Any medics out there? I feel so unwell

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I went away with work last week and stayed in a hotel, room was grotty and didn’t feel like it had been used in a while. During the day we were sat under a dirty looking air con fan that alternated between hot and cold.

I came home Wednesday, by Friday I was t feeling 100% and had developed a cough. Over the weekend I got a bit worse, really tired, aching back / tight band around my chest and I wheeze when I breathe deeply (that hurts) felt like I was coming down with something.

Today I went to work and had to come home after 2 hours, my back is painful and my chest feels like there’s a weight on it. I have a dry cough, headache and I’m so tired. I don’t believe I’m getting fevers but I’m having chills instead where I’m uncontrollably shivering - the only way to stop them is to sit under a heated blanket until I get too hot then the cycle will start again. Paracetamol isn’t really touching it.

O2 sats are about 95 and pulse is ok using a finger machine. I feel utterly dreadful though, my chest is heavy and burning and when the chills start I breathe very fast and feel really scared and tearful.

Id called the GP earlier but no appointments, am tempted to call out for hours but when I warm up I feel a bit better and the thought of dressing and going out at this time of night is horrible.

This is a phase where I’ve warmed up and I’m ok to look at my phone, during the episodes of chills I can’t even hold a glass of water.

im aware of sepsis but also if its a common chest infection i dont want to rush out and im sure it can wait until morning.

Are these chills dangerous and should i go to OOH?

Might be nothing to do with the aircon.

You've just described my son's symptoms he's had for just over a week now.

There's a nasty virus that's been going round since before Christmas.

I'd call 111 for advice if I were you. Chill can be a sign of a fever. Have you checked your temperature? Hope you feel better soon.

Was the work trip abroad or in the UK?
Do you have ibuprofen or just paracetamol?
Have you done a covid test?
Do you live alone?
Age?
Other health conditions?
Could be multiple things, but sounds like a respiratory infection of some sort- covid, flu, pneumonia, something picked up abroad?
Call NHS 111 or your GP and get checked if concerned.

I don’t feel hot while I have the chills, just feel really cold and shivery. I’m sure my temp is normal.

I think it's definitely worth a call to out of hours, they can advise if there's a clinical need to be seen or if you are ok to wait for your gp to be open.

Have you checked your temperature? Do you have a thermometer?

That's often the sign of a high temp.

Sounds like me when I had COVID

If you feel so unwell that it's scaring/worrying you, then call 111 for help and advice. Especially if this is more unwell than you've ever felt before.

Trip was in this country, I’m early 50’s otherwise good health apart from perimenopause and it’s crapness. Negative for Covid, live with my husband who is sleeping alongside me and has promised me I’ll wake him if I get worse.

I’ve only taken paracetamol as ibuprofen messes with my stomach.

I would call 111 just to be on the safe side. I hope you feel better soon.

My husband has had exactly the same thing. He was quite severely unwell where as I had it mildly. Our doctor said it was the new strain of covid and a lot of people have it. Ironically our doctor now has it too and he said his meds are not even keeping his fever down.

stay hydrated op, take meds to control the pain/fevers if you can and ride it out. You can order a nebuliser on Amazon. It worked wonders for us. We had penicillin prescribed too

There is a nasty flu going round but it's worth getting checked out as it could be AC lung or less likely but possibly legionnaires disease. I hope you feel better soon x

Sounds like Covid or flu

Your oxygen sats are a bit on the low side. I've got asthma and mine are 97/98% when I'm well.

Obviously no one can rule out legionnaires disease, but it is unlikely. I have carried out legionnaire assessments on buildings and rated their risk. Air cons with a fan, especially in the UK, are not high risk. Inadequately maintained hot tubs though are high risk.

I agree OP it sounds like an infection like covid or flu. I felt incredibly ill with something a month ago after not having as much as a cold for a year. But if you get worried call 111. Wake your husband up if you get any new worrying symptoms. But what you probably need is rest. And if it is what I had, and it sounds very similar, it takes a while to clear up. I basically spent a week in bed and another week to really feel better. Hope you feel better soon.

Just updating. Called OOH and was given an appointment at 1am. Had bloods taken and a chest xray. I have flu and pleurisy. Doctor said he’s never seen so many people who are ill with it - it’s rife. He said the hospital is admitting people all the time.

I’ve had a flu jab so he said that’s probably what has avoided me being an admission. I’m home now tucked up in bed resting, have to ride it out as it’s viral.

Not sure if any of the previous people that kindly added to the thread are actually medics but if so, can anyone advise?

The GP said yesterday to come back and see her if anything changes, if I got worse or had issues with sinuses, earache or if I found myself coughing more.

Today my upper chest / throat maybe is like I have popping candy or Rice Krispies crackling away in it - when I breathe in and out and actually the noise continues after I stop breathing- it’s really weird. My cough is wetter today and even though my thermometer isn’t showing a big rise in temperature I’m getting very warm at times. I am definitely coughing more today and after I cough I can hear bubbles and crackling from either my throat or upper chest, I can’t tell.

Is that a normal part of the mucus clearing from my chest or would that warrant a return trip to the GP tomorrow?

I would go back if its a new symptom, could be a secondary infection/pneumonia. It sounds miserable op, hope you feel better soon x