Don't know why I bother. I am surprised at all the flippant responses. Strep is serious business, and twice in a year should be a big red flag re immune system health. In general: start asking what's up with your diet and and lifestyle. Twice in a year surely says a weakened immune system. Isn't there a doctor in Fchat you can email? Very important: take acidophulus/bifidus supplement during and for at least one month or two after anitbiotics done. Anitbiotics kill off good bacteria in large and small intestines in addition to the strep. These intestinal bacteria are important for good immune system health, and the supplement is needed to restore these. Probably ought to take it for maintenance, too. I recommend buying the liquid. Yogurt might not provide enough. Cut down on white sugar. Weakens the immune system. Clean up the diet in general. Cut down on caffeine. Get a nutiritonist's advice on immune system health. Repeated anitbiotic use weakens a person. Investigate on your own. You know? Take responsibility for your own health. Stop watching TV.
Yeah, but who in their right mind would email URO for a throat problem....four fingered rubber glove and all?!? DL
David. All excellent advice. I need to find out what is going on. I had non-hogkins in the early 90's. I have a call into my dr already to make an appointment.
And BTW, that stuff I mentioned was not from reading a "healthy living" type of magazine or talking to a lay person. It was all corroborated and advised by 1) an MD who is also a psychiatrist in San Francisco, 2) a nutritionist in San Mateo (CA), and 3) a doctor of Chinese medicine who is a friend of mine in San Anselmo. But, you're already "experienced," so ... Best of luck. D
Matt, I had strep twice within 6 months in '71. I was 19 at the time - and was given the liquid penicillin bottle both times...and told to take it ALL - even after I began to feel better. I haven't had a recurrance since . Good luck.
That picture of yours is bad karma... Now reoccuring strep throat is not uncommon if it wasn't properly treated the first time. It can also reoccur for a long time afterwards, and side effects can be severe. I suggest you do some reading and research every avenue of the disease.
Forgot to mention.... for example, it's good to know why the entire round of anitbiotics needs to be finished. The MD in S.F. told me that the invading bacteria are not all of the same tenacity and strength. The weaker bacteria are killed off quickly, and the strongest can be subdued but survivie if the cycle is not complete. Then, upon early termination of the med, the strongest make a come back, but then they ALL are of that stronger, heartier bunch of germs, and that's why people say you can end up worse off. So I recommend learning as much as possible.
David. I was not brushing your advice off. It was all very good. I have not seen my oncologist in a couple of years. I also have let my lifestyle take over. Good news is that my fever is gone but I seem to have gotten weaker. Not sure if it's an effect of the fever I had. Thanks again for the info. I have a couple of more questions to ask now. Matt
Funny you should mention that. Last night my wife found the prescription bottle from my last bout. It had 7 pills left. I thought I had taken them all. I am going to take them all for sure this time.
Actually, I was not being defensive. I wanted to add my sources for the sake of credibility for all and to make clear that the suggestions were neither flippant nor casual. I feel that my consulting with people (on the downside of anitbiotics in this case) who have done extensive study has a value over and above reading popular magazines. Anyways, I have had my own compromises and cannot afford unlimited amounts of pizza, caffeine, stress, fatigue, sugar, alcohol etc. Moderation is the thing, as is an honest assessment of what remains of one's ability to process toxins. Also, of couse, malignancy is no trifling matter. As Eddie Van Halen said, it has a way getting a person to look at their life. And it is in this area I wish you best of luck.
When I was much younger, I had strep at least once per year. When I was 13, I had it 3 times in one year. They decided it was time for my tonsils to go. Its now 12 years later and I haven't had it since. I was disappointed that I didn't get to keep my tonsils in a jar like some of my other friends, but the surgeon said they were so infected that when he poked at them, pus poured out. He called it tonsil cheese. Make it an elective surgery and yank 'em.
Hey Matt - How do you know it's really strep? Did you go to a doc and get a culture to prove strep or non-strep? Lotsa other bugs can cause pharyngitis/tonsillitis w/ high fever. Viruses can cause it and they don't respond to antibiotics. You could have mono (infectious mononucleosis aka "the kissing disease - reference post above re: strippers) which could seriously compromise your spleen and liver if you don't know you have it and engage in "contact sports." Untreated strep pharyngitis can, in some cases, result in rheumatic fever with severe cardiac and renal complications. Self-medication ---> "He who treats himself has a fool for a patient." Plain old penicillin still knocks the crap out of strep but most docs use Amoxicillin 500mg 3 x day x TEN days. If you don't take the whole Rx you may just kill off a few of the bugs and really piss off the survivors. Seriously, I'll be happy to answer any questions - free. Good luck, el Carnicero Fine automobile afficianado, dog wrangler and er/family doc for more freakin years than I wanna remember.
