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Original poster

Chest infection viral or not?

86 replies

emilylouisex1 · 23/11/2023 18:37

How do you tell the difference between a virus and bacterial infection in your chest? I've had a cough for two weeks and didn't think anything of it until this morning when I started getting pain and wheezing, even my therapist heard it and advised I contact my doctor asap.
So I did...saw my doctor and they said my temp, bp, heart rate are normal and she couldn't hear any wheezing in my chest. She gave anti biotics as a pre caution if still suffering by the weekend and I hate taking them but worried if I don't I will get worse. When I breath out it's a long wheeze, it really baffles me how she didn't hear it when she listened to it. Can a virus cause wheezing? She also said the pain is probably costochondritis from all the coughing...

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 03/12/2023 20:32

ItsJollyTime · 03/12/2023 19:59

@emilylouisex1 can you take piriton with pneumonia?
I only ask as I've been suffering for 8 weeks with allergies after I was very unwell with pneumonia. I was told I couldn't take anything for it and have been suffering since.
I could honestly cry most days.

I do hope you get better soon!

Goodness. I just researched it, google says no, says no for asthma aswell - I have asthma, she knew that aswell 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 03/12/2023 20:40

@ItsJollyTime I'm just going to visit pharmacy tomorrow and ask as she did tell me it was ok knowing I had asthma and an infection, will see what pharmacy say

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Pingu18764 · 03/12/2023 22:33

Just because Google says something does not mean it’s true. This is especially true with meds and what antibiotics are used to treat what. Which is why people who can prescribe drugs do a lot of learning on them.

crackfoxy · 03/12/2023 22:54

Pingu18764 · 03/12/2023 22:33

Just because Google says something does not mean it’s true. This is especially true with meds and what antibiotics are used to treat what. Which is why people who can prescribe drugs do a lot of learning on them.

This! OP just take the meds!

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 03/12/2023 22:57

@crackfoxy I will, I've already started them. Going to pick up piriton tomorrow

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GrammarTeacher · 04/12/2023 04:38

There's lots of drugs that are contraindicated for asthma. Doesn't mean that it's not better to use them than not in some circumstances. But that's why prescriptions are checked and signed off by several people at different stages. I had an allergic reaction to the propellant in an inhaler once so the computer says no on prescribing me my current preventative. It's a sensible but irritating measure.
Take the medication. You don't mess around with pneumonia. Also ask if you can have your pneumonia vaccine next flu season. As an asthmatic you're entitled to one. Lung function matters!

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 04/12/2023 05:02

I had something similar last month, took ages to go away. I had steroids which didn’t work and then antibiotics. I’ve had clarithomycin before but that gave me severe diarrhoea and I ended up in A&E with it. I hope the itching stops for you, this all sounds horrendous for you.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 04/12/2023 07:07

So I'm on clarithromycin twice a day and online says every 12 hours!! Doctor told me last night it needs to be 6 hours apart so to take at 11 (would have been 7 hours) I feel really really sick so Googled and online says do not take any less than 8 hours and 12 hours is a must!!! I'm panicking now

OP posts:
ItsJollyTime · 04/12/2023 16:04

How are you op? Clarythromycin make me feel very nauseous too.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 04/12/2023 16:09

ItsJollyTime · 04/12/2023 16:04

How are you op? Clarythromycin make me feel very nauseous too.

I'm ok! I am coughing a lot of crap up today (sorry tmi) wheeze sounds so much worse but I'm hoping the anti biotics will kick in soon as it has been 24 hours now since I took the first dose

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AutumnFroglets · 04/12/2023 22:43

Hang in there. DD didn't start to feel better until the course was finished (7 days). But if you start to go downhill call the GP again. DD was on two different antibiotics (and anti nausea).

Flowers
Tilllly · 04/12/2023 23:23

emilylouisex1 · 04/12/2023 07:07

So I'm on clarithromycin twice a day and online says every 12 hours!! Doctor told me last night it needs to be 6 hours apart so to take at 11 (would have been 7 hours) I feel really really sick so Googled and online says do not take any less than 8 hours and 12 hours is a must!!! I'm panicking now

Stop bloody googling!!!

Listen to doctor / pharmacist and leave it at that

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 12:41

AutumnFroglets · 04/12/2023 22:43

Hang in there. DD didn't start to feel better until the course was finished (7 days). But if you start to go downhill call the GP again. DD was on two different antibiotics (and anti nausea).

