Help. Bad cough

[Jolinkomo]

Have been suffering with covid for 2 weeks. Fever of a life time gone but cough won't stop. Tummy sore from coughing.

Advice from 111 sip water. Advice from GP receptionist on advice from GP for cough Dr can't advice you call 111.

Response from midwife ,,please do not get me into trouble by calling or texting me call MAU,

MAU.... have you started bleeding yet?

What has happened to healthcare in the UK?

Taking manuka honey despite gestational diabetes just to try and get some relief. Using vapour rub on chest when I struggle.

Anyone had covid with this persistent cough that won't go away. I wee myself a lot while coughing now. Any advice will be appreciated. Alone with a minor and feeling abandoned.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Jolinkomo. Hot lemon and honey to sip. Try inhaling steam with a bit of vapour rub in it. Just hope it soon settles. Hopefully the steam should do the trick. Diane

[LCharlton]

Hi, as Diane says breathing in steam is really helpful - if you have phlegm you need to cough up, I would suggest breathing lots of steam and then doing some breathing exercises to help clear it out, there are helpful instructions at kentcht.nhs.uk/leaflet/acti... and mkuh.nhs.uk/patient-informa...

Don't forget to keep drinking lots of water and fluids as well!

[HopeOfYou]

Hi Jolinkomo,Do you have an oxymeter? Please keep your oxygen levels under control, if they go below 90% call an ambulance immediately. Unfortunately covid is bad for pregnant women, that's why vaccination is strongly recommended.

Which week are you at?

[Jolinkomo in reply to HopeOfYou]

Thanks. Yes I have oxymeter. It still at 98. It's the intermittent cough that I can't stop. I won't comment on vaccination status so others make up their mind without bias.

I can see why it's bad in pregnancy as immunity already low and I one can't take most medicine at the moment.

[HopeOfYou in reply to Jolinkomo]

Good that you're keeping your oxygen levels under control, really take care, all of you <3

[JenRoy]

Persistent cough with Covid and for up to 12 weeks post Covid is pretty normal unfortunately.

If it’s really bothering you it’s worth getting your chest listened to by a doctor to rule out viral induced wheeze which can be treated with simple inhalers. These are safe in pregnancy.

Otherwise keeping your throat lubricated with honey & lemon, cough drops etc might help. And sleeping upright at night.

It’s reassuring your Oxygen sats are good.

Ps I’m an ICU doctor so have seen LOTS of Covid 🦠 x

[Jolinkomo in reply to JenRoy]

Thank you so much. I am really worried about the cough. I was going to ask if it is due to BP medicine side effect. Your response is way more than I would have gotten from my GP, hospital or midwife.

I requested appointment but was told by GP secretary they don't advice or treat patients with covid I should call 111. I will contact MaU if the cough doesn't go away in 2 weeks.

At its worst i go breathless speaking but then it stops. I dont know trigger. I hate it cos it hurts at old surgery wound around navel.

I will keep taking the manuka honey.

[JenRoy in reply to Jolinkomo]

Cough is a side effect of some BP meds so that’s worth checking.

It sounds like you’ve had a bad bout of Covid. Many GPs have access to Covid clinics in the community. So if you still have symptoms more than 6-8 weeks after contracting Covid, then maybe consider getting a GP referral to a Covid clinic. If you’re very breathless on exertion then definitely get checked. It’s a tricky time to get appointments as the system is creaking under the demand.