And the Diagnosis Is . . . ?

So, I went to the doctor yesterday to plead my case for some sort of treatment. He listened, and this is what he told me: "I'd be stupid to not take you seriously and withhold treatment from you. It's been 10 days and you're condition is worsening." I was so grateful! That's the good news. I'm on medication to alleviate whatever is causing my illness. And this medication (Azithromycin) must be pretty powerful, because I only take 6 pills in total, starting with 2 last night, and 1 a day for the next 4 days. Then I'm done with meds, as long as I'm feeling better. If I'm not seeing any improvement in my condition by Thursday (tomorrow), I have to go back for more tests. I've already noticed an improvement in how I'm feeling, just by taking those first 2 pills. So hopefully that's a good sign of what's to come.

Now the not-so-good news. Upon examining me and assessing the symptoms, the doctor conlcuded that I either have strep throat or mono. Mono! I just about died when I heard that. I hadn't even considered that as a possibility, but it makes sense. When I was in high school I was get tested for mono every few months. I had chronic tonsilitis, and once my tonsils were taken out at the age of 18, the mono tests ended as well. Go figure. But in light of how I've been feeling in general over the past couple of months, this totally makes sense. Mono can be in your system for quite some time before it's diagnosed, and given what I've researched so far about this disease, I won't be shocked if the test comes back positive. Unfortunately I won't get the results until late today or early tomorrow, and then we'll go from there. I have a friend who was diagnosed with mono last year and she's still not 100% herself. I really hope the test comes back negative, because right now I don't have time to "rest" the majority of my day away.

Unfortunately, the doctor is more convinced of the mono diagnosis than strep. All I can do is pray that whatever the news is, I will follow doctor's orders to overcome the illness.

One of the following bacterias has invaded my body. Which one?
That is TO BE DETERMINED . . .

Mononucleosis BACTERIA:

Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is a viral infection causing high temperature, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. Infectious mononucleosis can be contagious if the infected person comes in close or intimate contact with another person.

Streptococcus Pyogenes BACTERIA:

Strep throat is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. (Most sore throats are caused by a virus & are associated with colds & flu.) Common symptoms of strep throat are sudden sore throat, high fever, fatigue, & swollen tonsils/lymph nodes. Symptoms of colds/flu that are usually not present in strep throat are cough & runny nose. Rapid diagnosis is important for 2 reasons -- First, unlike colds/flu, strep throat is readily treatable with antibiotics & second, several serious complications can occur after prolonged, untreated strep infection.