sore throat

[Brandi]

I have had a sore throat for a week now. I don't see any white spots on my tonsils or anything but I am getting tired of it. It keeps me from doing things like ride my bike for one. Can a sore throat last this long? I do have preety bad post nasal drip. I am taking the max dose of ibprofin a day it is the only thing that helps the pain. I got this stupid sore throat the night before my birthday. My friends had a party for me yesterday and i couldn't enjoy it. My husband keeps wanting to take me out for my favorite meal (sushi) for my birthday but I have held off cause I want to enjoy it. When do i go to the Dr? I mean I don't see any spots just a red throat and runny nose. I am really tired too. I am gargling with salt water and doing a nose rinse thing too.I think it has gone to my ear cause it hurts when I open my mouth sometimes. Maybe this is a ear thing? I am getting sad just waiting for this to go away.

[Kitsune06]

This is something I'd have checked out. No white spots/white residue speaks more of an infection or irritation due to drainage than an illness like strep or mono, but there are exceptions for everything. If it is a drainage issue, and your ears are involved, it could be because the irritation is also affecting the openings of the eustacian (sp?) tubes in the throat. I'd personally try a strong antihistimine like benedryl to clear up the drainage and licorice tea with slippery elm to soothe the mucous membranes.
Either way, you *should* go get a physician's opinion on it... but if you decide to hold off (little to no swelling of the lymph nodes, low or no fever) look into the hippy herbal cures I have.

[Brandi]

Yea I have no fever. I have been sucking on slippery elm lozenges. And taking a pretty strong allergy med.

[LBTC]

Hey, Brandi

Sorry you're feeling awful.

I always think that any cold or flu (upper respiratory infection) should run its course in about a week, if you treat yourself right, get lots of rest, and drink lots of fluids. If it lasts longer than a week, it's time to see a doctor.

I once let a sore throat not interrupt me at all - kept up my exercise routine (I still had good energy), didn't really try to get extra rest, etc....after 4 weeks I had strep throat. Ouch. Now that really wiped me out!!

See a doc. Doesn't hurt to try the things that Kitsune suggested, however, benadryl may actually make your throat feel more dry and sore.....but if you are having an allergic reaction, it should help the rest of the symptoms.

Hugs and butterflies,

~T~

[Kitsune06]

what type of allergy med? You might be best off just looking into a dr.'s appointment, if you have health insurance. If not, I'd reccommend warm water gargles, warm teas (I think liquorice has antimicrobial properties...)...
oh, and Knot's honey and apple cider vinegar tonic. I think it's somewhere in the 'health' column, but honey does wonders for sore throats, and the apple cider vinegar might help you, being just acid enough to maybe kill some of the irritants.
All in all, the no-fever, no-spots say it's an irritant like sinus drainage. I'd be hesitant to clean your sinus passages as often if the warm saline solution is running down your throat too much.

[Melstar]

yep i agree with kitsune, it might be your dripping nose that is causing your sore throat. I htink the ears nose eyes throat are all connected.

[hsmpcycle]

I am in the same boat. I am having the sore throat trouble with no other symptoms except for sinus problems (stuffy nose or drainage). I figure it is allergy related with a combination of weather and temperature changes. I have been taking Clariton to help with the stuffiness but it doesn't help with the sore throat.