Strep - Should I take antibiotics?

Ahhh the joys of prednisone...

Thought I just had a simple head cold but I just checked out the back of my throat and there are a lot of white spots back there so I suspect strep throat.

I'm really upset at the timing as I have been feeling surprisingly stable at just 2.5mg pred and an increased Aza dose and this weekend I'm suppose to road trip to Indianapolis from Madison, WI to watch the Badgers play in the inaugural B1G championship! Its my last year at Wisconsin (at least as an undergrad) and I would be heartbroken if I have to miss this game! It had been almost 2 months since I had cried because of this stupid disease but now I have to start that count over again...

I'm not worried about feeling sick from the strep itself (I was actually surprised to see the white spots back there since I thought it was a mild head cold as it was) but am VERY concerned about what the antibiotics might do to my guts especially since I won't have many bathroom options between rest strops on my upcoming 7-hour drive.

I had strep back in October 2009 just after my symptoms had started but well before my diagnosis but I chose not to take the prescribed antibiotics because I didn't want to upset my already very unstable colon. However, I'm tempted to take them this time so that I feel better my saturday and don't pass the infection onto my fellow travelers.

I've never had an acute reaction to any antibiotics before but this would be the first time I have taken them after my UC symptoms began but obviously my GI system is very different now.

So what do you all think? Is it better to nip the infection in the butt and risk the side effects of the antibiotics or let the infection run its course (which could be a very long one due to the prednisone)?

Also, if I do decide to take the antibiotics would prophylactically increasing my prednisone dose prevent any adverse GI side effects from the antibiotic?

Thanks for the help!
Melissa

How were you diagnosed with strep,,,did the doc do a throat swab?

The white spots could be a yeast infection, concidering you're on prednisone.

If you DO have strep, antibiotics is what you should take.

with probiotics as well....

q

As long as you don't take "broad spectrum" abx, you should be ok. In fact, a single injection of Penicillin might be your best shot. It is specific and will minimize gut flora involvement. Ask your doc or look it up.....Go Badgers!

I think you could definitely be dealing with thrush, since you're on pred. Definitely go to your doc and get tested.

Oh, and GO SPARTANS! ;)