Strep throat?

My throat is really begining to hurt and my friend at work has a sore throat too and her friend has strep.

I am hoping that I do not have strep.  Can't antibiotics put us into a flare?  My colon is not flaring but I am in a pretty precarious position and I am sure anything would put me into one.

If so, what do people do and take?  I really, really, really want to get off pred and if I go into another flare I will be very very MAD!

I was super careful last winter, but I think I have been lax about making sure my hands are clean so I don't put any germs into my system.

I'd go see your doctor. Have them take a strep culture. The tests takes like 5 minutes to do. If it comes back positive they'll put you on antibiotics. I would have the doctor consult with your GI to make sure you're put on a antibiotic that is easier on your system. I wouldn't take the risk of not being test because you don't and you have it other bad things can happen like scarlet fever. As I kid I had strep at least 3 times a winter and I was always asymptomatic so if I felt like I had a sore throat I got tested anyways. If you're worried its always better to be safe than sorry.

When I get strep my entire throat turns red and gets swollen, with maybe one or 2 white spots...it feels like a swollen pain, different than a regular sore throat...you'll need antibiotics if it's strep, and so long as you're taking a good probiotic all should be fine, just take your probiotic at least 2 hours after you're finished taking your antibiotics for the day, or the antis will just kill off the pros.

:)

not all antibiotics should throw you into a flare. make sure they give you something light. do not take erythromycin or clindamycin.. for sure!!

also, the probiotics 2 hours post antibiotic is a good idea. or eat yogourt with a probiotic -- eg. activia

you cant avoid treating your throat to save your ass.. joke

thanks! It has gotten slightly better and not worse, I think I was just like OH MY GOD, what's next........

neednewbody, that was funny about not saving my ass!

pb4, thanks for the tip on the probiotic. I have not been great w/taking them lately, but have been for all my other pills. they are in the fridge and sometimes I forget, I think I am going to have to change the time of day I take them so I can remember better.