Ok, who knows anything about sore throats?

[Cass]

3 weeks ago I had the worse sore throat of my life - went to the doctors and it was strep. Took antibiotics for 10 days.

After taking them for 4 or 5 days my throat was feeling much better, by 7 days it was fine... took the pills for 10 days like instructed.

Day 11 - sore throat again but only on the right side. Hurts to swallow, this goes on for a few days on and off, then suddenly it's a sore throat on the left side - right side is fine.

On and off, coming and going, gets better with some advil. Then my whole throat is sore on and off for a couple of days. Yesterday all day was just the right side... then it went away, felt fine last night I was so relieved. Went to bed and woke up today with the left side again

I am just so doctored out, I don't want to go again - I keep hoping this thing willl just go away.

Does anyone understand the right/left migrating sore throat?

 

[tekmom]

3 weeks ago I had the worse sore throat of my life - went to the doctors and it was strep. Took antibiotics for 10 days.

After taking them for 4 or 5 days my throat was feeling much better, by 7 days it was fine... took the pills for 10 days like instructed.

Day 11 - sore throat again but only on the right side. Hurts to swallow, this goes on for a few days on and off, then suddenly it's a sore throat on the left side - right side is fine.

On and off, coming and going, gets better with some advil. Then my whole throat is sore on and off for a couple of days. Yesterday all day was just the right side... then it went away, felt fine last night I was so relieved. Went to bed and woke up today with the left side again

I am just so doctored out, I don't want to go again - I keep hoping this thing willl just go away.

Does anyone understand the right/left migrating sore throat?

Did you go back 3 days after antibiotic completion for a re culture? If not, you should. DD has strep right now and I've learned from experience to always go back 3 days after completion. It can really kick your butt. Good luck and feel better!

 

[Christine]

I have had sore throats that do this--travel from side to side and it is usually a viral thing. However, since you had strep so recently, I think this calls for a trip back to the doctor. Sorry. I hate going too.

 

[Cass]

I am just so tired of doctors and all those sick people in the waiting room breathing all over me - ick. That's probably where I picked this up. I was there a week before my strep appointment with a bladder infection sitting inthe little contaminated room full of sick people and then a week later the strep hit.

So no chance of this just going away? and the moving from side to side it so bizarre.

 

[Christine]

So no chance of this just going away? and the moving from side to side it so bizarre.

It might go away but, really, I would just go to the doctor and have another strep done just to be sure.

 

[karynnix]

Did you get a new toothbrush when you had strep? If not, you may be reinfecting yourself with strep.

 

[Cass]

Yes, everyone in the house got a new toothbrush after my strep. I don't think this side to side sore throat is strep. It is not anywhere near as painful, strep was excruciating. This is just more of a chronic annoyance, one day one side, one day the next - it's very strange.

 

[TheGottis]

How are your sinuses - stuffed up at all?? Could be post nasal drip just irritating it.

 

[Hedy]

YMMV, but I had a sore throat last year that was the onset of a reacion to an anti-biotic. You might want to check yours for side effects.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Do you still have your tonsils? I had mine out last year because they were constantly swollen and infected which was causing more illness, like sinus infections and strep frequently. You could still have strep. It can linger and flare up for months afterward.

 

[Beth76]

Question about changing your toothbrush after strep. Would you change it after the antibiotic is complete or after you're no longer contagious (24 on antibiotic)? DH and I were diagnosed over the weekend and started antibiotic on sunday.

OP, if it's switching sides it could be your tonsils. I would go back to the doctor to see if it's a recurrance of strep though. By son has had it back to back even with taking the full dose of antibiotic.

 

[rockin_rep]

Do you still have your tonsils? I had mine out last year because they were constantly swollen and infected which was causing more illness, like sinus infections and strep frequently. You could still have strep. It can linger and flare up for months afterward.

They're talking about my DD having hers out too, but i thought it was rarely done lately!? DD is now in college, and rarely had an illness in HS or earlier. Does anyone know the 'rule-of-thumb' for a tonsilectomy? Like how many cases of strep and / or tonsilitis?

 

[Cass]

I had my tonsils out when I was 10 on Halloween

My hubby tells me he has a sore left throat this morning. Just the left side.

I guess I will have to get back to the docs and see what the heck is going on, I am worried about my DD too, so far she is okay - but we are going to Disney next week - I need everyone to be healthy.

Thanks for your help, I was hoping someone would have a name for this left/right thing that's plaguing me.

Yes TheGottis, I do have a bit of a stuffy nose/head cold

 

[Kath2003]

In the meantime, get some soluable asprin (or paracetamol) and gargle with it every four hours. It will help with the pain. I am very prone to throat-illnesses (strep, tonsilitis etc.) and this helps no end.

 

[Cass]

Really, gargling with aspirin but not swallowing it?

 

[Kath2003]

Really, gargling with aspirin but not swallowing it?

Yup. You can swallow it afterwards if you like but I spit it back out. Works better than any form of tablet medication I've ever tried.

 

[barkley]

please be very carefull when it comes to strep throat. there is a strain that is very resistant to standard anti-biotics and can be devastating to the body. it can also be a situation where your body has built up a tolerance to the lower level antibiotics and the doctor needs to perscribe stronger meds (i'm one of those-had too many antibiotics as a kid and now only the heavy duty stuff works for me).

go to the doctor and get re-checked, if it's strep still/again it needs to be treated.

 

[tink1978]

If it's on one side...it could be from drainage. Call your doctor back though...some people need two rounds of antibiotics to get rid of them (like me).

 

[sweet angel]

To the person who asked about the rule of thumb for tonsils...

DS15 had his tonsils out the end of September. The ENT told me he should've had them out a long time ago (except that he only started getting sore throats over the past few years). He said after 4-5 bouts they should consider tonsilectomy.

 

[Cass]

Blah, okay - off to the doctor's in the morning. This side switching soreness is the strangest thing. Thanks everyone. I will try the aspirin gargle too!