What is it that is going on with this?

Question

I went to the doctor about 8 days ago with a very tickle cough, she listen to my chest and all was clear, and i also told her i had ringing in my ear and she said that was clear and there was no build up and it would pass,so i was told i had a viral infection that's why i was coughing and it would clear in a few days, but she subscribed me with anti-biotics to take if it didn't, and it did not clear so i took them. I have now completed the course of antibiotics and i am still coughing but bringing up phlegm which i was not before. I do have very slight asthma but it never bothers me from day to day. She told me to take inhaler which i been doing but nothing seems to be working. The cough has calmed down but when i cough now it comes from my chest where as before it was very tickle and dry. My ear also this morning feels blocked (when i talk it feels like little bubbles in it, this is NOT the ear with the ringing in)... i just want to know what it is, I'm sick of paying money for the doctors i paid 80 euro within two days from going to the doc, and i want a second opinionn so please mail me if you have any idea's of what it might be as i will just let it clear on its own if that's what it will do and not waist more money. thanks

Answer 1

The vast majority of chesty episodes are viral, and the evidence is that even the commoner, low grade bacterial infections when prescribed antibiotics, resolve hardly any more rapidly than without. The longer the symptoms persist, the more likely it was that your episode was viral anyway. The rule of thumb is that at 3 or 4 weeks, depending on which authority you chose, if symptoms have not resolved, a chest X-Ray is advised to exclude rarities.

Viral illnesses basically resolve slowly, stubbornly unaffected by anything medical science, or I must add alternative therapies,  can throw at them.

For 25 years I gave antibiotics to chesty patients at a rate of well less than 10% of presentations. I never lost a patient as a result, promise!

Answer 2

80 Euros-come to GB like the rest of the world for free treatment!

Answer 3

It sounds as though either you have a bacterial infection which was not cured by that particular antibiotic, or else you have got some catarrh in your ears and chest. You could try a decongestant like Sudafed for a few days, but if it doesn't work quickly then you really should see the doctor again, as there are many different antibiotic available. Good luck.

Answer 4

Sounds like you have a chest infection or some form of viral infection. But I don't know why when the doctor listened to your chest it was clear if that is the case.