Strep Throat

"Children are incubators for germs you are genetically vulnerable to." gbuskirk 1991

Since my first child was born, I've gotten strep throat about once a year. Sinus congestion, sore throat, and a throbbing headache in the back of the head are my symptoms. Last week was the most recent. I had a scheduled visit to my sleep doctor on about the third day of it. He didn't think it was bacterial, and sent me on my way.

I thought I was getting better after about 5 days. At about 8 days, it was worse again. I went to the urgent care, described my symptoms, and requested a strep test. As with the sleep doctor, I always have to convince them that I know my body and they should listen to me. The test was positive.

The doctor didn't want to prescribe an antibiotic. He tried to talk me out of it, saying they are more effective in the first 2-3 days, and after that they have a minor effect on shortening the duration of an infection. I explained to him I have OSA and use CPAP, and a sore and swollen throat is more than a minor inconvenience. Besides that, I didn't want to spread the bacteria to folks around me. I told him I wanted the antibiotic, and he wrote the script.

Relief was quick - noticeable within 12 hours, remarkable within 24. I still have some congestion and a minor cough, but I feel so much better.

Have you had to cope with this?

If you mean doctor's refusal to prescribe antibiotics, the answer is no.
If you mean having a strep throat: yes, once while on cpap.

I asked my doc about disinfecting the equipment, she was kind of surprised.
Me: Well, you know, recurrent infections etc.
She: Well, this isn't recurrent, is it?
Me:

She was right. Got the antibiotics (first kind did not work, second kind 3 days later worked like a charm) and cleaned my stuff normally.

Haven't had a repeat - this was 18 months ago.

Note: no kids around...

O.

That's some of the craziest feedback from a doctor I have ever heard. Strep is a serious infection.