I have a sore throat

Slider

I first became aware of said sore throat about a week ago. It finally came to fruition while I was at work Sunday evening when I became very cold and I began to shiver; due partly to a fucking air conditioner that constantly blows chilly air down onto me while I'm working.

This is the second day I've missed work and I feel slightly guilty for..not..being..healthy, I suppose.

Other than gargling salt water, do you know of any other home remedies that work well?

Thanks.

Robman

If you're feeling cold or hot and there isn't an obvious cause, you should go see a doctor ASAP. Strep throat can get into your blood and kill you, no joke.

webguy20

yea, see a doc. They've always told me that a sore throat that lasts more than 3 days needs to be tested.

Its a simple swab of the back of the throat. Normally treated with penicillin or amoxicillin. If you look in the mirror and shine a flashlight into your mouth look for little white specks on the back of your throat. That can be a symptom of strep. not always though.

Fantasma

To fight off the infection, you could start by gargling with Listerine once a day for a full minute. Do what others have suggested, and see a doctor, you probably need a course of antibiotics.

Watch out for fever, that could in the long run affect your heart.

Veevee

It's cancer.

Now go ask someone who really knows what they're talking about, like a doctor

As for a way to possibly relieve it, I like sucking on hard candies to create lots of saliva that is then swallowed keeping the throat moist.

Linespider5

Pickle Juice has always reliably relieved the symptoms for me. Just drink like a shot's worth. The symptoms, mind you. Best see a doc about the actual problem.

tardcore

Gargling an anti-septic mouthwash worked wonders for me last week. Usually twice a day. Not swishing in the mouth, but straight up gargling for as long as I could.

Also, push the vitamin C and get a doctor's appointment. A sore throat that lasts longer than 5 days could very well be Strep, which is pretty serious and very contagious.

Slider

It still hurts and my temperature went up to 101 last night. I'll be going to the doctor today.

Thanks.

VisionOfClarity

If you didn't have the temp I'd say don't worry but fever is a sign of more than nasal drip bothering your throat. You can take some advil in the mean time so that you don't feel like hell on your way to the appointment.

Slider

Yeah. I didn't take anything on my way to the doctor and almost choked to death on all of the gunk draining into my throat.

Anyway, they gave me some antibiotics, so I should be fine.

Druhim

Good that you went to the doctor. However in the short term if you're still getting lots of mucus and have a sore throat (probably because of the mucus draining into your throat), then I'd recommend you get some sudafed 12 hour capsules to reduce the mucus if you haven't already. Are you coughing? If you are, then I also strongly recommend getting some Mucinex to both suppress your coughing, reduce mucus production, and make your coughs more productive (in other words, getting more mucus out of your airways if there's any there) so that you get over this faster.

For the sore throat, if warm salt water isn't cutting it then I highly recommend this if you can find it. It does a great job of protecting and soothing your throat without leaving your tongue feeling all icky like lozenges tend to.

Stasis

Slider wrote: »

Yeah. I didn't take anything on my way to the doctor and almost choked to death on all of the gunk draining into my throat.

Anyway, they gave me some antibiotics, so I should be fine.

Did they actually determine what's wrong with you or did they just say "Here, take these antibiotics and come back if that doesn't do it"?

Robman

When you hear hooves, look for horses not zebras. Bacterial throat infections are common, and if it doesn't spontaneously resolve (viral), and if the antibiotics don't cure it out, then the doctor will take a second look. It's pretty standard practice.

bowen

I'd be concerned about taking antibiotics if they didn't do a throat swab and gave you medicine anyways.

piratejit

If they didn't do a throat swab but saw white patches in his throat that usually means strep or infection. So it would be safe to give anti-biotics with out the swab.

Zenitram

I don't know about curing it, but I find that ginger candy really alleviates the pain. It's usually in the natural food section of a supermarket, just suckle a piece and it really helps out.