Dear Internet Doctors: I have a sore throat which is probably due to sinus drip, but without congestion. A salt water gargle didn't help, so how do I make it go away? My parents are out of the country and nigh-impossible to reach, or I'd just call my mommy.

Replies

valkyrie blondhaar said, (49 days ago)

Also, my entire right shoulder is sharply painful, and I don't know why.

TWIGBy Fierce said, (49 days ago)

eat the flesh of a unicorn

valkyrie blondhaar said, (49 days ago)

They sell that at Winn-Dixie, right? Or any drugstore?

Make Art said, (49 days ago)

As a temporary fix to make it less painful, try gargling with soluble aspirin. Obviously you do this after you've dissolved them in half a glass of warm water.

Oom Mao Mao said, (48 days ago)

I hate this kind of cold since I rarely get the congestion kind.

You can try a couple of things. Flush your sinuses out with a weak warm salt water solution. If you can get a neti pot or the equivalenet, I think they sell them at drugstores now, they help irrigate your sinuses and help reduce inflammation.

The other thing that might help is taking an antihistamine, again, try a weak one or a half dose. Finally, you can try taking Mucinex to think out whatever post-nasal drip that you have that's irritating your throat.

Sorry to hear you're sick. I hope you feel better soon.

Garak said, (48 days ago)

i kind of had the same thing recently - due, i think, to so much travel and not getting the right amount of sleep, among other things.

i had like a two-week sore throat...yet no real sign of fever, i was eating normally, i wasn't coughing, etc.

some sniffles, usually in the a.m., which made me think it was weather/sinus/dust, etc.-related, as i have a relatively sensitive schnoz.

i hope you feel better! if for no other reason than peeps can come to your house and snuggle and watch Shaun of the Dead!

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

I started Shaun of the Dead last night and had to stop before they even got to Liz's house because I was so sleepy. I love that damn movie. It only gets better every time I watch it.

But, yes, I think there is a neti pot in this house somewhere, though I've always been averse to trying it. My life really isn't about to slow down, though, so I probably ought to try everything possible to alleviate my symptoms. I'll try all this gargling and snorting and whatnot, and I've got Mucinex, I just haven't taken very much of it 'cause I haven't been feeling sniffly.

I have a little cough, too, that's driving me crazy.

JasAsian v2.0 said, (48 days ago)

Use cough drops to take the edge off the cough, and something Over-the-counter like Day-quill to take the edge off the cold. Stay hydrated, get rest. Maybe skip a day of giving museum tours so you don't lose your voice for a week.

If your throat starts to bother you to the point where it hurts to talk or swallow, you might want to go see a doctor to make sure it's not strep-throat, which is something that can actually be addressed with antibiotics. Otherwise it's likely just a viral cold, which we can't do anything about but make the symptoms suck less while your body clears the infection on its own.

Stay home, rent lots of movies, make eyes at the Blockbuster Boy.

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

It already hurts to talk/swallow. :(

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

I SWEAR, this only happens when my mom is gone.

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

This is definitely the time when I should be making sexy phone calls to friends of friends. My voice is uber-low.

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

Earl Grey has rescued me from a career in phone sex.

JasAsian v2.0 said, (48 days ago)

I remember those customized sex stories you read for everyone and posted on Consumating. You're obviously taking the high road in life and passing on the easy money. ;-)

valkyrie blondhaar said, (48 days ago)

It's true, I am. I just find museum work to be so much more satisfying. I'll keep my sex life in the bedroom...or car...or kitchen...or bathroom...

You get the picture.

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