Do I Need Antibiotics?

[KermitII63]

I have a bad sore throat that I fear might be strep...as a kid I always was given antibiotics for strep, (and for everything else for that matter) and have a host of GI/yeast issues as an adult.

DS is 6 months old and has never been sick, so far he's healthy, but I want to be aggressive about treating myself so he stays well. Part of me says, work it out with my immune system, give him the antibodies, and lay low for a few days. Part of me says, go to the doc and get medicine. I just don't want him to get the antibiotics through my milk.

Am I crazy to think about not taking antibiotics when I could have strep? Any homeopathic or home remedies that could help give me a boost?

[Marnica]

I think you are getting a little ahead of yourself. Go get a strep test and make sure if it is even what you have. Most sore throats are viral. I get that you don't want you baby to get sick from you, but antibiotics should be reserved for serious infections. They come with a host of side effects and problems (as you can see from repeated courses you had as c kid). You don't even know if you have strep! If you do have strep, and your child gets it from you, then he would need his own course of abx. If you have it and he doesn't get sick then he may get a little of the abx through the breast milk. I would be taking colloidal silver orally. It is a natural antibiotic.

here is a board of people offering holistic cures that worked for them
http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/strep_throat3.html

[tanyalynn]

I would do a lot of nutritional support stuff for you and see how your body responds to that. For us, that would probably consist of lots of vitamin C (to bowel tolerance), extra zinc, some people use high doses of vitamin D for illnesses but I haven't seen obvious changes with that for us, in addition to a good multivit. Consider cutting out dairy for a while if you consume it, it can be a problematic food, moreso when we're sick.

I don't think you're nuts for treating at home and seeing how things progress, and you can add in other things if they're needed.

[Peony]

I had strep this winter and I definitely hopped on the antibiotic wagon. First ones I had taken in close to 15 years but I was SOO miserable. It was such a relief when I started to feel better, but I had been ill for a week and half by then. I had a whole long list of symptoms and my throat wasn't that bad compared to my other symptoms so it took me a while to realize that it was not viral.



I do agree that you might be ahead of yourself, most sore throats are not strep in adults. And very rarely will a child under 2 or 3 get strep, especially a baby because of antibodies they receive from you.

[KermitII63]

Thanks for all the great advice--I checked out the link and started gargling with cayenne pepper in hot water. It's brutal but takes the pain away. I may go in for a culture tomorrow just to make sure it's not strep. Either way I'm tanking up on water. It's so helpful to have support--thanks for not telling me I'm nuts to not already be on antibiotics!

[Purple*Lotus]

I would get a strep test to be sure, first. It could be something else, like a PP said. I had strep twice last year and I was so ill. Beyond miserable. I took abx for it both times. I try to avoid abx because I am also someone who seemed to always be put on it even for things that would have best been handled other ways. But we live and we learn as we educate ourselves I hope that you feel better soon!