To go back to Drs and demand antibiotics

[NaturalRBF]

My DD, DH & myself have been ill for 11 days now with a headachy, snotty, coughing and achey style bug. I took DD to Drs Tuesday last week as she suffers with fits when she gets a temperature. GP told me it's viral and we just had to ride it out with usual paracetamol, duvet days etc

But 11 days on I'm actually feeling worse & DD who is 15 months still seems pretty rough too, along with DH.

Would it be unreasonable to think this is in fact bacterial and we need some antibiotics?

Just for back ground last time DD & I had antibiotics was after birth as I had sepsis in labour and before that I had some 3 years ago for another ongoing cold/fluey style thing.

I understand why antibiotics are not given out willy-nilly but I'm really not sure that this is a viral thing after such a long time feeling so poorly!

[chickenowner]

YABU.

Please listen to your Dr!

[Ameliablue]

Viruses can often go on this long, so length of time isn't an indicator that you need anti biotics

[LurkyLurkerMcLurkface]

Understand the frustration but YABU
Bacterial resistance is a disaster waiting to happen, and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing worsens the problem. Sadly some viruses last a while.

[LifeInJeneral]

Are you just basing this on the fact that you have been ill for a long time? YABU I'm afraid. You have no medical training but think you know better than your doctor based on basically nothing. Overusing antibiotics is becoming a real threat to the population as bacterial illnesses are becoming immune to them. Just rest up, if symptoms get much worse call 111.

[positivity123]

YABU. A virus can take a while to go. Rest and take care of yourself.

[melibu84]

Eat, drink lots of water, rest, and listen to your doctor!

[MakeMyWineADouble]

It honestly sounds viral there are some really nasty ones doing the rounds at the moment.

[Bugsylugs]

If you are getting worse then it is not unreasonable to be reassessed. However that's not very long for a viral infection. You would be unreasonable to demand antibiotics.

Hopefully you are spending your days at home resting, raking fluids etc

[HalloToJasonIsaacs]

Are you coughing up disgusting green mucous? If not then the odds are that it's a virus, just a long-lived one. Bacterial infections are not necessarily worse than viruses - there's no particular reason to expect that this is bacterial - especially if it's dragging on in the same way for all three of you.

Ebola is "just a virus" - you wouldn't get antibiotics for that either.

[Sparklesilverglitter]

A virus can and sometimes does linger for quite a while

Plenty of fluids, vit C and some rest

[ghostyslovesheep]

what evidence do you have of an actual infection?

colds drag - mine is doing right now (sore throat, runny nose, chesty bloody cough, achey limbs etc etc Day 8) it's sucky but AB's will do fuck all

[CrohnicallyAspie]

YWNBU to go back to the doctors if you are feeling worse now than when you went, and a week has passed, and you were lead to believe you should be improving by now (the dr usually says come back in X days if no improvement, or similar)

YWBU to demand any particular treatment, whether antibiotics or not, because he is the doctor, not you. If he feels antibiotics are warranted, he will prescribe them- My DD had an ear infection, the doctor saw her and prescribed anti bs straight away without waiting to see if she would improve by herself as is the norm these days, because her symptoms warranted it. If your systems warrant it, he will prescribe.

[guinnessgirl]

YABU. Those kind of symptoms are almost always viral, and nasty cold viruses can easily go on for three weeks. It sucks, but antibiotics won't help you.

[Lifegavemelemons]

YABVVU.

When did you get your medical degree that you can diagnose illness needing ABs?

[Pineapplemilkshake]

YABU. Viral illness can be a hell of a lot worse than bacterial ones. It's hard to believe in this day and age that so much ignorance still exists about antibiotics. You can't actually demand that your GP prescribe something that is not indicated!

[Mypurplecaravan]

If you are feeling worse, sure go back and be reassessed.

But to 'demand' anything from another human being is shirty. Your gp is a professional who trained for a decade, not your skivvy

[Trulymadlymotherly]

Oh for god's sake. Are you in the habit of approaching other professionals and demanding they do as you say? Solicitors? Architects? Engineers? Pilots?
A little knowledge really is a dangerous thing.

You wouldn't be unreasonable to seek a second opinion or another review but you would be astonishingly unreasonable to demand anything.

[Teddy1970]

Just because it lasts a long time doesn't necessarily mean it's bacterial, and no amount of "demanding" is going to get a GP to prescribe antibiotics I'm afraid, you'll just have to ride it out, it's a pain but let your immune system do it's job, viral infections can be nasty. I hope you all feel better soon.

[NaturalRBF]

My hesitation around it being bacterial and not viral is because it's worsened, snot is green & as is mucous coughed up. I'm not doubting my GPSs initial as at the time because he made a decision based on the facts presented to him.

I do understand the danger of antibiotics being prescribed when they are not needed. Hence why I asked AIBU.

I think I'll try and get another appointment & see what the GP thinks

[Sirzy]

There seems to be an assumption by a lot of people that virus is something mild. Some viruses are really nasty, most get worse before they get better.

Nothing wrong with getting checked again if feeling worse, but don't demand anything!

[JustCallMeKate]

Do it! Go back and demand antibiotics then please come back and tell us your GP's answer

[Doggity]

If you've all got similar symptoms, I'd suggest it's viral. Evidence shows that antibiotics can often make people feel worse due to side effects.

I understand it's worrying and see the GP if you're very concerned but you shouldn't be demanding anything.

[Pineapplemilkshake]

A compromise would be to send a sputum sample to the lab - this would indicate whether it's bacterial or not.

[Doggity]

We cross posted. Btw it's a myth that green snot means bacterial infection. I know people feel they're being fobbed off but saying "it's viral" isn't belittling it, it's just a different type of infection.

[NaturalRBF]

Ok- as many of you have pointed out; demand is clearly too strong a word to have used.

Should I go back to the Drs & ask for antibiotics?

Clearly the consensus is no.

Thank you all