Word to the wise

[Dalya]

I tend to avoid taking antibiotics until/unless I am absolutely sure I need them. Because your body can often fight off the infection on its own in the same amount of time it takes the antibiotics to work. Now I am singing a different tune. When it comes to my throat at least.

Turns out swallowing is extremely important and you REALLY, REALLY miss it when you lose the ability.

I got really bad laryngitis last weekend. Really sudden onset (over the course of a single sentence, to be exact). My voice was coming back Monday and Tuesday and I woke up yesterday (Wed) with a sore throat only on one side. I kind of ignored it and it got progressively worse. When I got home around 2 I could no longer force myself to swallow. Upon looking in the mirror with a flashlight, I discovered my tonsils (both, not just the sore one) were covered in pustules, the left one was extremely swollen and had a really visible abscess. So I tossed and turned all night, debated going to the ER. Motrin did almost nothing except kept me from really getting a fever. Managed to hold out until 8:30 when my doctor's office opened and went in first things.

They prescribed a high dose of amoxycillin and this malox numbing solution (which numbs everywhere but the abscess). Kept getting ore swollen throughout the day until I could no longer swallow my own saliva. The doctor called in a steroid pack for me as well, (Sidenote: thanks for prescribing hundreds of pills when I can't swallow without getting tears in my eyes, doc.) Took the first round about 2 hours ago. Don't feel any improvement. If it gets any worse I will probably be going into the ER for a tonsillectomy tonight.

Anyway I tell you all this not for pity but as a warning. Don't fuck around with your tonsils. It is the worst pain I have ever felt, its impossible to distract yourself from, and I'm getting more and more tired/dehydrated/feverish. Sore throat, call your doctor and beat that shit out of your system.

[mere1975]

Man, that sucks. I hope it gets better and you don't need surgery!

- Mere "also would have resisted the doctor, but I would have gargled aspirin and/or salt water" 1975

[monet2u]

yikes, feel better. I've never had tonsil problems *knocks wood* sounds awful.

[Sybil]

Wise choice to see a doctor. Sometimes untreated infections, most notably strep, can lead to dire complications. Antibiotics are a major miracle of medical science - overused by most physicians, but a miracle nonetheless.

I used to get acute tonsillitis when I was your age, and I'm feeling you, girl. I remember thinking that same thing, "why are they giving me pills when I can't even swallow?" Fortunately, time took care of it and no surgical intervention was necessary.

Sybil

[Dalya]

The steroids finally started to work a little after my post and then everything seems to have steadily improved. Actually managed to go out to dinner and swallow food after chewing a LOT. Now I'm at about the pain level I was yesterday afternoon, right before I really noticed how much it hurt. My lymph nodes look a little less swollen too.

So I won't be running the the ER (knock on wood), but I may still have a tonsillectomy sometime soon. I think I'm gonna see an otolaryngologist (ear nose and throat) and talk about getting them taken out. I had really bad tonsillitis this summer too and I have always been prone to getting strep. I don't EVER want to feel this pain again. Take the bastards out, I say! (The infection isn't strep this time, though. They did a culture this morning.)

Maybe I should be an ENT. I do think its pretty interesting how they're all connected. And it would be nice to help people hear, smell, and taste without pain.

[mere1975]

If you develop 'Roid Rage, give me a call. I want to see it.

(I know - different kind of steroids.)

- Mere "Danny Bonaduce" 1975

[Irock]

I've never had tonsilitis but I still remember when I had strep the one time as a kid. That was a bitch. I've got some kind of sinus infection (I think) at the moment and my throat / head hurts. This thread is making me paranoid but I'm stickig to Echinechea (sp?) and vitamin C for now.

Feel better, sickie!

[katie]

If you develop 'Roid Rage, give me a call. I want to see it.

(I know - different kind of steroids.)

the thought of dalya having 'roid rage is almost too hilarious for me to bear.

ka"i've already said get well to dalya a million times, i'm not doing it at forkers too! "tie

[Tracy]

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but always, ALWAYS gargle with warm salt water at the first sign of a sore throat. And even though I am prone to upper respiratory infections, I forget and regret it.