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Original poster

When to see a doctor with flu symptoms

37 replies

NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 21:58

Symptoms started just over a week ago with a bad cough which developed into a rattly chest with coughing up lots of phlegm. Then last Saturday I started feeling more flu-y and I've had a fever and chills plus body aches on and off. This morning was awful with full on cold sweats, seems to get better with ibuprofen but still going hot and cold. I'm miserable now, never had something like this go on for so long with no improvement. No COVID tests in the house so maybe need to get hold of some.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 08/12/2023 22:00

When I’d been taking painkillers for 7 days I decided it was time to see someone. I wasn’t improving.

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 22:04

DustyLee123 · 08/12/2023 22:00

When I’d been taking painkillers for 7 days I decided it was time to see someone. I wasn’t improving.

Yeah I'm thinking give it until Monday then ring the GP, did they do anything for you, I just think they'll tell me "it's viral"

OP posts:
ItsJollyTime · 08/12/2023 22:05

This sounds like what I had a little while ago. Turned out I had pneumonia and was admitted to hospital for iv antibiotics.

Hopefully yours is different and you will recover quicker.

Honestly, I wouldn't leave it too long before getting checked.

Applerumleandcustard · 08/12/2023 22:06

Yep , I got told to rest and keep the fluids up , it’s a virus
If you’re a man , you’ll get antibiotics ( in my experience, anyway )

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 22:14

ItsJollyTime · 08/12/2023 22:05

This sounds like what I had a little while ago. Turned out I had pneumonia and was admitted to hospital for iv antibiotics.

Hopefully yours is different and you will recover quicker.

Honestly, I wouldn't leave it too long before getting checked.

I've just had a look at the symptoms for pneumonia and I don't have any that couldn't also be explained with flu but I'll keep them in mind, thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 22:15

Applerumleandcustard · 08/12/2023 22:06

Yep , I got told to rest and keep the fluids up , it’s a virus
If you’re a man , you’ll get antibiotics ( in my experience, anyway )

I've heard so many people have had similar, all been told virus, maybe I should send DH to the dr in my place though!

OP posts:
KombuchaKalling · 08/12/2023 22:15

Probably never. It just takes time to get better: rest, fluids and paracetamol. Not sure what a doctor could or would do

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 22:17

KombuchaKalling · 08/12/2023 22:15

Probably never. It just takes time to get better: rest, fluids and paracetamol. Not sure what a doctor could or would do

That's what I've been doing, I've just never had symptoms go on so full on for so long, I've been dozing all day and about to head to bed again now to try and get some more sleep. Hopefully tomorrow will be better

OP posts:
HippeePrincess · 08/12/2023 22:29

if I couldn’t breathe or if I coughed for maybe 2 months without getting better.

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 07:14

NoNeedforALlama · 08/12/2023 22:04

Yeah I'm thinking give it until Monday then ring the GP, did they do anything for you, I just think they'll tell me "it's viral"

Show quote history

First visit they said viral, then I had to go again with the same thing on Monday and it had miraculously turned into an infection. So I got antibiotics.

CatOnTheCludgy · 09/12/2023 07:28

I has similar and it was pneumonia, got antibiotics. Definitely go to the doctor's on Monday. They can listen to your chest and apparently pneumonia sounds crackly.

ItsJollyTime · 09/12/2023 08:01

KombuchaKalling · 08/12/2023 22:15

Probably never. It just takes time to get better: rest, fluids and paracetamol. Not sure what a doctor could or would do

The dr will be able to listen to your chest, do obs, check for infection with a blood test or organize a chest X-ray if they think it's needed.

If it's an infection they can then prescribe antibiotics.

The first dr diagnosed me with flu over the phone. I waited a few more days and then by that point I needed to be admitted to hospital.

Don't be fobbed off with a phone call op, you need a face to face appointment.

