Can I go to the GP while I have a cold?

[Plingston]

I've had this large lump in my breast for about 4 weeks. I've been kind of ignoring it because I often get lumps in my armpits and occasionally breast which are linked to my period. But this one hasn't gone away and is so big I can see it under the skin if I lift my arm.

I'm hoping it's nothing major, but I am a bit concerned after reading a currently trending thread so I contacted the GP and they want to see me today. The problem I have is that I'm currently getting over a cold. I didn't think to mention it when the GP called me. I've tried calling the surgery to ask what will happen if I turn up with cold symptoms but I was 28 in the queue and I'm at work now so I can't stay on the phone that long.

I've done three lateral flows this week (the latest one being this morning) which have all been negative. I really want to attend this appointment and am worried I will be turned away. Should I say something when I get there? Even if the GP doesn't notice my blocked nose, I will need to explain the enlarged glands in my throat (which I'm pretty sure are to do with the cold and not the breast lump). There's no other way to contact them before I get there. I don't have a fever or anything like that and pretty sure I'm just getting over a standard cold.

Tell them when you get there. This is important. Good luck op.

Agree with @thesandwich - go, this is important and you can tell them about your cold when you're there.

Go, but wear a mask and dose yourself up with paracetamol. If it’s mentioned say you’ve a bit of a cold, but it’s not covid as you’ve done a test.

I'm a GP. Wear a mask but please go, they won't turn you away. The GP won't mind you have a cold. We are exposed to worse viruses.

Yes definitely go, wear a mask if you can.

My GP don’t do any checks on arrival now so there’d be no opportunity to turn you away.

As you've had 3x negative LFT up to and including the morning, I think you're OK to go. But as some people don't test positive until several days in, I'd wear a mask as a precaution. After all, clinical settings are where vulnerable people have to go and the current guidance is to keep away from those with vulnerabilities when you have cold symptoms.

I'd also tell ten on arrival, that you're sure it's a cold as you have tested, but be ready to follow any requests such as where in the waiting room you sit

Once you are LFT negative and choose to wear a mask (optional) then of course you can

When I did have covid I tested negative until the fourth day of illness, so I don't think they're very trustworthy. I am now on day 4/5 of feeling ill though, so I think I would have tested positive by now. I felt quite a bit more ill than this when it was covid - it does feel as though I'm just getting over an average cold. There's no way for me to prove its not covid without doing another test there though, I'm sure everybody would claim that they'd done a test and it was negative.

Feeling a bit nervous and don't want to end up being turned away and having to wait even longer.

I have been to the GP on Monday with a cold and they didn't care

I should note before I get abuse I wasn't there for the cold I just have a cold

Don't worry, I knew exactly what you meant. I changed the wording of my title which originally said "Can I go to the GP with a cold?" because I realised how it sounded.

Good luck op

Thank you, that's very kind. The GP also found what he called thickening in my other breast so I feel a bit more worried now. I've never noticed it.

Glad you went to the dr and got seen. Hope you're ok Op.