"Even the Triage form says ‘no’"

I have tried unsuccessfully over the last 3 weeks to contact the surgery for an appointment by telephone. So I tried to use the Triage form online as advised to do so now. On the 4 occasions I have tried I have had a message back to say basically that they have switched the form off due to being too busy. I eventually started to struggle with breathing and called 111 and luckily was given an out of hours appointment. This resulted in steroids and antibiotics. I was told to try my GP if symptoms do not go or worsen. I now have pain in my ribs, this could be down to muscle strain through coughing but also could be fluid. How do I know if I can’t see my doctor to listen to my lungs? I have tried the triage form again and again it’s too busy, do I waste an emergency appointment on what could be a muscle strain through coughing? Honestly, it’s becoming so distressing when you can’t get to see your own doctor or even speak with a human. We wonder why the poor doctors and nurses in A&E are overworked when they are having to deal with chest infections that just need antibiotics!