Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Sore Throat Remedies
Ladies...
HELP! I've had a sore throat for 3 weeks. It initially started with a fever which went away in 48 hours. After 3 days of the sore throat, I went to the Drs. They did a strep test which was negative but stuck me on antibiotics for 10 days. 3 weeks later, I still have a sore throat. I've also developed a mild dry cough. No allergy/sinus congestion so its not post nasal drip. No chest congestion. When I lie down, I literally just cough myself to sleep. DH is about to break out the frying pan. I asked him to just put me out of my misery. I'm at my wits end. Went back to the Drs yesterday, they did another strep test which came back negative and then the PAC put me on some "magical mouthwash" as she called it which is supposed to numb my throat but does absolutely nothing. I googled it and its a combination of benadryl and antiacid medicine (mylanta & carafate). I don't have reflux for godsakes! I think I would notice this.
So far: I've taken tylenol, done tea w/ honey, taken straight up honey (yuck!), cough drops,
It hurts soooo bad to even drink my coffee. I'm in misery.
Give me your tried and true remedies... at this point I'm tempted to warm some scotch or something.
Re: Sore Throat Remedies
Have they check you for Mono (are you tired a lot). I had a wicked sore throat that lasted a long time and finally convinced my doctor to test for me mono after 2 negative strep tests (she said they don't routinely test people in their 30s since they assume you've been exposed) but lo, that is what I had.
I love throat coat tea from Traditional Medicinals (I think) or Yogi Tea. It has slippery elm bark in it, tastes mildly like licorice and really helps me with honey in it. You can't drink it while pregnant or nursing, but assuming you are in the clear for both, it's great stuff.
tea with honey and lemon
or just eat honey and chase it down with lemony tea
feel better!!
my Dad always wears something warm around his throat, too, like a scarf
or go the other route and eat ice cream
I've been drinking the Throat Comfort tea from Yogi like its water! They did test me for mono but she didn't think it was mono because I had that when I was 20 years old.
I don't feel any more tired than usual but being tired really isn't anything abnormal for me with me getting up at 3 am for work everyday.
Once I read up about prolonged sore throats relating to mono online a few days ago I decided make the 2nd appt but I actually had to ask her to test me for it. It wasn't even like she considered it. Maybe I need a new dr!
problem with eating and drinking stuff is that it REALLY hurts... Like I dont even want to swallow my own saliva. I'll keep trucking along though. Damnit. I just wanna feel better. I'm afraid to give Nate kisses and love all over him in fear of him getting whatever I have.
sore throats suck.
but maybe you do need a second opinion...
i hope you feel better soon. i usually gargle with salt water but mostly b/c my mom said that was good for sore throats & not b/c I actually feel better. I keep thinking "this time, it will work" but it never does for me! LOL
i would go to a new doctor. i find it odd that antibiotics were prescribed when you didn't have strep.
i don't have any additional remedies than what was suggested but i'm really sorry and i hope you are on the mend very soon!! i had a sore throat like that for a few days (wasn't strep) and it was just awful. i lost 5 pounds in like four days because swallowing anything was super painful.
This isn't a remedy, but it will help short term. Chloraseptic spray. Tastes nasty as hell, but it will numb your throat.
I woke up in the middle of the night with similar symptoms, and with the spray I was able to go back to sleep and not cough until the end of time.
Stand up for something you believe in.
I had a cough literally for years that would not go away and tried everything before they figured out the problem. (Combination of cough variant asthma, tonsil stones and post nasal drip from allergies.)
OTC Delsym cough syrup is pretty good. If you can get your doctor to right a prescription for it - there is a prescription cough syrup that contains oxycodone and it worked wonders for me. (Sorry, can't remember the name, but I have hoarded that one bottle for several years now for when things are really bad.) Most importantly, it lets you get some sleep so that you can start to feel better.
Other considerations -
GERD. Sometimes people with GERD have no symptoms except a cough at night and sore throat. You might try traking some OTC antacids like Xantac to see if that helps.
Cough Variant Asthma.
Do you still have your tonsils? Having them removed as an adult sucks but it significantly improved my quality of life.
ETA: The prescription cough syrup is Tussionex.
I would definitely get checked for GERD/reflux since it happens mostly when you're lying down and none of the other stuff seems to be working.