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Suggest Treatment For Constant Headaches When Suffering From Strep Infection?
Question: I have been sick since Monday...so sick I couldn't leave bed till Tuesday afternoon to go to a clinic...they said positive for strep(my first time ever) been on meds since 6 pm Tuesday amoxicillin 875 and alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen every four hours. I have had only fluids because I have no appetite and I have had a constant headache. Shouldn't I feel good by now and have an appetite??? Dr said I could go back to work Friday(tomorrow) which seems not possible as I am weak from no food. What else can I do? How long does this usually last? I work at an elementary school in the cafeteria...should I really return tomorrow?? I have never felt so awful...please help...
On the amoxicillin it is every 12 hrs
On the amoxicillin it is every 12 hrs
Brief Answer:
Usually takes 2 to 3 days for antibiotics to work
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Strep usually responds pretty quickly to antibiotics. You are no longer contagious after being on them for 48 hours, so this is probably why your doctor said you could go back to work tomorrow. As far as feeling better, this could take a little longer. You have not been on the antibiotics for a full 48 to 72 hours yet.
You should be feeling better by this weekend. My concern is that you are not getting enough fluids and certainly you are not getting enough food. Dehydration and poor food intake can also cause you to feel very sick. Dehydration as well as strep can result in headaches.
You really need to push the fluids, and even though you don't have an appetite, I would suggest to try to eat some simple foods to maintain a caloric intake. You need the energy supplied by food to fight the infection. Simple foods would be like cereals, toast, crackers, jello etc. For now, stay away from heavy fatty foods and meats.
If you have been running high fevers, and not taking in enough fluids, this could cause dehydration. If you are continuing to feel this way, particularly if you are lightheaded when standing and have decreased urine output, this could indicate significant dehydration, which in itself can cause awful symptoms. In that case, a visit to the urgent care or emergency room for administration of IV fluids might help reduce those symptoms.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Usually takes 2 to 3 days for antibiotics to work
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thank you for using Healthcare Magic. Strep usually responds pretty quickly to antibiotics. You are no longer contagious after being on them for 48 hours, so this is probably why your doctor said you could go back to work tomorrow. As far as feeling better, this could take a little longer. You have not been on the antibiotics for a full 48 to 72 hours yet.
You should be feeling better by this weekend. My concern is that you are not getting enough fluids and certainly you are not getting enough food. Dehydration and poor food intake can also cause you to feel very sick. Dehydration as well as strep can result in headaches.
You really need to push the fluids, and even though you don't have an appetite, I would suggest to try to eat some simple foods to maintain a caloric intake. You need the energy supplied by food to fight the infection. Simple foods would be like cereals, toast, crackers, jello etc. For now, stay away from heavy fatty foods and meats.
If you have been running high fevers, and not taking in enough fluids, this could cause dehydration. If you are continuing to feel this way, particularly if you are lightheaded when standing and have decreased urine output, this could indicate significant dehydration, which in itself can cause awful symptoms. In that case, a visit to the urgent care or emergency room for administration of IV fluids might help reduce those symptoms.
Hope this answers your query. If you have further questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. Your answers help me a lot. I will push fluids and try to eat what you've suggested...I have been drinking water and Gatorade and going to pee very regular. Trying those foods and giving myself more time on the meds will help. Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Just hang in there, it should improve soon. The regular urination suggests you are getting enough fluids. You probably should not work tomorrow. Just stay home, rest, and give your body a chance to heal. Best wishes.
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Just hang in there, it should improve soon. The regular urination suggests you are getting enough fluids. You probably should not work tomorrow. Just stay home, rest, and give your body a chance to heal. Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am concerned so I need to know if it is normal to continue to run low grade fever 99.8 normal for me is 98.5...it's just I am still alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 4 hours just took temp...took meds at six...seems i shouldn't have a temp 4 days in on antibiotics and alternating pain meds. Please help me to understand
I also have bad headaches...Tylenol doesn't help them but the ibuprofen seems to calm them...they are constant
I also have bad headaches...Tylenol doesn't help them but the ibuprofen seems to calm them...they are constant
Brief Answer:
Could be secondary infection with virus
Detailed Answer:
Typically with strep symptoms should be greatly improved after 4 days on antibiotics. This makes me wonder if you were also secondarily infected with a virus at the same time. A virus would not respond to antibiotics. Usually viral symptoms clear up after 7 to 10 days. The flu virus could take longer.
Complete your course of antibiotics, and continue pushing fluids and eating well. Anything above 99.4 is considered a fever, so yours is very low-grade and not worrisome.
The persistent headaches could be from a virus. Another thing that can happen if you have been using headache meds on a regular basis for awhile. This is called rebound headaches. In a sense the meds themselves start to cause the headache. You take the med, headaches improve, and as the med wears out, the headache rebounds from withdrawal from the med.
In that case you have to get totally off all the headache meds and just get through the withdrawal without treatment. It might also be helpful to see what your temperature does after discontinuing Tylenol and ibuprofen. If it goes much higher, I would suspect you have a secondary viral infection.
Hope this helps. Let me know if anything else is going on.
Could be secondary infection with virus
Detailed Answer:
Typically with strep symptoms should be greatly improved after 4 days on antibiotics. This makes me wonder if you were also secondarily infected with a virus at the same time. A virus would not respond to antibiotics. Usually viral symptoms clear up after 7 to 10 days. The flu virus could take longer.
Complete your course of antibiotics, and continue pushing fluids and eating well. Anything above 99.4 is considered a fever, so yours is very low-grade and not worrisome.
The persistent headaches could be from a virus. Another thing that can happen if you have been using headache meds on a regular basis for awhile. This is called rebound headaches. In a sense the meds themselves start to cause the headache. You take the med, headaches improve, and as the med wears out, the headache rebounds from withdrawal from the med.
In that case you have to get totally off all the headache meds and just get through the withdrawal without treatment. It might also be helpful to see what your temperature does after discontinuing Tylenol and ibuprofen. If it goes much higher, I would suspect you have a secondary viral infection.
Hope this helps. Let me know if anything else is going on.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Best wishes!
You're welcome
Detailed Answer:
Best wishes!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I stopped Tylenol and Ibuprofen of 6 hrs....when I took my temp it was 101.9... Kinda scared me so I took only one ibuprofen ....no more headaches yay...I have been taking one every 6 hrs however temp spikes the last two hours...holds at 99.8 with ibuprofen....my question is I work at an elementary school should I go back to work?I also work in the cafeteria. I have already been running a fever for most of the week...it goes down with meds then spikes just before next dosage...still have 3 days antibiotics left... amoxicillin 875mg every 12 hours...do you think I should go back to the clinic? I'm getting frustrated on how long this is taking...never had strep but know folks who would have been well and better by now...
Also at the clinic I tested negative for flu a and flu b.
Also at the clinic I tested negative for flu a and flu b.
Brief Answer:
Go back to clinic
Detailed Answer:
You are clear from the strep so are not contagious from that, but you obviously have some kind of secondary viral infection. Could even be mono, which often presents much like strep. I suggest you hold off work until you get a better idea what the secondary infection is. Get back to the clinic before going back to work and be sure nothing else contagious is going on. Hope this helps, and that this problem resolves soon!
Go back to clinic
Detailed Answer:
You are clear from the strep so are not contagious from that, but you obviously have some kind of secondary viral infection. Could even be mono, which often presents much like strep. I suggest you hold off work until you get a better idea what the secondary infection is. Get back to the clinic before going back to work and be sure nothing else contagious is going on. Hope this helps, and that this problem resolves soon!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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