WWYD and any home remedies if you thought you had strep? (M)

[one l michele]

2 of my 3 boys just finished medicine for it. I really think I have it, I haven't felt "right" since Wed. night, but haven't been able to sleep since last night. My head hurts and I have to concentrate to force a swallow. The glands in my neck are also swollen. I've been alternating between noodle soup, hot tea, gingerale, and ice cream just trying to keep it numbed. Motrin hasn't cut the pain a bit. I usually tolerate a lot, but I'm miserable. We do have an urgent care center, but I feel silly going there for this. We are in a new town, so I don't have an estabilished doctor here yet. At this point though the pharmacies would likely be closed even if it was confirmed strep, so I just have to try to hold out until morning, then drag three kids with me.

[Amy in Orlando]

My experience with strep is that nothing works but antibiotics. If it were me, I'd run over the Urgent Care center now and you should be feeling MUCH better by tomorrow. Take care.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

I've heard some people suck on or eat raw garlic, as it has some antibiotic properties, however I wouldn't play around with strep. Get to the doctor.

Hope you all are feeling better soon!

[Audrey]

Sorry you're feeling so lousy, but don't mess around with home remedies on this one. I'm usually all for alternative remedies/medicine, however, there are limitations. Strep is an infection that needs prescription antibiotics. Get some ASAP. You don't want to let it drag on and risk reinfecting the rest of your family.

[Claire]

Are there any "minute clinics" in your area (located in drug stores, etc.)? They can do the rapid strep test and prescribe an antibiotic. This would be an alternative to urgent care.

In any case, please get antibiotics as soon as possible. Strep is nothing to fool around with. In our area, a homeschooling mother of five died of complications from strep right before Christmas. Apparently she had been too busy with Christmas prep to get herself into a clinic for her sore throat.

[Amy in NY]

We keep them at the UC where I work for the hours when the local pharmacies are closed.

I would at least go tonight and get the script. If they have some antibx there, all the better. If not, then you can go right to the pharmacy in the morning.

I hope you feel better.

Amy

[Blue Hen]

I wouldn't mess around either with strep. I'd run to Urgent Care too. There are plenty of other illnesses that I'd do home remedies for but not strep.

[Ria]

I hope you feel better! (And yes, I'm back!)

Ria

[JFS in IL]

Get yourself to a doctor and get treated. Not only may you reinfect your family, BUT why risk scarlet fever/rheumatic fever complications of untreated strep?

[Rachel]

Strep can easily turn into Scarlet Fever and then you have much bigger problems than antibiotics and a trip to Immediate Care..........there are many things you can treat naturally.........strep isn't one of them.

[Amy in NH]

Grapefruit Seed Extract. But it is *so* bitter and yucky! If I had a very sore throat, I don't think I could choke it down, even mixed in OJ. If you can swing it, antibiotics are a much better idea!

[Lizzie in Ma]

My dd had a massive case of strep and we didnt even know it (we were at the Dr.'s for something else) My throat has been agonizing for a week and my strep test was negative! Try hosing down your throat with Cloroseptic, and gargle warm salt water. That is all that helped here.
Hope you are feeling better soon.

[Bev in B'ville]

A friend of ours who travels as much as my husband does pretty much knew he had strep, but was "too busy" to go to a doctor. Two weeks later, the strep virus had moved into his heart. He almost died. He was in the hospital for a month!

[one l michele]

The Urgent Care Center put me on a steroid and antibiotics. They also took a strep test, but results take 24 hours. I'm to alternate Motrin and Tylenol. My Uvula (thingy in the center of your throat) was at least 3x's normal size when I got there and touching the back of my tongue gagging myself. I had my tonsils removed in my early 20's. I have never felt such pain as with this throat isssue, I'd rather go through labor again. I sit waiting for these meds to kick in and follow up with my doctor in a few days.