please call the surgery in a few days if you survive long enough, is WHO responsible

After a horrendous weekend with coughing and sneezing, aching, headaches and Barbs chest getting increasingly worse I phone our surgery this morning to see if we could both see the doctor.

We are told no chance and as it's only flu there is nothing we can do we have not done already, but my wife is getting worse not better after a 3rd course of steroids in 8 weeks, so call the hospital I was told but they will also tell you there is nothing they can do and will probably not admit you anyway.

So what shall we do, well we where told IF you survive the next few days it will probably be fine and if you're not better by then call us back, surely if she does not survive there is no point calling you, I would require an undertaker not a doctor, at this point I was disconnected.

Each year, the viruses that are most likely to cause flu are identified in advance and vaccines are made to match them as closely as possible. The vaccines are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The reason why the flu vaccines used each year differ is because over time flu viruses are able to mutate (change). This means that if you had the flu vaccine last year, you will not be protected from flu this year.
Therefore, if you are at risk of the effects of flu and its associated complications, you should have the flu vaccine again this year.
The 2012/13 vaccine protects against three types of flu virus. This year’s flu jab protects against:
H1N1 – the strain of flu that caused the swine flu pandemic in 2009
H3N2 – a strain of flu that can infect birds and mammals and was active in 2011
a strain of flu that was active in 2010 known as B/Wisconsin/1

Hi sorry to hear about your problems has your wife been given a course of antibiotics to go with the steriods only I always thought you needed a course of antibiotics to be taken with steroids not that I'm a doctor ??

Do you have one of those walk in centres near you or some hospitals/clinics have GP,s who you can make an emergency appointment with if you are away from home ? Which I'm sure you could think of a reason to have to visit ???

What ever happens don't just take what they say over the phone if you are worried go down one of the suggestions above or just get down to A&E and tell them you are not leaving until someone sorts this out

All the best
Brian

Yes Brian, she has been on antibiotics and steroids on and off for the last 8 weeks and yes we also have a drop in centre attached to the hospital but they are over run with patients and frankly I do not wish to take her there into that environment, it's a dilemma what to do, Barb has two more days on the pills then if no better I will take your advise and haul her into either the A&E or drop in centre.

Ring NHS Direct 0845 46 47

Sorry to hear about your dilemma - it's disgusting the way you are being dealt with- especially knowing Barbs condition. I agree with Brian that if things don't improve or you feel worse go to A& E or your surgery/ local walk in centre. I understand that for most flu will clear within a few days but Barb has other problems which need to be recognised

Have done Ken, they tell us the same, wait until the course of steroids/antibiotics is finished the if not all ok get medical assistance, there just overrun with people.

Sorry to hear that things are not clearing up Bob , you would think that especially with Barbs on going problems at least she would get some more compassionate response.
Do want to make light of a serious situation ,but you both may have had an home visit from a doctor if you were an immigrant .
Has Barb read Rina's message on facebook

No she hasn't but she is now looking, eventually got the respiratory nurse coming too see her tomorrow.

my mother always said feed a cold/flu,dont stop eating even if you dont feel well,as most people dont eat properly when they feel unwell.so get plenty of soup,food.and make sure she eats is.and we hope you both get better very soon.

tessajoe wrote:

my mother always said feed a cold/flu,dont stop eating even if you dont feel well,as most people dont eat properly when they feel unwell.so get plenty of soup,food.and make sure she eats is.and we hope you both get better very soon.

My mother told me the same Frank and to this day every time I am under the weather I eat and generally eat more when unwell

it has always worked for us.but sometimes you have to force feed yourself.or i get margarite to put her nurses uniform on.

Barb has always said feed a cold and starve a fever, we have just had a big bowl of homemade stew with some good beef, carrots,leeks and spuds, it was yummy and filled our tummy