Abject Misery Within Throat Region

Faustum

YES, I HAVE BEEN TO A DOCTOR.

Last friday I drove home from college, a drive that lasts about 3 and a half hours. I started at 1 AM... stupid, stupid mistake. I had to sing at the top of my lungs to keep myself awake. What did I choose to sing? Why, none other than The Beatles, of course... I now hate Twist and Shout for what it hath done to me.

The next day it wasn't bad at all. My voice was gravelly but my throat itself didn't hurt one bit. This week I'm back at school, however, and my throat has gotten worse every day. I've woken up around 4-5 AM in the morning from throat pain, it's just a complete orgy of misery when I swallow. I've completely lost my voice and when I try to communicate (as with the clinic workers) I'm so miserable. Today I skipped class in order to go to the on campus clinic and I was prescribed some anti-congestion (as today my nose has been runnyish) and anti-biotics for my throat in order to nip any problem like that in the bud. You see, I think I may have caught a cold two nights ago which just intensified my sore throat -- the doctor said it was inflamed, but swabs for strep proved negative.

So I have real medicine and some advil that I'm taking ... My question is, does anyone know basic ways (drinks, things to eat, things not to eat, etc) to reduce the pain or some cheapo remedies that make it more tolerable? It just hurts so much.

Kate of Lokys

Gargling warm salt water is generally recommended as a throat-soother. You could also try some herbal tea, with plenty of honey.

Pseudonym

Try the Halls Fruit Breezers cough drops. I use them for really bad sore throats. They make the throat go all numb, but the fruit flavor makes them not all that medicine tasting.

The salt water thing works well too.

ALocksly

Kate of Lokys wrote:

Gargling warm salt water is generally recommended as a throat-soother. You could also try some herbal tea, with plenty of honey.

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TroubledTom

Avoid orange juice; it makes your throat contract.

Thanatos

8 ounces of water to one teaspoon of salt. You want it warm, but not hot. Gargle at least every hour, but more often is better.

vonPoonBurGer

Cepacol. For really bad sore throats, I use these. They've got a mild analgesic above and beyond the menthol. Your entire mouth and throat will actually go numb the first time you use them. Not like the cool feeling of menthol, I mean it feels like your tongue and throat have been replaced with a wads of cotton. Wads of cotton generate no pain.

Szechuanosaurus

Faustum wrote:

So I have real medicine and some advil that I'm taking ... My question is, does anyone know basic ways (drinks, things to eat, things not to eat, etc) to reduce the pain or some cheapo remedies that make it more tolerable? It just hurts so much.

Advil probably isn't the optimum pain killer for a sore throat. What I do - and this was recommended by my pharmacist/wife - is gargle a soluble aspirin dissolved in a small mouthful of water. Gargle it deep down in the throat and it'll alleviate the pain in minutes. Combine this with a throat lozenge containing an antiseptic and a local anesthetic (such as merocaine throat lozenges or any lozenge that contains benzocaine and cetylpyridinium chloride) which will completely dull the pain and help kill off any nasties that might be in your throat. The antiseptic might not be necessary if it's just caused from too much singing, but the local anesthetic will certainly help so take them anyway. Just a note when you are using the lozenges - swallow your saliva regularly otherwise the local anesthetic will just linger in your mouth and make your tongue and teeth go numb.

Nitsuj82

Salt water FTW!

I also recommend snorting it to clear up your sinuses. Sounds weird I know, but it actually works.

Arch Guru XX

When I have a sore thoat I start with the already-suggested Halls Fruit Breezers. They are effective if your throat isn't too sore, but they lack menthol so in my opinion they aren't great for a significantly sore throat.

After that I favor Chloraseptic, which if you're unafamiliar is a liquid you spray onto the back of your throat; it quickly numbs the pain, at least to tolerable levels. This stuff is gold at night, when you don't want to have to be awake long enough to get through a lozenge.

I recommend two non-medicinal approaches. For immediate relief, some sort of ice cream is great. No, it won't provide long-term help but if it's bad enough just a quick break from the pain can be a lifesaver. If there's a Dairy Queen near you go get a blizzard and savor it.

Second, eat something spicy. I mean, really spicy. Ideally it should make you sweat. I find that something like this really helps clear out your sinuses and improves your throat. Take some meds after the meal, hit the throat with some chloraseptic, and hopefully you'll feel better. The last time I was badly sick - with a severe sore throat - I went to a restaurant that had these chicken finger things battered in a cajun sauce - spicy as shit. I consider this meal to have been a significant contributor to my ability to survive a coast-to-coast flight the next day.

Thanatos

Nitsuj82 wrote:

I also recommend snorting it to clear up your sinuses. Sounds weird I know, but it actually works.

This is one of those cases where the cure is usually worse than the ailment. Unless you're hella stuffed up, it's generally not worth it. One of the most unpleasant things I've done, anyhow.

Wombthrasher Deathmetal

vonPoonBurGer wrote:

Cepacol. For really bad sore throats, I use these. They've got a mild analgesic above and beyond the menthol. Your entire mouth and throat will actually go numb the first time you use them. Not like the cool feeling of menthol, I mean it feels like your tongue and throat have been replaced with a wads of cotton. Wads of cotton generate no pain.

These throat numbing drugs also come in spray form so you can avoid numbing your tongue.

piL

TroubledTom wrote:

Avoid orange juice; it makes your throat contract.

Is this longterm bad for you, or just makes it hurt more for the moment?

an_alt

Also, for the kind of sore throats that don't seem to be helped by regular lozenges, try zinc lozenges. They do have a side effect similar to Viagra, but they work wonders.

tony_important

an_alt wrote:

Also, for the kind of sore throats that don't seem to be helped by regular lozenges, try zinc lozenges. They do have a side effect similar to Viagra, but they work wonders.

So, I should report any hard-ons that last more than 3 hours?

j/k

Go with the salt water gargle... it's a good way to go.

Nitsuj82

an_alt wrote:

Also, for the kind of sore throats that don't seem to be helped by regular lozenges, try zinc lozenges. They do have a side effect similar to Viagra, but they work wonders.

You've mentioned this side effect of taking zinc before. I am very intrigued. Might have to run by the GNC to test it out. My girlfriend will hate you.

TrippyDK

Another good way to get rid of the pain is to mix benadryl and malox (50/50) in a glass and gargle. Ive had bad sore throats for years, and thats what doctors always recommend.