Back me up on this, I don't need to see a GP do I.

[ThisIsTheEndgame]

Last week, nasty cold. The stuffy head and the sneezing have passed but it has moved into my chest, my lungs are burning and I have a horrible persistent cough. But my oxygen levels are ok. DH thinks I need to see a GP. I think I'll be told the standard 'It's a virus drink plenty of fluids and rest'. (Alas rest not an option!) I'm right aren't I.

Burning lungs sounds worrying. Why can’t you rest? It sounds like you are quite unwell.

No, sorry. It sounds as if you may need antibiotics. And I practically never say that. How do you know your oxygen levels are OK?

I have a little pulse oximeter at home from when DS kept getting ill. It's accurate, even on tiny toddler fingers. Can't rest because I have two small demanding DC and a fairly responsible job (and I can't phone in sick, I've had 3 hours of sickness this last year, proper flu, d&v and appendicitis). I am fairly sure I don't have a temperature either. Just shitty lungs.

GP or nurse practitioner. Being told it’s a virus by a HCP is a lot better than collapsing and ending up in worse condition in hospital

Fair enough. You know best. But pneumonia can be very nasty.

You had 3 hours of sickness last year, including appendicitis?

You might be fine. You might not be. But you won’t know until you’re not.

Yes I would do they might be able to give you an inhaler to help and check

And ffs call in sick you need to rest you are ill

3 bouts, not three hours. I was off two weeks with appendicitis, so I'm well over the allowed time.

I think my brain is a bit fuzzy today!

Burning lungs does not sound good.

3 hours of sickness!?

Could you call the GP and speak over the phone?

If you really can’t rest then wouldn’t it be better to see if you need antibiotics sooner rather than later?

I feel for you and hope you feel better soon.

It’s a bit odd to have a pulse oximeter and use it without being advised to do so. Do you worry generally about health? Odd to be taking SATs and not have taken your temperature.

Three hours with appendicitis must be a typo. Three days would be less than most people.Im guessing three weeks? That’s quite a lot of sick time but appendicitis isn’t avoidable in the short term.

It’s only been a week and coughs do drag on. Coughing can make your chest sore. No temperature, SATs fine, respiratory rate normal then I’d leave it a bit longer. Take paracetamol, drink lots, soldier on. Of course, there’s a small risk you’ve something bacterial but you don’t mention many symptoms of anything more serious.

Unless you have a temp, then you're just suffering from the after effects of a virus. If you had a bacterial infection, you would have a temp.Try breathing steam in a bowl with a towel over. That will relieve your lungs and help you breathe easier.

If you're still worried, why not call the NHS non emergency number?

My thermometer is crap. It thinks I have a temp of about 34. The pulse oximeter helps me decide whether to take DS to the GP or a&e when he gets ill, because he has been much more unwell than he appeared in the past. Luckily he seems to be outgrowing it finally. His inhaler has helped too.

Three bouts of sickness, three separate occasions when I've had to call in sick. Two weeks off for appendicitis. Two other lots of two days.

I'm not worried, I quite often get a viral chest infection after a cold. Shit lungs. I feel dire but it will pass. I just wanted a consensus to show DH that I don't need a doctor. The first few replies have let me down

If you are not worried, you don’t need justification of internet strangers.

Any mucus? If so, what colour?

You should see your GP based on your symptom of burning lungs and cough regardless of your SATs.

Based on the fact that you don’t want to get ill and don’t want to have any time off work ignoring the symptoms is counter productive.
You might as well go to the docs get the antibiotics your lungs clearly need before you get really poorly meaning you will actually need time off work!

If you are not worried, you don’t need justification of internet strangers.

This!

Home sats machines are dangerous unless you understand how they work. You can have completely normal sats and be very ill and likewise have very low sats and be absolutely fine. If you’re unwell you should see an HCP.

Are you coughing anything up? If it’s not clear, it’s bacterial.

Yes, the most sensible thing to do would be to solicit the medical advice of Mumsnetters online

Seriously, why do people do this? And why on earth do people (for example cherrypavlova) think they can dispense medical advice on MN? It's extremely irresponsible, telling someone through a screen to "solider on".

Why don't you just ring 111 (although they always seem to want to send an ambulance!) or go to the GP. If you feel you definitely don't need a GP, then why are you posting?

I know I sound grumpy but this really irritates (and worries!) me.

Not backing you up on this, sorry.

Burning lungs, feeling awful.

You're hardly going to be able to productively work regardless of whether you go to the GP (which you probably should) or not.

My mum had similar last month said she didn't need to go to the docs was just the flu, we finally convinced her and she had pneumonia and a partially deflated lung. In hospital a week and had to cancel her holiday.
She had no temperature and felt ok apart from burning lungs and a bit weezy and out of breath

If you have rubbish lungs you need to get it seen pneumonia can creep up quietly and it can have awful consequences

My friend caught pneumonia this year and ended up dying from it when it necrotised. Don't fuck about with this stuff OP! Get yourself signed off from the GP immediately, DP can look after the kids while you rest.

Taking this kind of thing into work is incredibly unreasonable! Don't treat your colleagues to it.