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Thread: Strep throat

  1. #1
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Strep throat

    Last night while at work, I got a severely sore throat. It came about in a matter of just a few hours. Now today, it hurts profusely when I swallow, I can't stick my tongue out too far, and I have an earache in my right ear. This is my own fault, because I was making out with my guy friend the other day(!), and sharing a joint with him, and he is known for having recurring cases of strep throat in his family.

    I do NOT have health insurance, so I do not know what to do. Is seeing a doctor necessary to cure strep throat? I am against entering the ER uninsured for a non-"emergency" and then getting 1,000s of dollars of medical bills later...that happened before, and my credit is too valuable to have anything taint it. I am also against going to the shitty state "free" clinics...they make you wait outside at 5:30am in a line, and as a good-paid dancer there is also the issue of the free clinic harming my pride.

    How long will it take before I can go back to work? I can barely talk, let alone drink any liquids without wincing in pain. My friend claims that he hasn't had any strep throat lately...is there a chance that maybe he passed along the contagious germs before it affected him? Please help.

  2. #2
    Cally
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    There is a mouth rinse called 'Steri/sol' it has hexetidine in it. Its a rinse for oral infections, my doctor also recomended it for me for strept throat. You really should go to the doctor though because you need anti biotics. But if your too stubron go for this rinse. You gargle it for 30 seconds up to 4 times a day.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    The ER and the free clinic aren't your only two choices. You can try to hit an urgent care clinic--those visits are usually between $80-$200, not including prescriptions. Or you could try to get into any local doctor's office. Do you have a doctor? Even if you don't have insurance you should have one; then you can be seen and get prescriptions when you need them. If I were in that situation though, I would go to the local urgent care clinic and tell them to make it stop hurting. Hope you feel better soon!

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Strep throat will generally cause visible white areas in the back of your throat. If it is strep throat, you need antibiotics. You don't want the infection to spread to your heart or elsewhere.

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    Default Re: Strep throat

    ^^^Exactly. Left untreated, strep throat can lead to rheumatic fever which can cause permanent damage to your heart.

    Take Susan's advice and visit an Immedi Center immediately to get some antibiotics. Feel better sweetie.

  6. #6
    God/dess onlythebest's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Generic antibiotics will save you money and they are just as effective.
    One of woman's cardinal rule: Body parts can be fake,everything else has to be real.

    一个女人的枢机规则:肢体可以伪造,一切必须真实.

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  7. #7
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Yes I Know But I Do Not Have Any Money At All. I Am Broke As A Joke. My Credit Card Is Maxed Out And Waiting To Be Paid Off. I Took Off Work For Nearly Two Weeks Because My Mother Was Sick And Passed Away, During A Time That Making Money Was Crucial.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Then my suggestion would be to go to the emergency room and let them know of your circumstances and have them put you on a payment plan.

  9. #9
    Senior Member kirbie_kyle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    I'm so sorry about your mother. I'd ask your guy friend if he has any perscriptions for antibiotics or has any extra. That's what everybody does here with Adderal/Ritalin during exams. Plus (as far as I know), you've not been officially tested. Therefore, it could just be a really bad sore throat. If it really is an issue though, than maybe the free clinic isn't as bad as it sounds. Whatever your choice is, I wish you good luck and a speedy recovery

  10. #10
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    In response to the ER or free clinic, noooooooo. Uh-uh. I went to the ER before for a mere black eye(it wasn't my choice; I got into a fight, was drunk, and they took me in against my will), and to be there for 4hrs, meant getting billed over...5 GRAND. Luckily I had insurance at the time so I was later able to dispute the bills by verifying my insurance information. I can NOT afford the astronomical medical bills the ER charges.

    The free clinic makes you wait outside in yes--the brutal cold--at 5:30am until they open at 6am. The first 10 people in line "win" an appointment with the doctor, the others are left to go home and possibly try again another day. The free clinic is GHETTO and waiting outside in the cold is NOT going to help my strep throat any. Besides, I am too good for state assisted healthcare...I am NOT handicapped, mentally handicapped, single mom, or any GOOD reason for using state healthcare. I am a perfectly capable single 23yr old female with a COLLEGE DEGREE, it'd be pathetic for me to claim feebleness and get state aide.

  11. #11
    PhillyDancer1982
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Just a quick note: I am NOT knocking medicaid/state aide for people with GOOD REASON for it. For example, Medicaid is a big help for people like my brother, who is mentally disabled. It is understandable that someone with a handicap or extenuating circumstances would be at a disadvantage, jobwise, thus state insurance would be beneficial. But I am young, intelligent, single, no kids, ON MOST DAYS healthy, I have a college degree, I will be reporting a decent income on my taxes this year...there is no reason for people like me to "clog" up the state system and take aide away from the people who actually need it. And yes when I worked at Wizzards there were people who made good money dancing, yet didn't claim it and tried to get free state aide, and I think that if they do not need it, it is pathetic for them to try and get unneeded freebies.

