Calling Dr. CEP what should I do?

[pixy0stix]

Background - I've been ill for 3 weeks. Crap in the lungs, fever, deep cough, orange gunk, everything. I went to the doc and they put me on a round of antibiotics. Did nothing except cut the fever out and cleared up my lungs (xray came back clear). Went back after a week and was put on prednisone, an abuterol inhaler, and stronger antiobiotics. Started feeling okish, but not a lot better. Sunday I start feeling worse again. Today I have another low grade fever and the cough is back with a vengeance.

So, do I go back in to the doc? Ride it out? I'm so defeated I don't know what to do anymore since it seems like what they're doing isn't working. I just want to feel better.

[Cicero]

I'd go back to the doctor.

[ESF]

Go to an ebola treatment center. I hear there are no wait times.


In all seriousness, is the cough worse at night and when you lay down? If so, it may be an especially hard to treat sinus infection. This happened to me years ago, and it took a few rounds of different antibiotics and a few months of misery to get it to go away. It sucked. I hope you feel better soon.

[FloFTW]

Man, that sucks. Is it maybe bad allergies, and then the fever is unrelated?

I would probably go back to the doctor since it's been so long.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 21, 2015 12:07:45 GMT -5 ESF said:

In all seriousness, is the cough worse at night and when you lay down?

Yes. Plus I get a slow gurgle almost like air leaking when I'm laying down on my left side.

[penguingrrl]

Ugh, that sounds miserable. I would go back to the doctor. Hope you feel better soon!

[IIOY]

Definitely go back to a doctor. You should be on the road to recovery by now.

ETA: FWIW I was once sick for over a month. It wasn't until the third attempt at ABX that we found one that worked.

[heyjude]

There is a really really nasty cold going around that takes weeks to kick. My friends had it for 6 weeks. I only had it for 2. Drink tea with lemon and honey and ginger root. Use a humidifier. Get lots of rest. Drink fluids. Take a sick day if you can to do absolutely nothing. I hope you feel better soon!!

[pixy0stix]

The first week I was sick I stayed in bed for 4 days and didn't get up except to pee.

[debatethis]

I'd go back to the doc and request another chest x-ray. Have you done any gardening in the last month?

[blink]

I would definitely go back to the doctor, and I hate going to the doctor. 3 weeks is too long to be miserable, especially if it feels like it's coming back.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 21, 2015 12:15:07 GMT -5 debatethis said:

Have you done any gardening in the last month?

No. I've been avoiding outside since it tries to kill me this time of year.

[heyjude]

If this is the same cold, and the way you describe sounds the same, it's seriosuly the worst cold ever. I hope you feel better soon, and you will.

[pixy0stix]

Yeah, I feel like others have had the same thing and it finally starts to clear up on it's own.

[nursewife]

Get your butt back to the doctor!! Obviously this is more than just a cold, so it should be checked out. It's not like your going in complaining of a slight cough and runny nose.

[2curlydogs]

I'll second heyjude. I didn't have this but S did. I think we went thru 3 rounds of antibiotics over 6 weeks. It would go away with treatment and then come back. It was awful.

If the fever and gurgle is back, though, I'd probably go in.

[heyjude]

Apr 21, 2015 12:18:31 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Yeah, I feel like others have had the same thing and it finally starts to clear up on it's own.

Mine did. My friend who had it for 6 weeks went in but only because it turned into an ear infection. My other friend rode it out for 4 weeks.

I'm not saying don't go in. I almost did. But I gave myself a deadline to see improvement. Defintely go in if your fever spikes.

[heyjude]

And I defintely had the "feeling better" then the "oh shit, not anymore" aspect.

[meshaliuknits]

Voodoo.


Feel better soon.

[gpw]

Go back to the doctor! 

[ESF]

Apr 21, 2015 12:08:52 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 21, 2015 12:07:45 GMT -5 ESF said:

In all seriousness, is the cough worse at night and when you lay down?

Yes. Plus I get a slow gurgle almost like air leaking when I'm laying down on my left side.

This sounds like a sinus infection.  If it's worse when you are laying, that just means that it's dripping into your throat at a faster rate.  From what I recall, there's bacterial and viral sinus infections, and one of them (viral, probably) is much, much harder to cure than the other.  

Definitely go back to the doctor. You may need some sort of antiviral.  In the meantime, drink tons of water. 

[Deleted]

Use All The Oils!!!1!11!!!

Even though it's all a bit woo, I swear by the neti pot, running a humidifier, Vicks bubbles in a warm bath, and oodles of liquids; tea/honey, pineapple juice, plain water. It does a lot for post-nasal drip and coughing at night. Turmeric is also supposedly good for inflammation (asthma, sinus pressure). I add it to my scrambled eggs in the morning at this time of year. But these are for managing symptoms, not a cure. I'd go back to the dr just in case it is bacterial and another round of abx are needed.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 21, 2015 12:57:11 GMT -5 @historychick79 said:

Even though it's all a bit woo, I swear by the neti pot, running a humidifier, Vicks bubbles in a warm bath, and oodles of liquids; tea/honey, pineapple juice, plain water.

I've been doing all this (minus the pineapple juice).

[orangeblossom]

Have they tried to do any type of culture, so they're not just blindly choosing an ABX?

I would go back to the doctor.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Deleted]

Apr 21, 2015 12:58:52 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Apr 21, 2015 12:57:11 GMT -5 @historychick79 said:

Even though it's all a bit woo, I swear by the neti pot, running a humidifier, Vicks bubbles in a warm bath, and oodles of liquids; tea/honey, pineapple juice, plain water.

I've been doing all this (minus the pineapple juice).

Well, merde. Another vote for voodoo then. Truly sorry this is hanging on so long, it definitely sucks. 

[pixy0stix]

Apr 21, 2015 12:59:49 GMT -5 orangeblossom said:

Have they tried to do any type of culture, so they're not just blindly choosing an ABX?

No.

[pitta12]

I agree you should go back in. Maybe another antibiotic, or if they don't think that's needed you might try a steroid inhaler. I had a chest cold around the holidays that went on for 800 years and the steroid inhaler finally helped me kick it.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Walking pneumonia possibly?? Go back and have them do a chest x-ray.

[cohmom]

Go back but specifically to a pulmonologist or ent. Have a timeline with interventions in hand.

[pixy0stix]

Apr 21, 2015 13:05:19 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

Walking pneumonia possibly?? Go back and have them do a chest x-ray.

Chest xray Friday before last was clear.