I've had a "cold" for over 6 weeks, should I see my GP?

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wtfylat@reddit

I wouldn't even remotely consider seeing a GP for that.

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No_Cheek7162@reddit

6 weeks of illness? How long would it need to be before you go?

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No_Cheek7162@reddit

You'd live with cold symptoms for the rest of your life?

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Go to the pharmacists. There are lots of things they can help with so GP's are free to deal with more serious illnesses. [https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/)

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Not_a_real_ghost@reddit

Average British person: My head fell off somewhere last week, and there's now an empty space over my neck. Do you think I should get a GP appointment?

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partywithanf@reddit

GP, yes, that’s what they’re for. A&E, no, that’s not what they’re for.

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thriftydelegate@reddit

I think the symptoms starting six weeks ago is enough of a reason to go to A&E over hoping to get a same day GP appointment.

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Cold_Timely@reddit

It's not an accident or emergency

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dprophet32@reddit

It is not. Please don't do this

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TomfromLondon@reddit

Has there been an accident? Is there an emergency?

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smoolg@reddit

A&E is for emergencies…as in you have something that is life threatening. It’s not for chronic symptoms

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Bubbly_District_107@reddit

It doesn't need to be life threatening, just an emergency. This isn't an emergency because he's obviously fine to live with it

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Danny_Gray@reddit

No, this isn't an accident nor an emergency. OP is sick for sure but that's not what A&E is for.

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Skylon77@reddit

As an A&E Consultant... it isn't.

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Terrible_Biscotti_14@reddit

Glad 111 were helpful, hopefully a gp calls shortly. Feel better soon!

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LonkAndZolda@reddit

I hate doctors. I avoid them at all costs. I'm also a young woman. I would go. 6 weeks is a long time, much too long for just a cold, and there's likely something deeper at work -- it could be long COVID, for instance. You won't know if you don't go.

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Individual-Meeting@reddit

Girl after my own heart... I could wax lyrical about how angry they make me and how I never go and do absolutely anything I can to go round them

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ceb1995@reddit

Cough for over 3 weeks is something that's suggested to book an appointment in case it's a sign of something more serious so yes ask for an appointment.

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EtwasSonderbar@reddit

Yep, I went in after I had a cough for six weeks. Turns out I somehow had tuberculosis.

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Vampirero@reddit

Call 111? They are very good, in my experience.

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Capital-Transition-5@reddit

Was it a cold or was it covid? Sounds like lingering covid symptoms to me.

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flagondry@reddit

I had this and it turned out to be asthma.

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Few_Reward_7593@reddit

you most likely have covid. not a cold.

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Tequilasquirrel@reddit

After Six weeks, covid would not be showing up in a test. You don’t test positive with long covid either as it’s secondary complications to your autonomic system, not active virus.

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Bxsnia@reddit

Since it's been 6 weeks, yes. Absolutely.

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Curlysar@reddit

It sounds in keeping with covid - not to say don’t seek advice, but if you’re unsure/hesitant you could try calling 111 first? I’m someone who’s a bit hesitant at reaching out to my GP unless I absolutely have to, but I had a particularly bad bout of covid a couple of years ago and it floored me for 3+ months… I didn’t know what was going on because all my covid tests were negative, and I ended up being sent for a chest x-ray, blood tests and all sorts because of the persistent cough (to the point of vomiting), mild fever that came and went, extreme fatigue and general malaise like nothing else. The GP told me that covid tests are only accurate a third of the time! But I needed to be checked out to rule out more serious things that were starting to worry me, and I think if you’ve done everything you can and still struggling then maybe it’s time to reach out?

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DOPEYDORA_85@reddit

Go to I had something similar at the end of last year. Ended up with a lower lung trac infection

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HahaLady1@reddit

Don’t go on to Reddit to ask this. Call 111 if unsure. It’s a free service. They will most likely tell you to book an appointment straight with your doctor

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PrincessStephanieR@reddit

Any time you’re worried about your health you should see a Dr. Having a cold for six weeks isn’t normal.

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Steve8557@reddit

If I were in your situation I’d 100% see a doctor. I’d Either see a GP or a walk-in clinic type thing!

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Andyrhyw@reddit

Do the symptoms get better when you spend time out the house? If yes, could be environmental, like mould

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trtrtr82@reddit

I'm speaking as someone who only bothers the doctor if a body part is hanging off. Go to your GP, tell them what you've told us and they'll most likely order a lot of different blood tests which will hopefully help work what's going on. I've been feeling pretty lousy for the last 2 weeks. It turns out i had glandular fever and got sent to A&E on Thursday as my bloods were bad. They tested me for absolutely everything but were happy enough it was actually glandular fever so i'm now back at home again.

