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Dawn Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 5:36am | IP Logged
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I've had a cold-flu thing since Friday, and everything feels better except for my throat. It has been *really* sore all along and doesn't seem any better today.
I really don't want to take time today to go to the dr.'s but I am wondering if this might be strep? I've never had it before, but I've also never had such a sore throat before. (And I SO don't want to go back on antibiotics again.)
I guess my question is, if you've had strep throat before what were the symptoms and treatment?
I also wanted to mention that in the comments section of a post I did on Friday there is a lot of great advice for fighting colds and flu, naturally and otherwise. I printed out the whole section so I can keep it in my home notebook for reference! I wanted to mention it here in case anyone would like to read through the suggestions.
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Bridget Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 7:16am | IP Logged
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Dawn, I have always had a fever and enough pain with strep throat that I WANT to go to the doctor. (And I really don't go for much, maybe once every three years.)
We've had lingering colds here that mainly seem to involve a nighttime cough and very sore throat. It's been going on for a couple of weeks. So it could just be the nature of the virus you have.
__________________ God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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Elizabeth Founder
Real Learning
Joined: Jan 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 7:30am | IP Logged
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Bridget wrote:
We've had lingering colds here that mainly seem to involve a nighttime cough and very sore throat. It's been going on for a couple of weeks. So it could just be the nature of the virus you have. |
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Michael has had this since he went back to school. And Mike brought it home from Arizona. Sounds like the nature of the beast.
__________________ Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 7:52am | IP Logged
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I've had strep before, a few years back -- it was no fun. One night I was so miserable I stuck a shirt in my mouth just to keep myself from swallowing . Antibiotics are a must. Since then I've been diagnosed with strep 2-3 x time more but I think the drs. may have been overzealous as the sore throat wasn't that painful but "just to be on the safe side" they still put me on antibiotics.
However, I also have had a sore throat since Friday, fever on Friday and Saturday, and now back to a semi-sore throat and colds. It may be "just a bad cold" that needs to run its course. If the pain is making you miserable you might want to get checked out, but tell the dr. you'd rather not take antibiotics if you don't absolutely have to.
__________________ stef
mom to five
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Dawn Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 7:57am | IP Logged
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Thanks so much Bridget, Elizabeth and Stef.
I am thinking (hoping) this is indeed just a virus running its course. My throat was so painful this morning, but I think it might have been dry from overnight (or maybe a bit of the, ahem, yelling I did last night ).
Now that I've had some fluids and a pain reliever, it does seem better. Keeping my fingers crossed, saying my prayers it heals soon (and especially that the boys don't get this!).
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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guitarnan Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 9:05am | IP Logged
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Dawn, my dh is recovering from strep (and dealing with the side effects of Zithromax). He says that severe sore throat plus fever equals trip to doctor's office.
I hope you feel better very soon!
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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wifemommy Forum All-Star
Joined: July 10 2006
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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One of the classic signs of strep is a white pus in the back of your throat open up and say ahhh Use a flashlight and also check for a bruise type of look. Strep throat also feels like a knife is in your throat when you try to swallow. Hope you feel better Annie
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Dawn Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005 Location: Massachusetts
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 2:52pm | IP Logged
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wifemommy wrote:
One of the classic signs of strep is a white pus in the back of your throat open up and say ahhh Use a flashlight and also check for a bruise type of look. Strep throat also feels like a knife is in your throat when you try to swallow. Hope you feel better Annie |
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I had my mum look in my throat today and she said it looked normal. The pain really comes and goes. Well, it's always there, but sometimes I barely notice it while other times it's the most painful I've ever felt it. (Since I had my tonsils out that is, when I was 4 which I shouldn't really remember, but I DO because it was awful and painful and the nurse was terrible to me. .)
Thank you all so much for your responses. I guess I will give it another day or two and see if it just keeps improving.
__________________ Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Anneof 5 Forum Pro
Joined: June 10 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 5:23pm | IP Logged
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I have had strep several times and my symptoms have been from severe sore throat with fever to very vague symptoms of just feeling worn out and tired with no sore throat at all. Your symptoms can go away and you can feel better with no treatment but you will still have it. I know of 2 homeschooling parents who died from not having it treated soon enough (different families, the past 3 years). Their organs slowly shut down and then it was too late. Sorry to sound so grim but it isn't really anything to ignore. I tend to have it checked out now (my dd had it this past week) to be on the safe side. Good luck!
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KackyK Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Feb 04 2008 at 6:18pm | IP Logged
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Yeah...I didn't want to be the only negative one, but if strep throat is left undiagnosed it can lead to major issues. Won't happen to everyone obviously who doesn't get diagnosed...but sometimes it's best just to know too. Plus, if you have any dc who come down with your symptoms, if you were tested and were negative, then you can maybe more confidently assume they are too. KWIM? Hope you feel better soon!
__________________ KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
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DeAnn M Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 18 2007 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Feb 07 2008 at 1:23pm | IP Logged
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Hi Dawn,
I did some research on this very topic a few months ago when our household was struggling with the sore throat issue. Most everyone just felt icky with a sore throat that went away after a couple of days. My four-year-old's sore throat lasted longer and she had a fever. I wanted to try a natural route before succumbing to the antibiotics. The most convincing remedies I read about were garlic, a natural antibiotic, and plain old honey. I gave Grace a spoonful of honey with a clove of minced garlic in it twice a day for two days. She was back to normal after the second day. The honey especially seemed to soothe her throat. The garlic was definitely difficult to swallow for her but as an adult I'm sure you can take it a little better!
The other option would be to put minced garlic or garlic oil, that you can find in a health food store, into some good quality chicken broth and just drink it. Both are great for soothing and treating infections.
I hope you don't think I'm crazy. I certainly would have taken my daughter to the doctor had her fever and pain persisted, but hey, if something else works I'm all for that!
Hope you're feeling better!
DeAnn
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Chari Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005 Location: California
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Posted: Feb 08 2008 at 11:05am | IP Logged
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Dawn, I have had two sore throats that were NOT strep.........no fever actually......but part of a cold.......the cold cleared but the sore throat stayed for 12 days one time and 13 the next. yes, it WAS a pain. But prayers HERE help a lot!
PRAYING! This is awful on top of teeth problems......I KNOW!!
__________________ Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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