# Relief for the worst sore throat of all time. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086 "2013-03-16T12:43:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/1 "2013-03-16T12:43:42Z")
This is _bleep_ing ridiculous. At one point I had something lodged in my throat for something like 24 hours. I pretty much spent every moment aggressively clearing my throat, and whatever it was would move up about a mm, then I’d reflexively swallow, and there it was again. Eventually I hacked up something pretty disgusting, but I felt a sense of relief! At last I could breathe again without whatever that was getting in the way! Of course, now my throat is irritated as all crap and is making me completely freaking miserable. I feel like the inside of my throat has been scraped with a cheese grater. I’ve consumed plenty of water, I’ve gargled with warm salt water, I’ve gone to town on some Chloraseptic, I’ve attempted rest, but who can sleep where their throat is on fire? Who here knows magic? I need some hocus pocus that’ll provide some relief, no matter how temporary. And don’t tell me at the point the only remedy is to wait! I can’t wait! I’m losing it here. Thanks, yous guys. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/2 "2013-03-16T12:57:37Z")
Honeyed hot water (or tea)? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/3 "2013-03-16T13:02:46Z")
When it comes to sore throats, I’ve always had relief with Tylenol. 2 pills and I’m good to go for a few hours. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/4 "2013-03-16T13:06:05Z")
I have drank so much tea that my tongue changed colors. It’s 8am and I didn’t sleep last night. Cannot sleep because throat is furious with me, arrggh! Hmm, Tylenol has literally never relieved any pain I’ve ever had no matter how minor, but I’ll try it as soon as something opens up. (Early in these parts.) I’m desperate. Note to self: Next time something is stuck in my throat not spend all day forcefully clearing it. It will end poorly! ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/5 "2013-03-16T13:07:02Z")
Thayers Slippery Elm throat lozenges. Weird little slightly sweet grainy textured tablets of pure relief. Dissolve slowly in your mouth and they are like magic for a sore throat, at least they have been for me. The slippery elm is very soothing. Sometimes available in health food stores, I had to look to find them when I moved to a new city and ran out. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/6 "2013-03-16T13:11:11Z")
Fisherman’s Friend cough drops are made with slippery elm, aren’t they? They should be right there in the cough drop section. I sympathize, I had strep throat once and was crying from the pain. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/7 "2013-03-16T13:14:12Z")
Should be able to find this! They’re apparently sold at a store about one block from my apartment. I twiddle my thumbs until they open (in about 45 min) and then I try this. Edit: Slippery Elm lozenges, that is. Also, I had mono once which came with a pretty shitty throat ache, but I was still able to sleep! This here is madness. Madness! Not sure if this pain is worse or if I’m getting wimpier. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/8 "2013-03-16T13:27:38Z")
Thirding slippery elm. Okra and nopales have a similar mucilage. If you live somewhere you can get herbals, essential oil of clove is a wonderful temporary numbing agent. The trick is getting it back there without numbing your entire mouth. I make a throat spray that’s very similar to Chloraseptic, with water, witch hazel (astringent), kava extract (mucilaginous and takes the edge off anxiety and grrr-ness), marshmallow extract (soothing mucilage) and clove oil (anesthetic). If you don’t, a little witch hazel and water (maybe 1 part witch hazel to 4 parts water) with a few cloves soaking in them in a spray bottle might help. Haven’t tried it, but if I was in a pinch, I would. That being said…if it doesn’t feel better in a day or two, get thee to a doctor. That kind of physical trauma provides a great opportunity for strep bacteria (which always live on you) to get into the damaged tissue and give you a case of strep throat. Strep throat should be treated with antibiotics, because if left untreated, it can cause heart valve damage. [http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hvd/causes.html](http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hvd/causes.html) ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/9 "2013-03-16T15:10:27Z")
I always had pretty good luck with the 15mg benzocaine Cepacol lozenges. ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/10 "2013-03-16T16:48:11Z")
Advil or aspirin might give some relief if Tylenol is not effective. Sip some warm bouillion; the saltiness should be soothing on the way down. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/11 "2013-03-16T16:52:40Z")
Gargle with warm salt water, every couple of hours for a couple of days. Once or twice ain’t going to do it, I’m afraid. Keep it up until you can see your Doctor. Use whatever losenges you fancy but keep up the warm salt water gargle! But if it’s as bad as you say, see your Doctor! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/12 "2013-03-16T18:37:53Z")
Another vote for slippery elm. Also Everclear. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/13 "2013-03-16T18:40:14Z")
Coat hanger? ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/14 "2013-03-16T18:50:38Z")
Ibuprofen. Totally made me forget that I had strep. I’ve never had luck with Tylenol but Advil works wonders. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/15 "2013-03-16T19:08:22Z")
Okay, I’m just now getting around to the lozenges. I ate some food and took a hot shower to pass the time, then next thing I knew I woke up about 5 hours later. Glad that I finally got some shut eye, just took a Thayers Slippery Elm, and now we see. If this does not work, I enact some combination of Everclear and crying all day. This is no way to spend a weekend! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/16 "2013-03-16T20:05:38Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I enact some combination of Everclear and crying all day. This is no way to spend a weekend! Yeah, that has always been more of a Wednesday thing for me. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/17 "2013-03-16T20:25:12Z")
If all else fails and you end up at the doc, ask for [viscous lidocaine](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682701.html). Wonderful stuff, it will give you the relief you seek. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/18 "2013-03-16T20:35:13Z")
So I took a couple of lozenges and my throat feels only slightly less irritated. I suspected that would happen, but was hopeful. In my experience, anything that you buy from the store that is intended to have any effect on how you feel does not work for me. I’m the kind of person who has to be shot up 100 times at the dentist’s office before I actually feel numb. Knowing me, it’s starting to look like my best bets are to wait it out (:() or get some hard core shit from the doctor. Hopefully this will go away soon, but I’m probably going to have a shitty weekend. Hurray! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/19 "2013-03-16T20:58:26Z")
See a doctor. After you have done that and been assured it is only a sore throat, then you may use my trick. Dissolve two aspirin in some salt water. Gargle with it. Brush your teeth, aspirin is acidic. ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086/20 "2013-03-16T21:35:00Z")
Ice cubes or crushed ice. Suck on that! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relief-for-the-worst-sore-throat-of-all-time/653086.md?page=2)