As I mentioned a few days ago, I haven't been in the best of health for a couple of weeks. Twelve days, to be exact. That's when I caught this nastiest of nasty colds from my wife, and the %@#$ing thing just won't go away.
When my wife first caught it, she thought it was strep so she to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with a non-bacterial infection. There's not much they can do about such things. You have to wait them out. When I came down with it three days later, I concluded I had the same thing and didn't bother going to a doctor. I still think that was the right move.
But after almost two weeks (and more in my wife's case) of misery, I caved yesterday and went to the doctor. He checked me out and said the symptoms weren't terrible (he's right; I'm not dying... it's more like having a one-inch laceration than a foot-long gash) and it's probably viral. But, he concluded, because it's been more than ten days, he wants to prescribe antibiotics just the same. It didn't hurt that I have a heart murmur that he deems "quite pronounced," and that strep bacteria left unchecked can destroy heart valves. Best not to play around with that in my case.
He told me that the chances of the antibiotic doing any good were maybe 5 percent. He figured I'd be better off doing a saline flush of my sinus cavity twice a day. I'll do that if I have to, but the antibiotics are a whole lot easier.
Just one day after starting the antibiotics, I feel *so* much better. I'm still coughing up and blowing out phlegm, but the pressure on my ears is gone and so is most of the sore throat. After twelve days without significant improvement, I seriously doubt that the overnight change is a coincidence.
All right. So here's what I'm really getting at. The doctor put me on a ten day course of two 875mg Amoxicillin tablets. I think it's important to take note of that, particularly given our earlier discussion of stockpiling fish antibiotics. The fish amoxicillin tablets I'm seeing are mostly 250 or 500 mg tablets. If you're really sick, you probably need a stronger dose than what is conventionally available at the fish store.
(And if someone out there knows off hand where I can buy 875mg fish amoxicillin tablets, please let me know. I'm sure they're out there. I just haven't seen them.)
It's also worth noting that for serious cold symptoms up to and including strep, Amoxicillin is a good choice. Not every antibiotic is right for every infection. Amoxicillin works for ear/nose/sinus/lung/throat issues.
That's all.
Here's to your good health.
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