Have you ever been really sick but couldn't see the doctor right away?

I'm drinking so many fluids I'm waterlogged! LOL I'm also sucking on zinc lozenges every 2 hours. Normally, I take echinacea but I'm out of it. Hubby is picking some up for me tonight. I've never used goldenseal and don't know what it does. What is it? I have a vaporizer going... got that out for hubby when he got really sick. I don't have Boneset, but I do have Chamomile, mint, honey and lemon juice so I could make a tea of that (and maybe put in a little whiskey for a hot toddy! )

You can check out all of the benefits of goldenseal at http:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/goldenseal They have all of the info and links to more info lol. Good luck and get feeling better.

I don't blame you mentalward! I don't know why some nurses seem to give the patient a very hard time. I really needed to see the doctor that day. It was very serious! But they could not let me come, they were filled up that day. I was given an referral by my physician to come to this skin doctor. It would be nice if they could have sent me to somewhere else. I do plan to look into going to another doctor that can give me an skin culture test so that I can see what exactly keeps me breaking out like I am. This doctor apparently doesn't know what to give me. I am still having the same problems. He prescribed me on Sulfur and I was allergic to this, so I could not take it. This medicine had my skin itching like wild fire! I asked him about doing an skin culture test on me, and he said that I would not need one, because my skin pores were very small. Give me a break! I should be able to find out what has me breaking out like this. It may be something that is in my blood. Who knows.. That is why I plan to consult with another dermatologist very soon about this skin condition.

I think all doctors should be able to refer you to someone else if they can't see you right away, especially if it's something kind of serious. All I've ever heard is, if it's that serious, go to the hospital. I had a great doctor for 25 years but he moved to Florida and I moved to Virginia so I had to get a new one. Apparently, I didn't find the best because I've had other issues with this office before. I'm going to look into finding a new doctor.

I can think of many a holiday I would've just prefered to spend in bed - so now you've got it!

Well, that's true, Elic, I may not be contagious. But, I definitely have a cold or flu with this infection and that is contagious. We've talked with everyone about this and the general consensus is that everyone would rather stay away for now. I'm sure that, if they chose to come, they'd help out a lot in the cooking and everything, but that's their choice. I'm not going to argue since I really do feel rotten. AND, I most definitely got this from my hubby! HE was contagious. I haven't been anywhere for the past week so I know I couldn't have picked it up from anyone else. But, doesn't matter. We pretty much left it up to everyone else. I KNOW he's happy about their choice because he's still feeling pretty worn out (and is still sick since he never did go see his doctor!). We'll just have our Thanksgiving meal next week or even this weekend, depending on how everyone is feeling. I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!!!

Ah, chicken soup! It's funny... I made some last week when my husband got sick. It was so good (even if I do say so myself, lol) that we gobbled it all up in 2 days! Now, there's none left when I need it. I won't ask him to make it for me, though. Heaven only knows what it would taste like! He's no cook. LOL I do have some canned chicken soup so I'll probably have that for lunch today. I feel so bad hearing about you feeling so bad! My husband told me he was as sick as you were once. You feel too bad to even visit the doctor! I was that sick once myself, but it turned out to be pneumonia plus pleurisy! I lost 20 pounds with that, too! The important thing is to drink lots of fluids. I'm doing that... I constantly have some juice or water near me to sip on. Actually, at the moment, I have both juice AND water! I've been very thirsty today, probably from the low fever. I just found a box of Sootherbs (Vitamin C, echinacea and zinc) that I hadn't even opened yet and hasn't expired, thank goodness! Hopefully, that'll help me feel better until tomorrow when I see the doctor. Thanks for all your helpful suggestions and well wishes, ahgong! I really do appreciate it.

