Strep Throat...

[Kent]

After not eating for more than 36 hours, not sleeping for just as long, and dealing with the worst sore throat ever, I finally went to the doctor. Sure enough, he said it was strep throat.

So has anyone had to deal with strep throat lately?
It sucks and I'm looking for good advice on reducing the troubles. I'm doing aspirin for pain and inflammation, antibiotics to fight the sickness, and lots of fluids to avoid dehydration (as the fevers are making me sweat like crazy).

All in all it sucks big time but it also gives me a day or two to miss school and catch up on work.

Feeling sick is bad but knowing you're contagious is even worse (especially with lots of family around ranging from 6 months to 60 years).

 

[TB]

My wife is telling me gargle salt water (1 tbsp of salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water, gargle and spit. Repeat every 2 hours), use 600 milligrams of ibuprofen every 6 hours instead of aspirin and Chloraseptic.

 

[Joey D]

I've dealt with strep throat before, it sucks quite bad. I found tea with honey in it works pretty well at coating your throat so it doesn't hurt as bad. In fact I think that's all I drank when I get bad sore throats. Eucalyptus cough drops seem to help out a little to.

You are also going to want to get Vitamin C into your system to help with fighting off your illness. It works for me when I get sick, but I can't say it will help everyone, but it's worth a shot.

Feel better man and be sure and get lots of rest.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Well I've had it many many times, like 4 times in 3 months. It sucks, but with the right medicine, it gets gone in about 5 days. Hang in there man!

 

[SolidSnake15]

Put a cold wet cloth around your neck. (not tight) It will cool down the blood going into your head and help bring down the fever. It'll help you stay cool enough to sleep a little bit.

Get well soon 👍

 

[Earth]

Soar throats are painful and extremely annoying..I can't imagine strep throat

Only thing I know to do about that is gargle warm salty water and take the medication from the doc

And do be sure you don't conaminate others in your family, take every precaution available, a baby and a 60 year old may not take it as well as you.

 

[Mrs. Famine]

When you say strep throat, I assume you mean tonsillitis?
It's a bacterial infection and not contagious.

Keep taking the antibiotics, echo the ibuprofen advice and take whatever the US equivalent of paracetamol is as well. Plenty of clear fluids and you'll be fine in a few days. It's a nasty infection though, I've had it and it did feel as if I had small razor blade cuts in my throat everytime I swallowed.

 

[TB]

take whatever the US equivalent of paracetamol is as well.

Acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, although it doesn't do much for me personally. I greatly prefer ibuprofen (usually purchased 1000 at a time).

 

[Famine]

You can - and should - take the two in conjuction with each other. Ibuprofen is only an anti-inflammatory. Paracetamol is a painkiller and anti-pyretic. They don't interact and you can take your maximum daily dose of both simultaneously.

 

[TB]

Exactly. If you can get ahold of some Zee Medical PainAid, you'll be all set - Aspirin, Acetaminophen and caffeine all in two easy to swallow pills.

 

[Mark T]

I used to suffer with tonsillitis when I was around 10. It would always cause an ear infection which is even more painful. Luckily I grew out of it.

 

[standard235]

I know what you mean. I had a sinus infection and didn't know and the drainage tore the hell out of my throat and I managed to get strep before I even went to the doctor.

Whooops. Gargle salt water. It like, numbs your throat.

Chloraseptic spray. On your throat. Not your tongue. Heh.

Plenty of fluids (I don't suggest soda. The carbonation hurts your throat)

And Vitamin C and entertainment of some sort so you don't die of boredom.

 

[hemisport15]

I had strep throat last year and I know what you are going throug too. All I did was drink a lot of water and tea, slept, and didn't really talk a lot. Just try to do things that don't really involve talking, yelling, screaming, howling, shrieking, or grunting. Just relax and try to take it easy and you should be fine.

 

[SimRaceDriver]

Got Strep Throat at this very moment...

Haven't gone to the Doctors yet...but have been doing the following:

* Gargle with warm-to-hot salt water...(coupe teaspoons of salt in one 8oz glass of water)
* Lots of "Sprite" and/or "7-Up" to help with not getting too dehydrated.
(For some reason, these two have always seemed to help when sick..go figure!)
* 1-3oz (oz = ounce) shot of Vodaka with two (2) tablespoons of ordinary 'black pepper'...every 4 to 8 hours....long story...don't ask..but did work...
* 2 Advil (Not sure what the dosage is..wanna say 500mgs per..but could be wrong) every 8-12 hours.

I've had it now for the last 2 & 1/2 days..and after following the above cycle, I'm pretty sure it'll be gone by Saturday.


Of course, if I had insurance through my job by now (still w/in the 90 day new hire stage), I could've just gone to the Dr. and gotten some good old fashion antibiotics..but WTH! ...

 

[Blake]

When you say strep throat, I assume you mean tonsillitis?

Oh, I was wondering what the hell strep throat was… Yeah, tonsillitis sucks, I’ve had it twice before when I was a kid, and hope never to be unfortunate enough to get it again. I can’t remember what works, other and anti-biotics. I was too busy wallowing in self-pity.

