Really ill, but worried about missing Uni...

I was feeling really run down last week, and missed most of Uni (though I went to the important tutorials etc.)

Anyway - now I have a really quite bad chest infection, as in I'm having a lot of trouble breathing, and have actually almost passed out from coughing fits. I should pretty much definately take tomorrow (at least) off, as I doubt I even have the energy to walk to the university let alone spend 5 hours there, but having already taken a week of I'm going to feel really **** about taking more time off...

Dilemma :frown:

Reply 1

dh00001

youre ill and need to rest. if youre that worried can you not get a copy of someones notes and keep up through them

Reply 2

Toy Soldier

dh00001

youre ill and need to rest. if youre that worried can you not get a copy of someones notes and keep up through them

I can keep up... it's not so much falling behind that I'm worried about, so much as just a general feeling of "guilt" that I get when I skip lectures. I suppose I could just work at home instead (something that I very rarely do) and hopefully that would make me feel productive.

I also have work due on Thursday... ugh, such bad timing.

Reply 3

dh00001

forget guilt, youre ill its not like you just cant be bothered. as long as you stay on top of your work theres no real problem.
just give someone else your work and get them to hand it in.

Reply 4

Leisure17

Have you been to the doctor's? Have you ever had a similar infection and if yes, how did you deal with it? Is it a dry cough or do you bring up mucus?

If you smoke try to stop for the duration of the infection. You could try and get some codein (I guess it is still otc in the UK?), but I would only use it at night if the cough keeps you from sleeping. If it isn't a dry cough there is a good reason for the cough and it should not be stopped too much. Try and get as much rest as you can. Maybe the odd day off will get you better more quickly than creeping to the lessons for 1 or 2 weeks half alive.

Reply 5

envious

Well, you should question whether even if you did go in just how much of the lecture would you be able to concentrate in whilst feeling so ill? :rolleyes:

I made the error of attending a lecture whilst feeling quite sick and spent the whole time wondering whether I was gonna puke (not pleasant :frown:

).

To cure the guilt factor, why not make a pledge to yourself that once you are well again you will make a concerted effort to attain the lecture notes you missed and really work your way through them. Missing one day is realistically going to have very little effect on your studies and remember that you aren't missing the lectures due to slacking, so you shouldn't feel so bad about it. :smile:

Reply 6

MissHero

If it is that bad, you need to go to the doctor and get some antibiotics! Chest infections can be nasty, and if you're nearly passing out with coughing you could end up with something like bronchitis, which is not nice at all.

Reply 7

Leisure17

MissHero

Antibiotics are not the be all and end all of every infection. I could be a viral infection and then antibiotics will not help. That is why I asked about the cough being productive (green or yellow phlegm = bacterial -> antibiotics may be a good idea)

Whooping cough also nearly lets you pass out and it is not restriced to children, though many people are inocculated.

I agree with your suggestion about going to a doctor's though. I too think this may be a good idea.

Reply 8

Toy Soldier

Yes, coughing up lots of nice yellow stuff :frown:

. Also, my chest has started to feel really tight, and I'm having some feverish symptoms too. I'm probably dying or something. And I'm not registered at a doctor here :eek:

Reply 9

Leisure17

Sounds like you should register with a doc and then get them to listen at your chest. It could very well be an infection that could be helped by antibiotics.