Standard disclaimer #486: This is not a thread seeking medical advice. I have a doctor, I am going to see him today for verification. This is a poor me, whining, pity-party thread.
About a week ago, I started with my semi-annual stupid sinus problems. I get it in the Spring and in the Fall. It starts with me being stuffed up, then goes into the runny nose, hoarse voice, feel like crap for a week or two then it goes away. Not this time. Ugh. Tried to sleep all weekend, so as to help get over this crap for work today. I woke up yesterday at one point and could barely swallow. That’s new. I looked in the mirror to discover my glands visibly swollen on the outside. Looked at my poor tonsils, and sure enough, the damn things (and my uvula, too!!! ) are swollen and red as fuck. Gah!
So, I have called my doctor’s office and asked them to slide me & the boy* in sometime this afternoon. He is where I was last week with his – but since he always follows in my footsteps with any illness, I figured it made the most sense to go ahead and schedule him to go too.
I am really hoping it’s not strep. That would suck with our vacation next week. We are planning on going to Busch Gardens – it will suck if we can’t go on the roller coasters
Mundane and pointless as it gets, but I am feeling pitiful and felt like sharing. Of course, I have been trying to not share my germs, but everyone has been stopping by my cubicle to ask how I’m feeling. Dumdums. :smack:
*my 8 yo son, he seems to have inherited my messed up respiratory system, poor kid.
You should be hoping that it is strep. 24 hours after you get antibiotics you will not be infectious and feeling right as rain. Have a great vacation and enjoy the rides!
Thanks, but the last time the boy had strep was right before a trip to the local-ish theme park (Beech Bend for those keeping track), we were reminded to keep him off the roller coasters – I think it was about 2 weeks before our planned amusement park excursion. Of course, I have mixed feelings – I want it to be something that a shot of penicillin will kill right away, but I want to go on the rides with impunity! Waaahhh…still waiting for the nurse to call me back.
Why no roller coasters? I’m genuinely curious as to the reason for the restriction. I mean, maybe not the first 24 hours where your tonsils are still trying to pass as tennis balls, or whatever, but why after that?
Must file this info away. I could have used the excuse yesterday to get out of riding the Sea Serpent at Wildwood when the Girl Scout I was with looked at me with big eyes and said with big eyes “I really want to go on. But I’m scared. I can go, if you’ll go with me”. I am such a sucker.
According to my doctor, the last time the boy had strep: strep can make your spleen sensitive to damage – especially on roller coasters. It’s been a coupla years, so I don’t remember the whole thing, but if you put yourself in situations like roller coasters that can be violent, you risk having it rupture. Maybe one of the doper doctors will come in and clarify this – if not, I will ask my doctor when I go in this afternoon and come back with the explanation.
I do know that when I had mono (with accompanying strep) I was told the spleen was at risk of rupturing and to avoid contact sports; I didn’t realize it could be an issue even without mono riding along.
Ok. Back from the doctor and sure enough, we both have strep. My doctor always gets a kick out of me as I have already diagnosed us before we get there and am almost always right. Both of us have very swollen glands, very red and swollen tonsils, etc. but no pus. He was just sure the strep test would come back negative, but I was right, he was wrong, lol. I love my doctor – he is always ready and willing to admit he is human, and thinks it’s funny how I am usually spot-on even without a medical degree.
I digress. The reason the spleen is at risk is that, like with the glands in the throat, it can become enlarged, thus making it more at risk with violent activity. He gave us both a shot of penicillin – I had to get mine first, son thought it would be fun to watch – and quaruntined us both til Wednesday. No school for the boy tomorrow (with only 1.5 days left, he doesn’t mind!) and no work for me. Of course, I probably infected everyonetoday, since no one understood what I meant when I kept saying “you probably don’t want to be near me today, I think I have strep.” We have been given the go-ahead for the roller coasters, though, so all is well with our FL plans. Now, if only I felt well enough to try out my Miracle Fruit that finally came today!
