Medical Advice?

[Kijona]

I need some medical advice and I was hoping someone here had some medical background.

I can't see a doctor due to a lack of money (and health insurance). So, this is the next best thing I guess.

I've been having a pretty wretched soreness in my throat for about a month. It hurts when I swallow and when I yawn - it isn't a "sick" kind of sore throat, it more feels like I've been punched in the neck. Almost like I pulled a muscle but it's right on top of (or behind, depending on how you look at it) my larynx. If I palpate my neck, it seems to stem from the right side of the underside of my jaw. There's a lump there (and a matching one on the other side) which is I assume a lymph node.

Swollen glands or lymph nodes? Should I go to the hospital?

[codajastal]

Short answer is yes. Long answer is you may just need some antibiotics BUT NEVER futs with limph node problems as it may be stemming from somewhere deeper and you really should seek a medical opinion at your local GP. There are however online medical diognosis tools for free which may help. Try googling free medical online.
Glad I live in Australia where medical is free.

[Twisted]

You scratched your face or had a pimple lately?

[Toogoofy317]

A swollen lymph node for a month is nothing to sneeze at. While not ER worthy maybe a trip to an Urgent Care facility or a minute clinic. Neither is all that expensive. It could be like me over the past couple of months I've had sore throats and the feeling just before a nasty cold but the cold never came. My PCP couldn't figure it out so she sent me to an ENT found out it was acid reflux getting into my larynx and causing issues. Trying a month of Omeprazol and if that doesn't work he said some voice therapy on speaking correctly can help too.

We should keep the ER for true emergencies not the catch all place it has become. Trust me sitting in the waiting room for 4 hours with chest pains due to cardiac reasons is not fun because half of Kissimmee isn't legal residents and go there for school physicals can be frustrating and all most killed me a couple of times. As soon as you can get some type of insurance because letting swollen lymph nodes sit for a month    Worse case scenario it could be non-hodkins lymphoma and you've screwed yourself out of a month of life saving treatment!

Mary

[Cal Price]

Seek medical advice, go to er if you have no other options.

These things can be useful, not sure if you can access from outside UK but there must be something similar where you are.

http://www.patient.co.uk/

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

[dam]

Short answer, go to the doctor!

I'm a cancer survivor. I had no pain, no trouble swallowing but noticed a lump in the back of my mouth that was a tumor on my tonsil. It was caught early, had surgery which removed all of the cancer. No chemo or radiation. That was 6 years ago. Had I ignored it it could have been much worse A couple weeks or even a month won't matter much but GO TO A DOCTOR OR CLINIC!

[Kijona]

Well, I don't know if my lymph nodes are swollen...I was asking if swollen lymph node(s) causes soreness in the throat.

@Codajastal: Yeah...I hate it. My father almost died because he has prostate cancer (it came back) and without health insurance, nobody would give him any treatment. Finally he got on state cancer aid but still.

@Twisted: I still occasionally get pimples, yeah. I'm still in my early 20's, so pimples are not uncommon.

@Mary: Well, I heard about that particular issues. That sounds to me like the burning kind of sore throat. Mine doesn't feel anything like the kind of sore throat you get when you get sick...it feels like an injury or something. It's somewhat tender and has a dull pain. I've noticed it becomes more painful if I'm talking and I drop my voice down, the pain hits for a second or two then goes away. I may go to a place near me that supposedly gives checkups for $50 but we'll see. Might be just BS.

@Cal Price: Thank you. It wouldn't load on my computer for some reason.

@Dam: Yeah I am very concerned...I smoke. About a pack a week, which isn't a ton, but it's a helluva lot more than none. I feel like I mitigate the negative effects with exercise and such but who knows. Maybe it's high time I stop smoking.

I did get the flu about a week ago and I'm still getting over that. I did notice some decreased mental performance over the last couple of days but that might just be from being sick/taking cold medication.

[Kijona]

I just checked the place's website... $50 for an "ER" visit and only $50 for a chest X-Ray.