Flowers

I feel better energy wise today, I'm able to move about but the wheezing is still very bad. I hope it goes soon.

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Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 17:36

So I went to a appointment for a condition I have unrelated to this - I was so breathless that they said there and then they need to check my vitals and said my heart rate was 150, my temp was 37.7 and my oxygen sats were 98-99 - they wanted to call an ambulance and did but said it was a 4 hour wait, I said the only thing that I'm worried about is my breathlessness and they said well your oxygen levels are good, we are more concerned about your heart rate and temperature when you have been on anti biotics for a few days. So time went on and because I know I have anxiety I just said I am going to go home, they said are you sure and I said yes I think it's because I have an infection - the only thing I'm worried about is my breathing, whole time at my appointment for about an hour my oxygen was 98-100 and went down to 89 once and straight back up so think my finger may have slipped, however I've come back home now - used my oximeter and my levels are not as good as they were at my appointment, it's gone to 89 multiple times and back up to 94 and staying around 94 - I'm supposed to be travelling tomorrow and the only thing I am truly worried about is I'm so so so incredibly short of breath, it's peaking my anxiety so so badly as I still have that horrific wheeze and I've been on anti biotics like they said for 3 days now so it's strange?!

OP posts:
Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 17:38

I know I suffer with absolutely horrendous anxiety but the wheeze is so prominent still and I'm so confused why as I the anti biotics should have worked by now?!

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Tilllly · 05/12/2023 19:29

emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 17:38

I know I suffer with absolutely horrendous anxiety but the wheeze is so prominent still and I'm so confused why as I the anti biotics should have worked by now?!

No they shouldn't
As someone said earlier, it can be right at the end of the course

If they shouldve worked by now, you'd only need a 3 day course

Tilllly · 05/12/2023 19:31

98% sats is the high end of normal

Temp is up cos you have an infection - I'd be more worried if it wasn't

Heart rate prob up for your anxiety

You need to try to calm down, let the meds and your immune system do their job. Stop working against them.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 19:32

@Tilllly I had a separate appointment today for another long term condition l have and they heard my wheeze when speaking, they did say day 3 would be a turning point and did want to get an ambulance as worried I may need IV anti biotics. I honestly feel like I'm getting worse rather than better

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Turmerictolly · 05/12/2023 19:34

I would go to A n E if I were you.

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 19:38

Turmerictolly · 05/12/2023 19:34

I would go to A n E if I were you.

I'm going to go, I'm not sure why I have a temp all of a sudden as I didn't a few days ago, vitals were actually normal, not anymore they aren't 🥲

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Tilllly · 05/12/2023 20:13

Be prepared for a long wait

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 20:55

@Tilllly just got back. Didn't stay. The nurse gave me an attitude of 'what the hell are you doing here?' She said my oxygen is good and my temp is not bad at 37.2 she said the only thing is the heart rate is 90-120, I think it's that high because I'm anxious and I'm also evidently not well

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Tilllly · 05/12/2023 21:05

Well exactly

I don't mean to be unkind, I don't but you are making a mountain out of a molehill

Just take the antibiotics and stop checking your sats etc. You'll be fine in a few days

I'm not surprised the nurse was short with you. I was in the ED on Sat night with sats way lower than yours and a lower temp of 38°. I was laid on the floor of the ED retching before being tested for neutropenic sepsis. And I still wondered if I should be there.

It's for accidents and emergencies. You have an infection for which you have the appropriate treatment. Give it time and stop making it worse for yourself

Tilllly · 05/12/2023 21:06

Turmerictolly · 05/12/2023 19:34

I would go to A n E if I were you.

That was unhelpful

Original poster
emilylouisex1 · 05/12/2023 21:07

Tilllly · 05/12/2023 21:05

Well exactly

I don't mean to be unkind, I don't but you are making a mountain out of a molehill

Just take the antibiotics and stop checking your sats etc. You'll be fine in a few days

I'm not surprised the nurse was short with you. I was in the ED on Sat night with sats way lower than yours and a lower temp of 38°. I was laid on the floor of the ED retching before being tested for neutropenic sepsis. And I still wondered if I should be there.

It's for accidents and emergencies. You have an infection for which you have the appropriate treatment. Give it time and stop making it worse for yourself

That's my worst fear sepsis😭 that's really what I'm panicking about but I think I need to calm down

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