Reader Participation

by Little Miss Attila on March 31, 2010

It’s been one week to the day since I got that odd little flu, which—after a 24-hour fever—morphed into a sore throat, and has since then become a cough.

So, a week. Should I think about taking some antibiotics? You know how it is: if you start ’em, you have to finish ’em all, or you end up on That Special Level of Hell.

It’s possible that I had/have two unrelated viruses. Possible.

Please advise.

{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Darleen Click March 31, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Sore throat and cough? Have you lost your voice yet?

If you do, you may have what I suffered through about 3 weeks ago which morphed into acute bronchitis. Crap, I’ve never had to have an inhaler before.

And it’s a virus so anti-biotics are not going to do a thing about it. Doc gave me a prescription for cough meds and inhaler. Had me take Claritin-D to dry up sinuses, good doses of ibuprophen (anti-inflamitory) to held any sinus swelling and told me to rest up and sleep a lot.

Worst over by day 5. Still felt like I had been beat with an ugly stick for another 4 or 5 days afterwards. Took 2 weeks before I could give up the inhaler. (was still getting the occassional coughing fit)

Be well!

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Cynthia Yockey, A Conservative Lesbian March 31, 2010 at 7:59 pm

The flu and colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not fight viruses, they fight bacteria. Over-use of antibiotics to appease people who have viral infections is breeding the new anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria. Not many drug companies are researching how to develop new antibiotics to fight them.

Re relief of symptoms: what Darleen said.

I hope you feel better soon, dear.

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Little Miss Attila March 31, 2010 at 8:20 pm

Come on, Cynthia: I know the difference. I’m only trying to figure out whether a secondary (bacterial) infection might have set in. My dad–a pharmacist–always said that it was at about the five-day mark of a viral infection that one might be in danger of a secondary, bacterial invasion. I’m not sure, however, that my symptoms have been continuously at a level of intensity that I would have been vulnerable to same throughout this process.

Darleen, I still sort-of have my voice–but it’s gone down a bit. It’s lower.

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Charlie Martin March 31, 2010 at 8:25 pm

You’ve very likely got a late case of H1N1, that’s the sequence it seems to take. Antibiotics aren’t gonna help unless you show some other signs of a secondary infection, but the mother hangs on and includes the sore throat and laryngitis. Chicken soup and sleep indulgence is your best bet.

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Darrell April 1, 2010 at 4:00 am

I know you know the difference. I’d come to your clinic, when the post-apocalyptic phase starts.

Give it more time, first. I’ve had “flu-like” infections that went on for weeks. At some point, if it’s turning into months or longer, I would go with a multi-antibiotic approach. I had a sore throat/sinus infection that dragged on for a year(back in 2002), until I visited a mall clinic and found a Dr. that coincidentally had several similar patients. She had researched a treatment regimen of three alternating antibiotics. I followed her plan and it went away and never returned. One female patient (visiting from Florida) had the problem for three years. She had visited a dozen doctors following the “Dr. DoLittle” approach and was about to buy their claim that it was all in her head.

Stay Well ! ?v^?v^???v^?v^???v^?v^??

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Darrell April 1, 2010 at 4:09 am

I know you know the difference. Heck, I’d come to your clinic when the post-apoctalyptic phase starts.

First, I’d give it a little more time unless it’s getting progressively worse and you’re showing a fever. I’ve had “flu-like” symptoms go on for weeks. Then if you are not better, I’d go the antibiotic route. It may require a mult-antibiotic regimen over several weeks, especially if there is a sinus component. Hey, I got a quick little diagnostic trick—drink Champagne and see if you feel better. Doesn’t matter about the quality.
Spike it with a little vodka just to make sure. If you feel better–and I mean into the next day–then start the antibiotics.

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Darrell April 1, 2010 at 4:11 am

And btw…I can’t use my new ascii toys!

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Darrell April 1, 2010 at 4:35 am

Hey, It gave me an error message the first time (because of the special characters) and told me it couldn’t post! I had to re-type it!
It was blank when I went back.
Fine! Make me look like a double-poster!

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I R A Darth Aggie April 1, 2010 at 6:44 am

Double poster!

LMA, you may want to check the sore throat. Strep throat isn’t exactly…pleasant.

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richard mcenroe April 1, 2010 at 6:57 am

I’m not a doctor but I played one in a student movie once. Ordered my patient killed. If you still want my advice, it’s a flu, it’s viral, you ain’t gonna fix it.

I recommend Darrell’s therapy with a suave 19th century side. Make up a pitcher of lemon shrub (whiskey, lemon juice, sugar). Hang a hat on the bedpost at your feet. Take to your bed. Apply shrub internally until you see two hats. You should be better the next morning except for the whole wanting to die thing.

Of course, if you’re rightwing trailer trash substitute Mike’s Hard Lemonade for shrub.

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Larry the Nurse April 1, 2010 at 7:16 am

I think they’ve said it well, antibiotics will not cure a virus. However strep throat is a bacteria, you may have got a virus first and it made you susceptible to a bacterial infection. Wait to see if the sore throat subsides, check your ‘nodes, monitor your temp, when it hasn’t gone away in a week or so or if it gets unbearable see your doctor. Self medicating antibiotics is never a good idea.

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