Nasty cough

[Mindini1964]

Hi all, after a good clinc appointment with no changes 18/7 I went on holiday to Majorca for a week, all went well up until the day before coming home. The weather was really hot reaching 41 degrees some days, and my chest started to feel really tight, my voice was very hoarse, and I started coughing.Since arriving home on Friday, iv went down hill, feeling rubbish, similar to a chest infection. My daughter rang 111 and was sent 5 days antibiotics. I have a yellowish mucus which is quite loose but the tickle of the cough at times is awfull and nearly makes me sick. Seem better when walking around but so tired. Did sleep well without coughing. Has anyone had similar is it to do with the lung cancer or have I just picked up an infection?

[Mindini1964]

Ps iv done two covid tests both negative.

[Mrsmilo]

What has your oncologist said? I have very similar symptoms to you with my lung cancer when it's very hot like that (I live in SW France so we tend to stay indoors with fans on and the shutters closed when it gets past 30°) but not the mucus like you're describing so it could be an infection. I always drink plenty of water when it's that dry or humid outside which seems to help the cough a bit. Also chamomile tea. Hopefully the anti biotics will help. I hope you feel better soon.

[Mindini1964 in reply to Mrsmilo]

Thank you for your reply, I didn't speak to my oncologist, just my local NHS line, but she did have access to my health records. If I'm no better on Monday I'll go see my GP. Hoping the tabs help aswell. Think I'll stay at home during the hot summer months, much cooler in England .

[sassassas]

Hi Mindini1964 I'm sorry to hear you've not been well.

Its good to read you had a good clinic appointment just a couple of weeks ago and I hope that gives you some reassurance. It does sound very like an infection but your GP is def the person to talk to if you're still worried tomorrow.

Sarah x

[Mindini1964]

Thanks Sarah, hope your right, I do agree and hope it passes soon, I'm usually quite well. That's the thing now every little thing that's chest related I start to panic thinking "this is it down hill from here"!!

Regards

Amanda

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hello again Minidini1964

Sorry to hear you have been unwell on your return from holiday. The air conditioning on airplanes can aggravate a cough but if there is yellow mucous and you feel rubbish then it's likely to be an infection. If the antibiotic has not helped by now then perhaps it needs to be changed for one that is sensitive to your particular infection, your GP will be able to advise.

Feel free to call and discuss this with our nurse led team on 0800 358 7200

Hope you feel better soon

The Roy Castle Support Team

[JanetteR57]

Glad you enjoyed your holiday or at least part of it. Temperature changes - hot and cold can trigger breathing difficulties but it sounds as if you've picked up an infection whether bacterial or viral will determine whether you're given antibiotics or not. yellow or green discharge usually is an indication of infection of some sort. if you're on any inhalers I would increase them until you can see somebody - drink plenty of hot fluids, suck on boiled sweets (Halls soothers are my go-to cough sweets).

if you slept well without coughing, it may have been an irritation from the throat/feeling rubbish. inhaling over steam (with or without something like Olbas Oil) may help too.

it's much more likely to be infection than the lung cancer - I've had far worse symptoms and ended up in hospital several times with nasty chest infections that have given me far worse symptoms than my lung cancer (which was removed along with left upper lobe of lung in Dec 2010).

Your experience although it could also have happened here with temperature changes/mixing with people is why travel insurance can be expensive for people with lung cancer or other lung conditions as different changes in temperature, humidity, oxygen levels etc can trigger reactions.

Re your mind falling into 'it's all downhill from here' that's often a part of feeling ill too when we think more negatively. Unfortunately just as we were likely to develop infections before our diagnoses, that ability doesn't disappear after a lung cancer diagnosis so continues to be a factor of life to deal with.

Hopefully your GP will be able to prescribe something. wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Mindini1964]

Thank u for your reply, I'm feeling a bit better today, but still tired. Iv got two tabs left so I'll finish course and I'm sure I'll be on the mend.Great to have reassurance from this site, I'm really grateful 🥰