it only takes a couple of minutes and a sit in a waiting room for less time than it usually takes for an actual doc appt to get the 15 min quick strep test done with 'only' a "lab appt' you can call and make just to have this checked out. they also will usually do the 24 hour one as well kind of to double check their findings? but given what you are actually showing with just even having the white spots in your throat at all that they would WANNT you to at the very least here get onto some type of anti B as a simple precaution not only for you, but as 922 mentioned up there too, i do believe it is actually up til after the fist 24 hours AFTER you have actually started the anti Bs that you would be considered 'contagious' too, so you don't want to be sperading this to anyone else either.
just simply call your primary docs office and ask for a 'lab appt' only for the strep test(does NOT take that long). you just do NOT want to be going anywhere really if you are in a contagious period, esp if you will be anywhere in close quarters? that would be a bit selfish to simply do to people who may be really immunosuppressed or on chemo or have a huge much less 'there' immune system than yours too? ya just do not know WHO you could be transferring anything to when you actually suspect somnething possibly contagious and do NOT take all precautions, ya know what i mean?
if for some reaon you cannot get into your docs office during the day, there is always the urgent care centers around you too that are open later in the day you can get the very same types of testing and possible rx from too?
i just really do think, simply having those white patches at all where you do, you must have at the very least strep or something else rather contagious that DOES require an actual anti B to kick or it can create something even worse for YOU down the road if not treated properly in the earlier stages, not to mention all the possible more susceptable people/children you may also be exposing to this too? just get that test done somwhere before you actually 'go away' for any holiday plans? if you don't simply start any anti Bs for something like this, by the time the weekend comes you will probably also pretty much feel like crap(want to just lie down and sleep) around that time too and with at least a low grade fever as well to deal with. a simple quick strep test will just let you know whats up and if you also just have something that may also require the anti Bs too.
like i mentioned above, using your primary, an urgent care, or even those mini clinics that some stores now have would be sufficient at this point to simply get you looked at and the anti Bs started. any follow up you may need can be done after the holiday with your own doc. but the white patches in back of throat are usually alone pretty telling in what i have seen in myself anf my two boys who got strep ALOT while growing up too. just better safe than sorry here hon. good luck withn this, FB
