Posted by joslynn on February 22, 2006, at 16:07:27
For the past five days or so, I have had a stuffy/runny nose, a little achey, and post-nasal drip that makes me cough loud and a lot.
How do I know if this is a virus, which cannot be fixed with antibiotics, versus an infection, which can?
I have had this type of thing before, and when I go to the dr, it's usually a waste of time because I don't have a fever and it is not in my chest. So they just send me out and say to gargle with salt water and drink fluids...which is fine, but I don't want to waste my time and be exposed to dr's office germs just to hear that.
So I am holding off on going to the doctor. They never give antibiotics unless it has gone on a very long time or there is a fever.
(Gross stuff ahead)
The mucus is not green, it's the normal color, and I don't feel feverish. However, I have lost my thermometer so I am not sure.
I am taking some leftover prescription pseudovent (sp? a decongestant) from last time I had a bad cold (which was only four months ago, what is going on?).
Should I go to dr or not? Thanks.
poster:joslynn
thread:612127
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20060202/msgs/612127.html