+48 votes
by (250 points)
I’ve had a sore throat for like 3 days. Swollen, lymph nodes. but no fever. I don’t have a primary care doctor currently. Do I just ride this out? I’d prefer not to go into any doctor’s offices if I can help it, but my mom seems to think I need to see someone. Thoughts? Advice?  
I’ve had a sore throat for like 3 days.

40 Answers

+37 votes
by (9k points)
 
Best answer
My allergies have been crazy right now! Try Zyrtec and Flonase and see if you feel better in a couple days. Ibuprofen will bring the swelling down. If you get worse or the allergy meds don’t work you can do an e- visit with Dreyer.  
by (240 points)
@advisement , I’m doing the same!  
+2 votes
by (2.5k points)
How sore is your throat? I had this the other week and I called the doctor. My ears hurt too. It ended up being allergies. Everyone’s allergies seem to really be bad now
by (2.5k points)
@attalanta have you been a little like dizzy?  
by (2.5k points)
@leukocyte8 has it gone away?!  
by (4.9k points)
@lanfranc a few times. And obnoxiously tired. Almost every time I check the weather there is a pollen alert!  
by (2.5k points)
@attalanta yes same!  
by (1.5k points)
@lanfranc yes when I call triage nurse she said it looks like allergy so I started talking Sudafed decongestant and allergy pills and felt much better in a day and this is new for me since I have never experienced allergy before.  
+10 votes
by (520 points)
You can call most clinics (i. e dupage medical group) they will triage you and ask questions to determine where you should be seen if necessary. If you are having difficulty breathing then seek immediate care (er). Even w/o the fever you should stay away from others bc you don't feel well. With everything going on currently our anxiety is high w what do i have?  
+9 votes
by (4.9k points)
Can you find an urgent care or immediate care clinic? It could be strep.  
+2 votes
by (1.9k points)
I have had a sore throat in the mornings, but then it goes away. Mine is from allergies.  
by (1.2k points)
@cloutman546 I had that a few days ago. Just to be safe, I took extra vitamin C and drank hot liquids.  
by (1.9k points)
@mariken7890 it's not everyday. And yes drinking hot tea helps.  
+7 votes
by (1.2k points)
Gargle with warm salt water several times a day. Take some otc pain relief as directed.  
+7 votes
by (2.5k points)
Does your insurance offer any type of teladoc or virtual medicine?  
+11 votes
by (1.9k points)
Try Teladoc or another online physician platform
+5 votes
by (3.7k points)
Walgreens does telemedicine now. If you’re concerned it would be worth discussing it with a doctor.  
+6 votes
by (1.1k points)
If no fever, I’d try an allergy medicine for a few days first (like Claritin, Allegra, or Zyrtec) of you can. They will likely tell you the same. Some immediate cares are only taking appointments. Emergency rooms are the only places you can walk in. I just completed isolation for presumed covid and without extreme trouble breathing, preconditions, or known exposure, they will likely just tell you to stay away from others and watch your symptoms.  
0 votes
by (330 points)
Have you checked for tonsil stones? They will make your throat super sore and swollen!  
+12 votes
by (630 points)
My throat was hurting (so bad) my nose was runny/stuffy, and my eyes were so dry. Never in my life had allergies. Took one of my husbands allergy pills one morning and felt like a million bucks. Couldn’t believe it!  
by (3.1k points)
@countertype47 what allergy meds does he use. I need something have tried so much
by (630 points)
@wootan2 The generic Allegra from Jewel  
+7 votes
by (1.8k points)
It could be an ear infection. I’d try to see a doctor at a walk-in clinic.  
+34 votes
by (1.6k points)
My allergies are killing me. It may be the same but could be something else. Find a primary dr and ask to do a telemed conference
+42 votes
by (3.3k points)
Rule out strep ASAP
+12 votes
by (480 points)
Call your insurance carrier. They can give you some advice. Feel better  
+41 votes
by (3.1k points)
This. I had same symptoms for over a week or two and ended up having strep
+16 votes
by (480 points)
I had these same symptoms as yours, since no fever . this is what I tried. I gargled with salt water 2 - 3 times a day and drank Lemon/honey/ginger/turmeric (1/4 tsp opt) concoction (boil these in water) and added 1tbsp of this to my mug of hot water and drank 2-3 times a day and Thankslenol before going to bed. I did this 2 days in a row and my sore throat and that sick feeling was gone. Hope you feel better!  
+13 votes
by (2.4k points)
