If It’s Not Flu Then Shoo

(After feeling bad and coughing for two days, I am running a fever over 100 degrees and having trouble breathing, so I decide to go to urgent care since something is obviously wrong.)

Doctor: “Well, it’s flu season, so it’s probably just the flu. We’ll test you for that.”

Me: “It doesn’t feel like the flu, but go ahead so we can be sure.”

(After test results come back negative for the flu…)

Doctor: “Okay, it’s not the flu. You probably just have a really bad cold. I’ll give you a prescription for cough medicine and you go home and rest.”

Me: *while gasping* “This is not just a cold. I’m running a fever over 100 and I never run fever. I’m having trouble breathing. Can we please try to test for something else?”

Doctor: “No, I’m sure it’s just a cold. Besides, it’s the end of my shift so I don’t have time to run any more tests.”

Me: “…”

(I went home and tried to rest as he saidm, but could hardly sleep since I couldn’t breathe. After two more days, I returned to urgent care, and got a much more competent doctor who determined very quickly that I had a severe case of pneumonia!)