 

[Zrow]

That sucks. The antibiotics should knock it out in no time, though.

 

[Gil]

Everyone has offered good advice.
However, TB keep your Ibuprofen use down to the least amount that is effective for your level of pain. It is very hard on your liver and kidneys as is Tylenol (no more than 4gm/day).
I usually take no more than 600 mg of Ibuprofen, and I'm a pretty big guy.
800 mg is "prescription strength" and if it isn't doing the job, you need something in the Lortab/Percocet type of medication. (Don't take these too long or they will cause constipation)
If you are prescribed Lortab or Percocet DO NOT take any Tylenol. Both of these have Tylenol in them already.
Maximum Dose for Tylenol is 4000mg in a day.
So if you take 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol at a time, stay on a 6 hour shedule.
If you are taking regular strength Tylenol, You can take 2 tabs every 4 hours.

BTW, Strep is indeed contagious. However, after 24 hours on antibiotics you should be at a point that you are not contagious, just, still fighting the infection.

 

[Sureboss]

So, is strep throat the American term for tonsillitis? If it is, then it isn't contagious. I've had it loads of times (probably about a dozen times) and the quacks have said it isn't contagious, every time.

 

[Gil]

Tonsilitis is inflamation of the tonsils. As such it can be caused by numerous things.
Strep is Streptococcus baccilli-and is quite contagious.

 

[Kent]

Well,
Thanks for all the advice fellas.
As Gil mentioned, Strep is not tonsillitis and it is indeed very contagious.
Also, I'm glad to hear backing on the non-contagious after 24hrs of antibiotics. I had to skip work last night out of fear of being contagious and now I'm sure I can go back to work without a problem. 👍

As for all the other advice, I've taken most of it.
Gargling, various medications, drinks, etc, all of it is helping greatly and at this point I barely feel sick.

Btw, Strep Throat and Tonsillitis. Two different problems and by the pictures provided on wiki I'd say I was lucky to get strep.
Further, according to wiki, bacterial Tonsillitis can result in Strep. I suppose they are very similar. Either way I don't like the stuff. 👎

 

[SolidSnake15]

Glad your doing better.👍

Me being a carrier of strep I know what your going through. I use to get Scarlet Fever which I think is very similar due to the name of the bacteria. BTW being a carrier doesn't mean I spread it, It just means I'm immune to the specific disease.

 

[Kent]

Glad your doing better.👍

Me being a carrier of strep I know what your going through. I use to get Scarlet Fever which I think is very similar due to the name of the bacteria. BTW being a carrier doesn't mean I spread it, It just means I'm immune to the specific disease.

Thanks, and wow... Saying that a few hundred years ago would have gotten you more than just a strange look.
Also, I'd say you're right. The bacteria causing the sickness is the same and I'd guess the differences are created by individual circumstances.

 

[Sureboss]

Tonsilitis is inflamation of the tonsils. As such it can be caused by numerous things.
Strep is Streptococcus baccilli-and is quite contagious.

A google search cannot make a student a doctor, it seems

Glad to hear you are on the recovery road, Kent. Infections (of any kind) in the throat are horrible, because it is so restrictive. Having had Glandular Fever and a 4 year long battle with ME afterwards because of it, it can be bloody frustrating.

 

[Gil]

A google search cannot make a student a doctor, it seems

Sick folks are my stock in trade.
No doc am I, but I do get to sign RN after my name...

 

[Sureboss]

Something Nurse?

 

[TB]

Something Nurse?

No, that would be SN.

It's Registered Nurse.

No that anyone asked, but my wife is a RN, SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[Prosthetic]

I missed a week and a half of school because of strep throat, which then worsened to a ear infection in each ear. It sucks... I pretty much tried to drink as much as possible and had a lot of soup. Along with taking the anti-biotic's that the doctor subscribed for me. After having it for the week and half of school then almost all of spring break i was free, it really sucks having it.

Good to hear that your doing better. 👍

 

[Duke]

Tonsilitis is inflamation of the tonsils. As such it can be caused by numerous things.
Strep is Streptococcus baccilli-and is quite contagious.

But I will add that having large, convoluted tonsils with lots of crypts means you are quite likely to get recurring strep infections. My wife used to get a strep throat every winter - some quite severe - until she had her tonsils out at age 27 or so. Getting your tonsils out as an adult is unfortunately much worse than it is for a kid.

 

[Sureboss]

No, that would be SN.

It's Registered Nurse.

No that anyone asked, but my wife is a RN, SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

Is she an Irrational Nurse too?

If so she could sign her name.

Mrs TB IN SANE

 

[Mrs. Famine]

Sick folks are my stock in trade.
No doc am I, but I do get to sign RN after my name...

Me too

Sorry about my getting that mixed up, but I've never come across 'Strep Throat'. I wonder if it's a difference between US and UK?
I know we have the same medications, but called wholly different things. This is why I struggle to be able to advise the US contingent on medication when I am myself 100% UK!

Maybe I should keep my RN advice for the UK lot and you Gil, can continue advising the US folks