EmersonAilidh Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 Sorry if I'm repeating myself here but I just wanted to make sure I included everything. I tested positive for strep for fourteen straight years. It got to the point where my pediatrician would just swab me for the #### of it & it was always, always, ALWAYS positive. I was completely & totally asymptomatic at least 80% of the time. I went to camp in the sixth grade & my pediatrician called my Mom, who was out of town for work (along with my stepdad), to find out where my camp was because she probably would have driven the antibiotics to me herself my titers were so high. Well, for the past year & a half I've tested negative three times! I was like "Hmph. Alrighty then.". All three times were at some kind of MinorEmergency/UrgentCare kind of place. They only run rapids, not three day cultures. The weird thing was that all three times I went there because my throat hurt so bad that I couldn't wait for my pediatrician! We always joked that the only way we knew that I didn't have strep was if I felt like I had strep, hahaha. Well, today we finally just went to my pediatrician because my throat has NEVER hurt this bad. She swabbed, saw it was negative, & said "Well, I might as well look." & she just immediately went "Oh my God." & took me into the other room where she taught me where to check for strep. You could SEE it in the back of my mouth!!! She explained that those rapid tests check for a certain enzyme that some weird infections don't produce. She assured me again by saying "If that's not strep I literally don't know what is." Ten days of Siprax... or something like that. :/ I can't remember the name but it's supposed to be like Omnicef. I've been SO insanely emotional all this week & I have to wonder if I haven't just had strep all winter instead of these stupid "upper respiratory infections" the CareNow people "diagnosed". Explains the middle of the night stomachaches. Explains why I've been SO neurotic lately. My Mom always thinks it's funny when I go "I think I have strep. I've been really moody.", haha. I was SO confused (could I say "SO" any more?) about why I was testing negative when I just knew I had strep. Now I know that all I have to do is look.
thereishope Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 Ugh! All those times and you more than likely had it. For God sake those other doctors are able to make a clinical dx of strep even if a test is negative. So, when was the last time you were on antibiotics? Hopefully this script will erradicate it and help out other symptoms. Get yourself back for a follow up 3 weeks after finsihing the antibiotic if the doctor won't give you a refill. So, what does the back of your mouth/throat look like? Small red spots, white spots? I'm actually curious since my kids are asymptomatic.
Fixit Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 . Well, for the past year & a half I've tested negative three times! I was like "Hmph. Alrighty then.". All three times were at some kind of MinorEmergency/UrgentCare kind of place. They only run rapids, not three day cultures. The weird thing was that all three times I went there because my throat hurt so bad that I couldn't wait for my pediatrician! We always joked that the only way we knew that I didn't have strep was if I felt like I had strep, hahaha. Well, today we finally just went to my pediatrician because my throat has NEVER hurt this bad. She swabbed, saw it was negative, & said "Well, I might as well look." & she just immediately went "Oh my God." & took me into the other room where she taught me where to check for strep. You could SEE it in the back of my mouth!!! She explained that those rapid tests check for a certain enzyme that some weird infections don't produce. She assured me again by saying "If that's not strep I literally don't know what is." I glad for you EM... If i can just detour..but it just stuck out to me... Please, no one throw tomatoes, or kill the messaagner.. but if they are saying those tests can be inconclusive...don't register certain enzymes..still diagnosticly strep... Well..i don't want to say more...(i think diagnosis?history should be prevailing info for this condition) But also that is why, though some cases may not be strep, may not be myco p, may not be lymes...sometimes until you treat, you don't know what you have..doctors prescribe all the wrong drugs all the time because they think it is something.(ever watch HOUSE).. I just want the all the boards to be supportive. And like all that we do..herbs included..you need to procede caustiuously..and keep questioning what the doctors do...and what the doctor don't do..... Thats it..i'm the oldest, so i win!
