Have chest infection, feeling really ropey and need to be well asap as have work deadline

[duchesse]

Give me all your remedies please! GP surgery will not prescribe ABs -blanket policy is not for anything that's been going on for less than a few weeks (even with the person in question might have pneumonia as happened to DH a couple of years ago and he was off work for 3 weeks).

I need to try anything I can get my hands on to shift it asap. I have a range of pharmaceuticals, what can I try first.

Sorry for following TMI- Feeling very ropey, fever and chills, have headache and coughing limelight yellow gunk from deep down.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

They should see you and treat you as you're getting worse. I get if it's just a cough, but they should be able to hear crackles if they listen to your chest and your symptoms fit an infection. Leaving it will just make it worse. They only have this policy incase things resolve themselves, it sounds like yours is getting worse so go to your GP

Hope you're feeling better soon

[duchesse]

It's only been going on since Friday- just gone straight to the chest.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

3 weeks ago on Friday?

Green stuff, headache, feeling like shit and a fever should always be checked. Sounds like you have a chest infection to me, if you leave it for three weeks you'll end up in hospital.

[duchesse]

No, no, just since last Friday. The 3 weeks was DH's delay before gettign suitable ABs when he was iller than I"ve ever seen him.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

They don't know that it only started on Friday though.

Sounds like you need a new GP. Is there a walk in centre you can pop to? That rule sounds bonkers.

[duchesse]

Unfortunately I was in the surgery on Thursday with DD2 with same thing (but no vile gunk, only clear). She had had a cough since early Feb though and I thought it was just that getting worse as she had a high temperature and feeling grotty. Strangely doc DID prescribe Abs but only because she'd had the cough for so long. Turned out to be something extra and catching.

[duchesse]

I'd have to make sure I saw a different doc I guess.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

No walk in centre?

[duchesse]

Could go to walk in centre tomorrow but would have to drive into town and can barely walk atm let alone drive.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

Can you call the out of hours now so that your DH can take you?

[mellicauli]

Take a taxi

If you really really need to do this work and there is no one else who can do it or you will lose your job if you do not, google bupa private medical centre. It will cost you a bit (100-200) but you will probably be given antibiotics.

However there is a reason nhs don't give AB's - you will get better if you wait and by taking ABs you jeopardise them remaining effective for truly sick and vulnerable people. So I would only do it if I was completely desparate.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

Chest infections can be really nasty, mellicauli and I've never known one to get better by itself without antibiotics (I used to work in the NHS). They don't like prescribing them for a cough or sore throat as they do sometimes resolve without help and it can lower the effectiveness of the antibiotic if they are taken unnecessarily. Given the symptoms though it sounds very likely that antibiotics are needed here.

The out of hours is your best bet, and it's free. Call 111, they can make you an appointment.

[duchesse]

NHS website seems to support my surgery's policy...

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

That says that the symptoms to pneumonia are very similar to bronchitis, but if your symptoms are severe it's more likely to be pneumonia. It also says you should see your GP if;


"There are a number of symptoms that mean you should see a GP. They include:
a high temperature (this is usually a sign of a more serious type of infection)
confusion or disorientation
a sharp pain in your chest
coughing up blood-stained phlegm (thick mucus)
your symptoms last longer than three weeks"

These don't look as though they are combined, so if you have a cough and a high temperature you should go to your GP.

Are you feeling better today?

[duchesse]

A little better thank you but still not at all well. I haven't had such high temperatures today so far and haven't been falling asleep randomly today. Hoping things are on the up. I'm trying to work but it's slow-going. I'm a freelance translator and doing a large document for a newish client. The last time they gave me a large translation with a tight deadline, my dad died. They'd think I was pulling a fast one if I tried to get an extension and I'd lose them as a client.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

Take care of yourself. Sudafed is good stuff if you can get to the chemist, it should dry some of your cough up and reduce your temp etc. Keep drinking too as having a temperature will make you a little more dehydrated.

I freelance for a company (I have a new permanent job elsewhere now too) so I know how hard and unforgiving places can be. It's a lot of pressure, especially when they can let you go at the drop of a hat.

I hope you're OK

[duchesse]

Am stoked up to the eyeballs on all manner of drugs! (including sinus stuff) Just keeping track of the things with paracetamol is taking a lot of processing power.

[LadyMaryLikesCake]

I can imagine Lemsip's are a rip off, it's just paracetamol and sugar

[hellymelly]

Neck some echinacea, it does seem to help fight things off. Hope you are better soon.

[574ejones]

If you still feel bad, do go back to the drs. I have had a similar chest infection and two days in I found it so hard to breathe my Dh called an ambulance. From there I went to intensive care for a week treating me for a bad case of pneumonia and sepsis caused by the pneumonia. I am home recovering after hospital, but I hate to cause a fuss and didn't go to the drs as I always think I am wasting their time. I have learnt my lesson!

Look after yourself and don't be afraid to go to the Doctors.

[duchesse]

jones, I hope you're feeling better! That sounds nasty.

I went to the GP today (which I hardly ever do). I now have medicine for an ear infection and medicine for sinusitis. Hooray for locum GPs!