Worst sore throat of my life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure this is the virus I just got over. I was weeping in pain in the mornings when I woke up and tried to swallow.

My doctor was more responsible than yours and didn't prescribe an antibiotic for it after the strep tests came back negative, though. I think taking an antibiotic when you don't need one is a terrible idea as you really COULD end up with thrush. That would suck.

The sore throat went away on its own after an excruciating 8 days. Take anything that helps -- plain old Tylenol worked for me.

I am still dealing with some sniffling 2 weeks later! It's a severe virus, that's for sure.

Hilarious. Calm down Judgey McJuggers. We don't really care what you think.

[Anonymous]

I just got over strep & the only thing that nipped the pain enough to even drink water was a chloraseptic maximum strength spray that had a little pointed wand to really get the back of my throat. I hope you're getting better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure this is the virus I just got over. I was weeping in pain in the mornings when I woke up and tried to swallow.

My doctor was more responsible than yours and didn't prescribe an antibiotic for it after the strep tests came back negative, though. I think taking an antibiotic when you don't need one is a terrible idea as you really COULD end up with thrush. That would suck.

The sore throat went away on its own after an excruciating 8 days. Take anything that helps -- plain old Tylenol worked for me.

I am still dealing with some sniffling 2 weeks later! It's a severe virus, that's for sure.

The rapid strep test is not all that accurate, IME. Even if you had strep, it will clear on its own. That does not mean you've lowered the risks for complications associated with strep. Antibiotics for strep are hotly debated. To each their own. I have an underlying condition that would make those complications more risky.

My tonsil issues are unilateral and involve a lot of pus. Those usually point to a bacterial infection. I was able to eat a little more this evening. I guess it is slowly improving. If the (mostly ear) pain wakes me up at 3:00am again tomorrow, I'm going to be frustrated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got over strep & the only thing that nipped the pain enough to even drink water was a chloraseptic maximum strength spray that had a little pointed wand to really get the back of my throat. I hope you're getting better!

I'm going to try this. There's one that does something other than numb your tongue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - did you get the test for mono? Our internist missed in it almost-40-year-old husband. He waited a week. His temperature went to 104. He couldn't swallow water so by the time I got him back to the internist he was so dehydratedd that he had to be hospitalized and an IV put in. Adult mono is really serious. He was out of work an entire summer and much of his hair fell out.

No, but it will be a request if I end up back at the doctor for this. It has only been phone consults since the visit on Sunday. I was instructed to get seen asap if it worsens at all.

[Anonymous]

Mono is definitely going around. I know two people (adults) who've had it in the past two months. I didn't realize you could get it when you're older so it surprised me.

[Anonymous]

Why did your doctor give antibiotics without a positive strep test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does mono cause pus on the tonsils? Rapid strep test was negative on Sunday.

I dont think its mono or strep.

a couple months ago I had what you describe and I forget the name of what the doctor called it but it basically amounts to sore throat with pus.

I ended up going to the ER and they gave me a steriod shot to bring down the swelling and they put me on antibiotics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does mono cause pus on the tonsils? Rapid strep test was negative on Sunday.

I dont think its mono or strep.

a couple months ago I had what you describe and I forget the name of what the doctor called it but it basically amounts to sore throat with pus.

I ended up going to the ER and they gave me a steriod shot to bring down the swelling and they put me on antibiotics.

pp back. Forgot to mention that I also used the chloroseptic spray pointed at the back of the throat. It numbed it enough to ease the pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure this is the virus I just got over. I was weeping in pain in the mornings when I woke up and tried to swallow.

My doctor was more responsible than yours and didn't prescribe an antibiotic for it after the strep tests came back negative, though. I think taking an antibiotic when you don't need one is a terrible idea as you really COULD end up with thrush. That would suck.

The sore throat went away on its own after an excruciating 8 days. Take anything that helps -- plain old Tylenol worked for me.

I am still dealing with some sniffling 2 weeks later! It's a severe virus, that's for sure.

The rapid strep test is not all that accurate, IME. Even if you had strep, it will clear on its own. That does not mean you've lowered the risks for complications associated with strep. Antibiotics for strep are hotly debated. To each their own. I have an underlying condition that would make those complications more risky.

My tonsil issues are unilateral and involve a lot of pus. Those usually point to a bacterial infection. I was able to eat a little more this evening. I guess it is slowly improving. If the (mostly ear) pain wakes me up at 3:00am again tomorrow, I'm going to be frustrated.

PP here. I had both the rapid test and the regular culture. Both were negative. You are making it sound like I would refuse antibiotics for a strep infection - definitely, I would not! (However, if you look at the research, strep complications rarely strike healthy adults.)

My sore throat was also unilateral. There were ulcerations toward the end (not when I went to the doctor the first time) which was probably the cause of the intense pain. No pus so you may have something different from me, but I still sympathize with the terrible pain.

Glad you are feeling better and able to eat. Sleeping very propped up helped relieve my inner ear pain and having a humidifier on in the room helped keep my throat from hurting quite so much (dryness just killed me). Hope you are 100% again soon.

[Anonymous]

Ask your doc for lidocaine mouth rinse to gargle. It numbs everything, but it was the only thing that helped when I had a staph infection in my throat a few years back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got over strep & the only thing that nipped the pain enough to even drink water was a chloraseptic maximum strength spray that had a little pointed wand to really get the back of my throat. I hope you're getting better!

I'm going to try this. There's one that does something other than numb your tongue?

Yes!!!! I bought it at Walgreens, and it really does work. I was so desperate, I bought about 10 different lozenges, OTC meds, etc & this was the only thing that really worked. It gives you a good 20 minutes of no pain so you can actually drink & eat.

I have developed new sympathy for my kids next time they have strep!

[Anonymous]

Get the herbal tea called Throat Coat. It's what singers use when they have a sore throat and they still have to perform. It should ease your throat enough to eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did your doctor give antibiotics without a positive strep test?

There is more than one type of bacteria that can cause tonsillitis. The strep test only checks for one.

[Anonymous]

I'm the first poster with epiglottitis. I remember that for some reason liquid Tylenol (not the kid strength) helped when I couldn't swallow pills because my throat was so bad.