Does anyone know how severe the sore throat is for strep vs the flu vs throat infection? This is the sorest my throat has ever been.
I've had strep three or four times in my 57 years. It's never pretty.
The last time was about 6 years ago the weekend before Thanksgiving. I knew I was sick, and my throat hurt severely, but it came over me on a Saturday. My doctor's office was closed, and I didn't think about going to an emergency room.
I was never sicker than I was that Sunday. I wanted to either die or be instantly better...but I wasn't optimistic about getting better.
My throat was better by Monday, but I wasn't better overall. I went to my doctor, told him what had been going on and what I had done, and he could see I was more visibly ill than someone with just a cold.
After X-rays, he discovered I had developed a mild pneumonia. I was given some antibiotics and told to go home, get rest and take the pills until they were gone.
I didn't really feel "good" until the following Friday.
It's ALWAYS better to be safe and get treatment.