Mothering › Forums › Health › Health and Healing › Recurrent terrible sore throats
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Recurrent terrible sore throats

post #1 of 16
6/6/11 at 6:40am
Thread Starter 

I have terrible sore throats multiple times per year - huge tonsils with pus on them, difficulty swallowing, high fever, glands painful, etc.  Not a flu or cold b/c I don't cough, sneeze nor am I tired.  I rarely get them cultured as I don't have health insurance.  My dad said this happened to him at the same age and finally he got his tonsils out and it stopped and he recommends that.  I don't have health insurance, so this is not an option (but I totally would if I could.)  Any ideas on how to prevent these recurrences?  Sometimes I feel like things are just living in my tonsils and waiting to come to life if I get slightly overtired.

Reply
Reply
post #2 of 16
6/6/11 at 3:29pm
It sounds a lot like a strep infection, to me. The usual way strep presents in the throat is with a very sore throat, swollen glands, but no cold or flu symptoms. Can you get to some kind of urgent care, the next time, for a throat swab and some antibiotics?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 16
6/6/11 at 5:00pm

I get recurrent, bacterial tonsillitis too. My GP thinks that it may be due to my post-nasal drip.

 

Part of the role of the tonsils is to "catch" microbes as they pass by to prevent them from entering the lungs. Because of the post-nasal drip my tonsils get saturated (for want of a better word) and are then more susceptible to infection themselves. He suggested I use a saline spray (or neti pot) to wash out my nasal passages to reduce the amount of material going down my throat. I also use a nasal steroid to help manage allergies but I know not everyone is comfortable doing this.

 

Reply
Reply
post #4 of 16
6/7/11 at 6:06am
Thread Starter 

I did get a rapid strep test and it was negative, so I requested a full culture to see if it is something else like staph.  I do not have post-nasal drip so that is out.  I am going to see an ENT to see if I meet the criteria for a tonsillectomy (have to have so many infections per year), but I am sure that will be expensive out of pocket.  It is just so painful and I don't even want to swallow water.  Otherwise I feel fine.

Reply
Reply
post #5 of 16
6/7/11 at 12:17pm

Do you take antibiotics every time you get an infection?

 

If not (cause you said you rarely go to the doctor) does it go away on it's own? if so how long does it take to go away and what are you using to treat the infections?

Reply
Reply
post #6 of 16
6/7/11 at 4:00pm
Thread Starter 

No, I almost never get antibiotics.  It usually takes a week to go away, either way.  I have no treatment other than ibuprofen for the pain.

Reply
Reply
post #7 of 16
6/9/11 at 6:44am
Thread Starter 

Dr. called - it is strep throat.  It didn't show on the rapid screen but did grow on the culture.  Going to pick up some amoxicillin and going to call an ENT about removal.

Reply
Reply
post #8 of 16
6/9/11 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post

Dr. called - it is strep throat.  It didn't show on the rapid screen but did grow on the culture.  Going to pick up some amoxicillin and going to call an ENT about removal.


I'm glad you got some answers! I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 16
6/9/11 at 7:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post

Dr. called - it is strep throat.  It didn't show on the rapid screen but did grow on the culture.  Going to pick up some amoxicillin and going to call an ENT about removal.


Did you take antibiotics for prior strep & then get it again? If so, you can have everyone in your family -- including pets -- tested, because someone could be carrying it (asymptomatic) and continually exposing you to it. Something like that happened to me, we tested everyone including the cats though & couldn't find a carrier, but when I moved out of the house I stopped getting strep so who knows. shrug.gif Hope you feel better!
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 16
6/9/11 at 7:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post

Dr. called - it is strep throat.  It didn't show on the rapid screen but did grow on the culture.  Going to pick up some amoxicillin and going to call an ENT about removal.




Did you take antibiotics for prior strep & then get it again? If so, you can have everyone in your family -- including pets -- tested, because someone could be carrying it (asymptomatic) and continually exposing you to it. Something like that happened to me, we tested everyone including the cats though & couldn't find a carrier, but when I moved out of the house I stopped getting strep so who knows. shrug.gif Hope you feel better!


Yes, but I think I am the carrier.  I'm the one who keeps getting them.  Now dd is getting it (high fever last night, tired, etc.)

 

Reply
Reply
post #11 of 16
6/9/11 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post




Yes, but I think I am the carrier.  I'm the one who keeps getting them.  Now dd is getting it (high fever last night, tired, etc.)

 


But someone else who has no symptoms could be carrying it.... or maybe you're antibiotic-resistant or something????

I hate strep!!!
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 16
6/9/11 at 8:06am



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post

I have terrible sore throats multiple times per year - huge tonsils with pus on them, difficulty swallowing, high fever, glands painful, etc.  Not a flu or cold b/c I don't cough, sneeze nor am I tired.  I rarely get them cultured as I don't have health insurance.  My dad said this happened to him at the same age and finally he got his tonsils out and it stopped and he recommends that.  I don't have health insurance, so this is not an option (but I totally would if I could.)  Any ideas on how to prevent these recurrences?  Sometimes I feel like things are just living in my tonsils and waiting to come to life if I get slightly overtired.



I hate to say it but I struggled with this for years too, and the only thing that fixed it was having my tonsils out.  If not, I'd try to gargle with salt water, take garlic (natural antibiotic) supplements, healthy diet, vitamin C etc.  Good luck!

 

ETA--glad you figured it out and got amoxicillan!

Reply
Reply
post #13 of 16
6/9/11 at 9:54am
Thread Starter 

I want them out, too.  Hopefully it is a cheap surgery.  :-(

Reply
Reply
post #14 of 16
6/9/11 at 10:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galatea View Post

I want them out, too.  Hopefully it is a cheap surgery.  :-(



Maybe since you don't have insurance you can work something out financially ahead of time with them.  It is sooooo worth it even though the surgery and aftermath are seriously wicked.  I was down for the count for over a week in really bad pain. 

 

Reply
Reply
post #15 of 16
6/9/11 at 3:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by APToddlerMama View Post





Maybe since you don't have insurance you can work something out financially ahead of time with them.  It is sooooo worth it even though the surgery and aftermath are seriously wicked.  I was down for the count for over a week in really bad pain. 

 

That's what I am going to ask on Monday.  Did you get the laser surgery?
 

 

Reply
Reply
post #16 of 16
6/9/11 at 3:28pm

No--cauterized which is seriously barbaric.  I don't know why they did it that way but I don't suggest it, although the outcome was worth it. 

Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Health and Healing
Mothering › Forums › Health › Health and Healing › Recurrent terrible sore throats