cold vs, infection vs, flu?

[Papa Deuce]

Can ya sort of self diagnose? Someone once told me you can tell by the color of mucous you are producing.

My ears are clogged, coughing, stuffy nose. I have a whole bottle of amoxicillin that was prescribed as a "just in case" from a recent dental treatment.


EDIT: Thanks all. I will play it by ear. Rest, fluids, rest, fluids.....

I hardly ever get sick. When I do I almost feel like it can't be true!

 

[Christine]

Can ya sort of self diagnose? Someone once told me you can tell by the color of mucous you are producing.

*They* say that this is not really true. Most colds/mucous starts of clear, turns yellow, and then darker yellow toward the end of cold.

 

[mickeyboat]

Can ya sort of self diagnose? Someone once told me you can tell by the color of mucous you are producing.

My ears are clogged, coughing, stuffy nose. I have a whole bottle of amoxicillin that was prescribed as a "just in case" from a recent dental treatment.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1019506

I wouldn't. If it's not bacterial, the amox. won't even help.
Hope you are feeling better soon.

Denae

 

[yeartolate]

In general it is a real bad idea to take antibiotics that are not prescribed for a particular problem. We are in a crisis stage in healthcare with bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics. It is bery important to get the antibiotic "designed" for your illness. If the antibiotic only partially kills the "bad bacteria" the virulent ones will remain and breed more virulent strains.

It does not sound like you have the flu. (you would probably be mentioning the overwhelming achiness fever etc. that goes along with flu. Antibiotics don't help for that. (unless you get a bacterial infection after the fact, but antibiotics will not cure the flu in and of itself. An antiviral if given very early may help)

What you describe does sound like a cold. Colds that hang around can cause a bacterial superinfection - prevent this with fluids fluids fluids and rest. Do you have a fever?

What about allergies? Is the cough productive - bringing thick nasty looking stuff or relatively clear?

You personal doctor is the best judge.

 

[Papa Deuce]

You personal doctor is the best judge.

No doubt, but my doctor is away on business, and I absolutely can't stand the guy I get switched to.

 

[Ava83]

I think you have a cold also.

If you want to relieve your symptoms OTC is the best, but I would avoid a cough suppressent. In fact I would take an expectorant for the cough to make it more productive if your cough is a chest cough (wet) as opposed to a dry cough. I would avoid the antibotics.

Also I know when I call my Dr the nurse figures it all out for me so you may not even have to talk to the Dr

This message is no way endorsed by the medical community.

 

[dizagain]

I feel for you...it is a pain trying to decide if you need medical care or not! I am going through it with DD right now...I'm stingy when it comes to the doctor and usually wait with a cold for awhile. Anyway, she started with a bang - went from fine to fever, cold symptoms, and headache very quickly. This started Monday evening and she stayed home from school yesterday and today. I'm giving in and taking her to the doctor today for a strep test because that's my gut feeling. Sigh...I can hear it now..."It's a virus and it just has to run it's course...blah, blah".

Hope you feel better...if you don't have a fever, I'd probably go with the cold diagnosis too.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I feel for you...it is a pain trying to decide if you need medical care or not! I am going through it with DD right now...I'm stingy when it comes to the doctor and usually wait with a cold for awhile. Anyway, she started with a bang - went from fine to fever, cold symptoms, and headache very quickly. This started Monday evening and she stayed home from school yesterday and today. I'm giving in and taking her to the doctor today for a strep test because that's my gut feeling. Sigh...I can hear it now..."It's a virus and it just has to run it's course...blah, blah".

Hope you feel better...if you don't have a fever, I'd probably go with the cold diagnosis too.

Thanks. I get sick so seldomly. And I hate going to the doctor's office, especially to be told "you have a cold, nothing we can really do for you".