To go back to Drs and demand antibiotics

[NaturalRBF]

My DD, DH & myself have been ill for 11 days now with a headachy, snotty, coughing and achey style bug. I took DD to Drs Tuesday last week as she suffers with fits when she gets a temperature. GP told me it's viral and we just had to ride it out with usual paracetamol, duvet days etc

But 11 days on I'm actually feeling worse & DD who is 15 months still seems pretty rough too, along with DH.

Would it be unreasonable to think this is in fact bacterial and we need some antibiotics?

Just for back ground last time DD & I had antibiotics was after birth as I had sepsis in labour and before that I had some 3 years ago for another ongoing cold/fluey style thing.

I understand why antibiotics are not given out willy-nilly but I'm really not sure that this is a viral thing after such a long time feeling so poorly!

[Teddy1970]

I think most posters on here have said that viral infections can be really nasty Sirzy me included

[Sirzy]

I didn't mean on this thread teddy * I meant in real life! Many people say "it's just a virus" or berate the GP for "fobbing them off" saying it's a virus.

[NaturalRBF]

I don't feel he was fobbing me off Sirzy it's just that if it is bacterial we might well need some antibiotics. Also majorly miffed at having time off work, missing swimming and play groups with my daughter. She's not one for staying home all day.

[Wrinklytights]

YABU lots of viruses are grim (even deadly) and lots of bacterial infections would clear up on their own in a few days without anti biotics anyway. My DCs used to also get febrile convulsions every time they had a fever. Presumably your DC has not had any more since you last saw the doc hence she is on the mend?

[Teddy1970]

Ah I see Sirzy, no problem! But you're right, viral infections can be horrific and alot people think because you don't get given a prescription at the Drs then you can't be that ill, when in fact viral infections can sometimes be worse.

[Superdinocharge]

I think it's actually quite dangerous for you all to say it's viral when I presume most of you aren't medically trained and none of you have seen OP and her family. OP if your symptoms have worsened then it would be best to seek medical advice. If the doctor thinks it's viral still then yes it would be unreasonable to demand antibiotics (but I don't think you would do).

Sometimes secondary bacterial infection can follow a virus so if you are at all concerned then please see you GP.

[HalloToJasonIsaacs]

Yes green sputum is not a foolproof sign of a bacterial infection - but if you're having increasing difficulty breathing and coughing up disgusting stuff that's different from the original stuff then it may indicate that you've developed a chest infection after the original virus. Less likely if all three of you are feeling the same I'd have thought though.

[RiverTam]

Am I the only person who immediately thought of Withnail when they saw the thread title! I demand antibiotics booze.

Sorry. Nothing helpful to add. I'll shut the door on my way out.

[NaturalRBF]

She's had them every time she's been poorly Wrinklytights. At the beginning of the year after several colds etc she had one that lasted 15 mins & after a stay at our local hospital & (actually forgot about this in my first post) a course of very strong antibiotics daily via a cannula she got better over a week. I think this is where my concern comes from. I feel the GP fobbed me off last time which lead to her being unwell & it was scary. I understand febrile convulsions are very common but it's not nice & I do worry now that she has a bacterial infection rather than a viral one.

[Bugsylugs]

Still unreasonable to go back and ask for antibiotics. Very reasonable to go back and be reassessed. Being miffed at being confined or off work is also no reason

[PacificDogwod]

YANBU to get re-assessed.

YABU to expect antibiotics.

The average time for a viral upper respiratory infection to pass through your system from first symptoms to total resolution of symptoms is 2-3 weeks. That is an average, so some people will get better quicker, and some poor souls will take longer.

Get seen again.

[OhTheRoses]

Well I think you should go back and seek further advice/reassurance.

After ds was born I had some retained placenta (surgery and abs), infective mastitis (abs x 2), breast abscess (surgery and abs).

After that I had sinusitis x2, utis x2, viral laryngitis, tonsillitis, influenza, a constant cough and cold and felt ill for three years.

Pg with dd (after months of viral cold and snot) developed pleurisy at 19 weeks. Admitted to hosp for broad spectrum iv abs. Felt better and stayed better within a Cpl of days. DD is 18. Been v well since.

