Anyone Used One of Those Virtual Doctors?

I would not in your situation because if you really are having trouble breathing, it could be pneumonia, and the only way to rule that out is to listen to your lungs when you breath. This can't be done over the phone.

I personally went to a walk-in clinic with your exact symptoms last week and saw a nurse practitioner (although I was on week 3 of the stupid thing, I think the 1st 14 days were a bad cold virus that then turned into more). I knew it wasn't going to be top-notch care, but all I needed was to make sure it wasn't pneumonia and (assuming not pneumonia) get a prescription for an antibiotic, both of which happened. After 3 days of antibiotics, I'm almost like new. I hope you feel better soon too.

Yes, and it went very well for me. Last December, we were in NYC when I started to get sick. I knew it was a sinus infection, having had many over the years, and knew I needed to start antibiotics as soon as possible, or I'd be getting a lot worse. I felt so bad I could barely get out of bed and did not want to sit in an urgent care in Times Square. We have an app through our health insurance, so I just used that. The only problem I encountered was that I initially entered my home zip code and was directed to a physician back at home. Obviously, she couldn't treat me as she's not licensed in NY. So, I just logged in again with the correct zip code and was talking with a NY physician within 5 minutes. He could see how swollen and miserable I was through the phone! He called in a prescription to a nearby pharmacy, and my husband and son picked it up on the way back from the deli with my matzoh ball soup. My trip would have been ruined if I had not acted quickly.

It was the next best thing to having the doctor actually come to me. I got to rest in bed throughout the short wait and appointment, instead of being miserable for who knows how long in an urgent care. It saved the trip!

no, i have not, and no i would not. they cant see you , hear your lungs see in your eyes nose throat and ears.. i prefer to actually be seen.

Your symptoms are familiar to me, but when I was like that I needed a chest xray for a proper diagnosis after a doctor listened to my lungs. A virtual doctor may refer you to a physical clinic/lab anyway, just so you're aware.

I agree with Mynewnickname, difficulty breathing (accompanied by a fever)could be pneumonia and the only way to rule it out is listening to your lungs and quite possibly a chest x-ray....neither which can be performed over the phone... I'd go to urgernt care (and yes, I've to been to urgent care with precisely this) ...could be nothing, could be something...
Feel better

I definitely would! I used a mobile doctor twice, not sure if it's in your area but it was really cool. Once they came out for pink eye and the other time was strep. They sent a med aide out who used a camera to see inside and the doctor was able to see being connected online. It was a flat fee of $80 & when you schedule you tell them what's wrong so she brought meds that doctor thought I'd need and also wrote me a script. I bought the meds from her while she was here at $30. Might try. Good luck and feel better!

I'm sure it's like everything else - some are good and some aren't. Dr. Phil is always pushing his app, Doctor on Demand, for example, but obviously there's money to be made with it. They accept various kinds of insurance so you can check this out with any virtual service you are considering. If your insurance offers a service, maybe it's fine. I'm sure they are concerned with liability so the doctors are board certified, and they all keep costs down by not having to bring every patient into a bricks-and-mortar and fully-staffed office.

My concern with your symptoms is that you probably need someone to listen to your lungs to see if you're well into bronchitis or even pneumonia, since you have shortness of breath already. That's going to be impossible for a doctor to do remotely, while it would be easier with, say, a skin rash or other issue that you could hold up to the phone for them to get a look at. For 30 years, I had a long history of bronchitis, and once I got a cold, it settled into the chest and stayed there for weeks, keeping me up at night and thus nullifying the "get some rest" prescription!

My other concern is that you have a doctor whose team you don't trust - that's a problem. And if you feel that walk-in clinics are "hit or miss" then you aren't in an area with good care. I'm ruling out the possibility that you are tough to please, by the way!

My husband used a walk in clinic nearby and got very good care/service. You can check to see who accepts your insurance and who will negotiate a price if you pay at the time of service.

You could always start with the virtual service since it's connected with your insurance company and you have some recourse if you get overcharged or if you are given the run-around. But there's no way to treat a viral condition except to minimize symptoms (working on a productive cough, for example) unless/until you get into trouble or a full blown bacterial infection.

I have used one but I knew what was wrong and what I needed. I had sinus and upper repertory infection. They gave me what my pcp would have. So if you think it's turning into an infection and you know what meds work call. If you are not satisfice go to a walking or urgent care.

Since the coverage is there (at no cost?), you could certainly try it simply for the experience. That way you would know in the future what types of things it would be good for and what kinds maybe not so much.

I think the thing for me (if I was sick with your symptoms) is listening to your chest. I think that would be a pretty important piece of diagnosing what is going on.

The other thing I would mention is your statement "I've had no confidence in the physicians he uses to cover his vacations" and "walk in clinic is hit or miss care." I don't think that I would have MORE confidence in a virtual appointment with a completely unknown doctor than with going to a clinic where they can do labs, listen to your heart, etc.

I think I would consider going to your regular clinic and see whomever is covering for your regular doctor since at least that way your medical records are staying together and if you need follow up when your doctor gets back into town, he can pretty easily see what is going on.

Good luck and feel better soon!

Since you posted your symptoms here, I will be happy to be your MamaPedia Virtual Not-A-Doctor:

If you are having trouble breathing, don't mess around!! Go to an Urgent Care as soon as possible! "Difficulty breathing", isn't that one of those phrases that is typically connected to the phrase "seek medical attention immediately"?

(I have never yet used a Virtual Doctor. Get well soon!!)