Runny nose to cough cycle !

[kingrollo]

If you have a genuine health issue, then your GP is duty-bound to investigate it, or refer you to someone else who can. I don't understand your apathy about GPs, I have never had any such issues.

Correct - but there is cost benefit analysis in there as well. I had the mother of all battles getting a set of orthotics specific for cycling - GP said he couldn't justify the cost. Had similar issue for a hamstring injury - which they told me was hip arthritis and there was no real treatment other than a replacement some years down the line. They reluctantly agreed to a series of tests after I paid for consultations which cast doubt over that diagnosis.
A friend of mine was denied a referral for hip replacement - he let it slip that he had private insurance and GP steered him to using that.
The GP (or his CCG) will end up footing the bill if they refer to a specialist - and he in turn recommends scans and surgery

 

[vickster]

That's surely why you have private HC, to use it as required for elective/non life threatening issues? Otherwise why pay (either for premiums or as taxable benefit)

I'm not personally in favour of the NHS paying for orthotics, especially not for sport. Fair enough if a disability is the result through normal day to day activities, but even then I'm not convinced

 

[kingrollo]

That's surely why you have private HC, to use it as required for elective/non life threatening issues? Otherwise why pay (either for premiums or as taxable benefit)

I'm not personally in favour of the NHS paying for orthotics, especially not for sport. Fair enough if a disability is the result through normal day to day activities, but even then I'm not convinced

Well thats another issue. What I am saying is that in a couple of instances the solution was there - but the GP didn't progress it properly.
The thing about the hip\hamstring got borderline ridiculous. By luck I got to see a guy who specialised in hamstring pathology - he came up with a pretty solid diagnosis - GP still refused treatment. I t was only when i threatened to escalate the matter above GP surgery level - they agreed for me to be reviewed by another GP (Outside the normal practice) - whilst he wouldn't criticise his colleagues directly, he could offer no reason as to why the treatment had been deemed not appropriate.

 

[Turdus philomelos]

I asked the guys at GCN a kind of similar question and got this answer #torqueback

 

[fossyant]

See the GP not a bunch of randoms on the internet. SIMPLE. As I said, you shouldn't be getting infections, runny nose after no..

Are you on antibiotics for these 'chest infections' ? - if its a bad cough, like in the 'adverts on TV' you need to go to the GP. Could be something nasty if you are bothered enough to ask folk that say it's not normal.

 

[kingrollo]

See the GP not a bunch of randoms on the internet. SIMPLE. As I said, you shouldn't be getting infections, runny nose after no..

Are you on antibiotics for these 'chest infections' ? - if its a bad cough, like in the 'adverts on TV' you need to go to the GP. Could be something nasty if you are bothered enough to ask folk that say it's not normal.

GP'S don't like prescribing antibiotics. When I mention its triggered by cycling they pretty much switch off.

 

[S-Express]

There's no helping some people..

 

[fossyant]

GP'S don't like prescribing antibiotics. When I mention its triggered by cycling they pretty much switch off.

Are you regularly getting a cough - not wanting to worry you but don't mention the bike, as that might be coincidence. Your GP won't know something is amiss unless you keep going and say you have a persistent cough. Not wanting to worry you, but it could be something more serious like cancer - you want to rule this out, and without going, the GP won't know.

Yes, you might not get antibiotics, but if this infection is re-occurring, it could be much more serious. In all likeliness, the GP will say it's OK go away, but if this is constant, it's not the bike that's causing it - something else is amiss.

Please go and see a professional.

 

[fossyant]

Deffo go. A persistent cough is a worry. My FIL was dead in a couple of months as he had very little signs of cancer (he'd been checked a year or two earlier as he had COPD and was a heavy smoker) but when the cancer started, he was dead very quickly. It was too late.

 

[KneesUp]

I too get a cough every winter - it's like the snot finds it easier to go backwards down the back of my throat than to come out of my nose, although I do actually have a cold at the moment, so there is plenty coming out my nose too. I've had it since I was a kid - if it's normal for you then try and get it sorted (and let me know if there is anything that can be done - I've always assumed it's just the way my sinuses drain - annoying but short of replumbing my face not much can be done) If it happens every year in the same way like mine then I'd imagine it's unlikely to be cancer, although I get someone every year who thinks I should go and see the GP even though to me the cough is just something I have from December to March, usually.

 

[kingrollo]

Sorry thanks for the concern - But I have been to the GP with this issue. I was told its the after effects of a cold - the cycling in the cold is\was triggering an allergy response - hence the mucus. - and my initial question has anyone got any suggestions how to avoid this whilst cycling in the cold.

 

[greekonabike]

GP's are just ordinary people and like ordinary people they don't all share the same interests and hobbies, including sporting activities. My surgery lists what the GP's areas of interests are. Some specialise in addiction, others epilepsy and one specialises in sports injuries. It's the luck of the draw I'm afraid but I'm sure there will be a GP in any surgery in the UK that has some knowledge of sports injuries, even if it's limited.

I'm going to echo what the majority of other posters have said regarding the fact that a runny nose shouldn't develop into a chest infection. The only thing I could think of to stop the runny nose would be the blockers that swimmers use however they would literally stop you being able to use your nose to breathe and would be counterproductive as a result. Are you sure the runny nose isn't a symptom of a respiratory problem that's already there?

GOAB

 

[maxfox44]

Since I've been cycling to work, I've had less colds. I put that down to having a bikers nose and clearing out the tubes, so to speak.

 

[kingrollo]

GP's are just ordinary people and like ordinary people they don't all share the same interests and hobbies, including sporting activities. My surgery lists what the GP's areas of interests are. Some specialise in addiction, others epilepsy and one specialises in sports injuries. It's the luck of the draw I'm afraid but I'm sure there will be a GP in any surgery in the UK that has some knowledge of sports injuries, even if it's limited.

I'm going to echo what the majority of other posters have said regarding the fact that a runny nose shouldn't develop into a chest infection. The only thing I could think of to stop the runny nose would be the blockers that swimmers use however they would literally stop you being able to use your nose to breathe and would be counterproductive as a result. Are you sure the runny nose isn't a symptom of a respiratory problem that's already there?

GOAB

The last half decent locum GP i seen about it - said my runny nose was an allergic reaction to the cold. She said when you are producing loads of mucus its a lot more likely to get infected. She gave me some nasal spray and told me to use it before rides and at night. - Thats helps in all but the coldest weather.

 

[greekonabike]

The last half decent locum GP i seen about it - said my runny nose was an allergic reaction to the cold. She said when you are producing loads of mucus its a lot more likely to get infected. She gave me some nasal spray and told me to use it before rides and at night. - Thats helps in all but the coldest weather.

I use an olbas inhaler and occasionally use a steroid nasal inhaler the gp gave me a while back but funnily enough that was to sort my hearing out, not a runny nose.

GOAB