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    So, you don't want to go to a free clinic because you feel like you shouldn't get an unneeded freebie, but you don't have money to go to a clinic or doctor's office? Help me out here--if you need medical attention, just go! The urgent care clinics can also bill you later and at a cost far lower than the emergency room. I'm not sure exactly what advice you're looking for, though, as you seem to have rejected the options we've provided so far. What are you hoping to find out?

  13. #13
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Quote Originally Posted by PhillyDancer1982
    Is seeing a doctor necessary to cure strep throat?
    Well, you need to be properly diagnosed before a cure can be prescribed. They'll swab your throat.

    How long will it take before I can go back to work?
    If you do in fact have strep throat, you are contagious until 24 hours AFTER you start your antibiotics

    is there a chance that maybe he passed along the contagious germs before it affected him?
    I don't know but I suppose it's possible.

    The last time I had strep throat I self medicated with a friend's strep throat antibiotics. HUGE MISTAKE. Not only did it not work (I think I didn't finish the course) but I got a raging yeastie from it. And boy was my doctor PISSED when I 'fessed up to him.

    I hope you feel better. But if it is strep, it's not going to go away on it's own.


  14. #14
    God/dess FrustratedBunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Last time I went to the doctor I went to the walk-in clinic and when I told them I had shitty insurance ($2600 dedutible) they gave me samples of antibiotics. Shoot, if I could go to a public health clinic I would. The cost of healthcare is ridiculous. I hope you feel better. I'm sick as hell and it sucks!

  15. #15
    Pamela
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    I don't mean to sound rude. BUT, strep is a killer. Go asap....it does not go away without antibiotics! Period. Also, you infect others around you like children and elderly who have a much worse time with strep.

    Strep still kills many yearly!!!!!

  16. #16
    Veteran Member IvyLeague's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    ok strep untreated i VERY dangerous, untreated it can cause infection in the entire body. In reguards to no hospital because of your credit, medical bills arent alllowed on your credit reports. Even if you send them $5 a month or every other month no matter what they aren't allowed to hold it against you with your credit. Please go see someone, i've been sick for almost 2wks and i'm finally getting to the doctor today, unfortunatly because of crappy weather and lack of a car i cant go to my regular GP so its to the clinic I go (cross fingers) but take care of yourself, you'll only miss a lot more work if you holdoff getting treatment, untreated for a certain amount of time they might require you to be hospitalized so get someplace quick

  17. #17
    God/dess sassysummer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    yes you do need to get on antibiotics and NO do NOT "borrow" unused antibiotics from anyone! (sorry if I'm gonna sound harsh, but I'm pharmacy technician by trade and this pisses me off!). That is EXACTLY the reason we have super bugs that are resistant! Because people don't finish their entire course of antibiotics or they "borrow" some from a friend or whatever..which could be the WRONG antibiotic and wouldn't do anything but make the bug STRONGER...on top of that, any that are borrowed are probably from a course that THEY were supposed to take and didn't finish, which would mean that you wouldn't be getting the entire course even if it was the right drug!

    Just go to a clinic or a regular dr. Almost all places have drug samples stashes (perks from the drug company reps to get them to use their drugs)...enough for an entire course.

    And yes, you can get a SERIOUS heart infection and die from it...strep is not somethiing you want to mess with.

    If you do have strep, the main sign is white spots on your tonsils and back of your throat, and you will likely run a fever, even if it's a low grade one.

    Here... read.... http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/str...S00260/si=2765





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  18. #18
    Veteran Member boxingdoc's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    You need antibiotics. Strep throat left untreated can progress to peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, and as stated above, heart infections. All of these are much more expensive to care for than a simple pharyngitis. First line treatment is penicillin. If you are not allergic, a full course of penicillin shouldn't cost more than $10. You can get an estimate of med costs by looking them up on drugstore.com or on any of the chain pharmacy websites. Until then, try warm saltwater gargles and ibuprofen or tylenol for any fever.

