It can vary really widely, Steph. My husband's dad has lupus and he's lived with it for decades.

I should have mentioned, too, that my vague knowledge of it includes knowing that's it's often (generally?) easy to treat/manage/live with for a very long time.

That, though, is the extent of my knowledge.

And it's a little worrying only because he's 75 and on the frail side of healthy. He went through a long course of radiation last year for prostate cancer, which is in remission, which is awesome. But it took somewhat of a toll on his health, so the TIA was worrying enough, and now I just worry that an autoimmune disorder *on top of* the radiation and TIA is going to be very overwhelming to his health.

I guess it's the cumulativeness of ALL of it that worries me.

Anyway. At least we have the diagnosis

Strep is kinda better than general bronchitis-y stuff, because at least you can throw antibiotics at it. Will he eat popsicles? Those are yummy AND make the throat feel better.

I meant to Seattle, Barb. I will happily act as factotum in NOLA!

My aunt had lupus for many years. It has it's ups and downs.

Ugh, Liese. I hope you don't come down with it.

You know, I hear more and more about people getting good painkillers for strep and tonsillitis these days and it pisses me off -- not that people are getting pain relief, but that as a kid to my late 20's, I got strep or tonsillitis twice or three times a year, severely -- we're talking 103 fevers, throat swollen so badly you could see it from the OUTSIDE.

Never ONCE -- out of probably 35 bouts in my life -- did a doc offer anything besides anti-bios. And it was agonizing, and I have a high pain threshhold.

Clora-fucking-septic, my glowing white ASS.

wrong thread

Yeah, I went in with him because he was so loopy from the pain already and I wasn't convinced he'd be lucid for the doctor. He was, and it happened to be his cardio that gave him a $5 bottle of magnesium that resolved his heart flutter, so he trusted him.

Anyway, so I pushed for the pain meds. I mean, I didn't beg for narcotics, I was just trying to figure out how we could get him eating and drinking. Drinking mostly was what was worrying me. So then the doc offered up the pain meds.

But it was a hassle, because they said they'd call them both in, then I got there and only a partial of the antibio was there, so I have to go back tomorrow. And they said since it was a narcotic, they were supposed to have given me a paper scrip for the Lortab. But they didn't. Or at least I didn't have it. Thankfully the pharmo called them and convinced them to fax it over.

It's funny, because it's the same painkiller they gave him when he broke his arm. But if it lets him get some rest, then I'll take it.

No, hon, *he's* supposed to take it.

I hope he feels better quickly, and gets better quickly, too.

Hubby hordes his pain pills--his pain doc has commented that Hubby's the only patient he knows of who has pills left over at the end of the time frame they check on--because he's anticipating the times when the insurance company goes "You're really a drug addict, aren't you, we're not giving you those anymore." I've got the last of a bottle from a neck seizure a year or so ago, and half a one knocks down bad cramps beautifully.

Of course, in our household, Lortabs are Lora, and we'll say things like "Yeah, I'm staying in with Lora this afternoon."

I'm not really a beer drinker but I'm determined to find at least one local beer I like.

I also want to go to Beerfest in Burlington, hopefully Will can find the time and we can both go.

So far of the local beers I've tried one at the Alchemist which was okay and Long Trail Blackberry Wheat -- which is Will's all time favorite beer.

Nora - if you do get up this way I'd love to meet you and Tom.

No, hon, *he's* supposed to take it.

Ha! I dunno, as tired as I am at this point, I might need them! No, just kidding. I am actually pretty chipper right now.

The SO finally woke up so I went in to antibiotic him, and he had soaked his shirt through sweating...his fever finally broke. So we got him changed and comfortable and he feels so relieved.

I'm cooking mac and cheese and we're happily watching Indy bump day. So I have a day of laundry and dishes and bleach and other sorts of cleaning things, but all that needed done anyway, so no loss. And if he's feeling at least marginally better, I'm relieved. He's not a complainer, so when he was so weak and hurting so bad it was hard to watch.

Have him gargle 2-3 times a day with warm salt water for a minute each time.

It will hurt, but it will help.

~ma for Liese's SO and Steph's uncle!

I hate Cloroseptic! That stuff is nasty and it doesn't help.

Hubby hordes his pain pills--his pain doc has commented that Hubby's the only patient he knows of who has pills left over at the end of the time frame they check on--because he's anticipating the times when the insurance company goes "You're really a drug addict, aren't you, we're not giving you those anymore."

I am like this with Valium, for the same reasons. The only reason I'm still with the shrink who forgot that I was tapering off Welbutrin is that he treats me like I know what I need and gives me the scripts I ask for without hassle.