One of my customers,who is a retired consultant,also has it,and her GP son said it was WC. He's seen no end of cases. As other posters say,the immunity from the vaccine doesn't last forever ,but boosters aren't offered on the NHS, as it's rarely dangerous in adults,as the windpipe is larger. Apparently you can get a booster via a private GP.
No one else in our house got it,only me,and I work outdoors on my own,so not in close contact with other people.

They are currently offering whooping cough booster vaccines to all front line staff at my nhs trust

Gross isn't it. Anyone suffering defo look up vitamin c protocol for whooping cough. It is massive doses, sodium absorbate, only thing that helped us. We also steamed and did castor oil packs on lungs....

I'm sure hubby and I have this.. he started with a cough about 4 weeks ago.. saw GP - said it was a bacterial chest infection - 2 weeks off work and on antiBs.. then he started to gasp for air when he was coughing and ended up vomiting.. still the same now 4 weeks on. GP then sent him for xray and a phlegm sample. A doctor friend of DH immediately said.. it's Whooping Cough. I'm now catching up with him and have started to gasp for air when coughing. But for me each night it's been the emptying of the lungs, this past week in particuar I've been coughing up so much thick clear gluey mucus - it's crazy how much there is!

I have just read all of these comments and wish I came across this thread sooner, my DD age 3 caught a bad cold in December, and from this definitely confirms my suspicion that it was whooping cough. Up all night coughing, coughing until she was sick, struggled to catch her breath. It has been awful. I went to the doctors numerous times, even got referred to ENT but every time chest sounds clear and doctors did not mention whooping cough or would confirm whooping cough. Just said viral infection and coughs can last a long time.

For months I was up almost every night with her for coughing episode/episodes and I am now 6 months on and now every time she gets a cold she gets a bad cough but it is improving as the months go on.

They should be being offered to everyone.

100% that’s it

clear thick mucus is unique

I’m 4 months down the line and feel pretty much back to normal. Occasional coughing fit (mornings or laughing are the triggers) but so so much better. I stopped carrying a bowl around the house maybe 2.5 months in after being caught out by a spectacular fountain vomit after at least a week without being sick. That was a need a washing machine and shower moment!!

It is grim, anyone going through it has my total sympathies.

That's great to hear. I can really relate to your post and the things you have to put into place. I'm 3 months down the line. Laughing is such a trigger! I have to tell the DC to stop trying to kill me by making me laugh! I unfortunately have had a virus this week that hit me hard and the coughing fits increased again. I was just thinking of moving my coffee table back into the middle of my sitting room (I moved it as I kept fainting with the coughing fits and didn't want to wack my head on it) but the cough has made me feel a bit faint again but not to the point of passing out, thank goodness!

Probably too late to comment, but I have just been diagnosed with it. Preggo too, so whooping and preggo sickness....I am mega losing weight which I cannot afford to do.....nothing stays down. I have Abs now and am on watch, so maybe admitted soon....hope so, I need something. This is scary

I'm sorry to hear that - whooping cough vomiting alongside pregnancy vomiting is not a good mix. I hope you feel better soon. Were you given antibiotics?

My daughter started feeling ill in early March and went through the whole process, (I did actually call 999 once when I saw her on all fours committing and struggling to breath in the middle of the night) She has been extremely ill and still has a few very mild symptoms - and it’s now mid June!

Our GP did diagnose whooping cough but I don’t think it was registered because we never received the paperwork we were supposed to fill out after the diagnosis. I subsequently fell ill and the doctor diagnosed trachyeitis although I know after experiencing the night time choking fits that it was WH. I still am breathless when walking and have a residual ball of phlegm in my throat (sorry tmi) which won’t go away.
My husband then contracted the disease and has had some horrible bouts during the night, if I hadn’t witnessed my daughter’s attacks, I would certainly have called 999 during his first sever attack - extremely frightening and it’s unbelievable that there is not more public awareness about this horrible disease. I would hate to think that we might have passed this on to anybody elderly or to someone with a small baby as it’s terrifying when you imagine how serious this could be. I definitely think that a new vaccination programme should be introduced.

I had whooping cough in mid February… the coughing and mucus is over now but I’ve still got rib pain and pains in upper back caused by all the coughing. An ordinary sneeze is so painful and can’t do planks or press-ups at the moment as ribs so sore.

I hope you’re ask getting through this horrible disease. Out of interest what did 999 say when you rang them? I live alone and was on my knees several nights gasping for air, it was like waking up with cling film wrapped around your face. Horrible and frightening. I’m in my 5th week and things have eased , I realise that’s good compared to a lot of you poor souls though I do now feel like I’m also getting a traditional sore throat. I can’t imagine poor babies getting it.

I am not sure I can cope with it tbh....I have thrown up 11 times within 3 hours.
I called my Mum and she is coming over to get me and take me to hospital. She will get me seen cos she can.

Hope you are doing ok and getting some help. It’s vile.

Try not to panic

get an inhaler off Amazon
“Medisure Steam Inhaler Cup with Menthol Crystals”

get some Vicks and go regular inhailers when the coughing starts , you need some one with you as they need ti run and boil the kettle

also getting in a steamy shower helps

if you can lessen then cough the vomit is reduced

its horrible .. but remember to keep breathing

Well I started with what I'm sure was whooping cough in mid March (complete with laryngisoasm, retching and losing control of my bladder) and I still get 2-3 coughing fits a day now. I also get this thing like something sticking in my throat (esp if I try to raise/project my voice at all or if I breathe in quickly before I start speaking) and I sort of choke/can't speak without coughing.

Any point seeing a Dr? I think I've seen a lung cancer advert about persistent cough, but I was so dismissed first time round when it was clearly whooping cough that I don't think I can face another wasted effort to get medical advice again.

I’m nearly at 6 weeks, coughing fits frequency has reduced , but have zero control when it happens, was embarrassing in front of clients this afternoon. My body feels like it’s been in a car crash! I read the final stage 3 of whooping cough can last weeks to months.

Is the feeling of something sticking in your throat sharp and painful and a bit prickly like glass or a thorn by any chance?