I never get sick when it's convenient. It's not convenient and I'm sick.
January 6, 2010 1:42 PM Subscribe
Iknowyou'renotmydoctorfilter: I have been sick since Thursday. No fever now(It was 102.5 then) but it still hurts to swallow and my lymphnodes under my jaw hurt and are swollen. I called my doc and wound up on VOICE MAIL so am not even going to try to get in to see her.
question one: What can I do practically to feel better and two: just how stupid am I being to not try again to get medical help? I have no insurance, I do have some(not a lot) of cash but am not inclined to pay to hear something along the lines of "take ibuprofin and drink plenty of liquids."
Those lymph nodes of mine were feeling a little better yesterday but last night they felt worse and today they feel as bad as they did this weekend. This stinks. But I can stick it out and probably will unless someone here convinces me otherwise.
question one: What can I do practically to feel better and two: just how stupid am I being to not try again to get medical help? I have no insurance, I do have some(not a lot) of cash but am not inclined to pay to hear something along the lines of "take ibuprofin and drink plenty of liquids."
Those lymph nodes of mine were feeling a little better yesterday but last night they felt worse and today they feel as bad as they did this weekend. This stinks. But I can stick it out and probably will unless someone here convinces me otherwise.
Response by poster: My problem with them is that actually they might not be, here. One of them sells "cards" lowering your visits with them-which are in the almost 2 hundred dollar range for a visit. I don't think so! Plus my doc would be willing to bill me. I just don't feel willing to add another bill.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:49 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:49 PM on January 6, 2010
Best answer: The thing is that there aren't a lot of symptomatic ways to differentiate between viral sore throat and strep throat, and strep throat can be dangerous if untreated. So I would go get tested.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:51 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:51 PM on January 6, 2010
Are your sinuses stuffy/runny as well? When I get colds or other sinus events, my throat doesn't get better until my head isn't chronically draining.
I've got the crud now, and am functioning with the aid of constant humidification (because the stuffy nose is making me mouth-breathe and it is miserably dry here right now), neti pot and saline mist, soup with as much sriracha as I can stand in it, mucinex per instructions, zyrtec to keep my allergies from exacerbating the issue, ibuprofen every four hours to keep the swelling down, and pudding. The pudding is not medically necessary or possibly even productive, but it's keeping my spirits up.
I very rarely go to the doctor for this unless I can't control the fever, or it continues for several days under minimal control, the throat pain is extremely bad, or my ears are about to start hurting.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:01 PM on January 6, 2010
I've got the crud now, and am functioning with the aid of constant humidification (because the stuffy nose is making me mouth-breathe and it is miserably dry here right now), neti pot and saline mist, soup with as much sriracha as I can stand in it, mucinex per instructions, zyrtec to keep my allergies from exacerbating the issue, ibuprofen every four hours to keep the swelling down, and pudding. The pudding is not medically necessary or possibly even productive, but it's keeping my spirits up.
I very rarely go to the doctor for this unless I can't control the fever, or it continues for several days under minimal control, the throat pain is extremely bad, or my ears are about to start hurting.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:01 PM on January 6, 2010
Leave a voice mail, or trying calling your dr. at another time (perhaps the phone answering person was out and they just had calls go to voice mail), tell them your symptoms. Ask them when/if you should be seen. I do this with my kids all the time - call the doctor and ask them if it's serious enough to bring them in. All three of my kids had what we and the doctors surmised to be swine flu 2 months ago. I called them with all their symptoms, they (nurse or PA) told me to push fluids, rest, yadda yadda but that if they weren't improved in 5 days or if there seemed to be some respiratory difficulties to bring them in right away. See how far you can get over the phone. I usually phrase it like, "Jane has had a fever of 102.5 for three days, but the fever broke last night. Also, she's had a sore throat and swollen glands. The swollen glands seem to be worse/more painful today. Should she be seen? or how much time to I let lapse before she needs to be seen? When should she be seen - what symptoms should I worry about/warrant a visit to the dr.?"
feel better.
posted by Sassyfras at 2:03 PM on January 6, 2010
feel better.
posted by Sassyfras at 2:03 PM on January 6, 2010
Look around online and see if there's a CVS MinuteClinic or a Walgreens Get Well Clinic (or whatever it's called). I just went in to a CVS minuteclinic to get some antibiotics on my vacation the other day. I had similar symptoms, too, hurt to swallow, fever and chills. Antibiotics are the only thing that made me feel better. You just walk in and sit down and they look at your throat and do a few tests. The visit cost $77 and was well worth it.
