Is there anything I can take to make my throat feel better?

Question

Over the weekend I got sick. I had a 102 fever, my whole body hurt, i have the WORST sore throat, I'm having trouble swallowing and breathing. Although everything else has gone away, I'm feeling a lot better, my throat still hurts a lot, especially on the right side. No matter what I do, nothing helps. I have taken Ibuprofen, nyquil, I even tried this throat spray that has phenol in it. It just keeps getting worse. Whenever I swallow, it feels like someone is dragging a fork down my throat. Everything I take seems to by drying my throat out. I have no health insurance and i don;t know what to do. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

From the sounds of things, you could very likely have strep throat. That is quite often the WORST sore throat you can have. Unfortunately, going to see a doctor for treatment is your best option, and even that won't really do much to change the sore throat. Strep is a virus, and your body has to do the fighting. The antibiotic will help keep you from getting anything else in the meantime, and can help you avoid worse complications from the strep- like scarlet fever. For the throat, keeping it moist is about your best and only option. Really cold liquids work best, and your favorite drink is fine, so long as it doesn't contain alcohol. Citrus juice usually burns, but apple, grape and fruit punches are okay. Soda will also tend to burn from all those bubbles and the acidity. Alcohol dries tissues, and you don't need the throat any drier. Adding moisture to the air around you will also help, either with a vaporizer, humidifier, or just a pot of boiling water on the stove. You can try a warm or hot liquid, something like tea with honey if you like. Some people find that works as well as the cold liquids. Obviously, eating things is a challenge- soft stuff loses it's appeal after a bit, but soups, jello and jogurt, frozen juice pops, and the like are a little easier to take. I recommend staying away from dairy products like milk. It doesn't really make the mucous thicker, but it makes it feel that way because it coats the throat and you want to hack to clear it. Milk won't hurt you any though, so it's your call on what you do. In between drinks, you can suck on hard candy or throat lozenges to keep the throat moist as well. Both work equally well, hard candy is cheaper and comes in a better selection of flavors though. A strep throat usually hangs in there for anywhere from a week to two weeks- the usual duration for a virus. Mostly all you can do is rest, drink and wait it out. You don't have to visit the doctor, but I would recommend it. Depending on how bad things really are, you might really need an antibiotic, and there are some medicines that can help dull the pain while you eat. Hope you get to feeling better. Sore throats stink.

Answer 2

Make some chicken soup(not out of a package or can) Buy some raw chicken pieces and boil cook them pieces in some water.
Your making soup from scratch. While it is boiling add other stuff, like a handful of rice, macaroni, frozen veges, fresh veges, spice, salt. The main thing is the chicken and boil it into the mix. I have tossed in drumsticks and cooked them until the meat falls off the bone easily into the soup. After simmering for an hour or so,(depending on your volume)should be ready to eat. Chicken soup does help colds, sore throats, nasal blockages.

Answer 3

You might try cough drops, and anything cold usually helps me when my throat hurts. And sometimes less is more, by trying all sorts of things you may be making it worse. Try one thing, and then give it some time to work. If it continues to get worse, you may want to make a trip to the doctor or the ER, you could have strep throat or worse, and I've never heard of Strep going away without meds.

Answer 4

I always found that Chamoline Tea with Honey works really wonders. Sounds like you might have strep throat. If that's the case you'll have to see a doctor and get a prescription. Good luck.

Answer 5

you need to go see a Dr because you probably have strep throat. you will need antibiotics. call a Dr office and ask how much a visit is cash. my Dr had a different price for when i payed cash because i was between insurance and it wasn't that much. then when you get your prescription go to walmart or target to see if it is one of their $4.00 prescriptions. Or go to Costco even if you are not a member you can get your prescriptions there and they are the cheapest. Also have you tried gargling with warm salt water that usually helps unless it is strep.