Sore Throat... Help

Updated on May 02, 2012
B.K. asks from Carol Stream, IL
21 answers

I came down yesterday with a sore throat and fever. Today the fever is gone but the throat is REALLY BAD! I don't remember ever having a sore throat like this before. That and a stuffy nose are my only symptoms right now.

Besides drinking tea and gargling with salt water, what do you all do to ease a sore throat?

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So What Happened?

Thanks everybody! I have used some of your remedies. The honey really works well for me. I went to the doctor and don't have strep, but I do have an ear/sinus infection. The drainage is causing the throat pain. Finally the weather is warm here, the flowers in my yard are blooming, and I can't even smell them!

Featured Answers

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Go to the doctor. I went in September for a sore throat like I had bever had before and it was strep - they said it was one of the worst they had seen in a while. Holy pain!!

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J.L.

answers from St. Cloud on

I'd make a tea of fresh squeezed lemon juice and honey. My husband would always use OTC meds for his sore throats until I introduced him to that. Drinking milk typically isn't good if you're mucousy otherwise. If you're not pregnant you could try gargling hard liquor; I think brandy or whiskey would do the trick.

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N..

answers from Chicago on

Colloidal Silver! It is a natural antibiotic. When ever I start to feel sick I start to take it. Put it under your tongue for 30 seconds and than before you swallow it gargle it and swallow. When I feel really bad I will take it every hour until I start to feel relief and than slow down the dosage. If it doesn't stop the illness in it's tracks it definitely lessens the blow. I try to continue taking a few days after I feel better just to make sure.

Works every time!

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V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I have a mix of Shaklee supplements that knock a sore throat out immediately. But it sounds like you may have strep--so go to the doctor!

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

Chloraceptic (Chloraseptic?) Throat spray numbs the throat. It comes in cherry flavor, too! You can find it at any Walgreens, CVS, etc...

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P.B.

answers from Spartanburg on

I second the previous poster, I might add that I take honey with warm milk. Honey is a natural antibacterial and soothes irritated mucose in your throat. Try to sip warm milk with diluted honey every evening before bedtime.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

sage is a natural sore throat soother. i make sage tea with plenty of honey. gargle with some apple cider vinegar. lots of water, preferably with lemon. zinc cough drops. garlic boiled water soup. i also take vit C and echinacea to help boost my immune system and fight the bug off more quickly.
feel better soon!
khairete
S.

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K.F.

answers from New York on

I usually take 2-3 tablespoons of honey and then no talking for at least 8 hours. It works everytime. Honey coats the throat and provides the stuff in your throat a more interesting source of nurishment. I usually take it before I go to bed.

Honey is thick and can be kindof hard to swallow so sipping it is fine. I never dilute it with lemon because then it doesn't do everything I expect it to do.

Feel better and get plenty of rest. Also don't drink anything after taking the honey. Let it do its work.

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D..

answers from Charlotte on

Bobbi, don't play around with the possibility of strep - go get a strep test tomorrow or the next day.

I use vinegar to help a sore throat - nasty taste, I know, but it changes the pH of your throat, which is out of whack when you're sick.

Hugs, Bobbi!
Dawn

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

Here in Texas we gargle Tobasco. Seriously. Mix a little with water, gargle and rinse.

You can also gargle cayenne pepper, onion juice or garlic juice if you don't have any Tobasco (separately, not together!). Fisherman's Friend is also soothing - it has pure licorice. It looks like dried dog poop but I promise, it works!

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T.M.

answers from Redding on

Mine was really sore a little over a week ago due to my cold.
The salt water gargle needs to be done frequently, like every 2 hours.
A spoon full of honey now and then.
I did break down and bought some Choroseptic and sprayed it back there, it was pretty helpful. The sore throat lasted about 4 days, mostly raw from coughing and drainage is what the doc told me.
I didnt have a fever tho, I dont consider 99.5 a fever for me but I guess that is sort of in the "low grade" category and probably from fighting the cold.
Ice cold drinks help too, along with some aspirin.

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D.B.

answers from Chicago on

Strep is going around. Go to a Walgreens that has a take care clinic. It couldn't be easier there. They will do a rapid strep test and if it comes back positive they can send the RX right to the pharmacy. Depending on how busy they are you could be in and out in under an hour.

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A.B.

answers from Chicago on

If your throat still hurts you most likely have strep, just go to walgreens to get a strep culture done it's fast and simple. Unless you want to be contagious and have this for six weeks. If you do end up having it I would get your kids tested too. They won't have pain or fever but they can be carriers. It has already gone around our school and one dad got it twice since he didn't know his twin sons had it.

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

Honey works great. Also, put Vicks vapor rub on your chest and the soles of your feet and put on some socks. Here's something that might sound weird but works great if you can do it a couple of times a day for a few days - take some warm (as hot as you can tolerate) salt water and gargle your throat with it. I don't know why but it works great. My mom used to make me do that when I was a kid and I do that to my kids now :)
You can also make a little toddy of a tsp of honey, tsp brandy and tbsp of warm water and drink that.

Hope you feel better soon!

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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

Honey mixed with vinegar. I use about 1/2 and 1/2. Take two tablespoons.

Google has more info.

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S.R.

answers from Chicago on

I'm not a doctor, but your symptoms strongly suggest the possibility you have strep throat (which needs antibiotics). IMHO, you need to see a doctor ASAP for a strep test. Often they will start antibiotics right away if it looks like strep, and wait for the test results to confirm.

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J.K.

answers from Milwaukee on

I try to load up on antioxidants. Lots of fresh fruits & veggies.
I usually go for orange juice and fresh spinach leaves.
Feel better soon!!!

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Sore throat, fever, and slight cold can indicate light viral infections. Most of the times, it just comes and goes, and all we can do is to ease the conditions.

Any hot/warm drink, with some herbs - sage, ginger, honey (you'll get many suggestions - always soothes throat irritations temporarily. Salt water gargling also helps, but like Grandma T says, you must do it frequently - like 4-5 times a day.
Have meals like chowders and soups - warm, and almost drinkable. Will be easy on the throat. Avoid grease and cheesy stuff as they can aid bacterial growth.
Try some of the OTC medicines like Nyqil, Theraflu, etc., and see if they provide you with some relief.
Apart from all these, all we can do is only go through it.. :) talk less, give your throat time to get well.

If your pain increases, or if you feel swelling around your neck, if you feel weird tastes (metallic, salty), or if your throat doesn't get better slowly over the next 2-3 days, then better consult a doctor to check for any other serious infections. You may then be needing prescription anti-biotics, or something to cure it completely.

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J.E.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like strep. Go to the dr. Only antibiotics will help that and it's going around like wild fire!

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M.Z.

answers from Chicago on

For immediate, temporary relief, use the cepacol (sp) cough drops.
They have a numbing effect and will soothe your throat immediately.

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R.S.

answers from Chicago on

Throat Coat tea is especially soothing.

Feel better!

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