posted by amethysts at 2:14 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by amethysts at 2:14 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Are you near a CVS Minute Clinic where there's a nurse practitioner?
posted by anniecat at 2:14 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by anniecat at 2:14 PM on January 6, 2010
Many hospitals have a program where you can call and talk to a nurse. Check the website of the hospital your doctor is affiliated with. Sometimes it's called "Nurse on Call" or similar, and it's pretty much for this scenario, where you just can't tell if your symptoms are doctor-worthy. Also, some pharmacies have mini-clinics, if you're lucky enough to have one in your area.
posted by sageleaf at 2:15 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by sageleaf at 2:15 PM on January 6, 2010
If it were me, I might go in. But it kinda depends on if youve been treating yourself well. If you havent been resting or drinking water, then its no surprise youre not better yet. But if I pampered myself for 6 days and didnt feel much better, I'd probably go in.
posted by jock@law at 2:15 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by jock@law at 2:15 PM on January 6, 2010
The thing is that there aren't a lot of symptomatic ways to differentiate between viral sore throat and strep throat, and strep throat can be dangerous if untreated. So I would go get tested.
Viral infections usually do not present with fever. Bacterial cases almost always present with fever. Just from those 2 symptoms of fever and swollen lymph nodes in your throat, I'd venture a guess that you got a bacterial infection. But believe me at your own risk, I'm not a doctor.
Drinking plenty of fluids is a legitimate recommendation and one you shouldn't ignore. Keeping yourself hydrated facilitates the transfer of your immune cells to the location of the problem.
So drink those fluids, get your vitamins, and go get checked out. It's always worth it to see a doctor and have him/her rule out anything serious. Any able doctor should be able to do that, and if they misdiagnose, they are accountable. And think about it, the money you pay to go see a doc versus the amount of money you lose if you aren't treated and things gets worse is negligible.
posted by BasileusPY at 2:16 PM on January 6, 2010
Viral infections usually do not present with fever. Bacterial cases almost always present with fever. Just from those 2 symptoms of fever and swollen lymph nodes in your throat, I'd venture a guess that you got a bacterial infection. But believe me at your own risk, I'm not a doctor.
Drinking plenty of fluids is a legitimate recommendation and one you shouldn't ignore. Keeping yourself hydrated facilitates the transfer of your immune cells to the location of the problem.
So drink those fluids, get your vitamins, and go get checked out. It's always worth it to see a doctor and have him/her rule out anything serious. Any able doctor should be able to do that, and if they misdiagnose, they are accountable. And think about it, the money you pay to go see a doc versus the amount of money you lose if you aren't treated and things gets worse is negligible.
posted by BasileusPY at 2:16 PM on January 6, 2010
I don't know about your doctor but at mine it's pretty common to get voicemail and have to wait for them to call you back, especially at this time of year. Also, the part about you getting better and then getting worse might be significant. Last time that happened to me and I went to the doctor she told me that the fact that I got worse after getting better might signify a secondary infection and put me on antibiotics.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 2:18 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by otherwordlyglow at 2:18 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Are you near a CVS Minute Clinic where there's a nurse practitioner?
Unfortunately, nope. And I called an urgent care center and almost keeled over at what they quoted me over the phone.
Drinking plenty of fluids is a legitimate recommendation and one you shouldn't ignore. Keeping yourself hydrated facilitates the transfer of your immune cells to the location of the problem.
Oh, I agree. And don't need to pay an arm and a leg just to have it repeated. :p
I can try to call my own doc in the morning but I have to work tomorrow afternoon...my chances of getting in without missing work are pretty slim and my next real opportunity would be next Wednesday. Ugh.
Keep the advice coming, folks....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:35 PM on January 6, 2010
Unfortunately, nope. And I called an urgent care center and almost keeled over at what they quoted me over the phone.
Drinking plenty of fluids is a legitimate recommendation and one you shouldn't ignore. Keeping yourself hydrated facilitates the transfer of your immune cells to the location of the problem.
Oh, I agree. And don't need to pay an arm and a leg just to have it repeated. :p
I can try to call my own doc in the morning but I have to work tomorrow afternoon...my chances of getting in without missing work are pretty slim and my next real opportunity would be next Wednesday. Ugh.
