How do you decide on going to the doctor with cold like symptoms?

[slayer202]

Last month I had a sore throat and headache for about 5 days on and off, after a day of throwing up. Decided to tough it out. Now i've had a sore throat again for since yesterday with a bit of a headache. I never know whether or not I should spent the time to go to the doctor. Is there any rule of thumb you guys use? How do doctors determine whether its just a cold vs. a virus vs. whatever? The last couple times I've gone to the doctor for similar reasons, no blood was taken, not even a strep test, either got some antibiotics or didn't, so I've been hesitant to go back.

What does ATOT do?

 

[HannibalX]

I'd call my damn physician and ask if they want me to come in for an exam.

Let me know if you need help feeding yourself.

 

[Crono]

If it doesn't start to get better after 3 days of showing symptoms, I'd see a doctor.

 

[spidey07]

I'll treat with over the counter stuff and monitor my temp. If symptoms don't improve after 3-4 days or the fever doesn't get manageable after 2 days I'll go in. Most important thing is to let your body fix itself with plenty of rest/fluids.

 

[MastaTam]

Regarding sore throats, if you have a fever, whitish stuff in the back of your throat, no cough, and tender lymph nodes in your neck, then go see a doctor.

 

[BoomerD]

Since most colds/flus are just virii, which can't be treated, all the doctor can do is treat the symptoms. Unless your cold/flu turns into bronchitis/pneumonia...something that NEEDS medical attention & antibiotics, you can do just as much treating with OTC crap.

I'm home sick today with a cold/flu bug of some kind. As far as I'm concerned, I'm fine to work, but the company has a strict policy against working when you're sick. ZERO tolerance for anyone who comes to work with a bug. I called my boss, explained to her what's going on, and let HER make the call. I'm not a "call in sick" kind of guy...if you're gonna sit around the house felling like shit...you might as well go to woek and feel like shit...and get paid for it. (no sick pay)

 

[rcpratt]

Unless I feel like it's strep or bronchitis, there's no point in going to the doctor.

 

[Crono]

Since most colds/flus are just virii, which can't be treated, all the doctor can do is treat the symptoms. Unless your cold/flu turns into bronchitis/pneumonia...something that NEEDS medical attention & antibiotics, you can do just as much treating with OTC crap.

I'm home sick today with a cold/flu bug of some kind. As far as I'm concerned, I'm fine to work, but the company has a strict policy against working when you're sick. ZERO tolerance for anyone who comes to work with a bug. I called my boss, explained to her what's going on, and let HER make the call. I'm not a "call in sick" kind of guy...if you're gonna sit around the house felling like shit...you might as well go to woek and feel like shit...and get paid for it. (no sick pay)

Zero tolerance policy is smart.

More companies (and schools) should be happy to let employees/students to recover at home, without penalty. Doesn't make sense to have sick people spreading germs and making mistakes as well.

 

[BoomerD]

Zero tolerance policy is smart.

More companies (and schools) should be happy to let employees/students to recover at home, without penalty. Doesn't make sense to have sick people spreading germs and making mistakes as well.

I'm a bookkeeper in a small CPA firm. My desk is in the front...all the clients have to see/deal with me when they walk in the door.
"Hi, good morning. May I help you?"
If they're there to sign their tax returns...they have to deal with me. If they have an appointment, they have to deal with me.
The partners don't want to have a sick person spread it around the office...and to the clients.
I'd feel better about taking the day off if I got paid for it...but, having worked construction all my life where there's no such thing as sick pay...I'm used to it. HOWEVER, working construction...I'd be in the seat today. AFAIC, I'm not too sick to work...just contagious. :biggrin:

 

[Matthiasa]

Prolonged breathing issues or fever are just about it.

 

[her209]

Does it hurt when you pee?

 

[Jeff7]

Prolonged breathing issues or fever are just about it.

Pretty much this.
Or symptoms which seem severely out of the ordinary. Like if I started seeing Tony the Tiger chasing Lucky around the ceiling, that might seem a touch bit odd, and could warrant some sort of medical intervention.
Maybe.


Cold symptoms though usually aren't much to worry about as far as I know; if there's a fever though, maybe hitting 101°F, then I'd likely check with a doctor.

 

[olds]

My decision tree on going to the doctor:
Is there a bone sticking out of my skin?
False = no doctor
True = see doctor

 

[Jeff7]

My decision tree on going to the doctor:
Is there a bone sticking out of my skin?
False = no doctor
True = see doctor

Sweet. That means gunshot wounds, blunt-force trauma, poisoning, and stab wounds won't run the risk of having a doctor as a possible witness.

 

[GasX]

My decision tree on going to the doctor:
Is there a bone sticking out of my skin?
False = no doctor
True = see doctor

Maybe you should add a few branches in your tree for chest pain, spurting arteries and coughing up blood...

 

[TwiceOver]

Unless I think I'm going to die or the bleeding won't stop, there's no reason to see a doctor. So far I'm 50% using that method in my adult life.

 

[slayer202]

guess i'll suck it up. just wish I could find some OTC shit that would make me feel better. I rarely take anything but everything I've tried has sucked

 

[meltdown75]

have some 'tussin and quit ur fussin'.

 

[bignateyk]

I dunno... I haven't really had a cold in a couple years. The last couple years everything I have been getting seems to be 24 hour stuff.

The last time I went to a doctor with cold like symptoms was when I had a bad sore throat and cough for like 3 weeks. Turned out it was allergies.

 

[coloumb]

guess i'll suck it up. just wish I could find some OTC shit that would make me feel better. I rarely take anything but everything I've tried has sucked

Best and worst tasting medicine you'll ever take - Buckley's

When it comes to being sick, there are two kinds of people in this world. Those who want comfort, and those who want to get better. We make medicine for the second kind

http://www.buckleys.com/home.html

It tastes extremely bad, you might not be able to breath for a few seconds - but it WORKS.

 

[Nik]

I'd call my damn physician and ask if they want me to come in for an exam.

Let me know if you need help feeding yourself.

LMFAO

 

[GT1999]

No fever, no doc.

 

[PepePeru]

check my temperature.

I wouldn't go to a doctor for vomiting / sore throat / headache.