To think it could be pneumonia - day 17

[ohitsashameforyouemma]

I’ve had a deep productive (green phlegm) cough for 18 days. I’ve been vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, temperature, not eating, muscle aches, and sticky eyes for 16 days now. I’ve not been able to do anything. I’m breathless but only when I get out of bed for the toilet.

I slept through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I went to the drs a week before Christmas who said I had a UTI and a “flu like illness”. my chest was clear, but my temp was 39 ish. They said it would pass in a week.

but I’m not getting better, I’m just staying the same. I’ve had to have paracetamol and ibroprufen (sp sorry!) every 4 hours for the whole 17 days. I’ve been resting and doing nothing and I’m not better. I vomit every morning and then throughout the day if I try to eat. My cough sounds like a wet bark!

I’ve tried to get another GP appointment but I’ve been told to go to A&E as they’ve got no appointments, which is ridiculous.

anyone have experience of walking pneumonia? I’m losing the will to live and go back to work on Monday :(

You clearly need antibiotics. If you’ve been told to go to an and e, then go before its full of drunk idiots.

I’d phone out of hours for advice

You need someone to listen to your chest. If there are no GP appointments, then A&E sounds sensible.

Who told you to go to A&E?

You need antibiotics after this long! Sympathies, I had pneumonia for Christmas about 10 years ago and I can still feel that deep painful cough. It might have to be A&E - I'd try 111 first if it was your own GP who told you to rock up there.

A&E isn’t really sensible. She will be waiting for a very long time whilst vomiting and feeling like crap. It would be better to phone 111 and get an appointment at a walk in clinic.

I would phone 111 to try and get an out of hours appointment for antibiotics.

Phone 111, OP. My stepdad had to be seen yesterday as he was unable to breathe without coughing, and was told there are some nasty chest infections doing the rounds. There should be a GP on duty somewhere you can see - our county has an out of hours service or if A & E are really manic they often put a GP on duty there to see the walk ins.

This seems like a sensible suggestion.

Do you have access to a pulse oximeter? That would be helpful. Blood oxygen below 93/94 would signify an issue. You could have a frightening reading tbh. Anything less than 85 is an immediate medical emergency. Do you feel short of breath? Dizzy on standing? Don’t mess about - you can decline rapidly. Do you have family members around you? Pneumonia happens following on from flu - it’s not that rare and is the reason flu is so dangerous.

Round here, you’d be seen by A&E before a GP OOH appt became available. We don’t have a walk in centre. We’re each posting from our own experience.

Try 111
You could do with antibiotics in my opinion. Sooner the better.
And really stress how breathless you are!

111 have also said A&E but I just can’t cope with it and I feel like a time waster.

managed to find a walk in centre 40 mins drive from us so DH has managed to “book” an appointment for me there at 7. In just so annoyed my GP won’t see me

I don’t have a walk in centre in my area. When I phoned 111 they made me an appointment at one in a different town. It was inconvenient but still took a fraction of the time that it would do to sit in A&E. It might not be possible for OP, buts it’s worth asking than going straight to A&E.

I’m glad you got sorted and that it’s not too long to wait either.

poor you op. Sounds like you definitely need antibiotics. Is there a pharmacy nearby as I know ours can give antibiotics.

If you're breathless just getting out of bed your GP's advice to go to A + E is entirely appropriate. Breathlessness on minimal exertion in someone who was previously fit and well should be assessed immediately and also better to assess in a setting where there's access to chest X ray, oxygen if needed, CT if needed e.g. if concerns about a pulmonary embolism etc.
Your GP is giving you good advice, just because it's not what you wanted them to do doesn't mean it's wrong.

I’ve been poorly for the past week with an awful cough. Nothing as bad as what you sound. You really need medical help.

I was told to go to A&E with pneumonia often they have a gp service running in them. I was given pain injections as I had broken ribs from coughing, strong pain killers and antibiotics.

coughing this up every 20 mins or so

The one saving grace is there's no sign of blood in that sputum picture... When I had pneumonia, I was coughing up frothy red stuff (that had 111 sending an ambulance to me which turned up in less than 20 minutes!).

But, it doesn't mean to say you don't have it. So, get thee hence to that OOA and make sure you are on time! xxx

Hope you get looked after OP, you sound ever so poorly and you're not wasting their time.

How are you @ohitsashameforyouemma?

Was sent to A&E as they suspected sepsis. Got there and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. Have been admitted to the resp ward. Feeling a lot better already after fluids, but long way to go

You poor thing ! I’m so glad you went, hope you be feeling much better soon.x