What the hell is wrong with my throat?

[Daise]

Well kids, for three weeks straight I've had a horrific cough. Throat feels dry and airway feels like it's the size of a pinhole. Any time I talk above library volume, laugh, yawn, lie down, it becomes a nasty coughing fit. It honestly feels like I've inhaled smoke. It's interfering with my sleep and it's interfering with everything else, too.

Within 24 hours of getting it, I went to see one of those after-hours GPs as I wanted to get this shit sorted ASAP. Here's the following diagnoses and treatment (none of which are working).

Doc #1 (random after hours GP): viral infection, take antibiotics (didn't work)
Doc #2 (family GP): throat burn due to reflux, take Nexium (which has completely sopped the reflux) and Symbicort (didn't work)
Chiro: it's a type of hayfever. Mucus thingies in your lungs are inflamed. Doesn't mean it creates mucus, but that's what's making you cough.
Obstetrician: sore throat is due to muscle tension in your neck. Here's some acupuncture and a neck adjustment. (Didn't work)

So yeah, it's been three weeks and no relief in sight. I figured the PSB brainstrust would probably have the same amount of knowledge as the above medical professionals.

Here's a selfie just taken of some random crap hanging off mah uvula.

So please let me know what you think, cos I'm going batshit crazy.

(If anyone mentions anything inappropriate I will kick your arse.)

[g0zer]

that looks fucking evil

3 Ways to Tell if You Have Strep Throat - wikiHow

Check the back of your throat. Many who suffer with strep throat develop swollen tonsils coated in patches of white.

[Diddles]

Looks like tonsillitis, but antibiotics should have fixed that

[madscientist59]

Well kids, for three weeks straight I've had a horrific cough. Throat feels dry and airway feels like it's the size of a pinhole. Any time I talk above library volume, laugh, yawn, lie down, it becomes a nasty coughing fit. It honestly feels like I've inhaled smoke. It's interfering with my sleep and it's interfering with everything else, too.

Within 24 hours of getting it, I went to see one of those after-hours GPs as I wanted to get this shit sorted ASAP. Here's the following diagnoses and treatment (none of which are working).

Doc #1 (random after hours GP): viral infection, take antibiotics (didn't work)
Doc #2 (family GP): throat burn due to reflux, take Nexium (which has completely sopped the reflux) and Symbicort (didn't work)
Chiro: it's a type of hayfever. Mucus thingies in your lungs are inflamed. Doesn't mean it creates mucus, but that's what's making you cough.
Obstetrician: sore throat is due to muscle tension in your neck. Here's some acupuncture and a neck adjustment. (Didn't work)

So yeah, it's been three weeks and no relief in sight. I figured the PSB brainstrust would probably have the same amount of knowledge as the above medical professionals.

Here's a selfie just taken of some random crap hanging off mah uvula.

So please let me know what you think, cos I'm going batshit crazy.

(If anyone mentions anything inappropriate I will kick your arse.)

Scrape your tongue, remove as much of the coating as possible....
Stop all sugars as it looks like a fungal coating (sugars will just feed the fungal problem).
Also processed pastries can produce this coating as well.
Try eating cleansing fruits like oranges and pineapples...

When did this start?? Can you pinpoint anything?

[Kristy]

^ yep what I was thinking re fungal infection. Can you take those oral anti-thrush tablets while preggers?

[mekon]

I had something like that a while back, drove me fucking nuts for a month and a half. Even after 2 different antibiotics, nothing. Went away eventually. Can't even remember what it was. The dry cough drove me up the wall. So you have my sympathy.

[MikeL]

Why go to 4 different people?
Why not go to one that you trust and when their advice doesn't work go back and tell them, so they can have a more in depth look?
Drs are just people, they get stuff wrong (obviously). It they hear galloping hooves they look for horses not zebra, meaning their first guess will be what they see as most likely. When you go back and say they got it wrong, their view of most likely changes.

[Daise]

Why go to 4 different people?
Why not go to one that you trust and when their advice doesn't work go back and tell them, so they can have a more in depth look?
Drs are just people, they get stuff wrong (obviously). It they hear galloping hooves they look for horses not zebra, meaning their first guess will be what they see as most likely. When you go back and say they got it wrong, their view of most likely changes.

First doc was an after hours emergency doc. Being pregnant I wanted this shit sorted ASAP. Saw my regular GP after a week, and the chiro and obs were during my scheduled appointments for other stuff.

[Johnno]

(If anyone mentions anything inappropriate I will kick your arse.)

Well that's me out....

In the last week I have picked up a nasty cough and hucking up phlegm in the mornings, hoping it isn't going to hang around for weeks

[AliastheJester]

My un-ejumacated opinion is thrush, but strep or anything else is possible. I'd suspect it is fungal (so thrush) if anti-biotics didn't work and gargling etc. didn't stop it. Ask a pharmacist about what is suitable, sometimes they can be very helpful with basic stuff that doctors give you the run around with.

[MikeL]

First doc was an after hours emergency doc. Being pregnant I wanted this shit sorted ASAP. Saw my regular GP after a week, and the chiro and obs were during my scheduled appointments for other stuff.

Fair enough.

Well that's me out....

In the last week I have picked up a nasty cough and hucking up phlegm in the mornings, hoping it isn't going to hang around for weeks

Sounds like syphilis Johnno.

Seriously though, I got a cough about a month ago that has seen me cancel 2 of my regular blood donations in a row. Only just finished with it late this week. Just viral stuff so no antibiotics, just wait for it to sort itself out.

Hope both of you get better sooner rather than later ^_^

[Daise]

My un-ejumacated opinion is thrush, but strep or anything else is possible. I'd suspect it is fungal (so thrush) if anti-biotics didn't work and gargling etc. didn't stop it. Ask a pharmacist about what is suitable, sometimes they can be very helpful with basic stuff that doctors give you the run around with.

GP said thrush is a possible side-effect from using Symbicort (it's a cortisone inhaler). Need to rinse out the mouth after each dose. Not much I can do as for relief, can only use vapour drops or strepsils which have about the same healing qualities as a chupa-chup.

Will ask the pharmacist next time I'm there. It's been about 48 hours, I'm overdue for another visit

[shmoo]

First doc was an after hours emergency doc. Being pregnant I wanted this shit sorted ASAP. Saw my regular GP after a week, and the chiro and obs were during my scheduled appointments for other stuff.

Ah ok. Was trying to figure out why you went to a chiro for a sore throat

In the mean time, antibacterial gargle perhaps?

[51 New West]

I had a nagging dry cough earlier this year that persisted for about 2 months. I felt completely fine, but if I laughed or physically exerted myself then I would start coughing. No running or other activities for a while. I didn't see a doc as several people I knew had been to the quack for the same thing at the same time and the advice they received was that if the cough was the only symptom then the body will just work it out itself. And it did

[Kristy]

Try rinsing (don't swallow) with 3% H2O2 solution (dilute 50/50) - tis great for mouth hygiene. If thrush, get some acidopholus in ya, and as mentioned, scrape your tongue to get rid of the coating.