Keep an eye on it if it doesn’t get better after a week since the start of the symptoms, but if you develop a fever and Thankslenol doesn’t bring it down, I’d find a teledoc (call your insurance, they should be able to tell you who’s in network). Most doctor offices right now aren’t seeing patients in person because they don’t want to risk anyone getting infected.  
+27 votes
by (2.1k points)
The best advice I’ve heard is if these symptoms wouldn’t have caused you to seek treatment 6 months ago, then you should wait it out at home.  
+1 vote
by (20.4k points)
Ride it out. Eat a lot of chicken soup, tea and other warm and soothing foods. Eat oranges and other vitamin C rich foods. Stay away from dairy entirely. That builds up mucous and will keep you sicker for longer. Feel better. If it's lingering more than a week, do a telehealth appt. Do you suffer from allergies? I have a terrible sore throat and cough last year, but it turns out I wasn't sick at all. I just have postnasal drip and that was causing my symptoms, up to the point I actually felt sick!  
+35 votes
by (3.7k points)
Some doctors will do a visit with you online.  
+12 votes
by (490 points)
Elderberry, zinc, sea moss, silver, 2, 000 grams of vitamin c, drink alkaline room temperature water and take a probiotic. Stay away from dairy foods.  
by (2.6k points)
Yep. And processed juice, beer, and sugar drinks.  
by (490 points)
@warren sugar weakens the immunue system. It's best to drink alkaline water.  
by (2.6k points)
Ha. half inside thought! That was to the last part. stay "away from. "
+9 votes
by (14.6k points)
Pick a doc, they will telehealth or call you.  
+34 votes
by (500 points)
Zinc , vitamin c , d, salt water hot gargle Drink hot liquids.  
+11 votes
by (1.3k points)
I’d call the dr and talk to a nurse
+23 votes
by (2k points)
Talk to nurse and possibly set up virtual appointment.  
+10 votes
by (2.2k points)
Allergies are a possibility too; try a Sudafed or Claritin.  
+33 votes
by (4.8k points)
How often are you taking temp
+15 votes
by (490 points)
They suggest you ride it out at home, unless you get seriously sick with breathing issues.  
+42 votes
by (2k points)
For allergies, this is more a long term solution, but my naturopathic doctor recommendation Dr Chi Asparagus Extract caplets. You can buy from Amazon. I was on daily Claritin before during allergy season, but I haven’t had to take one in over 5 years. Of course, consult your doctor before starting it. It is ground up Asparagus root which boosts your immune.  
+16 votes
by (470 points)
Should keep an eye on that. Does it feel hard to the touch or can you move the swollen lymph nodes. Pay attention if it feels like it’s getting bigger. I had same with not good results. A virtual appointment cannot hurt
+5 votes
by (1.4k points)
How about lymphatic massage , light strokes with fingerprint push towards to collar bone where is main lymphatic system . You can use coconut oil for a massage .  
+33 votes
by (520 points)
My husband and I both had that for two weeks. We took zinc, and EmergenC, drank tea and lots of liquids, and used a humidifier at night. Eventually, it went away. Weird.  
+37 votes
by (500 points)
My family, and the family i provide childcare to just had this. 3 days of a mild fever that came and went, very swollen lymph nodes (like pebbles), tired. Rest, nourishing food, as much vit c as we could tolerate, golden seal root tincture at least twice dsily, oregano oil every hour. lots of liquids, honey and garlic. Massage of the neck and face
+21 votes
by (14.5k points)
Honestly it could even just be the weather changes and dryness of your house. I get sore throats all the time like what you've described and I never go to the doc. Lots of fluids, hot tea, and just monitor it. If it gets worse then call an urgent care. Can someone in your house look to make sure you don't have white on your tonsils? That's an indication of strep.  
+7 votes
by (6.8k points)
Unless you have serious breathing issues or a uncontrollable cough you should def stay home and ride it out. I didn’t see anything about a temperature either so it could be just be strep too which can go away on it’s own.  
+8 votes
by (5.2k points)
There are video visits with doctors right now and are very popular. I would say not to take the advise of non medical people, if this really is hurting , I would set one up. Insurance pays for it too.  
+7 votes
by (910 points)
Set up a video visit and plan to self quarantine until symptoms resolved for 72 hours, or one week, whichever is later
+12 votes
by (8.5k points)
Video might eork
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