Chest infection - to take the antibiotics or not

[Threeisme]

Feel really rubbish. Had a heavy cold for about a week - temperatures, sinus pain, tired and a cough that leaves me breathless and sore. Also pretty constant nausea but think that's due to the copious mucus! Went to the gp today because the last two mornings, phlegm has had blood in it. Just in the mornings though. Prescribed antibiotics but really undecided on whether to take them as isn't it more likely to be viral? Dont get me wrong, I'd like to feel better quickly but I try to avoid taking ABs for resistance reasons. Thoughts? Will it go on its own? Am I risking the side effects of the ABs for nothing?

[ClaudiaNaughton]

I’d take them. Just finished 3rd lot as X-ray showed the chest infection had not cleared up after first lot. Now feeling better at long last. Wish I had visited gp sooner but thought it would clear up on its own. Have another X-ray in 6 weeks to check finally all clear.

[BookMeOnTheSudExpress]

Take them. I fell ill, rubbishy, tired, bit of a temp on 21st Jan. Battled on feeling meh, and now three weeks later am on day 6 of 10 of antibiotics for bronchitis. I am still "chesty" and just walking up stairs leaves me out of breath. Never felt so awful.

I think chest infections are a secondary infection which comes as a result of the coldy virus.

[AmazingGreats]

Often a virus makes you vulnerable to secondary infections which are bacterial. I hate taking antibiotics. I didn't take any for nearly 6 years and then last year had to take 2 rounds and another one this year. Yes, obviously in an ideal world we wouldn't take them BUT antibiotics have quite literally saved my life in the past. I won't take them unless necessary, but a chest infection is one of my necessary times.

[halcyondays]

They wouldn’t have prescribed them unnecessarily these days.

[dustibooks]

Take them, and finish the whole course, even if you start to feel better. They wouldn't have prescribed them unless you really need them.

[Lisette1940]

I've just had a month off work for a chest infection. Initially they thought it was viral and it took two different antibiotics to shake it. GP kept telling me to look out for sepsis markers until they had it nailed. Do take the antibiotics please They wouldn't prescribe them unless you needed them. You don't want to get sicker. I still feel tired now and the doctor said it would take a while for my energy to return.

Look after yourself OP.

[Threeisme]

Thanks all. Feeling more reassured that they're necessary now and I really don't want to feel like this for much longer so I will take them. Plus they cost me £9

[Lisette1940]

If you are taking Clarythromycin drink plenty of water when taking it as that helps.

Honestly Threeisme you won't realise how ill you are until the antibiotics kick in. I was trying to soldier on. I lost half a stone during January. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids such as water and watered down orange juice.

[Threeisme]

Yes, I've been prescribed Clarythromycin 500mg for a week. They are massive, I will need a big drink. A month off work is scary, I couldn't cope with that. Annual leave next week so hoping to get through Thurs and Fri if I can. Will do reduced hours and desk based tasks though.

[Tinselette1940]

You sometimes get vanilla aftertaste with them. The key is to drink loads of water with them perhaps eat a cracker. I had to take mine in the morning and evening 12 hours apart. You should feel better in 48 hours.

I couldn't work at all - had a temp for most of January. Catching up with a month's work now!

[ohhhlala]

I would like to think your GP knows the difference between infection and virus. If virus, they wouldn't prescribe as they have no effect on viral

Listen to the medical professional. That's why you went to see them after all

[Tinselette1940]

Threeisme are you feeling any better?

[Threeisme]

So much better, thank you. Started to recover Fri evening which was about 60 hours since the first antibiotic and although I'm still coughing, I can function again
The clarithymicin (sp?) are hard work though. Initially suffered quite badly from nausea although that's settled now except for during the night and I have a horrid metallic/vanilla taste in my mouth constantly. Worth it though to be on the mend and only 5 tablets left to take.

[Tinselette1940]

I'm very glad to hear you are on the mend Threeisme and hope you are getting some rest on the days you have off.

The vanilla aftertaste is horrible 😁