I have an ear infection.
I've had it for a few weeks but I thought it had to be really bad to go to the doctors about, also I wasn't sure if it was an infection or a spot. Turns out, it was an infection and now I have a perforated ear drum, and I'm taking the dose which is suggested for 'severe cases'.
Apparently 87% of people come to the surgery with stupid complaints like "Can you check my children over to make sure they won't get a cold when they go back to school." and "I drunk a lot of alcohol last night and now I feel sick, what's wrong with me." and that's what they mean by not coming unless it's bad. Although, the triage nurse (our surgery now has a system with them in to save the doctors' time, some people have an issue with this but as long as I get my antibiotics, I don't really care.) said that it's usually people like myself and old women who've had a chest infection for six weeks who don't turn up.
Also, I've got an appoinment in three weeks (I was offered one in two weeks time, when their patient load goes down because one of their staff is back from her holiday but I have school.) to see a doctor about getting referred for AS.