10 PTS with best answer! Scratchy throat: allergies, strep, drainage?!
Question: 10 PTS with best answer! Scratchy throat: allergies, strep, drainage.?
About 3 days ago I had real bad sinus pressure and when it blew my nose it was all clear. I took some meds for it and by the next morning I felt 85% better, and this morning it was just stuffy and I woke up with kinda a sore throat but it went away after I woke up more and had breakfast. After my Thanksgiving dinner, about 3 hours later I started having a scratchy throat and drank 2 cups of hot tea with honey but it still didn't help, and I've gargled with salt water 3 times. I looked down my throat and there are some white patches but not many, I'm not running a fever, I DEFINATELY have an appetite, no swollen glands, and I am not fatigued. I don't think its the start of strep since I've only had it once, in third grade and it was HELL, but I am very healthy. I'm not sure if my sinuses and this scratchy throat is just allergies (although I don't believe I have had them before) or just drainage from my nose causing it to be irritated, patchy, and somewhat painful to swallow. Any suggestions.? Thanks! :)Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Well when I had strep several years ago, my doctor took one look at my throat, and told me i had strep cuz i had the white patches also. No throat culture, nothing. Right away, antibiotics.
Well a few years ago, I thought I had it again. Same white patches, very painful to swallow, etc. This time instead of going to my regular doctor I went to a local clinic, since i have no insurance, and the clinic works on a pay scale. Well I get there, and the doctor took my temp. and said nope, not strep. Never even looked at my throat. I said you didn't even look at my throat or anything, and I told him what my doctor said, that the white patches are automatically strep. And she assured me that I would def. have a fever if it were strep, and my temp. was normal. She said to buy the Sucrets (strongest OTC thoat drops) and gargle with salt water, and I'll be fine. I had my doubts, but it was a sat. so i told her i'll be back mon. if not doing better, and sure enough she was right. Oh and btw, they didnt even charge me a penny.
So yeah, white patches are not a definite sign of strep. Give it a few days see how you feel. Remember buy the Sucrets and gargle with salt water (both really helped a lot, believe me), continue drinking the tea, OJ (you need the vitamin C), and just get plenty of rest. I don't believe in Dr.'s, I think they're a greedy, money-hungry profession. I'm not saying all are, but i think they are way to quick to diagnose. I'm sure had I gone to my reg. dr. she would have prescribed me antibiotics that i obviously didnt need. Yes, the antibiotics would probly shorten it, but i obviously was fine without it.
However, if you start to get feverish, or if you don't notice any improvement over the next couple days or so, like lets say mon. than its time to go the dr.s but dont rush right in. You'll probly be alright, you said you didnt have a fever or anything. And you had appetite, etc. I remember when I had strep I didnt wanna eat anything...Health Question & Answer
Well a few years ago, I thought I had it again. Same white patches, very painful to swallow, etc. This time instead of going to my regular doctor I went to a local clinic, since i have no insurance, and the clinic works on a pay scale. Well I get there, and the doctor took my temp. and said nope, not strep. Never even looked at my throat. I said you didn't even look at my throat or anything, and I told him what my doctor said, that the white patches are automatically strep. And she assured me that I would def. have a fever if it were strep, and my temp. was normal. She said to buy the Sucrets (strongest OTC thoat drops) and gargle with salt water, and I'll be fine. I had my doubts, but it was a sat. so i told her i'll be back mon. if not doing better, and sure enough she was right. Oh and btw, they didnt even charge me a penny.
So yeah, white patches are not a definite sign of strep. Give it a few days see how you feel. Remember buy the Sucrets and gargle with salt water (both really helped a lot, believe me), continue drinking the tea, OJ (you need the vitamin C), and just get plenty of rest. I don't believe in Dr.'s, I think they're a greedy, money-hungry profession. I'm not saying all are, but i think they are way to quick to diagnose. I'm sure had I gone to my reg. dr. she would have prescribed me antibiotics that i obviously didnt need. Yes, the antibiotics would probly shorten it, but i obviously was fine without it.
However, if you start to get feverish, or if you don't notice any improvement over the next couple days or so, like lets say mon. than its time to go the dr.s but dont rush right in. You'll probly be alright, you said you didnt have a fever or anything. And you had appetite, etc. I remember when I had strep I didnt wanna eat anything...Health Question & Answer
I am a CCMA
White Patches sounds like STREP
go to the ER and have a STREP test done ASAP
Untreated Strep can attack vital organs in the body such as your kidneys ( Nephritis) this happened to my daughterHealth Question & Answer
White Patches sounds like STREP
go to the ER and have a STREP test done ASAP
Untreated Strep can attack vital organs in the body such as your kidneys ( Nephritis) this happened to my daughterHealth Question & Answer