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S_lyc0persicum@reddit

The most common reason is that a bacteria took advantage of your immune system being suppressed by the initial viral infection, and so now you have a secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics wouldn't have done anything to make that initial viral infection shorter but the right ones should get rid of that bacterial infection. If left untreated it can turn into pneumonia or other serious conditions, so personally I would go to the doctor. They can also rule out any other less common potential issues.

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taskkill-IM@reddit

First signs of symptoms you should see your local pharmacist. If symptoms continue for longer than 2 weeks you should see your GP.

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elgrn1@reddit

I agree with the comments regarding a doctor visit though would also recommend a covid test. Everything you described was what I had when I got covid in June (including vomiting and being completely off my food). You may not be positive anymore but perhaps this is a long covid thing so if you're able to determine if you have or had it, that might help.

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joeblrock@reddit

It probably is a persistent cold/virus. Ignore the dooming suggestions here that it might be someone much worse. But yes definitely go to the Dr after 6 weeks and just tell them how shit you feel & that's why you've gone to see them.

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dictatemydew@reddit

You've probably got a viral infection. I had this last year and I couldn't shake it off for ages. Feel better soon.

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fussyfella@reddit

"Colds" can be any one of thousands of viruses in several broad categories and how long they last depends on the virus, whether you have been exposed to that (or a close relative) virus before and just random factors about your metabolism. Six weeks is at the high side of how long they last, but by no means unusual. There seems to be an expectation that colds only last a few days, and that is generally a bad assumption. The core infection can last well over a week and secondary symptoms (like coughs) triggered by it can go on for weeks after too. Also viruses can be tricky little beggars - it appears to go away, then a few days later comes back in a secondary wave, and that can repeat a few times too. If it is causing an issue for you, then see your GP (perhaps wear a mask so as not to infect him/her and other people in the surgery) as it is possible (but unlikely) you have developed a secondary infection that needs further treatment, but do not be surprised if they say the only thing you can do is wait and take medication to alleviate the symptoms.

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Slobbadobbavich@reddit

Yeah, could be an auto-immune problem!

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rafikibob@reddit

Yes it could be a loooong cold, or a series of colds. But the whole point of visiting a GP is to rule out that it isn’t in fact something else, worse, and they got into general practice to spot those things and help people. “Hey, i’ve had these symptoms for 6 weeks, they’re not improving, they’re now having real secondary impacts like sleeping, so I feel like it’s time to check it out.” Any GP that rolls their eyes at that after 2 weeks needs a holiday. If they eyeroll at 6 weeks they need a CQC intervention. Go, do not delay.

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TippyTurtley@reddit

Yes could be bacterial

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No_Psychology_8169@reddit

Yes 1000000%

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Cruump@reddit

Agreed. It could be something that requires antibiotics

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Lammyrider@reddit

Friend had this recently and turned out his heart got some bacterial infection and he had to be operated on, so definitely see a doctor as you never know what things can be.

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Dry_Action1734@reddit

Go to the GP several weeks ago.

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strawberry670@reddit

Definitely see a doctor. A good doctor will never think that you are wasting their time, they would much rather you see them and it's either nothing or something minor over you ending up getting rushed into hospital because it's something that's turned nasty. I ignored a "cold" and "minor cough" I ended up getting rushed into hospital with pneumonia. If I had gone to the doctor then a simple course of antibiotics may have prevented my 3 night stay in hospital.

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InternationalNinja29@reddit

Yes. Go see them today if you can. 6 weeks isn't a cold and combined with persistent cough / vomiting you need to get it checked as soon as possible.

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PixiePooper@reddit

In short - Yes. Having a "cold" for over a month is not normal. You are not wasting anyone's time, this is what GPs are there for.

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Various_Good_6964@reddit

Your health is so so so so so much more important than what people think of you. If you had a cold 1 week and you turned up they might be a bit annoyed, but it lasting that long could indicate there is something else going on that they could help you with, get yourself there.

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mynameisollie@reddit

The NHS site says to visit your GP if your symptoms last more than 10 days.

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MediumOne9589@reddit

I would definitely see a doctor, if you’ve had a cold symptoms for longer than six weeks and are typically healthy. Better to get checked and be told it’s nothing serious than leave it for longer. Hope you get better soon!

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oli_ramsay@reddit

I'd ring 111 and tell them everything you've posted. They'll be able to advise best

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InternationalNinja29@reddit

Yes.

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