how to get rid of a sore throat...

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 14, 2005

I know the feeling, very uncomfy too. :rolleyes:

No real advice other than chloraseptic spray and Zinc lozanges. They work well for me. Also, I try to eat soft foods and lots of soup so that it will be less painful in swallowing. Hope you feel better soon and take care. :)

pricklypear · Aug 14, 2005

Not much you can do to avoid getting sick except wash your hands ALOT. And if you're a nail-biter, or an eye-rubber (like me) STOP!! Usually I end up getting some bug that my co-workers come to work with, not the patient's crud. Definitely do not go to work or clinical if you're running a fever - you're contagious. You could try extra vitamin C - via juice, or tablets.

For your sore throat, besides the ideas that Jessica already gave you - try gargling with warm salt water - it helps decrease the swelling and scratchy feeling in the back of your throat. Also adding some honey to hot tea will help with a cough.

Hope you feel better!:)

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Aug 14, 2005

ok, last saturday I began to get a mild scratchy throat which lasted about 3 or 4 days. I was okay again for less than a day. Wednesday night I came home and within 2 hours was developing a sore throat again. I also have a fever, cough, stuffy, runny nose,and at times it is hard to talk. I've been taking my claritin, tylenol, and alternate between daquil and robitussin. I spit up yellowish brown mucous. The on-call doctor ordered a strep test which came back negative, which is good. I missed clinical today and really don't want to miss tomorrow. We have to make up every single hour that we miss. What made me mad was he told me if I still have a sore throat to go to the emergency room! It just made me feel like I was being a pest. I would likely wait about 16 hours and be told that it's a cold and sent on my way. Not that I want anything to be wrong, I just wonder why it's continued to be sore. I also wonder what some nurses and docs take so they don't keep getting sick. I'm thinking orange juice IV and zinc alot. !!:)

Did they culture it?

Did you follow up?

UTRN2005 · Aug 14, 2005

I agree with the warm salt water (chicken broth works well too, as does tea with honey). Also be sure to drink a lot of water in general. Those two things usually can get me through.

One home remedy my mom showed me was to mix a little (repeat a LITTLE) hydrogen peroxide with some water (about 1:1; I would just use the peroxide bottle cap) and use a Q-tip and swab it on your tonsils- do NOT drink or gargle with it- if they are enlarged. That helped me to spit up a lot of drainage-y gunk once when I had a bad sore throat/sinus issues. Be very careful though if you have a strong gag reflex as this may be too much to handle.

lady_jezebel · Aug 14, 2005

honey and lemon in chamomile tea. i SWEAR it works, try it.

NicInNC, CNA · Aug 14, 2005

ok, last saturday I began to get a mild scratchy throat which lasted about 3 or 4 days. I was okay again for less than a day. Wednesday night I came home and within 2 hours was developing a sore throat again. I also have a fever, cough, stuffy, runny nose,and at times it is hard to talk. I've been taking my claritin, tylenol, and alternate between daquil and robitussin. I spit up yellowish brown mucous. The on-call doctor ordered a strep test which came back negative, which is good. I missed clinical today and really don't want to miss tomorrow. We have to make up every single hour that we miss. What made me mad was he told me if I still have a sore throat to go to the emergency room! It just made me feel like I was being a pest. I would likely wait about 16 hours and be told that it's a cold and sent on my way. Not that I want anything to be wrong, I just wonder why it's continued to be sore. I also wonder what some nurses and docs take so they don't keep getting sick. I'm thinking orange juice IV and zinc alot. !!:)

There is something called Miracle Mouthwash that I've been prescribed a few times for sore throats and it always worked WONDERFUL. You gargle with it. I also used it when I had Hand, Foot and mouth disease once because the ulcers on my tongue and throat were so painful. You can make your own. I THINK it's a mixture of Benedryl and Maalox. Let me see....

Magic Mouthwash recipe

Viscous Lidocaine (1 part)

Maalox (1 part)

Benadryl (1 part)

Swish and spit 5 ml no more often than every 4 hours.

Purple Princess · Aug 14, 2005

I tried some of the remedies. I gargle with salt water, use chloroseptic spray, drink tea or coffee. I also tried the peroxide a couple times. I started taking vitamin C and using zinc lozenges. I also use advil cold and sinus. My problem now is coughing, throat still sore r/t drainage, and thinking I just might need to call about getting my own kleenex company because no sooner I blow my nose I have to do it again. The mucous is yellow and my sputum is also yellowish brown. With all this developing plus fever, can you get a sinus infection in this short of time? I think I've probably had at least 3 or 4 in the past year along with multiple other illness. I'm a CNA/ nursing student and work part time so I guess that's why I've gotten sick frequently.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2005

I remember about 30 to 40 years ago or thereabouts, we would pain the inflamed tonsils with Iodine, they were always better the next day

pricklypear · Aug 14, 2005

Purple Princess - Methinks you just need to get a big cup of tea, your box of kleenex (or two), a pillow and a blanket - and park in front of the TV. I just got over something like what you're describing a couple weeks ago. It kicked my butt. Not much you can do about it except what you've been doing.:) This, too, shall pass.

DAREINGTX · Aug 14, 2005

I remember about 30 to 40 years ago or thereabouts, we would pain the inflamed tonsils with Iodine, they were always better the next day

My great-grandmother did this to me when I was a kid. I thought

she just wanted me to quit whining (which I did), but the next

day...all better. I guess sore throats were around before amoxicillin?

NicInNC, CNA · Aug 14, 2005

I tried some of the remedies. I gargle with salt water, use chloroseptic spray, drink tea or coffee. I also tried the peroxide a couple times. I started taking vitamin C and using zinc lozenges. I also use advil cold and sinus. My problem now is coughing, throat still sore r/t drainage, and thinking I just might need to call about getting my own kleenex company because no sooner I blow my nose I have to do it again. The mucous is yellow and my sputum is also yellowish brown. With all this developing plus fever, can you get a sinus infection in this short of time? I think I've probably had at least 3 or 4 in the past year along with multiple other illness. I'm a CNA/ nursing student and work part time so I guess that's why I've gotten sick frequently.

You MIGHT have a sinus infection. Go back to the doctors. I've developed sinus infections quickly. It never fails that when I get a cold it ends up as a sinus infection or bronchitis. I have mild asthma, so I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but it seems that I can never had just a regular cold.

Hope you feel better soon!