Keep the advice coming, folks....
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:35 PM on January 6, 2010
On the "what can I do to feel better question," I'm going to suggest something that sounds totally nuts, but I've discovered that it works. I've been able to pretty much clear up debilitating sore throats by gargling warm water with cayenne pepper in it. This is where I first learned about it.
I feel like something of a quack writing that, but it's the first thing that I do now when I have a sore throat, and it's pretty amazing. It doesn't burn your mouth like you'd think, if you gargle the water in the back of your throat and then spit it out. If it's severe I've had to come back to it periodically over the course of a few days, but it's been a small inconvenience compared to the sore throat.
Of course, you don't want to mask the pain at the expense of your well-being if you need to get to the doctor, but it might help you get by until then.
Proprotionally, I believe it's about 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper to 6-8 oz of warm water. Stir it up between gargles, and gargle a bit at a time until it's gone.
Good luck!
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:36 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
I feel like something of a quack writing that, but it's the first thing that I do now when I have a sore throat, and it's pretty amazing. It doesn't burn your mouth like you'd think, if you gargle the water in the back of your throat and then spit it out. If it's severe I've had to come back to it periodically over the course of a few days, but it's been a small inconvenience compared to the sore throat.
Of course, you don't want to mask the pain at the expense of your well-being if you need to get to the doctor, but it might help you get by until then.
Proprotionally, I believe it's about 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper to 6-8 oz of warm water. Stir it up between gargles, and gargle a bit at a time until it's gone.
Good luck!
posted by SpacemanStix at 2:36 PM on January 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
In a lot of places you can call the local hospital and get to talk to a nurse for free. And she will be able to say if she thinks you should go to a clinic ASAP.
In the meantime here is a really good thread about sore throats.
posted by cda at 2:38 PM on January 6, 2010
In the meantime here is a really good thread about sore throats.
posted by cda at 2:38 PM on January 6, 2010
It is day 7 of this and you are not feeling better? If it were me, I would at least visit a retail clinic for a strep test and hopefully some antibiotics. Where I live, they are all over the place - Target, drug stores, grocery stores. Consider that if it develops into something serious (which it could) your medical bills will be a whole lot higher. Take care of yourself!
posted by beandip at 2:41 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by beandip at 2:41 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: It is day 7 of this and you are not feeling better? If it were me, I would at least visit a retail clinic for a strep test and hopefully some antibiotics. Where I live, they are all over the place - Target, drug stores, grocery stores. Consider that if it develops into something serious (which it could) your medical bills will be a whole lot higher. Take care of yourself!
Where I live they are nonexistent. *sob*
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:45 PM on January 6, 2010
Where I live they are nonexistent. *sob*
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:45 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Ok, just called the hospitals' express care, and I don't have to pay it all up front. I'll give ya a holla when I'm back.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:51 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:51 PM on January 6, 2010
If there ARE any minute-clinic-type places in your area, you can find them googling "urgent care" and your zip code.
posted by selfmedicating at 3:08 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by selfmedicating at 3:08 PM on January 6, 2010
I can try to call my own doc in the morning but I have to work tomorrow afternoon...my chances of getting in without missing work are pretty slim
Any chance you can get some more time off to remove further stress from the equation, or will the lost income be too costly?
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 3:32 PM on January 6, 2010
Any chance you can get some more time off to remove further stress from the equation, or will the lost income be too costly?
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 3:32 PM on January 6, 2010
Viral infections usually do not present with fever. Bacterial cases almost always present with fever.
If this were true, fever would not be a cardinal symptom of (viral) influenza. In other words, this is completely false. Please do not think you can determine whether or not you have a viral or a bacterial pathogen based on whether or not you're febrile.
posted by jesourie at 4:11 PM on January 6, 2010
If this were true, fever would not be a cardinal symptom of (viral) influenza. In other words, this is completely false. Please do not think you can determine whether or not you have a viral or a bacterial pathogen based on whether or not you're febrile.
posted by jesourie at 4:11 PM on January 6, 2010
Having no fever no is very good. But if it hurts to swallow and you have swollen, painful lymph nodes you really shouldn't be going to work and exposing people to a potentially contagious illness without knowing what's wrong. Don't make other people sick!
posted by Justinian at 5:22 PM on January 6, 2010
posted by Justinian at 5:22 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: Just got back. Instant swab showed no strep but they are sending another swab to the lab to be safe. Other than that "drink lots of liquids" yadda yadda yadda. *sigh* In other words, I probably could have gutted it out.
