Cough- doctor or not?

[SockFluffInTheBath]

I’ve had a cough for a couple of weeks, assumed it was hay fever, but no other symptoms. DH wants me to go to the gp but I don’t want to waste their time.

It’s like someone suddenly pressing on the soft bit at the bottom of my neck and all the air is being pushed out. It’s an airy sort of cough, not hacker. I do sometimes feel like it’s coming from down low in my ribs (diaphragm?), but no pain or fizziness in my chest.

I can’t take antihistamines as they’re contradicted for my arrhythmia meds (which is fine).

I'd say it was too soon.

The medical advice is to usually give a cough at least 4 weeks as they can be hard to shift.

Obviously a lot depends on your general health and age. In someone in their 70s it could be more serious, in their 30s or 40s maybe not.

Maybe go and see a pharmacist. They would understand what you can and cannot take with your other medications and might be able to suggest something that helps.

If they think it's a worry, they will refer you onwards to the GP.

Dentist here! It might be hay fever, but it’s been a while.
Get checked please

I don't understand what you mean.

My DP has hay fever and the cough can last for weeks/months as long as the pollen is high.

2 weeks is nothing.

One year he had to use steroids (5mgs) for weeks because of a terrible cough.

I meant you mustn’t assume it’s hayfever

The NHS ad says to see your Dr if you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks, so I'd give it another week (maybe speak to a pharmacist and see if there's anything you can take for hay fever, even temporary to see if it eases the cough) and then make an appointment.

We need more information.

How old are you?

What other meds are you on? ( Ace Inhibitor meds can cause cough)

Any preceeding virus/cold?

Any gastric reflux/ heartburn symptoms?

Any other hay fever symptoms?

Any associated or new onset breathlessness?

Weight/smoking/vaping history?

Worse on exertion?

Is it productive?

Worse on eating?

Anything that either provokes it or alleviates it, that you've noticed?

Generally, it's worth waiting for 3-4 weeks before seeking help and some post-viral coughs can persist for 6 weeks or so.

How old are you? 47
What other meds are you on? ( Ace Inhibitor meds can cause cough) bisoprolol 7.5
Any preceeding virus/cold? Not for a few months, maybe February
Any gastric reflux/ heartburn symptoms? No, never* *
Any other hay fever symptoms? Nothing, assumed it was that because DH’s diagnosed hay fever is bad at the moment and we have lots of trees
Any associated or new onset breathlessness? No
Weight/smoking/vaping history? Never, bmi 23
Worse on exertion? No
Is it productive? No, it’s dry
Worse on eating? No
Anything that either provokes it or alleviates it, that you've noticed? Talking* *

OK. Nothing leaps out, it's come out of the blue?
I wouldn't assume hay-fever, without any other symptoms.

A mild asthma cough can, but not always, be triggered by talking

If no history of asthma/Excema and its not worse at night/lying down...( post nasal drip?..), I would think wait, watchfully for another couple of weeks, maybe revisiting the above questions as a template and noting down exacerbating times/features.
If no better, I think it would be entirely reasonable to make an appt to see your GP and possibly get a respiratory referral ( that will normally include a request for a chest X Ray).

(If it's as difficult to get a GP appt with you, as it is for many people, you could make the appt soon, as you'll be waiting the requiste time for the appt, anyway!)

Best of luck xx

I got late onset asthma, thanks menopause

Thanks @Oneearringlost will see how it goes.

Thank you everyone else, too.