This is day 3 of my throat hurting really bad. That's not even a clear description. It only hurts on one side and it is the top of my throat, back of my tongue and the back of my ear. That whole area on the one side hurts. It also feels like my tongue might be swollen. That might be in my head - but it really feels like my tongue is taking up my whole mouth. It's so weird. I have had a lot of sore throats in my day, but never anything like this, it's hard to describe. Like if you have ever had a kankasore, it's almost like that except much bigger and much more painful. It basically hurts to move my tongue to the other side of my mouth at all so it makes it difficult to eat. Hot tea doesn't soothe it all. I had a cold on Sunday and Monday but all other symptoms have gone away. It's a hard decision because we are really really low on cash right now and I will hate to spend the money on the doctor if they are just going to tell me it's nothing, or it's a virus and I just have to wait it out. Have any of you ever had anything like this?
I did end up going to the doctor and he did not find anything - said it was likely just part of the virus leftover from when I had a cold over the weekend and that it will go away on its own. On one hand I feel like I wasted the money and my afternoon, but on the other hand it wasn't a waste because afterwards I had peace of mind that nothing else was going on and I wasn't worried anymore. I think peace of mind is worth something. Thanks for all your help.
I think you can confidently spend the money on the doctor in this case. I don't think they'll tell you it's nothing. Please call them right away. Sounds to me as if it might be strep - and strep should not go untreated. A doctor visit now costs much less than a hospital visit later.
Sounds like what happens to me when I have a sinus infection. Since I know that some antibiotics would clear that right up and that it would probably get worse without them, I'd be calling the dr.
Get yourself to a doctor S.. Know what you are dealing with rather than wait it out. May be strep.
Have you looked at you tonsils? If swollen on one side, it could be that one of your tonsils are infected. It also could mean strep throat, or any other bacterial relate infection.
If your throat has been sore for three days, with no relief, it is best to get it checked out.
I know the exact pain you describe. I'm so sorry you're going through this. it's the pits.
Since this is the third day and it has gotten worse I think it's time to go to the doctor. If there is infection you don't want it spreading.
One thing that will help the pain is to hold a piece of rock salt in your mouth. Just keep it in your mouth like you would a peppermint or something. I think the salt kind of cleans things out in addition to having some healing properties. I learned this from my grandmother and have used it for years. Rock salt will be in the baking section with the other salts, usually in a box. Do not use the kind sold for melting the ice outside!
Some people recommend tea and lemon. Tea is helpful but the lemon, being citrus, will make your saliva thicker and increase mucous, which will increase your pain.
Keeping your sinuses clear will help with the throat pain also. I recommend using a netti pot for that, but use whatever works for you. Breathing steam helps also. Sinus drainage will always make a sore throat worse.
I went to the Dr. last Friday and ended up having strep. I would go ahead and go don't wait.
We don't have insurance so I know where you're coming from. With those symptoms, I would go. My doctor will let me pay half up front and bill me for the rest, maybe yours will, too?
I would go to the doctor. I have often gotten symptoms like that. Amazingly, it was never Strep throat, but it was another bacterial infection that usually causes sinus infections, but for some reason I often got it in my throat. It sometimes got so bad my tonsils would bleed, and once, my doctor was ready to send me to the hospital (I could not sleep or relax my throat it was so swollen).
Because it was not Strep, it would take a few days before the culture results would come back, and the doctor would know what it was and the appropriate type of antibiotic for it. In the meantime, it can get BAD!! So many times I would have to get a shot of antibiotics, expensive medications, and steroids! I hated having to take steroids! But the alternative can be even more expensive... hospitalization.
And IF it is Strep - not treating it can damage your heart and potentially cause other auto-immune reactions.
You could try the Listerine in the purple bottle -it kills everything-it's awesome. Sometimes a swollen tongue can mean strep-eek-then you've got to go to the doctor-if you start running a fever-definitely go. Feel better!
