we thought he was a goner, but the strep came back, he just couldn’t stay away . . .
It was like groundhog day, only on Feb 9th instead of the 2nd. I had finished my 10 days of antibiotics, like the good patient that I am, and was perfectly healthy. Until about 48 hours later when the pain started again in my throat and I thought, “this is just how it started last time.” Dr Google confirmed that there is such a thing as strep coming back after finishing the round of antibiotics and I spent the night tossing and turning as the fire took hold of my throat and when daylight arrived I scooted myself over to the clinic for another throat swab.
I had to go home and wait for the results, even though it was clear that the alien invasion had taken place again. When the nurse says “Ew” when she looks in your mouth, that says it all. So I went home and slept. Deeply, feverishly. I didn’t take any medicine because Dr Google said that when strep is treated with antibiotics right away there is a higher chance of reoccurrence. Most likely because the body’s immune system hasn’t had a chance to kick in before the drugs go to work. It was time for my lazy immune system to get off its behind and go to work.
By the time my appointment rolled around I was so sick I called the clinic and asked them if they could just tell me the results of my test over the phone, but no. I had to go in. (probably because we can buy antibiotics over the counter here and they were afraid that I’d go buy the wrong kind of antibiotics on my own and create a powerful superbug — but really, I just wanted to sleep).
The doctor seemed puzzled that I had strep again (he clearly isn’t a student of Dr. Google), but he was very kind and offered me a new antibiotic along with a menu of other drugs he could give me — naproxen for body aches, tylenol for fever, zofran for nausea. I declined all but the antibiotic since Motrin is my drug of choice. I should have taken the Zofran though. Not for this time, but to add to my personal stash for future emergencies (like seasickness). Oh well, next time.
I hobbled home and crashed for the next I don’t know how many hours. Josh came home from Jordan at some point and the kids were excited, but I’m not even sure if I picked my head off of the pillow. I guess they left and ran errands and picked up dinner, but I was dead to the world and my immune system was in boot camp. When I came to around 8pm I decided it was time to break out the antibiotics and let them share the work.
Even though I’d slept all day I slept all night and was still sleeping at 10am when Josh called to check on me. I still feel like I have a tangerine stuck in the back of my throat, but my fever is gone and I can stand upright. Praying this is the end of it and we don’t go for round 3 in seven days when my antibiotic is finished.