So I am back on medication to treat strep throat.
Recently, during my blood draw at the school clinic, the doctor repeatedly inquired about the cough she had heard. I candidly informed her that the coughing, which we initially believed had subsided, had resurfaced. The shortness of breath and the peeling fingers were enough for her to order several tests. She ordered tests for COVID-19, flu, mono, and strep. Unfortunately, the strep throat has returned.
It’s okay, though, because I am not contagious after 24 hours on the medicine, and we have identified the likely cause of my problems. When she asked me to pull down my mask to peer down my throat, she found that my tonsils had grown back. This condition comes after being removed more than 15 years ago. It is rare, but the tissue can grow back and house strep bacteria. I later found out that my dad’s tonsils also came back after his tonsillectomy.
I am grateful that this condition is my biggest worry right now. School is going well, and I feel secure in the path I am going down. Sure, taking a smorgasbord of pills everyday isn’t fun, but I am still up and dancing. I am fortunate to have been able to get out of bed to go see the doctor. I am still going to the gym and attending class, which is a gift itself.
We, meaning the doctors and I, are also learning a lot about how my body reacts to medicines. When deciding on the pill I would be taking home for strep round two, the doctor sent me back with more Keflex. I am allergic to penicillin, so we tried to stick with what helped last time. However, the doctor discovered that the type of strep I have lingers. The doctor reached this conclusion after swabbing the tonsil tissue and sending it to a clinic in New Jersey. Group G strep, the type I have, hides in the crevices of the tonsils and loiters in my lungs, which means it can persist in these areas and cause ongoing issues. It is a basement dweller. The doctor sent a prescription for Clindamycin to my pharmacy. She explained to me that the side effects of this new drug were stronger, but as long as I take the medicine properly, nothing is likely to happen.
Gif by BenJammins on Giphy
Upon returning home, I took one of the new pills. Within the first ten minutes I noticed my chest tightening up. The sensation felt like someone was sitting directly on top of my lungs. I ran to the trash to dig out the instruction sheet that comes with all pill bottles and discovered a “TAKE WITH FOOD” line below the dosage amount. Luckily, the pain subsided, and me and my happy butt were skipping to the gym.
TJL