AIBU to Wait Until Monday to Get Medical Help?

[SnowyPolarBear9]

Started with a bad cough approx 6 weeks ago. Also had loss of taste and smell and seriously exhausted. Saw GP after 2 weeks who prescribed antibiotics and said I had an upper chest infection. Didn’t take them as I kept feeling I was getting better one day but then worse the next (I know probably stupid! I just didn’t want to take them if I didn’t need them because of the whole antibiotic immunity).

Cough started to improve (still had other symptoms) then my son came down with a very short lasting bug last week (temp, blocked nose, sneezing, feeling unwell). He was fine to go back to school after 1 day off and only had a temperature for less than 12 hours.

2-3 days later I had the same symptoms as him but worse. Blocked nose, no taste or smell still, cough worsened slightly again; could go hours without coughing then have huge coughing fits for prolonged periods. My temp was about 37.5°C and has been fluctuating for 7 or more days now which I know some sources say isn’t a temperature until 38° and some say above 37.5° but my healthy temperature is in the 36.5° region and only goes to 37° and above if I’m unwell. Temp doesn’t reduce with paracetamol (can’t take ibuprofen as allergic). I’ve now had this illness for over a week. Finally decided to take the antibiotics (started Thursday evening - 1 x 500mg Amoxicillin, 3 times a day) and I’ve taken 6 tablets out of 15 so far. Cough and blocked nose has definitely improved but tonight I feel worse than I’ve felt throughout this whole thing, my temperature is also the highest it’s been (38.6°) and I just don’t have the energy to go and be seen out of hours because I’m so tired and under the weather. I’d have to go alone and I have no one that could look after my young dog.

Should I be okay to wait until Monday to see my GP? I’ve had health anxiety in the past which creeps in a bit when I’m ill so just hoping for some reassurance

why don’t you phone 111 and see what the suggest OP?
They should be able to signpost you to the right place.

It’s not an accident, and it can’t be an emergency if you didn’t even start the ABs when you were given them.

That’s a good shout thanks! I did think about it but got scared I’d be told to go in as I know they can be quick to suggest that. Then if I didn’t go, I know I’d get serious anxiety over it because I’d been told to I know this just seems so counterproductive sorry!

Have you taken paracetamol

As I mentioned…I kept feeling better so I would take them, then I’d feel worse for a day then better for a day. So it was very hard to know if I needed them! Plus this is a new illness as the first one was improving. I’m also very anti antibiotics if we can avoid them because if we just keep taking them for no reason we will get to a point where we can’t have any at all because we are immune to them and no one wants that! Was trying to be sensible about it that’s all

Yes and it doesn’t bring the temp down 🙁

Just ring 111 and take their advise, then the decision is out of your hands.
I hope you feel better soon.

Have you tried ibuprofen aswell

Do you mean you’ve been taking antibiotics intermittently? That’s a bad idea. Nothing you’ve suggested sounds like it requires urgent input. Rest up, look after yourself and hopefully it will pass soon.

So you were stopping and starting the antibiotics? If so that was a really silly thing to do.

Call 111.

Are you getting plenty of rest and fluids?

Have you problems with breathing or are at the point of being immobile. If not I'd wait til Monday as A&E would give you antibiotics, which you already have.

Its all well and good saying this but you know what drama llamas they are and they will send op to hospital where she will be low priority and sat in a chair all night which when you feel like crap is the last thing you want

NHS says:-

‘Do
get lots of rest
drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration – drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable
Information:
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you do not have a high temperature.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you have:
a high temperature and you've been treating it at home but it's not getting better or is getting worse
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.’

I think it sounds like you have a prolonged fever because of your infection. You probably should have taken the antibiotics when they were prescribed because they were given to you for a reason and if you have an infection, your body can’t always fight it on its own.

However lecture over (sorry if it sounded like one it wasn’t intended!), I would continue with your antibiotics for the rest of the weekend and give them chance to get in your system, alongside plenty of rest and lots of fluids, and if you don’t feel any better by Monday, ring your surgery. Feel better op x

If you start antibiotics you must take the full course. Even if you feel better do not stop. Stopping early, or taking intermittently is what causes the bacteria to become resistant.

Call 111 the only thing that might require you to go to A&E is the uncontrollable fever or breathing, if your temperature spikes too high you could be in trouble.

Start ringing around friends and neighbours that could look after your child and dog incase you do need to go in. Better give them the heads up than panic from hospital. Write down instructions now too.

your temp is up because your body is frying the germs. it’s fighting and has been for a while. that’s why toure knackered.

if it were me id expect to keep taking the antibiotics and for some improvement on day 4 which i think is tomorrow for you. so i’d hang in and if no improvement by tomorrow afternoon i’d phone nhs24. it could be that a different antibiotic is required.

in future follow medical advice.

If I were you I would take my temp every few hours and keep on with the abx as I personally always go worse then better with them. But I would try and tell someone that I'm feeling terrible and to check in with me via phone if I lived alone.
Can you get aspirin and take that ? Since you can't do ibuprofen. Should help with fever and energy allowing you to go to out of hours if open tomoz

I’m allergic unfortunately

No I’ve been taking them as prescribed 😊 just delayed starting them that’s all

Sorry won't let me edit just seen you can't take ibuprofen ignore me

I wouldnt give up with the paracetamol, it might be that your terperature isnt as high as it might be if you werent on them, be consistent with them

See how you are Monday. I wouldnt consider this an A+E job or a 111 job unless you get worse in the night.

Sorry for the confusion. No I wasn’t stopping and starting them. I’ve been taking them consistently since starting them, I just didn’t start taking them until a few weeks after they were prescribed.

yes to rest, fluids probably not but I’ve never been good with drinking water 🤦‍♀️

They may be able to book you a slot at an urgent treatment centre if deemed needed or reassure you about waiting until Monday.
health anxiety is horrible but it is important to get signposted to the right service.

No to both! Thankyou for the advice 😊

Do you have another adult there with you

Thanks so much for the thoughtful and informative advice! I needed the lecture so no need to apologise don’t worry 😉