You are most welcome my friend. It is good to hear that you are getting better. Both of you! Well, the canned stuff is never as good as the real one. Try this for a change. It is really easy to make and you do not have to work a sweat up just to get good chicken soup. Take a big pot and put in the following: 1 chicken Carrots (quantity depends on how much you can eat. I put heck of a lot of carrots. Usually for a family of 4, I put in about 6 large carrots.) Large Onions (optional... this one is more for flavoring) Corn on the clob. (you can use those frozen packets of kernels. It is the same). Put enough water to cover all the ingredients plus one large bowl of water. Salt to taste. Bring to a boil and then lower the fire and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about an hour, or when you start to smell the fragrance of the soup in the living room, then it is ready. Plenty good for nursing a cold and a fever.

Hi MW even the flu jab isn't preventing this virus I know people who have had the jab but still got this one..it is a nasty strain of flu..get to the doctors or emergency asap hun this isn't a nice one it knocks you for eight...not six...hugs littleowl

Well, this COULD be the flu; I haven't gotten my flu shot yet. I hope not, but I do feel pretty bad. This started as a cold on Saturday, felt worst yesterday and today I know I have an infection as well. I'll take Tinkerick's advice. That makes a lot of sense and I hadn't even thought of going to Urgent Care before! I guess that's what it's there for, right? I'm just going to rest a lot and drink fluids for now. If I'm worse by tonight, I'll go to Urgent Care.

Thanks so much, hilda! I'm having a hard time with them just leaving me hanging for two days after I've told them that I know I have an infection! They've done a couple of other things since I started going there that I haven't liked, so I'm seriously going to start looking for a new doctor. Actually, there's one across the street from my doctor who seems to be good. I'm going to check into that practice before I decide on anything, though. I had a great doctor for 25 years. He moved to Florida and we moved to Virginia, so I had to get a new doctor no matter what. Maybe I should call my old doctor in Florida? LOL

They would probably see you quicker. good luck and I hope you get your antibiotic

Vicks is wonderful for opening up the sinuses! My mother used to rub that on my sister and me when we were little. Right now, my congestion is all in my chest, not in my head or nose. But, I'll try some tonight before I go to bed because I've been waking up with my left nostril totally clogged! All this seems to be on the left side. Once I'm up and moving around a bit, the congestion in my chest starts to break up. The only thing I'm really concerned about is this fever. I have an earache, swollen gland, sore throat and headache, mostly on the left side. Yesterday, the SKIN on the left side of my head hurt! Weirdest thing I've ever felt! But, that's better today. I'm drinking tons of fluids but not taking aspirin. The fever is low (around 100°) so I'd rather it stay there and do it's thing before seeing the doctor. Fevers are our body's way of killing bacteria so why not let it do that if it's not too high? Thanks for the suggestion about Vicks, winter! I'll use that tonight!

Thank you, ea! LOTS of good advice here! Let's see... I am taking zinc, vitamin C and echinacea. I'm drinking mint tea with lemon and honey. I'm not strong enough to stand up for a shower, but I'm taking hot, steamy baths. I made my hubby chicken soup when he got sick but it's all gone now. I'll have to make do with canned chicken soup. (If you tasted my husband's cooking, you'd know why I'll stick with canned. LOL) I do that steam thing when I have a really bad cough or severe congestion. It DOES work, you're very right about that! Luckily, I don't have a bad cough (yet) and the congestion seems to break up a lot once I'm moving around. I've just gotta wait until tomorrow to see about this fever. I think I'll make it, but I've also decided to see if I can find a new doctor who understands when someone needs antibiotics! I've had enough infections in my life to know when I need them. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions and advice! It's much appreciated.

That's very true! The worst part is the pain in my ear, throat and gland. Oh, and the lack of energy, of course! Thanksgiving dinner has been put on hold until everyone is well. No one in my family thinks it's necessary to have a celebration like that on that very day and they'd rather not be here if anyone is sick. I sure can't blame them! LOL I'm hanging in there, drinking lots of fluids, hot tea, getting a lot of rest, all that good stuff. Thank you so much for your concern and well wishes, annjilena. It is very thoughtful of you and much appreciated.

Ah, noticed in your response above that your hubby is picking up some Echinacea....oh..hot toddy? LOL...that was my great-grandmother's favorite cure-all too, great to drink right before going to bed.

