What should I take? Please answer!?

Question

I have had a sore throat for about 3 days now. I try not to take any over the counter medications and avoid going to the doctors now that I don't have insurance. At this point I am very desperate for something to soothe my throat as it hurts to swallow and every time I yawn it's such a horrible pain I want to cry. I have had a cough for months so I don't know if I have any new symptoms, just the sore throat and a headache. So if anyone knows what over the counter medicine I should take for it please do let me know. It's important!

Answer 1

Try a lozenge with benzocaine it.  It will numb your throat as well as coat it.  I would also take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin).



I would also do all the old fashioned things: chicken soup, hot tea with honey, popsicles, gargle with salt water.  None of those will hurt and all may help.

You my need to see the doctor because if  you have a bacterial infection the only thing that will clear it up is an antibiotic.

Answer 2

That sore throat has lasted a while now then.  Do you have any associated fever with it?  Is your throat raw from drainage?

To soothe a sore throat you can gargle warm salt water or my personal favorite warm green gatorade.....warm it for a few seconds in the microwave...gargle and spit.

Tylenol for the pain and the headache.

I am only guessing here since I dont have all your symptoms.  There is a virus going about that starts out as an upper respiratory thing....headache, sore throat, low grade fever and nausea.  Eventually this progresses to diarrhea and from that point lasts a day or two.  You can treat the symptoms but it has to run its course.

If you look in your throat and it has pustules....white spots along with a really red throat...you might need to get looked at for strep.

AM/PM clinics are cheaper but still without insurance it is expensive.