I have a diagnosis of bronchiectasis which doesn’t usually cause me any problems. I’ve just had a cold which has left me with a slight cough but nothing major. However, after starting to feel better I feel like my chest is tight and have found myself getting breathless when walking my dog. I’ve also been feeling achy all over and like my cold has progressed again.
I don’t want to waste my Gp’s time as my cough doesn’t feel too bad but can’t help but wonder if I’ve got a chest infection.
Has anyone got any advice as to whether a chest infection is possible without a really bad cough?
Thanks
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disney75
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You definitely need to see a doctor. The tight chest and the aching suggest that something is wrong. I don't suppose you 'waste your doctor's time' very often. Good luck.
Yes totally, I've had a chest infection and had no cough but of a night (when I was asleep) .... I was knackered and after a week or so my Mrs said to me "will you get that cough sorted before I Choke you in your sleep" .... I didn't even know I'd been coughing.
I don’t think chest infections are linked to colds which are viral as they are bacterial, but they could coincide if your lungs are under stress. A sputum test will tell your GP what is happening. . With bronchiectasis you need a consultant as they have specialist tests and treatments GPs don’t.
I beg to differ. Many many of my viral colds turned into bacterial chest infections, probably due to the trapped mucus trapped in the warm wet environment. I have asthma so airways inflame & close up on coughing. My son and a grandchild are the same, common cold = chest infection.
The problem with bronch is that we can slide into an exacerbation without realising it. Especially if we rarely have trouble. Also, the bugs tend to ride in on the back of a virus. Your breathlessness and tight chest are indicative of this. It seems that this is what has happened to you and you need your antibiotics to tackle the secondary bacterial infection. A swift visit to the GP is on the cards.
Never mind wasting GP time, they're there to keep us well. Make an appointment, I always say "I need a few moments to get my chest listened to". It's much cheaper for the practice to see you early rather than when you're far worse especiallyif you're one of the unlucky ones colonised with pseudomonas or HI. Good luck, please call, gp
Thank you for all of the replies. I contacted my gp surgery this morning and saw a nurse. She listened to my chest and said it sounded clear.
She did question giving me antibiotics as a precaution but then said she doesn’t want to prescribe when not necessary as she doesn’t want the antibiotics to stop working when needed. She’s told me to go back on Friday if there’s no improvement and said to always come in if I think I could have a chest infection as they don’t mind listening to my chest to check.
Get a specimen in.perhsps she's not familiar with bronchiectasis.even if it comez back " clear"+.if u don't pick up,do go back.protocol for bronchiectasis is minimum 2wks antibiotics
All I can say disney75 is to be extra vigilant with your chest clearance regime and drink loads in the hope it'll help liquefy it making it easier to expel. I shall keep everything crossed. In my armoury for fighting bugs is effervescent vitamin C 1000mg (if you can take vit c), I put it in a large glass (as extra fluid helps too) twice a day after food. I do this at the first sign of anything dodgy. Vit C helps fight infection as well as boost your immune system. It's worth a try. Thank goodness she opened the door to return on Friday 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞
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