Congaplex from Standard Process works AMAZINGLY for symptoms like this. (I took for Strep we were culturing in the microbiology lab and was perfect in 6 days (asymptomatic is 3 days). My lab partners all got it as well, but most of them had to do 2 rounds of antibiotics.) I had I usually take 2 capsules 5x/day for a few days and then decrease slowly. A small bottle is about $10.
sounds like your lymph node or salivary gland is swollen...or just one tonsil is infected...doesn't happen often, but can happen...
if you haven't tried gargling with warm salt water - I would try that. Other than that? I would make an appointment with an ENT to see what is going on.
I hope you are better soon!!
If it feels like a cancer sore, it sounds like it could be strept throat and the pain will likely get worse instead of better. If it's strept then it's very contagious and you need to get to the doctor and have it treated.
Sounds like a swollen gland or two in some painful places.
Have you ever had mumps?
I had it when I was 16 (over summer vacation).
My neck and cheeks swelled up so much my skin was tight.
The pressure on the ears was awful and it hurt too much to eat.
It was pretty miserable but there's nothing to do for it but manage the pain and wait it out.
Sip liquids for a few days and it should pass.
If it lingers longer than that, then take it to a doctor.
Go to the doctor.....Later, it may be more painful and more expensive....
oh gawd, it could be strep which is very painful! or tonsillitis. both of those require antibiotic to clear it up. do you see white spots on the back of your throat? please go, this is also very contagious! good luck!
You are describing my symptoms perfectly for strep throat. I reccomend going in to the doc now but I totally get being low on cash. Certainly go in before a week is up! For now though if you are going to wait it out try taking the reccomended dosage of tylenol and ibuprofen together, drink only cold liquids with lots of ice in them(and drink alot), and try sleeping with an extra pillow under your head to let things drain a little better. I'm sorry you are so miserable!
It also could be an ear infection. If things worsen or you start running a temp or other symptoms crop up you need to be seen!
I had strep twice in the last year and I don't think I have ever been so sick in my life. I go to the doctor at the first sign of something more than a mild sore throat now. I'd rather get meds and put off the h3ll that comes with strep than anything.
I'd go to the doctor. It can't hurt. If you're fine, you'll know then. If it's more, you'll get meds and get better sooner.
sounds viral to me. My mom used to amke us gargle with vinegar & water (1 Tbl vinegar to a cup of warm water). It make the environment less friendly to germs who want to move in and stay.
It's been three days - try for 5 if you can. Also take ibuprofen - it's my miracle drug for symptom relief.
Strep, if left untreated, can become serious. Please see a doctor. Ask for a full lab culture, not a "quick test" alone for strep, because the quick test can sometimes be negative when a lab test (which may take a day for results) turns up positive. You cannot treat strep or other infections (and this could be one of many kinds of infection) with home remedies, Listerine, rock salt or anything other than antibiotics or antivirals. I know money is tight, but if you get worse because you didn't get treatment, the later treatments will end up costing much more because you'll be sicker.
And...I'm assuming you have kids since you're posting here. You don't want them, your husband, etc. to end up with strep or other infections. Please get treated and don't rely on home remedies.
Even if it's not strep, it clearly IS something.
Based solely on what you are saying, I think that your symptoms are indicative of a PTA or peritonsillar abscess.
The primary symptoms that lead me to believe this are that you are having pain on one side, swelling (tongue feels like it taking up your whole mouth), and ear pain. That it's at the top of your throat is also a red flag.
I STRONGLY recommend you get in to be seen as a PTA is an infected abscess that can ONLY be treated by the doctor. Home remedies will not work. At the early stages, it can be aspirated (sucked out) with a needle (using local anesthesia) and then treated with antibiotics. As it progresses, however, it will require surgery under general anesthesia and will have to be incised and drained.
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I'm a combat medic and nationally registered EMT. Please seek medical attention from your doctor for a diagnosis. I may be wrong...but even the other options (differential diagnoses) require antibiotics at a minimum. Don't wait.
Best of luck!
