Question: A little over two weeks ago, I came down with what felt like strep throat while I was traveling in California: severe sore throat, pus and white patches on both tonsils and back of throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, chills, stomach pain, no appetite, the works. I was incapacitated for a few days, but then pushed myself to enjoy the rest of the trip. When I returned home, I spent a few days recovering and sleeping, but I've hit a wall with my recovery.

There is one remaining white patch on my right tonsil, and it still hurts to swallow. My right ear also hurts. I have a ton of yellow/orange mucus draining, and one very swollen and painful nostril from all the drainage/blowing.

I went to my regular doc, and he said he could see a white patch on the right tonsil and that my right ear looked puffy and red but he couldn't make a firm diagnosis.

Since last week, I've had loose stools, and since yesterday, I've had very watery diarrhea and total loss of appetite - though I've already lost several pounds in the past two weeks because of a lack of appetite. I thought I would be recovered after two solid weeks of misery, but I still feel bad and my panic attacks and anxiety are ramping up as well.

Strangely enough, I also have four separate cuts or bites on my body that are oozing pus and look slightly infected (treating with OTC antibiotic ointment and bandages).

Also, no fever apart from the first 4 days. Continuing malaise, on and off nausea, and fatigue. I just feel very OFF. I can't seem to get enough sleep, and never feel very rested.

Are these all connected? My regular doc prescribed amoxicillin but I'm afraid to take it because it might worsen my already-bad diarrhea. Also, I've been a regular smoker (about 5-6 cigarettes per day) for three years, but have discontinued smoking this week because it hurts my throat and seems to worsen the diarrhea.