Justinian, can't afford to miss a lot of work. It's already a short pay period due to the holiday, and besides, I like to be able to afford to eat.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:48 PM on January 6, 2010
Justinian, can't afford to miss a lot of work. It's already a short pay period due to the holiday, and besides, I like to be able to afford to eat.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:48 PM on January 6, 2010
Just got back. Instant swab showed no strep but they are sending another swab to the lab to be safe. Other than that "drink lots of liquids" yadda yadda yadda. *sigh* In other words, I probably could have gutted it out.
And if you had had strep and tried to "gut it out" it could have damaged your heart. Not a risk worth taking, in my book.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:42 PM on January 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
And if you had had strep and tried to "gut it out" it could have damaged your heart. Not a risk worth taking, in my book.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:42 PM on January 6, 2010 [2 favorites]
I know it's just suppose to help colds but I've had good luck with zinc with bugs. As long as you don't take more than the RDA, it shouldn't hurt you and it's cheap.
My sister is the spreader of germs since she likes to go to sci-fi cons and always comes back with the con crud that's going around. I can usually fight it off in half the time she does when I take half a tablet. I feel like I'm trying to spread the gospel of zinc but it has really helped me in the past.
posted by stray thoughts at 9:29 PM on January 6, 2010
My sister is the spreader of germs since she likes to go to sci-fi cons and always comes back with the con crud that's going around. I can usually fight it off in half the time she does when I take half a tablet. I feel like I'm trying to spread the gospel of zinc but it has really helped me in the past.
posted by stray thoughts at 9:29 PM on January 6, 2010
Response by poster: zinc did help me delay getting sick, but the bug finally outran me. I need to buy a case of that zinc vitamin water. If I had I'd have been hale and hearty.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 6:44 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 6:44 AM on January 7, 2010
I will second Linnee's suggestion of mono. Last year, I went to the doctor with very similar symptoms. I thought it was strep throat, she thought it was strep throat--heck, she even prescribed antibiotics despite the fact the the instant strep test came back negative.
She called me later that evening to revise the diagnosis to mono, based on a blood test. I was as surprised as anyone, because I thought it was something you got as a teenager. It can be difficult to figure out how you contracted it, because there's usually a lag period of something like 6-8 weeks before symptoms show up.
Anyway, sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes are all common symptoms. (Though I think most viral infections can have similar profiles.) In my case the lymph nodes in my neck and jaw got so big you could see them projecting out of the side of my head. My tonsils also swelled enough that it was difficult to talk, and I had an absolutely terrible sore throat that made me want to give up eating.
Your doctor can order a simple test to check. (He or she may have done so anyway without telling you, as in my case.)
posted by dubitoergosum at 9:52 AM on January 7, 2010
She called me later that evening to revise the diagnosis to mono, based on a blood test. I was as surprised as anyone, because I thought it was something you got as a teenager. It can be difficult to figure out how you contracted it, because there's usually a lag period of something like 6-8 weeks before symptoms show up.
Anyway, sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes are all common symptoms. (Though I think most viral infections can have similar profiles.) In my case the lymph nodes in my neck and jaw got so big you could see them projecting out of the side of my head. My tonsils also swelled enough that it was difficult to talk, and I had an absolutely terrible sore throat that made me want to give up eating.
Your doctor can order a simple test to check. (He or she may have done so anyway without telling you, as in my case.)
posted by dubitoergosum at 9:52 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: Update:
I got the bills for this little adventure. Just under four hundred bucks. Just the doctor's part alone for that ten minutes she spent with me was 199 freaking dollars.
DO NOT go to urgent care centers connected with hospitals if you live in Fayetteville, NC. I'd have been better off not going to the doctor at all in this case. Ugh.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:37 PM on February 1, 2010
I got the bills for this little adventure. Just under four hundred bucks. Just the doctor's part alone for that ten minutes she spent with me was 199 freaking dollars.
DO NOT go to urgent care centers connected with hospitals if you live in Fayetteville, NC. I'd have been better off not going to the doctor at all in this case. Ugh.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:37 PM on February 1, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by runningwithscissors at 1:47 PM on January 6, 2010