Antibiotics, Mom getting sicker

[Sopamanda]

Okay, I started with Zicam for a day, felt worse, went to Dr. two days later. Sore, sore throat and swollen glands. I've been on the Z pack going on three days now and I feel worse. There are now white patches in the back of my throat. Dr. said it was pharyngitis and sinusitis, but didn't think it looked like strep, didn't do a culture.


I'm breastfeeding and am concerned about my ability to stay nourished and hydrated. I've already lost a few pounds and couldn't pump much last night. It's soooo painful to drink or eat. Made chicken soup, that's about all I can down. Diligently taking Tylenol every 4 hours already. Drinking Gatorade when I can.
Of course I'll do to the doctore Monday if I still feel horrible.
Any advice???

One sick mamma

[jayali]

Sounds like strep. DS just got over it. The doctor wasn't even going to do a culture and then did it just for my peace of mind. Came back positive in seconds! Do you have one of those urgent/critical care places close by. If you do you may want to try and get into one over the weekend. Hate to see you suffer longer then you have to. With strep, the right antibiotic and you will feel better within 24 hours.

Good luck, hope you are feeling better soon.

[mommyoftwo]

I would go to an urgent care center and get a strep test. It does sound like it could be strep and strep untreated is not only miserable but can cause rheumatic fever (I'm not saying that waiting til Monday will cause that-just that you don't want to not treat it at all). You will be a lot happier (assuming it is strep) if you start the correct antibiotics immediately.

[Sopamanda]

I'm on azithromycin (z pack). Shouldn't that work for strep too???

thanks, mommas!

[mommyoftwo]

Well, normally yes, but sometimes you can get a bug that is resistent although that is unlikely. The other thing is that the sore throat could be a secondary viral infection which means that because you were already sick you were more susceptible to getting another illness. It wouldn't hurt to do a strep test just to make sure. Any chance this could be mono? This is how my mono presented itself in college. I was sure it was strep.

[Sopamanda]

Doctor said to suck it up, basically. I had him paged. Looks like I'll send hubby to get some Ensure or something. Any advice on these types of things?

(Guiltily sucking a chocolate milkshake)
Sick mommy

[alleyoop]

I don't know about BF, but I had strep TWICE in the last 6 weeks, and the only way I got through the pain was to take Tylenol and Advil alternating every 3 hours. I got the idea from Dr. Sears and heard it from our Ped for the kids, so tried it myself. Really does help! Strep or not, I hope you feel better soon.

[Saccade]

Try a warm salt water gargle. You can also find a throat spray with topical anesthetic, like Chloraseptic, but it can be hard to spray it on the right area.

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[mudder17]

I agree with Saccade--I would suggest the warm salt water gargle plus, if you can get one, a Neti pot for warm salt water with which you flush your nasal passages. When I have had bad colds (or sinus issues), doing both has always been more effective than just doing one. Chloraseptic never worked well for me, maybe because I wasn't spraying it in the right place. Or if I did, it would numb it temporarily and then hurt much more after it wore off.


Eileen

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[Saccade]

Ooooo, yeah, saline rinse! If you aren't coordinated enough for a neti pot ;) you can do a rinse with a bottle like this: http://www.neilmed.com/

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[mudder17]

Oooh, I didn't know they made a pediatric version or things like this. I actually don't have a neti pot, I have a little bottle with a spout that curves the right way that my mom brought back from Taiwan for me. But maybe I should get one of these things for DH. :)


Eileen

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[mudder17]

Oooh, I didn't know they made a pediatric version or things like this. I actually don't have a neti pot, I have a little bottle with a spout that curves the right way that my mom brought back from Taiwan for me. But maybe I should get one of these things for DH. :)


Eileen

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[Sopamanda]

Someone please allay my fears. It just occurred to me that I'll probably have to go on stronger antibiotics. I finished the Z pack today and feel worse, now I think I have an ear infection. Fever, no less, too.

I'm sick, sick, sick, and my doctor is not on the cutting edge of knowledge (I think his Hale was from 96!). I'm in an HMO so although I can change doctors, my options for tomorrow are slim.

Someone -please- tell me there are stronger antibiotics (I'm allergic to amoxicillin) that can be taken safely and I'll be able to continue breastfeeding!!

Stupid doctors!

[Saccade]

It's not so much the strength of the antibiotic, per se, as whether it's right for the infection you have. DIfferent bugs need different (not necessarily stronger) drugs. You may need something with a different spectrum of coverage. If you want to look at specific antibiotics, you can access Hale online here: http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/

I admit that I use this website instead of buying new books every year, since I only see 2-3 lactating patients per year. If you bring the link in, your doctor (assuming he has a computer terminal in the exam room) can go online right during your visit and you can look at the info together.

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[Sopamanda]

Thank you, I'll go in armed this morning.

I admit this reaction was a bit irrational, but a few weeks ago, I went in for some postpartum issues, and he basically said I should suck it up or be risky taking a medication. I immediately called my Lactation consultant and got info regarding an antidepressant that he frankly seemed too lazy to look up or research in any way.

There isn't a terminal in his room but I'm not leaving until I get answers.

Thanks again!
Sopamanda