To go to the doctor

[annabeldp]

I've had this bloody cold for 10 days now, have been taking beechams, lemsip etc, but nothing is helping. I also have a very sore throat and earache.

I never go to the doctors with just a cold, I know its a waste and they can do nothing. But this has been going on so long I wonder if I've picked up an infection.

WIBU to go - I don't want to take up an emergency appointment from someone else who really needs it?

Go, you could well have an infection

That's a pretty normal time frame for a cold for me personally

However, I'd probably go about the earache as I don't normally get them.

I'd wait til Monday though unless you have to work or it gets really painful.

I would for the ear/throat pain as this may not be due to a cold. The worst that can happen is the doctor will tell you to "rest and drink plenty of fluids"!

I wouldn't, you'd only be wasting their time and yours especially with the new guidelines in place.

Which new guidelines, Wabbitty?

If you're worried phone NHS Direct, they'll tell you if it's worth going to the GP.

You could also ask your pharmacist if there are any better OTC medicines you can take. Some of the branded ones are just very expensive paracetamol.

Hope you're better soon

The new guidelines which state antibiotics should not be given for coughs and colds. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/163537.stm

Ah, go. Seriously.

I am/was a big fan of the NHS. Then I moved abroad and saw how other people look at healthcare. Here (no NHS, all private but cheap) people go to the doctor for anything. I had a stomach bug. At home I wouldn't dream of going to see GP. I did, they gave me 5 different types of medicine and I was better after a few hours.

Wabbity, they are given for secondary infections after colds though

Wabbity - that's what I'm worried about, even before the new guidelines, I;d try never to go unless I had to, and wouldn't expect to be given anything if it is just a cold.

Thanks for all the nice go comments - Hopefully I'll get an appointment on Monday, and either get something or be told no just a cold. Either of which is fine, I'm just a bit fed up with suffering if I can get something else

Yes the ear and throat pain could well be a bacterial infection which requires antibiotics.

Agree wouldn't go for a "simple cold"

Those 'new guidelines' are from 1999!

It really bloody annoys me when people worry about "wasting drs time" by going with what they think is a trivial complaint. Their job is not just to treat serious illnesses. Their job is to.diagnose and treat if appropriate. Would you not go to a shop if you were only buying a paper, in case you were wasting the staff's time? I agree you.shouldn't be there all the time with the slightest complaint, but if you are genuinely feeling really under the weather and want to know if.there is anything you can do about it, just go!

Check the instructions on the beechams etc. They usually recommend not to take for more than a few days without consulting your Dr. Presumably in case its not just a cold.

Ooh, I have been having this argument with my mother all week so do you mind if I hop in and share your question? I've had a cold for more than three weeks now, with a sore throat and chesty cough, and for the last week my chest has been feeling tight and sore too. Mum thinks I should go to the doctor in case it's a chest infection, I think I'd be wasting the doctor's time and it's just a lingering cold. Anyone?

IMO Rumple if you aren't getting better after 3 weeks its not a cold! Its fine to go to the Dr even if its just to be told it is just a virus. Esp if you feel poorly or getting worse. Of course if you feel you're on the mend then why bother?

I'm in the same situation, I've had a really bad cold for nearly two weeks but a few days ago developed terrible ear ache so went to the docs who prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection and I've started to feel better already, so go!

Update - went to doctor and got antibiotics for an ear infection so finally feeling better.

Doc said if you're not getting any better after a week or so then go and have it checked out.

Glad you went - an earache shouldn't be ignored. A friend of mine had a bad ear infection for a while, refused to go to the GP (in Ireland where it costs 60 euros a pop) and ended up with kidney failure! After some time in hospital she was fine thank god. Apparently once an ear infection takes hold it's very hard to shift without antibiotics and it can put a huge strain on your system. I hope yours is cleared quickly.