Check this out: http://www.reaganmedical.com/heart-attack-prevention.aspx

I'll go there. I can afford that.

[Kijona]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

[codajastal]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

Good to see you got it sorted

[Toogoofy317]

@Dam: Yeah I am very concerned...I smoke. About a pack a week, which isn't a ton, but it's a helluva lot more than none. I feel like I mitigate the negative effects with exercise and such but who knows. Maybe it's high time I stop smoking.

I'm sorry but it sure pisses me the Fluck off to see people abusing their body like this! What I would give to have my health. Never drank, smoke, hell don't even drink soda anymore. Yet, I get a genetic heart disorder @ 21 where I get to have 12 doctors as my full-time job to keep me alive. Well, along with full-time school, and part-time work!

My God guys take care of yourselves! If you don't want a fine perfectly working heart and your O+ I'll take it!

Mary

[dam]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

That sounds like what I would expect. Hope you get well soon

Dale

[shonole]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

60mg is high, but not unheard of.  Glad to see you're getting things sorted out.   

And don't worry about him being a P.A., it's actually harder to get in P.A. school than Med school (of course, that's mostly due to a availability).  And really, the difference is roughly the same as the difference between a master's degree and a doctorate.

[Twisted]

Take it easy on the bike if you have a middle ear infection. It can upset your balance more than you think.

[Kijona]

Take it easy on the bike if you have a middle ear infection. It can upset your balance more than you think.

Good advice. Thanks!

[Kijona]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

60mg is high, but not unheard of.  Glad to see you're getting things sorted out.   

And don't worry about him being a P.A., it's actually harder to get in P.A. school than Med school (of course, that's mostly due to a availability).  And really, the difference is roughly the same as the difference between a master's degree and a doctorate.

Well, it's twice what I took of prednisolone last year when I got an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

[shonole]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

60mg is high, but not unheard of.  Glad to see you're getting things sorted out.   

And don't worry about him being a P.A., it's actually harder to get in P.A. school than Med school (of course, that's mostly due to a availability).  And really, the difference is roughly the same as the difference between a master's degree and a doctorate.

Well, it's twice what I took of prednisolone last year when I got an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

As an anti-inflammatory, that's the highest they will (typically) go.  Definitely a high dose, but if it's only for 3 days, I wouldn't worry.

[Kijona]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

60mg is high, but not unheard of.  Glad to see you're getting things sorted out.   

And don't worry about him being a P.A., it's actually harder to get in P.A. school than Med school (of course, that's mostly due to a availability).  And really, the difference is roughly the same as the difference between a master's degree and a doctorate.

Well, it's twice what I took of prednisolone last year when I got an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

As an anti-inflammatory, that's the highest they will (typically) go.  Definitely a high dose, but if it's only for 3 days, I wouldn't worry.

Worry? LOL I'm EXCITED! I was feeling GOOD when I took those steroids last year...this is gonna be amazing.

[shonole]

Just got back from the doctor. While he wasn't an ACTUAL doctor, he was a "PA" or whatever they call it. He diagnosed me with asthmatic bronchitis, laryngitis, ear infection, and some other type of thing I've never heard of.

I got a prescription for prednisone (first 3 days I'm taking 60mg...ridiculous amount). Then I also got a prescription for doxycycline (antibiotic), as well as a Hycodan for my cough.

Man, I was worse off than I thought.

60mg is high, but not unheard of.  Glad to see you're getting things sorted out.   

And don't worry about him being a P.A., it's actually harder to get in P.A. school than Med school (of course, that's mostly due to a availability).  And really, the difference is roughly the same as the difference between a master's degree and a doctorate.

Well, it's twice what I took of prednisolone last year when I got an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

As an anti-inflammatory, that's the highest they will (typically) go.  Definitely a high dose, but if it's only for 3 days, I wouldn't worry.

Worry? LOL I'm EXCITED! I was feeling GOOD when I took those steroids last year...this is gonna be amazing.

Hahaha.  Sweet.   

[bombsquad83]

You are going to feel like you could eat a whole cow though.