Docs... How bad is my throat?

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by Tobra

$400? I am doing something wrong.

That was the doctor, an IV and two sets of bloodwork. I presented all the symptoms of scarlet fever, but came back negative both times.
That was a thoroughly miserable week.

[porsche4life]

I think this is better picture.... Flash with no tactical flash light... You can see what the doc is talking about to the right of the canker sore. That is what has me bothered as well. It looks all infected...

[HHI944]

yuck, that doesn't look good. I'm with crustychief on this one!
If a doc visit is only going to cost <$50, go for it. I only carry catastrophic insurance, so I'm a little invested in not visiting the doctor.

[slodave]

I'd get a pair of needle-nose pliers and start pulling.

[porsche4life]

My leatherman is within reach...

[edgemar]

gargle with Oraljel... mouth sore antiseptic. When I get them near my tonsil I feel crappier...than a regular canker sore in the front... they suck just keep gargling... cuts the healing time in half..

[Geronimo '74]

you need a change of underwear too.

[sammyg2]

Is there anyone else here who occasionally gargles with hydrogen peroxide, or am I just weird?

[GH85Carrera]

Sid, I heard one treatment for a cancer sore that sounds easy. Use a red laser pointer and zap that cancer sore for 10 seconds a few times a day.

It sounds like 100% internet garbage but you can buy a laser pointer for just a few bucks. It sure as heck will not hurt or cause damage as long as you don’t point it into your eyes.

I have not tried it since I have not had a cancer sore in many years. If I had read it in an email I would have dismissed it completely.

Please try it and let me know if it helps at all. I am totally skeptical but it is an easy and safe thing to try.

If you want to ZAP that cancer sore for sure a cotton swab with a little silver nitrate will cauterize it and start the healing right away. I can tell you that silver nitrate is VERY uncomfortable, and nasty stuff so be careful with what you touch with that swab.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Is there anyone else here who occasionally gargles with hydrogen peroxide, or am I just weird?

Naa, you are weird we all know that.

[Tobra]

Silver nitrate is powerful stuff, handy to have around. Works on the canker sores too, concept that works on a lot of wounds/injuries. Your body deals with an acute injury better than a chronic one.

AgNO3 will give you acute.

[pavulon]

There is an ENT working 20 ft away...I'll ask him to take a look in a few minutes. Can't say if he'll offer an opnion.

[Talewinds]

Unfortunately the laser does nothing.
I suffered from canker sores on and off as a kid. But when I quit smoking in 2003, well, little did I know that years of smoking, then quitting can send canker sore frequency into the stratosphere for a year or two. Stupid things, they're so small but so painful, but it's not so much the degree of pain, it just NEVER QUITS!
So, I tried everything. The laser and every other internet remedy. Because it's believed that canker sores are similar in concept to MS, an immune response where your body goes haywire and attacks itself (possibly), and keeping in mind what Tobra said above about a body dealing with acute injuries better than chronic ones I even attempted to cauterize the canker sore when it was small in an attempt to force it into a healing mode vs. days and days of ulcer. DIDN'T work.
Antibiotics do nothing for the ulcer, but can speed the underlying cause, like sinus infection.
Antivirals do nothing. Some people thought canker sores might be related to cold sores, which respond well to valtrex, but canker sores and throat ulcers aren't caused by viruses, again, it's immune system related.
The small flap of skin to the right in the photo is of the tonsillar crypt, and yours looks fairly pronounced. With chronic sinus drainage the crypts can collect matter (mostly collagen) and form what's called tonsilloliths, a little like kidney stones in the crypt.

[crustychief]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Is there anyone else here who occasionally gargles with hydrogen peroxide, or am I just weird?

I use it as well, my wife looks at me like I am wierd. I wake up in the morning without the catcrap smelling breath though.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Is there anyone else here who occasionally gargles with hydrogen peroxide, or am I just weird?

I do... And yes...

[UconnTim97]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Is there anyone else here who occasionally gargles with hydrogen peroxide, or am I just weird?

Nope. My dentist had me ramp it up to occasional gargle with a dilute bleach solution about the same strength as pool water. I use this in my water pick too with a dash of Listerine for flavor.

Note: do not over do it with the bleach solution.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by UconnTim97

Nope. My dentist had me ramp it up to occasional gargle with a dilute bleach solution about the same strength as pool water. I use this in my water pick too with a dash of Listerine for flavor.

Note: do not over do it with the bleach solution.

That must taste REAL bad if you flavor it with Listerine.

[pavulon]

he thought it to be a viral ulcer and his recommendation is salt water gargle and follow up w/ someone non-virtual if not much better/gone in 10 days.

He asked if you smoke as the image seems to show leukoplakia inside your cheek...or semen. I said I thought you might smoke.

[sammyg2]

Ok, so the consensus is that I'm definately weird but I'm not alone

[UconnTim97]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

That must taste REAL bad if you flavor it with Listerine.

It does, but I use the new wimpy Listerine that doesn't taste anything like the yellow stuff we grew up with. Lol.