Strep Throat...HELP!!!

[Princess_Aurora]

I don't know where it came from, but DH and I came down with strep on Monday night. It really just came out of nowhere. Suddenly we were complaining of scratchy throats and when we woke up Tuesday we were running 102-103 fevers all day Tuesday but couldn't get to the doctor until Wednesday. She gave us antibiotics (neither one of us wanted the shot) and said we would start feeling better in a couple of days. Well, the fevers are gone but the throats are still killing us! Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips on how to make a sore throat feel better.

 

[Cruise04]

I have been told to gargle with warm salt water or warm water and peroxide. It grosses me out so I have never tried but people swear by it.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

[SeaShelley]

I swear by gargling with warm water and salt.

Hope you are both feeling better soon!

 

[Epcotgal8]

My mom swears by Chloraseptic spray. I haven't tried it in years since I didn't like the taste but maybe it is better now. I would think Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin would help. You both must have had bad cases but you should feel better once the antibiotics kick in. I hope by the time that you read this you are feeling better! I am the world's worst about going to the dr. I always say I have to be bleeding profusely or pregnant before I will go. I hate waiting and especially when I don't feel well. But I found out a couple of years ago that strep can't be ignored. Gone untreated it can lead to other complications so it's good that you got on the antibiotics.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by SeaShelley
I swear by gargling with warm water and salt.

Hope you are both feeling better soon!

Can't say it will help, but this is what I've heard too.

 

[browneyes]

Warm tea and popsicles will help your throat feel better. I also put a warm washcloth on my kids' throats when they have strep throat and that seems to help them feel better. Hershey's kisses sometimes soothes their throat too.

I hope you both get to feeling better soon.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Don't have anything to add but am curious as to why you did not want the shot. DS had strep and we were given the option of the shot when we had him in the ER (he always seems to get sick late at night!) or a scrip for antibiotics. We chose the shot and it seems he was "all better" within hours.

 

[mickeyboat]

When I last had strep, I thought my throat was going to explode - it hurt so bad. But after being on antibiotics for just a day or so, things felt quite a bit better.

I hope you are both feeling better soon.

Denae

 

[atlnewf]

You can buy colgate peroxyl (peroxide w/water) and that will help your mouth, but not much for your throat.

Ashley

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Hey browneyes, the warm washcloth felt good...thanks.

I can't speak for Dh, but the reason I didn't get the shot is because I have to go back to the dr for my yearly exam on Monday and I will be getting my depo shot. I hate shots enough as it is, and I didn't want to have to get two shots within a week.

I don't think I'll be trying that warm salt water thing...not only does it sound nasty but it seems to require energy i don't have. I can barely stay out of bed long enough to go to the bathroom and I have my laptop sitting on my nightstand. This is all just making me feel so weak.

 

[browneyes]

You're welcome.

 

[Cruise04]

If you don't get to feeling much better within the next day (before Monday) get yourself back to the doctor and ask to have a test done for Mono. It seems to be hitting people lately. I had it AND strep at the same time and if my mom wouldn't have told them how tired I was, they probably would not have tested me. I slept 72 hours straight - yes you are reading that right. Well, with the exception of the 5 minutes mom woke me to take my meds and make me drink water and the 15 minutes I could stay awake to eat a little ice cream or popsicle or something soothing a couple of times a day. I don't remember eating that first day though.

My dd's aunt's husband and his daughter now have both had mono. It's NOT fun!

 

[grinningghost]

DH just came home from the doctor = it's Strep. I sure hope the antibiotics start working soon. I know he's miserable if he actually calls the doctor for something.

 

[emmagata]

I thought the title said something slightly different.

Carry on.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

Originally posted by grinningghost
DH just came home from the doctor = it's Strep. I sure hope the antibiotics start working soon. I know he's miserable if he actually calls the doctor for something.

That's how I knew DH was feeling really bad too...not only is he rarely sick but he NEVER wants to go to the doc when he is sick. So when we were both sick and he actually looked over at me and said, "Call the doctor." I knew things were bad.

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by Princess_Aurora
That's how I knew DH was feeling really bad too...not only is he rarely sick but he NEVER wants to go to the doc when he is sick. So when we were both sick and he actually looked over at me and said, "Call the doctor." I knew things were bad.

Men

 

[shortbun]

Advil/ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
Something cold too but watch out for popsicles with
citric acid, they burn if your throat is raw.

 

[Crankyshank]

my grandmother always had me gargle with epson salt and water and drink a shot of blackberry brandy when I had a sore throat.
feel better!

 

[clh2]

Make sure you are not reinfecting yourselves - get new toothbrushes ASAP! DD had strep earlier this year - and this was one piece of advice that was on a "strep thread" earlier this year.

 

[wdwmom2]

Just wondering, did they actually test your husband for strep or just look at it and say it was strep after looking at his throat? I am a medical assistant at a pediatritions office and we see sorethroats all the time. If the doc suspects strep they will do a throat culture, not just the quick strep test that can give you false positives and more likely false negatives. If by chance your husband has a viral throat infection (not strep), there is nothing that you can do. They can be just as painful as a bacterial infection (strep). Antibiotics will do absolutely nothig for a viral sorethroat. In either case the best thing to do is take ibuprofen and drink plenty of liquids. Also, if it is strep, make sure that he takes ALL of his antibiotics.