Pandemic or mass hysteria???

I think I might have bronchitis. At the moment it feels like a very rough cold but I'm feeling like I did last year when everybody I knew kept telling me to go to the doctor's, and I kept telling them to bugger off 'cos there's no point bothering with a doctor for a cold, as you just have to let it run its course. About four weeks later I was half dead in bed, stuffed with antibiotics for bronchitis, tonsillitis and some other "itis" I can't remember.

Anyway, this time I thought I'd see the doctor sooner, before it blows out of proportion, so I went to the surgery. I glanced at the notice on the door saying that if you had certain symptoms you shouldn't enter the surgery but call the helpline instead, but as I was lacking the main one (i.e.: high temperature), I went in. At the time I went there I was actually feeling quite ill as I'd been out a few hours and not taken any remedies such as Lemsip for a while, and I'd been carrying shopping. I had a runny nose, a blinding headache and I was aching all over. I also had a slight temperature, but nothing near warning levels. With perfect timing I started coughing just as the receptionist was talking to me and I was telling her the symptoms and asking to see the doctor as soon as possible. This is when her face changed. A look of complete terror appeared on her face, and stepping back from the counter as far as she could without exiting the room through the wall she handed me the national pandemic helpline number advising me to call them. To no avail I tried to explain that the symptoms I had were due to a cold, not 'flu, that I had no temperature at the moment and that it felt as if it was turning into bronchitis like it did last year.
Just to make her happy I did call them when I got home, and after having a good laugh they advised me to go and see the doctor. What a surprise!
The following day (yesterday) I stayed in all day and was feeling a bit better so instead of calling for an emergency appointment I just made a normal one for Monday. By then it will have gone if it's a cold, while if it's bronchitis I can still have the antibiotics.

We shall see.

By the way, if you think you might have 'flu, do not go to see the doctor, but call the helpline on 0800 15 13 100.

You should contact them if If you or a member of your family has a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms:
unusual tiredness,
headache,
runny nose,
sore throat,
shortness of breath or cough,
loss of appetite,
aching muscles,
diarrhoea or vomiting.

Please note: unless you have a high temperature, it's probably not 'flu and the antivirals won't work, so go and see the doctor instead :)