How long for a throat infection/cough?
 

Had this one now for over two weeks, loads of mucus in my throat/larynx, coughing when I lie down, wake up choking, coughing etc, clearing my throat every two minutes etc.:(

Doc gave me some antibiotics a week ago, but told me not to take them unless it turned feverish etc, as it was probably viral.:Suspiciou

Should I take them?:wonder:

If you have had it for two weeks just take them.

I hate the gp's we have these days, you would be better off diagnosing yourself via the web and then just asking them if you can pop a few pills.

Several times I have been given medication scripts, only to be told not to 'cash it in' unless I really need it! And mot of the time they are looking through some sort of medical dictionary in order to see what drugs to dish out!

Bl00dy pointless if you ask me, if they know you are sick, then they should be able to at least look as if they know what they are doing in an attempt to make you better.

Just take the meds, they won't do any harm. Unless you are sensitive and are one of these people that gets th side affects from them.

I wouldn't take them. Even the doctor has said they'll do no good as it's viral. Sometimes these things just take a while to clear up.

Dave

As above, these things can take a while to go. Assuming it's viral (sounds like it) then the antibiotics will be of no use whatsoever.

Had one like that a while back, doctor recommended steam inhalation three times a day and to cough up as much phlegm as possible after each session :D Did the trick in the end.

You big Jessie Alcazar!

I'm stuck at home after having 3 screws out of my shin, they were each 2" long! My surgeon said he would need to make a little cut to get them out. The 3" gash in my shin is being held together with 9 staples ffs :mad:

On the plus side I'm a damn sight more mobile than I was last Thursday just after the operation. :)

LOL:D Excuse me for having a cough, Mr. Skyline:D

AND I've never mentioned the huge tree that fell on my shoulder when I was cutting it down at Chateau Alcazar last week.........bloody great bruise I've got, lucky to be alive, and all that:D:hjtwofing

Dangerous things trees. Serves you right for standing under it whilst cutting it down. (Maybe a self-defence mechanism?) ;):D

Antibiotics - i have only ever been told to take them for 7 days.

As for this throat/chest thing, it took 3+ weeks to clear, still a little 'coughy' some 5 weeks later, it just lingers about...

I had a nasty throat infection a few years back, felt really bad. A course of antibiotics, knocked it on the head. You'll know if its viral, because the antibiotics wont do anything for you after 2-3 days, but if you rapidly improve its bacterial.

i have been excactly the same, got antibiotics never cleared went back seen another doc and he told me its a viral going around cough&sore throat and antibiotics wont work !! but this viral can take up to 3 to 4 weeks to clear, he listened to my chest and said it was clear. am 3 weeks in to it now and its only now starting to ease.

3 half weeks for my chest infection now !!!
made worse with my asthma , friggin sick as.

Wasting your time with antibiotics from what you describe.

Sometimes these viruses can take longer to go away. I would suggest instead trying to get as much rest as possible, avoid drinking too much alcohol, plenty of fresh fruit and veg, gargle with salt water and generally look after yourself to strenghen your immune system. This should help to boost your immune response and it may just be enough tip the balance and kick virus ass and accelerate your recovery.

:thumb:

yep I had this for 2 months

Just get some down your neck for a few days, if they don't do anything by Sunday, then don't bother taking anymore.