For some reason, some people in this world think they can't survive the common cold. They think antibiotics are a necessity. After working in the medical field for three years, I have come to know many cliche statements from my patients, including the following:
1) I know my body, and I need an antibiotic.
2) It moved down to my chest.
3) This IS a fever for me because I usually run 96 degrees.
I am extra sensitive to this right now because I, myself, am currently afflicted with the adenovirus. For all those who care in the world I want to share the common progression of symptoms. First - achey and sore throat. This lasts approximately 2-3 days. Congestion then sets in, many times with sinus pressure. This is a miserable time for any, but that doesn't mean it's bacterial...even if the drainage is green-brown-any color under the rainbow my patients try to proclaim. The congestion lasts about 4-6 days. The cough will make its approach during the congestion. This is the time when everyone tells me "it moved to my chest." Well, yes it did. That's the last place the symptoms show up and the cough may last two weeks. So unless they are coughing up copious phlegm through the day, congestion lasts and lasts, or a fever about 100 F is noted - I'm not usually recommending antibiotics.
I try to share this with my patients and remind them that the body is equipped to fight many bacterial infections. They don't seem to care. They say "So I wasted my time coming in today." No that's not exactly what I was trying to convey.
Sorry for this rant - but it's just that time of the year and I'm getting a lot of this.
10 comments:
So, do I get my magic no-sick pills or what?
Thanks for the rant! It is good to hear a medical person's opinion. This sounds like exactly what I have and am slowly recovering from. Funny. I was just wondering this morning if I was supposed to be taking something for it or just wait it out like I'm doing. I seem to be getting better, so that is good...just hating the taste of my post nasal drip. I'd love to hear your professional opinion on kids and antibiotics with ear infections. You can tell me in person if you want b/c I may be the only one interested in this!
Thanks for sharing that....I always think of you and wait a least a couple of weeks before heading to the doctor.
I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I hope you feel better by Christmas!
You should tell those people that they don't need antibiotics, they just need to be in a better mood:
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/
20061216/fob2.asp
Looks like blogger is cutting off the end of that URL, so copy paste the whole thing
Matt, that article backs up my brother-in-laws theory (and Neil Patrick Harris on "How I Met Your Mother". When he gets sick, he just says "I'm not sick," and then he's not. Or in NPH's case, "I tell myself I'm not sick, and then I'm awesome."
Hope you are feeling better. Get lots and lots of rest!
she'll need the rest. we have a big big weekend coming up, and she's going to need all of her energy to open presents and keep up with me.
I would much rather take Tyenol cold for 3 weeks than to waste my time to go to the doctor's office. Or, if you are with Ben he can just yell at you to stop being sick and get over it that way :)
Yup, that's my David. I'm NOT sick. And he sucks down tons of Vit C! He's on my case about it too. But I take plenty every day! The nurses I work with expecially when I have laryngitis for weeks at a time always bug me to get to the DR. I know it's just me and will eventually go away. chuck's got the stuffy nose now, and he will take some benedryl.
Hope you're feeling better real soon! Grandma B is coming over for dinner/feast on Christmas Eve -that is if she's feeling OK. We'll open up presents upstairs so she won't have to manuever the stairs.
You could give them a prescription for homemade chicken noodle soup--a recipe card. THAT would make then less cranky at you! I try to suggest your theory to parents and they FLIP OUT at me. "You just don't understand what it's like when it's your OWN child."
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