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Shall I take these antibiotics

7 replies

Zezetop · 31/12/2024 13:49

I first got what I thought was a virus around 20th November, bit achey, runny nose, sneezing and nasty cough with lots of phlegm. Took about 14 days to go.

Has gone away and come back twice now. It starts with full nose congestion and then a heavy cough. This is the worst its been, I am coughing so violently, phlegm is yellowish, was a tiny bit green a few days ago. It is relentless and doesn't seem to be getting any better.

It's been 5 weeks overall on and off, so I sent an email to the gp yesterday who said it's a common condition at the moment and keep treating with conservative methods.

I don't feel short of breath per se but it is hard to breathe through the congestion during the night. I am satting at between 93-96 sitting up but don't feel breathless and to be honest don't even always feel that ill, but do during the night and this cough just isn't shifting.

I have a full course of doxycyline that is in date and I was prescribed previously for travel and didn't end up going.

I know the gp is most likely correct but it did feel like a rather generic response and after 5 weeks I don't think it's unreasonable to want to try antibiotics in case it has moved to bronchitis or a secondary bacterial infection.

I have cough syrup but keep reading it doesn't work, it's severely impacting my sleep and not sure what to do.

OP posts:
Zezetop · 31/12/2024 13:56

My Sat's do jump up a bit when more active to 97/98 just to mention

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 31/12/2024 13:59

How do you know this infection is bacterial and sensitive to doxycycline?

Zezetop · 31/12/2024 14:02

I don't know of course, but I don't know it isn't either and don't want it to get worse, and this antibiotic is used to treat bronchitis and chest infections so I'm just wondering really

OP posts:
Floralsofa · 31/12/2024 14:05

Do you really believe that Mumsnet are better placed to advise than your GP, who has assessed and has your full medical history?

thing47 · 31/12/2024 14:38

I can't speak for anyone else on MN, but I definitely know.more.about my body and my personal health than any GP at the practice I go to!

JiminaSlump · 31/12/2024 15:00

To be fair, though, amoxicillin is used for chest infections and it did sweet FA for my child's walking pneumonia (needed clarithromycin).

It seems to be a very bad winter for chesty colds and infections, but you also don't sound like you're struggling that much with it - I'd be giving it a couple more days (resting; drinking plenty; appropriate cough syrup; humidifier in room, etc.) before trying an unprescribed and possibly ineffective antibiotic.

Ohnonotmeagain · 31/12/2024 15:03

If it’s been 5 weeks it isn’t bacterial.

bacteria are fast, viruses are slow.

if you think it warrants antibiotics go back to the GP and get the correct ones for this purposes.

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