Would you go to A&E for a cough?

[LeopardPrint21]

Had a cough for 7 months. Have had some tests done for gastro as the GP initially thought acid reflux, have literally today been referred for chest x-ray and lung tests.

It has gotten to the point where I cannot stop coughing. Literally having fits of coughing every few minutes and this lasts from the minute I wake up until the minute I go to sleep and sometimes throughout the night too. I also feel unwell with it and I’ve felt unwell since the cough started at the beginning of the year. I feel like I can’t cough up whatever is there but I also can’t swallow it back down so it just feels stuck in my throat and all the constant coughing is leaving me feeling like I can’t breathe properly.

I have been in tears all day because I genuinely can’t go on like this, I dread every second of the day because of how bad it is. I am at my breaking point with it.

Would you go to the hospital for a cough that is constantly there and you’re never getting a let up from it along with everything else I’ve written?

A&E won’t be able to help with this, youve been referred, there’s nothing they can do on top of that. I completely get it’s rough but it won’t help at all.

No, I absolutely would not

Wow I'm so sorry OP it sounds awful.

Can you ring up the bookings line and tell them you can take any cancelled appointment at short notice? Then you'll hopefully be seen sooner.

I'm not sure what would happen if you went to A&E with it. I suppose A&E isn't really the place, but I can definitely understand the urge to go. I guess it's feasible that if you went they might do a scan while you're there? Does it affect your breathing at all?

Even if you were having coughing fits that left you almost vomiting every few minutes that lasted all day every day? And you felt unwell with it and unable to function as normal?

It really is awful, I can’t think of a word to describe how distressing it all is. It can affect my breathing after a while because I am continuously coughing and I feel like I can’t catch my breath or breathe properly after a while which is quite scary too

If it's affecting your breathing, maybe you can go to A&E and tell them that. Be prepared for them to simply put an oxygen monitor on you and send you away if you have normal saturation - that is probably a likely outcome.

What does the GP suspect is the issue?

No I don’t think A&E is the right place. I had a persistent cough similar to what you are describing & a brown inhaler helped. It breaks up the phlegm. Have you tried that? Also honey & lemon & some ‘chesty cough’ cold & flu tablets. They contain an expectorant (like guaifenesin) which helps.

What is it you hope A&E would do? They might do blood tests and the X-ray but they also might not if you've already got tests pending.

I had something similar for 5 months following a viral infection - it drove me crazy as I couldn't sleep with the coughing and kept actually vomiting because I was coughing so much. I also ended up wearing incontinence pads (sorry if TMI) because I just couldn't control my bladder when coughing. The GP signed me off work for a couple of weeks in the end which helped as I could get a bit of rest, and it did eventually go away but I only say this to say that I sympathise with how horrific a symptom a cough can be.

No its not an accident or emergency. It sounds awful please go back and ask for 2nd opinion from GP

This sounds horrendous.
If I were you I’d call 111 and tell them that whilst you’ve been referred and are waiting, things have escalated and become unbearable. Your breathing is compromised.

They may send you in to see someone. good luck

You clearly want to go to A&E so go

Are you alone?

It’s neither an accident nor an emergency. Go back to your GP, repeatedly if needs be. Or seek private treatment.

As others have said, the most ED will be able to do is an x-ray, observations and potentially bloods (but not necessary).

I get it's frustrating for you, but they are not going to be able to get you any further.

Just because you've been referred to a consultant /for tests doesnt mean can you cant go to a&e if you get to the point where you cant manage at home any more. My son was waiting for an urgent appointment with a gastroenterologist when he was admitted to hospital via a&e. He just couldn't wait any longer for medical treatment.

If you can't manage any more @LeopardPrint21 then a&e is the right place to go.

Yes, my MIL was like this she went to a&e after her doctors messed her around, the did a ct scan there & then. It was cancer.
Please go op.

Not being able to catch your breath whilst coughing can be distressing but it is not at all the same thing as someone's breathing being compromised.
@LeopardPrint21 No, it's not appropriate to go to A&E but it is something you should badger your doctor about until it's sorted out. I had the same thing for a good year or more and I know how debilitating it is. I had had pneumonia and my cough was put down to that for a long time. Then I moved and went to my new GP about it. After an x-ray then further investigation, it turns out I have asthma. I was given 2 kinds of inhaler (though I now have one combined one) and life is so much easier. I still cough more than most people but the inhalers keep that desperate feeling of not being able to catch your breath under control. Please go back to the doctor, keep the x-ray appointment etc until you get sorted out.

If you can't breathe properly then go. It sounds awful.

Have you been tested for asthma type issues? Regardless if it’s affecting breathing I’d go or at the least ring 111

That's simply not true. If they think she's sick enough they can have her admitted at which point she'll be able to see a consultant/have testing straight away.

The Op saw a GP today.

The GP ordered tests. If they’d been sufficiently concerned they’d have told the Op to go to A&E

No. It’s not an accident or an emergency. What do you think they’ll be able to do?
They’ll triage you to the bottom of the list while actually emergencies are handled, check you over and send you home.

Of course not. It's neither an accident nor an emergency.

Your GP has referred you for tests, not rushed you into hospital, so they can't be that concerned.

Never ask for advice about a&e on here .If it’s getting worse and you are struggling you should go , some things need immediate treatment and more urgent investigation.

Lol how many thousands die every year because their gp's "not concerned "?

She just saw a doctor this morning! If it was that urgent, she would have been referred already.