Ok, my story of physical woe in a nutshell (or as nutshelly as I can make it):
I've got a case of strep throat that is so bad I'm a bit frightened for my health, and it seems to be antibiotics-resistant to boot! It is the third time I have had it in the last 6 months (contrary to the urban myth that you can only get it once) and each time it returns it is harder to treat.
My main predicament is this: My student health coverage has just lapsed and I am now uninsured. Nonetheless, as I know the doctors there, I went to the clinic on campus. I was told I would be billed for labs and meds -- fine. The thing is, because I am now poor and not covered, I was given the cheapest possible course of antibiotics -- we're talking the penicillin your grandmother took in 1950. It doses at two per day for 20 days!!! Whatever, I'm just glad for anything I can get.
Things were going along apace until about 15 days into it -- then I screwed up last wednesday and missed my evening dose. By the next morning the thing had come roaring back in all its misery. I've been taking my pills the last several days but it has not cleared up -- in fact, it seems to be worsening. Last night the pain was so excruciating I could not sleep, despite taking a massive dose of ibuprofen. What's worse, the pain is spreading down from my throat and now my shoulders and chest ache badly, accompanied by a burning sensation. I'm feeling feverish, but I haven't taken my temperature because my thermometer broke.
I am leery of going to the emergency room today (sunday) because I know from recent experience that a visit is likely to cost upwards of $700 and I'm currently drowning in debt, what with student loans coming home to roost, several sizable hospital bills I have yet to pay, etc....so I'm thinking of riding it out another day then going back to student health on monday and asking for a course of ciprofloxacin, or something powerful...
But the phrase "streptococcal septicemia" keeps playing in the back of my mind...
In fact, I think Jim Henson died from streptococcal pneumonia.
I'm scared!
Any advice?
I've got a case of strep throat that is so bad I'm a bit frightened for my health, and it seems to be antibiotics-resistant to boot! It is the third time I have had it in the last 6 months (contrary to the urban myth that you can only get it once) and each time it returns it is harder to treat.
My main predicament is this: My student health coverage has just lapsed and I am now uninsured. Nonetheless, as I know the doctors there, I went to the clinic on campus. I was told I would be billed for labs and meds -- fine. The thing is, because I am now poor and not covered, I was given the cheapest possible course of antibiotics -- we're talking the penicillin your grandmother took in 1950. It doses at two per day for 20 days!!! Whatever, I'm just glad for anything I can get.
Things were going along apace until about 15 days into it -- then I screwed up last wednesday and missed my evening dose. By the next morning the thing had come roaring back in all its misery. I've been taking my pills the last several days but it has not cleared up -- in fact, it seems to be worsening. Last night the pain was so excruciating I could not sleep, despite taking a massive dose of ibuprofen. What's worse, the pain is spreading down from my throat and now my shoulders and chest ache badly, accompanied by a burning sensation. I'm feeling feverish, but I haven't taken my temperature because my thermometer broke.
I am leery of going to the emergency room today (sunday) because I know from recent experience that a visit is likely to cost upwards of $700 and I'm currently drowning in debt, what with student loans coming home to roost, several sizable hospital bills I have yet to pay, etc....so I'm thinking of riding it out another day then going back to student health on monday and asking for a course of ciprofloxacin, or something powerful...
But the phrase "streptococcal septicemia" keeps playing in the back of my mind...
In fact, I think Jim Henson died from streptococcal pneumonia.
I'm scared!
Any advice?