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 09:17

So I barely slept last night for coughing and have had fever and chills again, rang 111 thinking they'd just offer some advice but they've booked me an appt at OOH for this afternoon so will see what they say

OP posts:
Sausagenbacon · 09/12/2023 09:20

My dh and I have same thing.
Chesty cough and feeling absolutely worn out. Can't concentrate on anything. It's our 4th day.
Last night we called 111 and they diagnosed, over the phone, a chest infection and our son is picking up antibiotics for us this morning.
Hope you feel better soon op. It's grim

Movinghouseatlast · 09/12/2023 09:24

I had Covid recently and had full on symptoms for 3 weeks and felt ill.for a further two.

I would only go to the doctor if I suspected I had pneumonia.

ItsJollyTime · 09/12/2023 10:13

NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 09:17

So I barely slept last night for coughing and have had fever and chills again, rang 111 thinking they'd just offer some advice but they've booked me an appt at OOH for this afternoon so will see what they say

So glad your being seen op.

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 10:17

So sorry to hear others have been feeling the same, tbh if I hadn't rung 111 I would have to have seen or spoken to a doctor by Tuesday latest as I've already self-certified for a week and there's no way I can go back to work like this

OP posts:
SM4713 · 09/12/2023 10:30

I caught covid 6 weeks ago for the 1st time. My symptoms were the same as yours. I'm still coughing up phlemgh, although its thinner and improving- just a lot slower to clear than I expected. I never went to the GP. I took paracetamol for the fevers, used steam and a nasal spray to help clear the congestion and lemon/honey for the cough.

If I couldn't breath properly, if the phlemgh was getting worse etc then I would have made an appointment.

Why didn't you order covid tests online a week ago when you first became sick? I found amazon the cheapest, but most supermarkets and pharmacies sell them instore and online too.

azafata2 · 09/12/2023 10:35

Hi

Same symptoms and I tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. Deliveroo deliver pharmacy stuff. That is how I go the tests from Boots. Try it.

Hope we both feel better soon!

Pifful · 09/12/2023 10:40

It might be flu, many people underestimate flu thinking it's the same as a cold. Or could be covid.
Either way I wouldn't see a doctor unless I was severely short of breath.

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 10:57

NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 09:17

So I barely slept last night for coughing and have had fever and chills again, rang 111 thinking they'd just offer some advice but they've booked me an appt at OOH for this afternoon so will see what they say

I was the same, no sleep due to coughing. I can highly recommend Night Nurse.

Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 11:11

SM4713 · 09/12/2023 10:30

I caught covid 6 weeks ago for the 1st time. My symptoms were the same as yours. I'm still coughing up phlemgh, although its thinner and improving- just a lot slower to clear than I expected. I never went to the GP. I took paracetamol for the fevers, used steam and a nasal spray to help clear the congestion and lemon/honey for the cough.

If I couldn't breath properly, if the phlemgh was getting worse etc then I would have made an appointment.

Why didn't you order covid tests online a week ago when you first became sick? I found amazon the cheapest, but most supermarkets and pharmacies sell them instore and online too.

I didn't bother because I thought it doesn't really make a difference to how I should be treating myself and I'm not going out anyway so no need to know in terms of avoiding contact with people

OP posts:
Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 11:12

Pifful · 09/12/2023 10:40

It might be flu, many people underestimate flu thinking it's the same as a cold. Or could be covid.
Either way I wouldn't see a doctor unless I was severely short of breath.

I've had flu before but the longest the fever and aches have lasted is around 4 days, usually I have the flu jab but I just haven't got round to it yet this season 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
NoNeedforALlama · 09/12/2023 11:13

DustyLee123 · 09/12/2023 10:57

I was the same, no sleep due to coughing. I can highly recommend Night Nurse.

Show quote history

Ahh thanks, I'll get DH to pick some of that up, would be nice to get some undisturbed sleep

OP posts:
BeadedBubbles · 09/12/2023 11:16

I didn't bother because I thought it doesn't really make a difference to how I should be treating myself and I'm not going out anyway so no need to know in terms of avoiding contact with people

But if you do a test and you have got Covid then that answers your question about whether you need to see a dr - ie you don't. Unless you're coughing up green stuff, which would indicate an infection?