Paging Dr. Kevorkian

I have never had strep throat until this week.

Growing up I knew kids who got it all the time. Some of my good friends were constantly missing school due to strep, but for whatever reason I was never really susceptible to it. Then this week I had a sore throat, which I initially dismissed as some kind of 24-hour summer cold bug. When the soreness didn't go away - and when it got worse - I called the doctor. A quick swab later and I was diagnosed.

If you've never had it, it sucks. It sucks really, really bad. Take the worst sore throat you've ever had and multiply it by a million. Just swallowing is misery, my ears hurt, my tonsils are swollen, the glands in my armpits are swollen, my head hurts, my neck, arms and legs ache (from tensing my muscles each time I swallow.) I had no idea it was this bad.

I've just started on antibiotics and have a week left of them. I really hope they kick in soon. I'm only supposed to take one pill every 12 hours, but I was very tempted to eat half the bottle when I got home today. Instead, I've been using Chloroseptic throat spray, which is magical stuff (basically a really strong anaesthetic). It numbs everything for about ten minutes.

If you've ever had strep, I have a newfound respect for you. Just like I have for all those kids who got it when I was younger.