Hahaha! Drink enough hot toddies and you won't CARE if you're sick or not! LOL Yeah, Thanksgiving has been put on hold for now. I asked everyone who was coming if they'd rather do it another time and the majority said yes. So, at least I don't have to worry about that! I was taking Cold-Eeze zinc lozenges. They don't taste bad and have very little after taste. But, this morning, I found that I had Sootherbs in the medicine cabinet! They are Vitamin C, echinacea and zinc, all in one! They don't taste bad at all with no aftertaste! Yea!!! I forgot all about garlic! Thanks so much for reminding me! I normally do eat a lot of garlic. Maybe I'll put some in some soup later today. I grow my own garlic and echinacea (coneflower). I didn't get the chance to harvest my echinacea this year but definitely will do so next year! It's great to put in tea! I also grow my own mint and have some that I've dried. I made a mint tea last night and am about to go make another one. It tastes SO good!!! I'm impressed at the amount of money you saved on those vitamins and herbs! So far, I haven't been able to find a health store around here. I'm sure there is one, though... just a matter of time. I live outside of a small town, but it is growing in leaps and bounds! There has to be at least ONE natural health food store or vitamin/herb shop! Until then, I'll just grow what I can and TRY to remember to harvest it! LOL

Oops forgot about the homeopathic remedies. Take a hot steamy shower. Boil or simmer water in a pot until steamy, then hold your head over it with a towel. Vicks can help. OTC Cough medicine with the "Expectorant" in it. Not just a suppressant. You want the expectorant to loosen up the gunk in your lungs. I used to get bronchitis alot, and although I was usually prescribed an antibiotic and a special cough medicine, I usually found that letting it run it's course worked faster than the cough medicine (I would take the antibiotic, if prescribed). The only problem I ran into, was I became reactive to the antibiotic because I was prescribed the same one like 3 times in one year. Was not fun. I got stomach cramps so bad I couldn't even sit up.

Oh, man! Antibiotics can sometimes be more trouble than they're worth, that's for sure! I used to get a lot of bronchial infections but, luckily, I haven't had any for awhile now. Also (knock on wood), I don't have too much of a cough. I get bronchitis at least once a year and haven't had it yet this year (again, knock on wood... LOL). The only thing that works for me when I get that is codeine cough medicine prescribed by my doctor. I just have a slight fever, headache, congested lungs and sinuses, swollen gland and sore throat on the left side, left ear hurts and... this is the weirdest thing... the SKIN on the left side of my head down to my neck hurts! I've never had THAT happen before except when I had the Asian flu decades ago. But, then, ALL the skin on my body hurt. Luckily, I DO have a lot of juice and TONS of water! LOL I've been drinking them like crazy! I'm out of echinacea but my hubby is picking some up for me on his way home from work today. I'll have him pick up some goldenseal, too. By the way, what does goldenseal do? If I'm feeling worse by tonight, I just might take your suggestion and go to Urgent Care. I don't want to wait 2 days for antibiotics when I KNOW I need them now. I've had enough sinus infections to know when I have one! We'll see. Thanks for this great advice! I hadn't even thought of going to Urgent Care! It just might be what I need.

You are very fortunate, lalu. Take care!

My youngest son was like that, too, geek. He was either at the doctor's office or in the hospital emergency room every two weeks, until I got a nebulizer for him to use at home. After he got 5 years of allergy shots, he was much better. You've given me something to really think about, though. Since I just read this and my appointment is tomorrow, I'll probably just wait until then to see my regular doctor. But, I'm going to look into finding a doctor who will be able to see me right away if this ever happens again. Patients should not have to wait for two days when they really need antibiotics right now! I had a doctor for 25 years and all I had to do was call him on the phone and tell him my symptoms. He would call the pharmacy and a prescription would be there, waiting for me. I did not even have to see him every time. But, he moved away, then my husband and I moved to a new State. The doctor I have now is the first one I saw so I really should check out the other doctors in the area. There might be a better one! Thank you for making me think about that!