Noticed slight tickle in throat mid October. Went on for 2 weeks, expecting to develop a cold. Started to feel a bit irritated. Then after 3/4 weeks got a bit hoarse.
After 4 weeks (had been very busy and extremely exhausted), went to bed and stayed there for about 10 days. By then had a dry hacking cough and voice affected.
3 weeks ago developed a deep bubbly cough. Sounded like lots of phlegm but couldn’t bring up. Would cough loads of times starting with a dry cough, as it progressed got more and more ‘phlegmy’ until I was almost bent over double trying to cough it up (unsuccessfully). Got up during the night to sit in lounge re coughing.
No appointments at GP for 3 weeks! Saw nurse who said chest clear and prescribed lozenges (‘stronger than Strepsol’). After 3 days called the surgery to say I still felt dreadful. GP phoned, not concerned. Said he could arrange for me to see nurse again.
So I made an appointment with a Private GP. She performed a spirometer test which produced a low result, suggesting blocked airways, and noticed I was wheezing. She prescribed a steroid inhaler.
I returned to her 3 days later as still not good. This time she found crackling on the lung. So she prescribed 6 days of antibiotics. Felt marginally better and slept better. She also arranged a x-ray. (The results show consolidation in the lower left lobe, which may indicate infection, and thickening of the bronchial tubes elsewhere which may be from Bronchiectasis).
She suggested referral to a chest doctor (for an opinion. I have an appointment on Tuesday.
Then saw my NHS GP this week as had an appointment booked for something else. He also confirmed there was crackling and prescribed another 6 days of the same antibiotic (doxycycline) as almost finished. He thought I could stop the inhaler, but have just gone back on as wheezing noticeable now (during night and noticed just now).
Now 6+ weeks Still have a pretty persistent dry/and bubbly cough. And nose running but not so blocked. Managing to sleep, perhaps wake up coughing a couple of times. Wake up feeling OKish, but within an hour or so dry cough and then choky bubbly cough. Then continue to cough most of day.
I expect the specialist will be able to diagnose/tell me what to do to resolve or help myself. But it’s really frustrating, stressful and upsetting when GPs won’t see you and I have been stuck at home coughing most of the time. By now I should me having proper treatment!
I think there can be several reasons for my symptoms. But wonder if anyone out there has any experience of this.
Written by
Beachbird
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It sounds all too familiar I'm afraid. For future ref if you ever feel bad go to emergency GP, walk in clinic or A&E. don't sit at home and have it getting worse. It's not fair this should have been nipped in th bud and not left to get worse and you shouldn't have to go to private GP.
I would write a letter of complaint to the practice manager of your surgery. And they should know that you've got Bronchiectasis so your at greater risk. A cough should always be checked out when you have under lying problems. It's very bad of them no wonder your upset. I'm sorry and I really hope you feel better soon. Please rest and keep warm.
Thanks for your advice. I wrote to the NHS office I was given as the place to contact. She said to complain to the surgery (which I had, and was told they had to stop the sit and wait surgery as too many people came in, and the waiting room was too small, so they received many complaints, so they stopped it!).
If I wasn’t happy she suggested change to another surgery in the catchment area. This one is the most convenient. The only other one good for us is not in the ‘catchment area’. They would accept us, but not carry out home visits - and anyway all the other local ones have under 3* star ratings and similar problems getting an appointment.
Here we go again! Complacent GP who knows precious little about lung conditions content to push a patient off on to a respiratory nurse wno knows even less. You should have been sent to a respiratory specialist at the beginning of this process and you certainly should not have been forced to go to a private GP who has done the investigations that your own NHS doctor should have done. Consolidation in the lower lobes of the lungs is a good indicator of deep seated infection which can lead to permanent damage ( hence the private GP suggesting bronchiectasis). When you have a proper diagnosis from the specialist make sure that they write to your GP instructing them how to treat you. Then begin the complaint process at your practice. Delays of this kind due to GP ignorance lead to further damage. This is your health we are talking about.
Yes thanks. I asked why they stopped the sit and wait clinic (“it’s a tiny waiting room, and patients were complaining about sitting so close to other sick people” - which I know all too well). The GP who is excellent said he would have left if they hadn’t stopped the sit and wait!
And “They don’t have room to hire more GPs” Now if they opened longer hours and Saturdays perhaps they could accommodate more patients!
I am really upset about this and future treatment. You have to fight for everything in the NHS
Friends from abroad bring antibiotics over when they for visits, knowing what it’s like over here now!
Hi Beachbird......my Health Centre has closed their ' sit and wait' or Urgent Care clinic too and it was in a small crowded room.
Now they operate an ' askmygp' system , which you either contact on line or by phone.
My late parents and grandparents used to talk about having to go before The Panel , if they couldn't afford medical treatment .....pre 1948 and the NHS .
I really feel for you. We are blessed in that we can normally get a same day GP appointment. Believe me, I know how lucky we are. I do hope you are soon feeling better x
Reading your post I've realised how lucky I am to have had diagnosis and treatment within 3 days.
I may have complained about our NHS in the past but no more.
I don't think I could do their job...not sure where you live but it sounds as though they're stripping back all NHS services to apparently save taxpayers money, (don't believe that myself) sounds more like preparation to sell but that's another story. Sorry you had pay to see a doctor after all we pay al our life for NHS services and now you have to it again to get decent service.Your surgery should be ashamed of treating you like that.Sorry again turning your illness into a rant...my apologies...hope you get over this soon.
Thanks you too. The NHS has good and bad. But crazy if you are well enough to wait 3 weeks for an appointment, then you can get one. But if you feel rough, you can’t. And yes, did think about A&E, but waiting for 4/5 hours to see someone? And that feeling of guilt if not bad enough for A&E.
Don’t know what the NHS is playing at. But they are playing with peoples’ lives. And the powers to be should be ashamed.
The NHS has good and bad. But crazy if you are well enough to wait 3 weeks for an appointment, then you can get one. But if you feel rough, you can’t. And yes, did think about A&E, but waiting for 4/5 hours to see someone? And that feeling of guilt if not bad enough for A&E.
Don’t know what the NHS is playing at. But they are playing with peoples’ lives. And the powers to be should be ashamed.
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Non stop cough
Dry cough for two months now
Cough for a year
Cough that won't go away?
Stubborn, debilitating cough - have bronchiectasis 
