need my fellow nurses' advice--am I overreacting?

Nurses General Nursing

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I started getting sick two days ago. It started out with a sore throat. runny nose... I thought it was a cold.

By midday yesterday, I was hacking coughing nonstop, sinus headache off the scale, and chest hurt all the way through to my back. I just figured it would pass. My other half, however, went into his superprotective mode, insisting that I see a doctor, etc. (Well, I admit I do the same thing when he gets sick,)

No better today -- called in sick. I've gotten an appointment for this afternoon. My doc is on vacation, but another one had room.

Thing is (maybe just a nurse thing?) I feel like I shouldn't be wasting the doctor's time. I mean, I don't think I'm going to die from this, although I am beginning to think it might be pneumonia instead of just a bad cold or flu-bug. I also have asthma, so that could make it seem worse than it is.

Am I overreacting? Should I just wait it out? Opinions. please.

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See the doctor.

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Specializes in Interventional Pain Mgmt NP; Prior ICU and L/D RN.

let's see, is the typical I'm a nurse I'll be okay syndrome??? Go take care of yourself!!! See the doctor, even if it turns out to be nothing; at least you will know!

Why is it nurses and mothers never take time out to care for themself; is it guilt b/c we are supposed to care for others?

GO GET CHECKED OUT!!! There are some nasty bugs out there!

Hope you feel better soon!:):)

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sounds like flu..did you get a shot?

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Yep flu- Sometimes it strikes even after the shot.

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Specializes in med/surg, cardiac/telemetry, hospice.

Definitely sounds like flu to me. Prime symptoms: headache, hacking cough, chest discomfort, temp, malaise.

I had it a month ago, and boy, was it awful. It took a couple of weeks for the chest thing to go away.

Oh, yeah. I ended up with a sinus infection afterwards...also common. Bleah. :p

Check with your doc...and feel better soon!!

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...or bronchitis, or pneumonia...

We can't diagnose you here. I'm a great believer in supportive care for viral URI's, but your symptoms are severe enough that if you called me when I was doing telephone triage, I would definitely advise you to see a doc.

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Specializes in Hospice, Critical Care.

See the doc. Just had a patient with same symptoms for 10 days. Ended up intubating him with a really really bad pneumonia, only 42 years old and otherwise pretty healthy. See doc now before it gets too bad. It may *never* get that bad but better to be safe!

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Zee, I am printing out your post and showing it to my husband. Two weeks ago he had flu like illness from which he never really recovered. Resists my attempts to send him to doctor.

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May be the flu...but could be something more serious...bronchitis or pneumonia. Get it checked out! Better to be safe. There is alot of stuff going around this time of year.

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Originally posted by oramar

Zee, I am printing out your post and showing it to my husband. Two weeks ago he had flu like illness from which he never really recovered. Resists my attempts to send him to doctor.

Hah! *Message to Zee's hubby*

Same thing happened to my hubs back in October....he had pneumonia. Please see the doc.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I echo the above----and who says you are wasting a doctor's time? since when is His/Her time MORE important than yours? (e.g. in lost sick days, productivity, etc). Sheesh I HATE when people worry about "their" time....as if it's not OUR time, too! SEE THE DOCTOR!

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