EmersonAilidh Posted January 21, 2011 Author Report Posted January 21, 2011 Ugh! All those times and you more than likely had it. For God sake those other doctors are able to make a clinical dx of strep even if a test is negative. So, when was the last time you were on antibiotics? Hopefully this script will erradicate it and help out other symptoms. Get yourself back for a follow up 3 weeks after finsihing the antibiotic if the doctor won't give you a refill. So, what does the back of your mouth/throat look like? Small red spots, white spots? I'm actually curious since my kids are asymptomatic. Got six days of Z-Pack (can't remember what dosage...) for an "upper respiratory infection" (that I'm now sure was strep like I thought it was!) in either late November or early December. No proph. abx after the surgery in late December. They are WHITE! I'm gonna see if I can snap a picture!
thereishope Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 I think I know what it looks like. Try to gargle with some salt water too. It'll help the white go away faster. They are WHITE! I'm gonna see if I can snap a picture!
Ozimum Posted January 21, 2011 Report Posted January 21, 2011 (edited) Quote: "They are WHITE! I'm gonna see if I can snap a picture!" Check the pics on Wikipedia...Our (new!) doc just looks at my son's throat and says strep! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcal_pharyngitis Edited January 21, 2011 by Ozimum
EmersonAilidh Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Posted January 22, 2011 Ope. Well, I feel stupid now.
PhillyPA Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 I can't believe that you actually tested negative! That is so strep! Awesome picture! Thank you. What is the reason why the negative throat culture? Does anyone know why kids are not testing positive when they obviously have strep?
thereishope Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) I've had that before and that bad too. Those white spots should start to go away by day 3 of an antibiotic. If they don't start to fade by then, call the doctor back and tell her. Also, don't forget to change your toothbrush after a couple days of abs. Edited January 22, 2011 by Vickie
EmersonAilidh Posted January 22, 2011 Author Report Posted January 22, 2011 PhillyPA ~ The nurse told me that the rapid test checks for a certain enzyme that is a "waste product" of the strep bacteria. She said that sometimes certain infections can be either too new or too old to be releasing enough (or any at all) of this enzyme. She also said that some infections are just weird. & if you're looking for weird infections... I'm your girl, haha. I think mine have turned up negative these past three times because they were too old. I stopped seeing my pediatrician regularly because I started seeing so many specialists, & with how often I'm asymptomatic I can't help but to wonder about how long that strep must have been festering to make my "throat of steel", as the family calls it, hurt. Vickie ~ I know, haha. Strep for fourteen years, remember? Thank you though.
Kbossman1 Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 I've been wondering if there is some new strain of strep bacteria that doesn't show up on these stupid rapid tests myself. All 4 of my kids get it all the time. Literally my pandas dd7 had 19 positive tests in a period of 36 months....and the last 9 were after her tonsils were removed. Strangely enough after always testing positive, she has been testing negative since September. It's the weirdest thing!! Every now and then the other 3 have had a positive test or two, but they've been negative so much since September that it left me wondering what the heck is going on?? I started to wonder if there had been some mutant strain of strep, or if the dr's all started buying some cheap generic test.....still don't know, but it is interesting that you've had the same problem. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD STREP....BUT THE TEST SAYS NO. Finally we found a new pediatrician that will prescribe abx for their symptoms, the breath, and based on what their throat looks like, and not just that silly rapid test. Anyone else experienced the same? Hope you feel better soon Emerson!
Tamistwins Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 When getting a rapid test always make sure they test it at lab too or some doctors culture it themselves over 36-48 hours. My son tested positive on rapids so frequently. Then he got an awful infection threat caused him to have terrible behavioural issues and bang his head on hard objects. He tested positive on rapid then after10 days on antibiotic tested negative on rapid but was positive at the lab. Needles to say the pediatrician who looked at me like I was crazy every time I requested a swan was
Tamistwins Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 Oops I wasn't finished...... Crazy every time I requested a culture she was shocked that it was still positive after10 days of antibiotics. Feel better Emerson
browneyesmom Posted January 22, 2011 Report Posted January 22, 2011 Gracious, Emerson! I'm sure that hurts! I'm so glad you saw your pediatrician and got some resolution to this - thanks for posting the info. My DD11 often gets the red petechiae on her upper palate, just above her uvula. She has not tonsils anymore, but when I see that, I always know strep is still there. I hope you feel better soon!
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