  19. #19
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Quote Originally Posted by boxingdoc
    You need antibiotics. Strep throat left untreated can progress to peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, and as stated above, heart infections. All of these are much more expensive to care for than a simple pharyngitis. First line treatment is penicillin. If you are not allergic, a full course of penicillin shouldn't cost more than $10. You can get an estimate of med costs by looking them up on drugstore.com or on any of the chain pharmacy websites. Until then, try warm saltwater gargles and ibuprofen or tylenol for any fever.
    OMG........ peritonsillar abscesses.... I just drained the largest one that I have ever seen two nights ago in the ER. IT WA HUGE! The guy's uvula was deviated so far, I could barely see it. He was like, "I can't breathe with I lie down". I gave him some Clinda and Decadron and handed him the Yankauer and said, "Yeah buddy, you're going to need this". LOL! Made a 5mm incision with an 11-blade, and nothing happened. Put a set of Kellys in and the flood dams broke. Ughhh..... SO MUCH pus and blood. The guy was choking on all the thick pus.... I was like, "You're doing good..... just use the suction." But inside my mind, I was trying not to gag. LOL! Anyways, GO SEE A PHYSICIAN PHILLYDANCER1982!

  20. #20
    God/dess sassysummer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    ^ Eeewwww





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  21. #21
    Senior Member kirbie_kyle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Quote Originally Posted by sassysummer
    yes you do need to get on antibiotics and NO do NOT "borrow" unused antibiotics from anyone! (sorry if I'm gonna sound harsh, but I'm pharmacy technician by trade and this pisses me off!). That is EXACTLY the reason we have super bugs that are resistant! Because people don't finish their entire course of antibiotics or they "borrow" some from a friend or whatever..which could be the WRONG antibiotic and wouldn't do anything but make the bug STRONGER...on top of that, any that are borrowed are probably from a course that THEY were supposed to take and didn't finish, which would mean that you wouldn't be getting the entire course even if it was the right drug!
    ... No, you don't sound harsh at all, as a matter of fact you sound informative. I'm sorry about the advice I gave before [BAD KIRBIE!!!], I had no idea...

  22. #22
    God/dess sassysummer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    LOL, tis okay. I just get worked up when it comes to antibiotics...guess I've seen one too many people get seriously ill when they shouldn't have.





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    Default Re: Strep throat

    this remedy works, but needs to be started at the first sign:
    eat raw fresh ginger (quite a bit) or try and take a ginger tea (health food stores- the medicine kind, not celestial seasonings)- ginger is a natural antibiotic
    eat about 4-5 raw whole garlic cloves (stinky stinky!)
    avoid dairy, meat, greasy stuff like fried food- this coats the throat- stick to fresh veggies or cooked, hot broths, juice, water, herbal tea.

    stay covered up and inside- wait until you're totally 100% before going back to work!

  24. #24
    smartcookie
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Hi. I suffer from recurrent, antibiotic-resistant Group C strep. Group A is the type that usually causes what we typically call "strep throat."

    I became resistant to antibiotics through over-prescription as a child/adolescent, and not completing my courses of antibiotics. You definitely do need to see a doctor and be prescribed antibiotics, but remember not to skip a dose and finish your presciption. You might want to go to the health food store to pick up some probiotics - an acidophilus/bifidus capsule or liquid supplement, because antibiotics kill all the bacteria in your body, including the beneficial ones like lacto bacilli that prevent you from getting a yeast infection.

    As I child, I developed scarlet fever/rheumatic fever from an unchecked strep infection. This resulted in a temperature of 105 degrees and minor encephalitis (brain swelling) and I was in the hospital for two days.

    Rheumatic fever can be very, very serious, so please, don't leave it untreated.

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    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
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    Default Re: Strep throat

    Chick.... you need to take your ass to any clinic that will get you in. Almost every clinic (county health or privately owned) will be able to help you. I would suggest calling the last Dr. you went to and explaining that you have been out of work due to your mother's passing away and that until you get better you can not return to work. Ask if they have any samples, they will HAVE TO do a strep test before they give them to you. Or call around to some local Dr's and ask if they have samples. Also, almost every clinic will set you up on a payment plan but you neeeeeed to check with your county/ community clinic as they can put you on a sliding scale and still get you seen ASAP without paying that day. It isn't welfare or taking from those that need it when you go to a community clinic. They are just lower costs because they rely more on nurse practicioners instead of paying a BIG fancy DR.

    For now I would gargle with some warm salt water about once every other hour, keep drinking warm fluids, ginger tea with a few drops of honey. Get some solid rest, drink some broth, take some Echinacea & if you can't swallow them, empty the capsule in a small amount of water until it is disolved and mix it into some juice and chug it. You could do this with like 3 ech. in the morning and 3 again in the evening.

    Normally you can't get strep from someone that doesn't have it. So unless you were already sick and the joint just agrivated your throat (which has happened to me before) and now you just have one helluva sore throat since your immune system was already down (stress does that to us).
    Phedre
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