Tag: medication

I’ve been really miserable for three days and need that 5 day antibiotic to get better faster.

Ninety eight percent of the time these symptoms are due to a viral infection and will resolve without antibiotics.

But I can’t breathe and I can’t sleep.

You can use salt water rinses and a few days of decongestant nose spray to ease the congestion.

But my face feels like there is a blown up balloon inside.

Try applying a warm towel to your face.

And I’m feverish and having sweats at night.

Your temp is 99.2. You can use ibuprofen or acetominophen to help the feverish feeling.

But my snot is green.

That’s not unusual with viral upper respiratory infections.

And my teeth are starting to hurt and my ears are popping.

Let me know if that is not resolving in a week or so.

But I’m starting to cough.

Your lungs are clear so breathe steam, push fluids and prop up with an extra pillow.

But sometimes I cough to the point of gagging. Isn’t whooping cough going around?

Your illness doesn’t fit the timeline for pertussis.  You can consider using an over the counter cough suppressant.

But I always end up needing antibiotics. This is like my regular sinus infection thing.

There’s plenty of evidence they can do more harm than good.  They really aren’t indicated at this point in your illness and could have nasty side effects.

But I always get better faster with antibiotics. Doctors always give me antibiotics.

Studies show that two weeks later there is no significant difference in symptoms between those treated with antibiotics and those who did self-care without them.

But I have a really hard week coming up and I won’t be able to rest.

This could be your body’s way of saying that you need to evaluate your priorities.

But I just waited an hour to see you.

I really am sorry about the wait; we’re seeing a lot of sick people with this viral thing going around.

But I paid a $20 co-pay today for this visit.

We’re very appreciative of you paying promptly on the day of service.

But I can go down the street to the walk in clinic and for $130 they will write me an antibiotic prescription without making me feel guilty for asking.

I wouldn’t recommend taking unnecessary medication that can lead to bacterial resistance, side effects and allergic reactions. I truly believe you can be spared the expense, inconvenience and potential risk of taking something you don’t really need.

So that’s it?  Salt water rinses and wait it out?  That’s all you can offer?

Let me know if your symptoms are unresolved or worsening in the next week or so.

So you spent all that time in school just to tell people they don’t need medicine?

I believe I help people heal themselves and educate them about when they do need medicine and then facilitate appropriate treatment. 

I’m going to go find a real doctor who will listen to me.

A real doctor vows to first do no harm.  I know you want something different than I’m offering you and I wish you the best as you recover.