To seek medical attention for a cold

[Bobbiepin]

Mostly posting here for traffic but also need opinions.

Brief background: late 20s, mild asthma, had pneumonia twice. Last time, picked up a cold from dd, didn't feel ill until I needed an ambulance to hospital and a week stay. It came out of nowhere, literally from a cold.

I've caught DD's cold again, and I feel rough. I have a slightly elevated temp (38.2) heart rate is above normal (98bpm) and I vomited last night, although that could be because I was coughing. Head and back hurt and chest is sore to cough, but not real pain.

After last time I'm paranoid, but is this enough to seek medical attention? We have an urgent care centre near by but its also DH's birthday and I'd rather not waste time to be told I'm over reacting.

It sounds like you could have a chest infection, I'd go get checked out

Maybe ring to see if you can see an out of hours GP.

Is it possible that I go and they say its nothing because it's too early to detect? Last time dr listened to my chest which was clear but once I was x rayed (literally an hour later) it was full of infection.

In normal circumstances, it would be unreasonable, but due to your medical history, yes, you should definitely go and focus on what happened before rather than your current symptoms when booking/first seeing a healthcare professional.

I was kimda hoping you lot would tell me to buck up and get over myself....

Call NHS 111 for their advice

Have you ever been tested for HIV? This is a very common pattern of general health for undiagnosed sufferers. I don't think you'd be unreasonable to seek medical advice whatsoever considering your medical history. Hope you feel better soon

Given your history I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. Ideally you should head for a walk in centre or see if 111 can arrange an out of hours GP appointment but if either of those aren’t available then I think you would be justified in going to a&e. You need to be checked over in person.

I hope it’s just a cold and you’re on your way to feeling better soon

@Basil90 I now know quite a few people who have had pneumonia more than once in their 20s and 30s. While most had underlying conditions that definitely are not HIV, others had lifestyle factors.

OP go and seek medical advice.

I have asthma and I also do get checked out because chest infections/pneumonia also seem to hit me very fast. So YANBU

IME once I had pneumonia/pleurisy once, I seem more susceptible to it happening again. It is mainly in one lung
Asthma is a condition that leads to infections, think it’s pretry discussing to tell someone they may have HIV on the internet

*discusting

@Basil90 I was tested during the last infection, and negative. I realise others may think its a big thing to post to a stranger online but my doctors thought the same. I was tested for many underlying condirions but all negative. They couldn't tell me why I got it so bad but said I shouldn't have been so ill at my age.

@LegoBeef *disgusting

I also tend to get sideswiped by colds. OP, you probably need antibiotics, but getting any UK GP to recognize that you are particularly vulnerable and need earlier antibiotic intervention may not be that easy. This is why people end up buying their own stash of antibiotics .

I'm so pleased for you @Bobbiepin - what a relief that must have been. It really is sad (and baffling!) how much stigma is still attached to the condition. There should be nothing 'disgusting' about the mention of HIV - it's a virus which can be contracted like any other. Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread. I hope you don't become as unwell this time OP and take care

think it’s pretry discussing to tell someone they may have HIV on the internet

Of course it isn’t 🙄 It’s just another health condition (unless in your head you’ve got some kind of a stigma attached to it)

I'm 29 and have had pneumonia a few times, including double pneumonia last Christmas. I wasn't aware it was rare!

I have the same symptoms at the moment, OP, since last Friday. The cough, the pains, the temperature... lemsip and rest has helped. Go to the walk in if you feel you need too, though. I hope you get well soon!

Keep your inhaler around this week and next, too, it's Peak Week.

@Basil90 yes it was, i'd rather not have have to chase the doctor for the result but understand they only came to me with positive results. No stigma here, the only reason I can think of for not suggesting it is because it is a life changing diagnosis which can be quite a shock but if people have it they need to know.

@AnchorDownDeepBreath is it rare to have it in both lungs? That's what I had second time. I did wonder why they kept me in for so long when my O2 sats were mostly normal.

@makingmammaries believe it or not I have a wonderful GP who would likely send me for a chest x ray should my symptoms persist. I've taken some paracetamol and if my temp doesn't come down I'll call 111. I might be able to get an appointment early in the week if I need to.

Honestly if you are having problems call 111 today. Otherwise speak to GP urgently tomorrow. With your history you don't have mild asthma anymore and clearly escalate quickly. Chances that you will at least need a course of steroids are high.

When I had a chest infection and breathing was shallow and had a temp the GP's receptionist got me in straightaway. I spent two days in hospital. And that was without a history and no asthma. Get yourself seen to soonest lass. You can have DH's special day another time.

Once you’ve had pneumonia once it can affect your resilience. I would go and get checked.

Temp is down to 37.5 with paracetamol. Seeing how I go but I will seek medical advice if I need to x

Hi everyone, I felt pretty rough today so called 111 and they agreed with you! So i'm sitting in the world's busiest A&E hoping for a chest x ray.