Medical Question

[Italiahaircolor]

3 weeks ago my husband and I went to Las Vegas for our anniversary. I came home sick. Like, really really really sick. I got worse everyday for almost a week.

It started with body aches, and moved on to a sore throat, ear ache, high fever, vomitting, and even pink eye (yep, pink eye). I went on a z-pack antibotic the day after I got home, but got instantly sick on them so they never reached a theraputic level. I suffered for 3 more days before going to the ER at 4 in the morning when I woke up but couldn''t open my eyes (the pink eye). I''d basically had enough and because I''d reached my limit Saturday Night/Sunday Morning, I knew going to a regular doctor was not an option and I needed medical attention.

The ER doc did a strep test, which was neg...but didn''t offer any other possible cause for my discomfort. He put me on amoxicilian (sp?) and I started to feel better. He also gave me drops to treat my pink eye, which worked well.

I finished my round of antibotics, and felt great for about 5 days. Then the left side of my throat began to hurt. Just the left side. No other symptoms whatsoever. I feel tenderness when I press in the area, but cannot see any redness, pockets or anything.

Is it possible for a virus to out last an antibotic?

 

[icekid]

I don''t think you needed antibiotics in the first place. It all sounds viral (especially w/ neg strep); unless you were pouring pus out of your eye, pink eye is nearly 100% of the time viral. Antibiotics only kill bacteria, which are an entirely separate entity from a virus. Your doctors should have explained this to you, rather than prescribe antibiotics and further the devastating bacterial resistance we''re having now. By the way, viral infection does not imply less sick than bacterial. It sounds like you have been quite ill! If you felt fine for 5 days, you may have reinfected yourself or picked up something else! Sore throat can also be caused by post-nasal drip, acid reflux, etc. Hope you feel better soon! If not, see your PCP. The ER isn''t really the best place to get your "primary care," since they do not know you and cannot follow up.

 

[VegasAngel]

Conjuctivitis can be viral or bacterial so if you were prescribed drops you needed it.

For the other symptoms you probably didnt need antibiotics. If you are still sore I would take Motrin. If you dont start feeling better might be best to get checked out again.

 

[icekid]

Date: 8/9/2008 11:31:08 AM
Author: VegasAngel
Conjuctivitis can be viral or bacterial so if you were prescribed drops you needed it.

For the other symptoms you probably didnt need antibiotics. If you are still sore I would take Motrin. If you dont start feeling better might be best to get checked out again.

Actually, bacterial conjunctivitis is quite rare. Viral, exceedingly common. My more advanced colleagues who look at eyes all day (ophthalmologists) at my world-renowned eye center have said the case of bacterial conjunctivitis that I witnessed was the second they''d seen in their first two years of training. Physicians who are not eye specialists don''t necessarily realize this and needlessly prescribe antibiotics.

 

[VegasAngel]

Date: 8/10/2008 3:38:40 PM
Author: icekid

Date: 8/9/2008 11:31:08 AM
Author: VegasAngel
Conjuctivitis can be viral or bacterial so if you were prescribed drops you needed it.

For the other symptoms you probably didnt need antibiotics. If you are still sore I would take Motrin. If you dont start feeling better might be best to get checked out again.

Actually, bacterial conjunctivitis is quite rare. Viral, exceedingly common. My more advanced colleagues who look at eyes all day (ophthalmologists) at my world-renowned eye center have said the case of bacterial conjunctivitis that I witnessed was the second they'd seen in their first two years of training. Physicians who are not eye specialists don't necessarily realize this and needlessly prescribe antibiotics.

Bacterial conjunctivitis may be less common but it's definitely still possible to get it. I had my first case of conjuctivitis & strep throat in January. I held out as long as I could before I went to the Dr. My last Doctor visit for a "winter type" illness was when I was kid. Neither was going away without meds

 

[Diamond Confused]

I agree with icekid. Your doctor really did you a diservice by prescribing antibiotics. Your symptoms sound like a flu and flus are in fact viral. Taking antibioitcs when no bacterial infection is present just weakens your defenses. I''m sorry to say but you just have to wait it out. I know how much this sucks! Perhaps you can ask your doctor for a strong pain reliever like codeine or vicodin. That''s all i take for a flu.