strep throat, new GP

[doublevision1]

Saw a new GP this morning about my painful throat and swollen glands, she examined me and confirmed it's strep.  I asked about doing a swab but she said it wasn't necessary; she could tell by looking and by my other symptoms incl. headache, fever.  I no longer am stuffed up, that only lasted a day or so as well as the achy legs, and this could have just been from the long flight home on Sunday.  So lack of respiratory symptoms also points to strep.  I didn't push for her to test as I've had enough of it in the past to know when I have it.  She gave me a 10 day Rx for penicillin and said I should start to feel much better in a couple of days.  My paresthesias is worse than usual and is likely due to my increased temp.  I am SO  hoping this infection doesn't trigger another relapse so soon after the last one.


I still have my appt next week with my original new GP who I haven't met yet, to follow up on the bloodwork that his vacation coverage doc ordered.  I was going to cancel that appt if I liked the doc I saw today, but I'm sitting on the fence about her till I meet the other doc.  

I liked that the office had a nice large waiting area, nice office staff and that I didn't have to wait very long for the doc.  I explained to the doc that I was there because of the strep but am thinking I would stick with her as my preference is for a female GP.  She sort of shrugged her shoulders and said OK in a 'whatever' kind of way, if that makes any sense.  

We discussed my MS; she asked me when I was dx'ed and what meds I was on, but not anything about my symptoms, how it affects me functionally, or which neurologist is following me.  I told her about my relapse earlier this year and that I'd been off work since that time.  She asked why am I not on disability, in an almost accusatory way, till I explained that I AM on temporary disability.   I don't understand why she assumed I wasn't?  So that was weird.

I explained the symptoms I currently struggle most with: neuropathic pain, fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, difficulty concentrating, all of which wax and wane unpredeictably throughout the day/week, plus side effects from meds especially daytime drowsiness on the days I need amitriptyline for pain in the day as well as at bedtime.  

I explained I've been experimenting with various meds for the past several months to deal with the neuropathic pain while trying to minimize side effects.  Her response was odd; she said I'd better make up my mind soon about my pain treatment because I will run out of temp disability soon.  She said this not knowing anything about the TD plan I'm on.  ???  I told her that my TD benefits will last until Feb 2012 at which point I would go on LTD if still not fit to work, that I have been accepted once already on LTD though I pushed myself to return to work at that time.  She just kind of nodded and said oh, okay.  I mentioned that my employer is supportive; that I keep them posted and that there is no pressure to return or not to return to work; that they encourage me to look after my health as my number one priority.   She said 'oh, that's good' then gave me a note for my employer to confirm I'm still unable to return to work.  She printed off the Rx for penicillin, said 'okay' and got up and left.  I waited a moment then realized the appt was over and I left.

It was a weird appt; she didn't seem thorough in terms of her lack of questions about my MS; and she made assumptions about how my TD/LTD plans work which I thought was really strange since employer plans vary widely from no or minimal benefits to more generous plans.  

Having said all that, I don't really have a problem with her; if I stick with her I'll just need to bed thorough in giving her info since she doesn't seem to ask the right kinds of questions and may make assumptions like she did today.  I decided I will keep my appt next week with the other doc.  This was the office that had made an error in scheduling my last appt, and which has a poor phone/message service; and has the tiniest waiting room I've ever seen where they cram too many patients in at one time.  I don't like any of that but if I like the doc I may decide to stay with him despite these other issues.

I'm not one to doctor shop; I was with each of my last two GPs for 5 years each, loved them both and stopped seeing them only when they each closed their practices and moved away.  I realize that no office will be perfect, that I cannot be too nitpicky, that I've been extremely lucky for the care I've had for the past 10 years, and neither of these new docs may be at the standard I'm used to and I'll have to make the best of it.  Especially as very few GPs in town are accepting new patients at this time.

[Sidesteps]

I snore at times when I'm super tired but with the strep it was really bad. I took ibuprophen and that seemed to help with both the pain and swelling. I hope you feel better. I know how miserable it is. (hugs)

[doublevision1]

Thanks Barb, I'll try the ibuprofen as you suggested.  Because the snoring preceded the strep, I didn't make that connection but perhaps the strep is exacerbating things.

[Sidesteps]

The snoring is likely from the inflammation from the strep. It sounds like you might be having a hard time breathing which is why strep can be deadly for adults. Not to freak you out but we had a couple deaths in the area from adults waiting too long to get treament so please take care of yourself.

If this were me, I would take 600 to 800mg no more than 3 x day of ibuprohen and see if that will reduce the swelling until the antibiotics do their thing. If you don't feel better by tomorrow, go back in, you may need some steroids and a different antibiotic.

[doublevision1]

Thanks All.  I've started the penicilin but still feeling lousy; hopefully as the day goes on with more doses the pain will lessen.  It even hurts to swallow water.  

Hoping tonight is better than last night.  Apparently I've started snoring in the past few weeks, didn't matter so much while we were on vacation but now that my husband is back to work and gets up at 4am, it's a problem for him.  

I told him yesterday if I snored last night to wake me and I'd go sleep on the couch.  In the middle of the night I heard him say 'You're snoring really loudly' to which I replied 'Well why didn't you wake me?' to which he replied 'Um, I just did' then according to him I fell asleep again and snored a few more hours till I awoke at 3am from the severe pain and dryness in my throat.  As I reached in the dark for a glass of water by my bed I knocked the glass over and splashed water everywhere.  This woke my husband again and he couldn't fall back to sleep after that.   So I'll be sleeping on the couch tonight and try to figure out how to stop the snoring.  I don't know what changed that would have brought this on; I've never been a snorer.  Any advice on how to deal with it?

[grannyhotwheels]

Sorry about the strep... I think that was the sickest I've ever been when I had it... Get lots of rest... I'm not real sure about the doctor you saw... She doesn't seem very personal from what I can tell by your post... I agree with Lulu about checking out the other doctor before deciding... If you don't click with either of them move on to someone else... Keep us posted...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[Lulu54]

check out the other doc and then listen to your instinct - you will know which one is best for you.
feel better!

[HVAC]

If it does not feel right find another Doctor. Sorry about the strep.

Alex

[Sidesteps]

Hey girlie,

I think it's best to be cautious here. She doesn't sound all that thorough IMO.

Most importantly, take care of yourself. Strep is nothing to mess around with in adults.

Warmly,
~Barb