To go to GP with the flu?

[CoughyGoLightly]

I'm 3 weeks in to feeling rough, 2.5 weeks of intermittent high fever, aches and pains, productive cough, and I've now seemingly in the last few days developed a sinus infection.

I'm a 35 year old otherwise healthy mum of 3 but I've been really struggling with this. The fevers have been quite bad and I've been getting those Horrid electric shock pains in my joints and back.

The last week or so I've been really struggling with coughing, wheezing and not being able to catch a breath. I'm so weak I can't get up the stairs normally now, but still trying to soldier on with 3 kids and a wfh job (& a dh who's begrudgingly picking up extra school runs etc when I ask)

Is this just the flu? Im not sure if I'm justified in calling the GP tomorrow morning or not. I have bad judgement with these things (when it comes to my own health) as I have long term health conditions that make me anxious about seeking medical help.

Call 111. A family member who is a very fit young man got flu and subsequently pneumonia. The GP surgery sounds hopeless.

Ring 111 and tell them you can't get an appt, they will book one for you. Doesn't your surgery have emergency on the the day appts?

Call 911
If you can't breathe you may require oxygen op.

There has been very little flu around in recent weeks (it's very seasonal) but plenty of Covid.

Definitely ring 111. Your GP surgery's response is appalling.

They can provide supplemental oxygen if pulse ox is less than 90% and they can provide antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia (often happens after a bad viral infection) among other things, and only a GP/Doc can check this for sure. 👍

I agree about 111, hope you’ll get help quickly.

if its below 90% you need to go to a&e

Back after a long trip to urgent care, I've got pneumonia 😳 oxygen sats are 90% which they said was borderline so if I don't start picking up by the weekend I've got to be admitted.

Oh no! Have you got antibiotics?

Keep a close eye on this OP - it can be very serious. I assume they've given you some strong antibiotics?

You poor thing - no wonder you feel so awful. I hope you start to feel better soon x

Omg op. I would call your gp and tell them this and they should ve ashamed not offering an appt. You are seriously ill. Take it easy and let H take care of things whilst you rest. Get well soon x

I knew as soon as I read your first post that this would be pneumonia. It’s exactly how I was with pneumonia a few years ago. Struggled on for a while convinced I had flu, then went to nurse practitioner who prescribed amoxicillin for a chest infection. That did help a bit but the day after Boxing Day I went to the GP again because I was coughing up blood. I was sent to the ambulatory care ward who did x rays and bloods and scans and I had bilateral pneumonia. It’s the most poorly I’ve ever felt but a stronger antibiotic soon saw it off and I quickly felt better.
Wishing you well op. It’s horrible feeling so poorly and wondering why you can’t shake it off. Rest up, take high dose vitamin d and lots of comfort food.

Yes I've got antibiotics thankfully, DH picked them up on the school run. I'm now safely stowed in bed with DS6 keeping me company showing me his new game 😅❤️

Thanks so much for all your support I really appreciate it

I also knew when I read your first post that it would be pneumonia. I'm glad you're in bed with antibiotics... don't get up until you start to feel much better!

You poor thing OP, I'm glad you've got antibiotics now and will hopefully start to feel better asap.

When you feel a bit better please do make a complaint to your GP surgery.

I hope you feel better soon.

Get well soon OP, you poor thing.

OP you need to rest a lot otherwise you will end up in hospital. You need to take time off work and school runs and your DH frankly needs to step up now and understand he should have done so earlier

DH has similar symptoms earlier this year and tried to soldier on. Ended up in hospital for 9 days on high flow oxygen with serious bilateral pneumonia. Recovery took months.

Rest now and don't take any risks.

So glad you have been seen and treated. Best wishes for a quick recovery

Thank goodness you got seen by someone and got meds prescribed.

Your GP sight to be ashamed they would have just let you to get sicker! I'd be writing to the practice manager to tell them about this - once you're well enough obv. Shocking. Pneumonia is horrible.

You can buy those finger oxygen monitors from eBay for a few quid. Be handy if you had one at home for future reference.

Hope you get well soon. ❤️‍🩹

They are employing paramedics in surgeries now. Maybe they should be triaging, not receptionists.

So glad you have been see. Hope you get better soon.

There were enough of us on here saying pneumonia, it is shocking that you were refused an appointment.