Chest infection

[david small]

I caught a severe upper respiratory infection, and my doctor prescribed a seven day course of antibiotics. 250mg erythromycin four time a day. I am quite resistant to any and all medication (really, including anaesthetics) and informed him that I would need a strong dosage. For my weight (very heavy, and age mid fifties) 250mg was as predicted insufficient, results, a week of hell, no sleep, coughing all night, splitting my umbilical hernia open further, was one inch now three inch.
Question. Should I make an official complaint, and would it get anywhere? This is not the first time this has occured, it's a constant battle I don't need.

[dot.hawkes]

I have just had a week off and I had Erythromycin 250mg 1 four times a day, (allergic to penicillin) and I am not heavy at all! I didn't realise iot had anything to do with weight! They helped a little bit, he gave them to me because of an ear infection, even though I actually went cos I had a terribly sore throat. Over the week I have had really bad headaches, trouble breathing and a tight chest, a streaming cold and I ached from head to foot, coughing through the nightbut they cleared up my athletes foot!!!!!!!!!

I douibt it would do you an good complaning as they woud probably say they cannot predict how symptoms develop during the medicating period.!

It's rotten enough being so down but for it to aggravate another condition it must be depressing, I feel for you mate.

[alijangra]

Its unfortunate that you have this infection. However, antibiotics do take time to work. You should have gone back sooner to the GP with your concerns, dont be afraid to voice your opinions. GPs can be quite flippant but they soon sit up and listen when faced with the threat of a compaint. Its quite possible they arent even reading your notes sufficiently so make sure you point it out to them. GPs really are a hit or a miss.

[david small]

quite so alijangra; I sometimes feel like hitting my GP but the way I feel I would probably miss:)

[Scarlett]

No. There is no guarantee that antibiotics will cure you, or anyone else. If the infection was viral then antibiotics won't work on it anyway. They only help with bacterial infections. Also, the older I have got, the more I realise just how little doctors know. I had reactive arthritis a week ago- my knee swelled up and I couldn't walk. It was agony! The Doctors prescribed me.... paracetamol. I therefore prescribed myself ibuprofen, since that at least is an anti-inflammatory drug, which is what I needed.

There have been some truly horrible chest infections around. Kids I teach have been ill with coughs etc for months and months. The Doctors give them antibiotics which don't help, because the germs have become immune to them, or because the infection is viral. I have ended up going to Homeopaths and herbalists, which I have had far more success with than my GP.

[Dr Hungry]

Firstly, I'm not actually a doctor yet, so please don't shout at me!

Annoying as it must be for you, your doctor can't give you exceptionally high doses of medicine because you tell him that you are resistant to most medications. It's not feasible that a doctor can hand out the amount of a drug that the patient demands; at the end of the day, he is responsible for the effects that it has. 'That's what the patient wanted' is not a suitable legal defence.

If he did you a large dose of a drug and you reacted adversely to it then he might well be struck off the register for doing so, whereas by following protocol and giving you a standard dose he is preventing himself being taken to court if anything goes wrong. It's not fair to blame him because he didn't break the rules for you.

The 'first do no harm' principle means that doctors would much rather err on the side of caution and give you a small but safe dose of a drug, rather than fill you up to the eyballs with it and risk it causing more damage than was there in the first place. And there's good reason for doing so.

I'm really sorry that you are feeling ill btw. Hope you get well soon.

Scarlett, anti-inflammatories are what you should have been given in the first place - sounds like you could do a better job than your doctor. Skimping on the dose I can understand, but giving you the wrong thing altogether is a poor show.

[Scarlett]

Dr. Hungry- not one but THREE Doctors said I should take paracetamol!!!!!!!

[Dr Hungry]

That's appalling Scarlett!! It would seem fairly common sense to me that an inflammatory problem needs to be treated with anti-inflammatories! At least you'll be able to put them in their place if you are ever in a similar situtuation again.

[Belle Fast]

Don't worry about changing to a more sympathetic/knowlegeable GP - I don't think they care or notice. Pick one with a long waiting time and they are usually good!

[david small]

Thank you all. Thank you ,Dr Hungry, I see your point, though erring on the side of caution in this case has split my hernia wide open, and given me nine nights of hell.
I wish I could buy antibiotics, that way I would take the responsibility.
But that might never happen. Think of all those empty surgeries.:)

[Dr Hungry]

Ha, if only. I think you can get antibiotics over the counter in Greece and probably other places as well. So if you're still feeling rough and you fancy a holiday...