Nothing will convince me that all those infections weren't caused by a low level bacterial infection deep within me and on the background.

Haven't had a persistent cough, runny nose, bad throat since.

[pointythings]

Some viruses can be horrible and can linger for a very long time. Anyone who has ever had real flu (rather than just a very bad cold) will tell you how awful a virus can be. I'm afraid you just have to ride it out.

[fittedcupboard]

It would be reasonable to go back for a review - I'm a GP and we always say come back if something changes or you're worried

Those who come in and demand antibiotics don't go down so well.....

[dodobookends]

OP your symptoms sound just like what I had recently. By day 10 of me keeping DH awake all night with my coughing, sniffling, sneezing fits, hot and cold sweats and what not, he decided he'd had enough and made me go to the doctors. Turned out it had developed into a heck of a chest infection on top, and I got antibiotics for that.

It's been three weeks now and I still haven't completely shaken it off, so I'd go to the doctors to be on the safe side if I were you.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

btw even bacterial infections (usually) go away on their own.
you might feel unwell for a while but our bodies are actually very good at fighting infections of all sorts.
you need rest, fluids and nutrition.

[Grammar]

Green snot does not mean 'bacterial'. You will probably start getting better in the next week or so anyway. If you went to your GP and 'demanded' and got antibiotics...and got better, would this 'prove' to you that it responded to the treatment? I bet it would, yet you would have got better anyway. Watch and wait, get reassessed if necessary, get your chest listened to and bear it out. Viruses are often harsher and longer illnesses than bacterial infections.

[Musicaltheatremum]

Go back and seen them. I'd be more than happy to review you. I may or may not feel antibiotics are indicated. As long as you don't "demand" I'm more than happy to see/reassure. That's part of our job

[NaturalRBF]

OhTheRoses I'm so glad you've commented as this is how I feel about myself & DD! Before pg I used to get tonsillitis a few times a year and that would be it (that I would treat with honey, lemon and paracetamol) Never sick otherwise! Since DDs birth we both are always snotty, spluttering etc! Like I say after she was kept in with the febrile convulsions & had the antibiotics it's the first time since her birth she hasn't been ill! That was 6 months ago & im worried were on this downward spiral again.

[HappyAxolotl]

Viruses certainly can drag on for weeks, make you feel absolutely awful and then take some time to get over once it has cleared up.

But bear in mind that sometimes coughs & colds etc that you can't seem to get rid of can be a sign of other illness in the mix. In my case a severe VitD deficiency and I'd put off going to the doctors for a couple of months as I didn't want to waste NHS time with a silly cold.

Then again, miserable as your 11 days ill are, that probably doesn't class as dragging on quite yet. Use your judgement if you aren't getting better or are getting worse see the Dr again.

[Littleballerina]

Go back for a check up but I would refrain from demanding treatment for something the you may or may not need.

[Passthecake30]

my entire household has the virus you are talking about...we are into the 3rd week. I've just been prescribed steroids and antibiotics as have asthma, so if you have an underlying condition I would go to the docs

[Floey]

Where have you been the last few months? Have you missed all the news about infections becoming antibiotic resistant because people 'demand' them at the drop of a hat! It's a virus. Get over it and get over yourself

[AGenie]

It sounds viral to me. Fine to be reassessed but no sense having antibiotics which will only upset your stomach on top of it all probably. It's likely to vanish suddenly on day 14 if it helps any.

[Cherubneddy1]

Going back to the dr's just to check is a good idea imo. I agree with the poster who said it's dangerous to just assume it's viral. It sounds as if this doesn't 'feel' right to you; we know our own bodies better than anyone.
I didn't go to the dr's when I had a bad ear infection in June this year. Deep down I thought I ought to and that something wasn't quite right, but with all the hype about not going to the dr's for anti-biotics, and our snotty dr's receptionists to get past first I thought I would wait a week or so. Unfortunately a week later I was critically ill in hospital with bacterial meningitis and nearly died after my untreated ear infection spread to my brain. Not as uncommon as you would think either, from a simple ear infection.
So the moral of my long and boring story is to get things checked if something doesn't feel right.
I hope you all feel better soon OP.