Wheezing Chest/Cough….

[Smowball]

Have had a cough for over a week now & a wheezing chest that also makes that whistling noise on & off when when I breathe. Today now I’m coughing up greenish stuff. I don’t have COVID(I have a couple of boxes of covid tests at home and have taken several) and I don’t feel ill - just drained. I have the doctors on Wednesday but is there anything I can take at home in the meantime? (Apart from inhaler).
Thankyou.

[barry1010]

Rest, drink lots of water - then drink some more, try a steam inhalation

[pixie374]

LFTs don't always work if you have symptoms, so maybe get a PCR test anyway? May be a chest infection, so if you can do an econsult quicker, I would do that. Maybe Vicks, if it doesn't affect your asthma.

[Sqad]

Agree with barry + Ibuprofen 400mgms three times a day.

[barry1010]

Do you have asthma, Smow? You mention an inhaler. I can't take ibuprofen because it makes asthma worse for me - and ibuprofen doesn't relieve coughs.

[Smowball]

Yes I’ve drank gallons just this morning alone.
Right I’ll try all of that - Thankyou all, much appreciated.

[Bobbisox1]

If you’re coughing up Green stuff then surely there’s some infection there that might require antibiotics?

[pixie374]

My son's inhaler advice keeps changing with a cough or cold. They used to tell him to double up on the preventative one, if he had a cold, but now say just to use the blue one more. There should be a nurse you could speak to, to see.

[Vagus]

Other half has had a nasty cold since 29th December. Seemed to be getting over it although it was taking its time, then Tuesday last week his chest tightened up considerably, his peak flow meter showed his lung capacity had almost halved. Got a telephone consult with GP on Thursday and is now on 5 days of both steroids and antibiotics, chest X-ray appt for Thursday.
GP said the same as pixie, LFT if done when you have symptoms isn’t accurate and to send off for a PCR which we’ve done.

[Sqad]

////and ibuprofen doesn't relieve coughs.////

Thank you barry I will try and remember that -;)

BUT.......Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and coughs associated with acute bronchitis are due to the inflammatory process, or am I mistaken?

[Vagus]

Also, he was doing two puffs twice a day of brown inhaler (double what he normally does)and using the blue one very frequently, neither of which did anything.
His chest today is considerably improved, peak flow meter says he has a way to go yet.

[pixie374]

No, but they can also make asthma worse.

[Sqad]

bobbie
///Green stuff then surely there’s some infection there that might require antibiotics?///

No not necessarily........the OP is well in herself so she could well fight off the infection without antibiotics.
The value of antibiotics in acute bronchitis is controversial and only used when the patient is ill...temperature, short of breath etc.

[Bobbisox1]

Ah thanks Sqad x

[Vagus]

Our GP suggested other half could have steroids or antibiotics, or both, to cover all bases. I suggested he prescribe both, which he agreed with.

[Smowball]

I never really know what the peak flow reading should be - obviously everyone’s is different. Mine is usually 350 (don’t know if that’s good or bad) and at the mo is about 270.