[AnxiousKitty]

I'm not even sure if hpv vaccine I took is the whole cause, or the twinrix (hep A + B), but I've felt so sick for over a week already. I went from body pains/flu symtoms, to dry coughing that leads to more fatigue, as well as having dry mouth. Advil made the earlier stuff bearable, but the night tyenol pills and even my sleepy allergy pills don't do enough to make my throat feel better to get some decent rest.

I have called in sick a few times and got a doctors note, I thought I was getting better, but my throat is so sore and itchy, it hurts to swallow-and I coughed up a thicker mucuous than I ever have, which came out from excessive coughing.

The worst part is not knowing why I react like this, how long it will take, and whether or not vaccines are even safe.

I've grown a fear of vaccine manufacturers, and of oblivious doctors who don't seem to know anything, but give you drugs. Ive already been subject to a horrible doctor who gave me antibiotics for a throat infection I apparently didnt have, but never called to update me to stop taking the medication...(I came in for another reason and the clerk told me about it).

They assume this isnt side effects because "it takes 2 weeks normally for them to appear"...so she gets me doing extra blood work and thinks it's something else. (Yea I guess its good to check anyway, but totally dismissing my idea because apparently everyone reacts the same way to vaccinations?)

Anyway, now Ive been feeling quite depressed. Ive had some emotional moments, even at work, of simply feeling so helpless and afraid of what's going on in my body-----I don't know of my diet is helping me fight it, if any sleep I get is doing much (I wake up in middle of night, so likely my sleep isnt that good), or if it will just go away soon on it's own?

Meanwhile ,I'm still apparently needing travel vaccines, before I go in June to Taiwan.......and to be honest, I almost at this point, would rather risk getting actual-sick, instead of paying out big money to get sick before I leave, and not know if I'll recover in my trip.
I feel depressed and don't know what to do anymore.......I'm going to see the doctor about my recent throat and mouth issues, but......that's all I can think of.

If I get travel vaccines, I am going to miss so much work according to my current reactions to other ones, on top of paying up the costs to get the vaccines.

I am not really a huge health-phobia person, but of course anxiety and ocd will come into play, and make me feel like one---

I feel like basic clinic healthcare people just prolong things and don't solve them...sometimes the way some behave, I wonder if they even care about their patients...or just want their money.

[Perna]

It sounds like you have a cold, maybe the flu; most vaccine allergies have to do with itching at the site, I don't know any that have coughs at all. I'm glad the Advil helps some. I'm sorry you feel so lousy and for so long. But I bet you are halfway through; it should be gone in another week or two.

I think you have to have the travel shots; you might not be allowed back in the country without them and the new avian flu kills something like one in 4 or 5 people who get infected; I wouldn't play with that.

Health Information for Travelers to Taiwan - Travelers' Health - CDC

[hamster-bamster]

You do need the vaccines and do not need antibiotics for most infections even those that do exist and clearly do not need antibiotics for non-existent throat infections.

The standard of care is to take a culture to determine if there is a bacterial throat infection and only administer antibiotics if the culture test result is positive.

If you doctor did not do that, you need a more competent doctor.

But you still need the vaccines for your safety and no, you do not want the diseases that vaccines help prevent.

You also seem to have general malaise and generalized, non-specific depression and in the midst of all of that, it is hard to say what is causing what. I suggest drinking mega qualities of electrolytes and non-electrolyted drinks, taking it easy, and stopping to worry incessantly.

[AnxiousKitty]

My doctor took a culture test today, yet also prescribed me with antibiotics and a sick note for work at the same time :s .

There is white stuff back there in my throat, so I guess I'll see....she thinks I got strept throat. I decided not to take the chance of infecting everyone and let myself go home today after I dropped the note off (assuming no one gets sick from my note, lol)

[hamster-bamster]

You need to gargle with warm water / salt/ a few drops of iodine if you have it / baking soda - I forgot the recipe but basically try to make it palatable. Gargle every hour.

The doctor could have been pretty sure that you have strep because of the white stuff and thus decided not to wait for the culture test results to come back.

You need to eat several portions of yogurt a day while you are on antibiotics.