Two trips to the doctor yesterday

[Ruud Van Driver]

Had a sore throat for a couple of days, thought I was run down. Yesterday morning, I woke and could hardly swallow and could barely speak so took a walk to a local doctor. He had a look down my screecher and said it was a bog standard sore throat and prescribed some lozenges to take the pain away and some anti-inflammatories to take the swelling down. He looked at the rash on my neck, which wasn't there when I went to bed Friday night but greeted me when I woke up, and said it was most likely an allergic reaction and to drop an antihistamine.

By later afternoon things got progressively worse, throat full of razor blades and swallowing was distinctly unpleasant, so I took a trip to the doc at Raffles Hospital. She took one look down my throat and said "oh my gosh!" My tonsils are infected and covered in white spots. And the rash? Most likely shingles and I need to go back Tuesday for a follow up. I left with a bag of drugs big enough to keep Mötley Crüe happy for a weekend.

I hope you guys are having a better weekend than me

[GradyPhilpott]

Here's hoping you recover quickly.

I'd scratch the first MD off my list right away.

[Naz737]

Speedy recovery!!

[Kingair]

Whiskey !

Take care my friend

[handsfull]

White spots on tonsils? Sounds much like a bout of strep throat I had a few years back. I've had it many (too many) times as a kid but never as an adult. I remember vividly...it was rough, I could barely get out of bed! No joke.

Good news is: I remember feeling better within an hour after taking the first antibiotic

[Chewbacca]

ouch!

get well.

[wantonebad]

Not trying to one up you my friend and I feel for you for sure, I have a particular sensitivity to the chicken pox virus, I am one of the few who have had chicken pox not once, not twice but three times and I have had shingles three times as well. Not an affliction I wish on anyone!!

As for tonsillitis, my constant post nasal drip asthma and dust/pollen allergies cause a constant state of congestion and wheezing. I have three to five nasal sinus infections a year and a mix of flu/colds that are actually acute symptoms of other things rather than separate viruses.

[nick c]

Speedy recovery

[cop414]

Hoping that you feel better Rudd.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Many thanks for your kind words guys

That doctor most certainly will not see me again and whiskey is the last thing on my mind.

No worries, Marc, I don't do one-upmanship either. However, I had chicken pox for the first and only time almost 11 years ago, at the age of 37 and I bet I felt worse than you! Being mildly serious though, I do have a post-nasal drip and allergies to dust, tree pollen and animal fur so I share your pain. Not half as bad since I moved away from the UK and out to Singapore though. I don't get the sinus infections either and I'm unlucky if I get two colds a year. But chicken pox and shingles three times each? Man, that's rough.

I told my mum last night and after the sympathy, she asked what was stressing me out as shingles is brought on by stress (according to her work mates). I'm not even close to a medical expert but I think that's B/S as I'm not usually a stress monkey. I thought it was a simple reactivation of the particular strain of the herpes virus. When the doctor examined me, my blood pressure was 108/65 and my pulse was 61, which is hardly commensurate with a stressed out dude. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

[RichM]

Get well soon Ruud.

Glad my wife made me get the Shingles Shot.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

Many thanks for your kind words guys

That doctor most certainly will not see me again and whiskey is the last thing on my mind.

No worries, Marc, I don't do one-upmanship either. However, I had chicken pox for the first and only time almost 11 years ago, at the age of 37 and I bet I felt worse than you! Being mildly serious though, I do have a post-nasal drip and allergies to dust, tree pollen and animal fur so I share your pain. Not half as bad since I moved away from the UK and out to Singapore though. I don't get the sinus infections either and I'm unlucky if I get two colds a year. But chicken pox and shingles three times each? Man, that's rough.

I told my mum last night and after the sympathy, she asked what was stressing me out as shingles is brought on by stress (according to her work mates). I'm not even close to a medical expert but I think that's B/S as I'm not usually a stress monkey. I thought it was a simple reactivation of the particular strain of the herpes virus. When the doctor examined me, my blood pressure was 108/65 and my pulse was 61, which is hardly commensurate with a stressed out dude. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

I got chickenpox 2 years ago aged 40. All I can say is it's the worse thing I've ever had. Dr here said don't worry it'll be fine!! When they started going down my throat I panicked! Antivirus drugs a bit late, but I survived.
Wish you better

[Trouble15]

Whoa, hope you're feeling better!

[Andad]

Looks like its time for the BIG needle Ruud.

[etp095]

Hope you get better soon, stay away from that 1st doctor.

[Rock]

I feel for you! Most people talk down a "sore throat" because they have never had anything like what you describe.
Until my early 30s I regularly had what I now know was a recurring tonsils infection and it was murder.
Anyone who has had the 'full-blown' variety can relate to the "razor-blades" description. I used to describe it that way myself. Used to put me in bed also.
I've just had a Kidney-stone and frankly I would take it anyday over Tonsillitis.
Cheers for a quick recovery.

[GB-man]

Sounds awful! Hope up you get well soon!

[GradyPhilpott]

Herpes viruses can be aggravated by stress, herpes zoster included.

Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again. But it is possible to get shingles more than once.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...topic-overview

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Herpes viruses can be aggravated by stress, herpes zoster included.

Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again. But it is possible to get shingles more than once.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...topic-overview

Thank you for this Grady, very informative. I'm not usually susceptible to stress but I have had a rough couple of weeks. Week before last was twelve flights in six days, which in itself must cause a battering to the immune system. I've been feeling run down since I got back from the job and, like an idiot, I've hit the gym every day until Thursday when I decided it might be wise to stop. Then, having a throat infection of this magnitude hasn't helped. That'll explain the immune system falling down, I guess.

Thank you again for your kind words, chaps

[joli160]

Hope you feel better soon

[GerardoG]

I hope you feel better soon. Saludos from Mexico!

[Invictus Maneo]

Hope you feel better soon, Mr. VanDriver! I'm hoping they started you on an antibiotic in the meantime, just in case it is strep throat. Rest and fluids are the order of the day! If the symptoms worsen don't wait until Tuesday to seek medical attention! Some of these things (illnesses) we endure as children are a whole lot more serious as adults.

[q52]

Those symptoms sound exactly like the strep I had few months ago.

[locutus49]

Sounds like strep throat.

[jamesbondOO7]

Where is the Rolex?

[George Spring]

hope you get well soon, because there is no subtitute for a better health not even a sack of gold!

[clock]

Firstly, I hope you have a quick and pain free recovery!
You will be missed in the Open Discussion Forum, Rudplant. Get better soon!

I'm surprised the first two doctors didn't do a strep test.
If it's shingles, hopefully a doctor will prescribe an anti-viral such as acyclovir
which will shorten the duration of symptoms and prevent post herpetic neuralgia. Take it asap.

Keep us posted.

[VICI]

Feel better!

As the saying goes... A doctor just needed to pass the test, not ace it

[tkerrmd]

Hope that rash isn't Scarlet Fever

[Hooper]

Feel better soon Rudd.