I picked up the office cold bug and couldn't persuade it to leave so two weeks on I decided enough was enough and managed to see a GP this morning.
After some questioning by the GP and him listening to my chest, and a very dramatic demonstration of my coughing and wheezing on my part, he pronounced that I had had a chest infection but I'd managed to fight it off. What he then said, however, was a complete surprise to me.
Because I've been coughing for so long, the linings of my lungs have become irritated and slightly damaged.

Now, I've heard of irritable bowel but never irritated lungs.
I have some really awful codeine based cough mixture to take and if the cough and breathlessness haven't resolved by 2nd November I'm to get back to see a GP after which further tests will be done. The GP today was, however, confident that this should resolve.
So, my lungs have got cross (sorry, couldn't resist the pun!).
Remember folks, you heard the phrase "irritated lungs" here first ...
GraceB
Comments
It's good news that you've shed the infection but not so good that in doing so you've still in effect got the symptoms. Here's hoping they clear up soon.
Barbara
I've been breathless all day, and the only way I can describe it is that it's like you want to take a very deep breath but you can't, instead it seems as if I'm only using part of my lungs to breathe. The revolting cough mixture hasn't worked its magic as yet but I live in hope!
I have to say, however, that if this breathlessness gets any worse I'll be back to the GP this week and will be asking for an inhaler of some sort. I'm not asthmatic and never have been but I can now empathise more with those afflicted by that and any other lung issue, and mine is only temporary.
Time for some more of that vile mixture. Ugh!
GraceB
Hope you feel better soon.
GraceB