Paging Dr Maplewood......is strep throat going around?
I think strep throat would hurt like fire. FWIW: My spouse and I have battled with this really nasty, tickley cough plus yucky throat/gland thing for three weeks now. I don't even have tonsils anymore!
@kmk so it's YOUR fault. ;-) Seriously, though -- any advice? I've got a huge meeting on Wednesday and don't want to be disgusting (or contagious).
For me, strep always felt like I was trying to swallow a spiked golf ball. And I am pretty sure it involves a fever. I got it every year when I was in my teens. The white stuff could just be mucus, if there's no pain.
When in doubt, treat symptoms. Plenty of gargling should help, either with mouthwash or just warm salt water. A sore or gunky throat usually means there has been nasal discharge down the back of the throat, so decongestant or anti-histamine (do you have allergies??) would help with that.
Then, I'd make sure to keep drinking plenty of warm/hot fluids.
And if things get worse or the cough persists, see a doctor at one of the Doc-in-a-box places.
Wish I could edit the thread title, because dr just confirmed that it IS strep throat! So it is going around.
That cough/throat thing kmk mentioned has been going around with me as well. I assume it's related to the tree pollen. Thoughts?
Oh, shoot, sorry to hear that! But presumably you are now on antibiotics, so all should be well in short order.
You most likely won't be as symptomatic tomorrow for your meeting, and from what I've always heard, after 24 hours of the antibiotics you are no longer contagious. 
@peggyc Doctor told me 48 hours. I'm calling in.....even though I have no voice!
Yes, I'm trying to get an appointment with my dr. Just wanted to get a sense of what's going around: I woke up with a cough and a feeling like something was stuck at the back of my throat. Took a look with a flashlight, and yuck -- a couple of big white nodes, like pimples, on my tonsils, and some white streaks at the back of my throat. No fever, no sneezing, no aches, no sore throat. I've only had strep once in my life & that was almost 30 years ago. If this matches something you've had very recently or know is going around, I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks! [Also: unless you're made of sterner stuff than I am, do NOT google "white bumps on tonsils."]