Horrid sore throat that won't go - any ideas?

[Pleasemrstweedie]

Help! I’m getting a bit tired of this.

I started with a sore throat on Sunday morning – and I’ve still got it! I’ve had 12 hours sleep since Sunday morning and I’m exhausted. I can’t sleep because it hurts so much to swallow.

I’ve had a good look and it’s not tonsillitis. I don’t feel particularly ill apart from the throat, just very, very tired.

I’ve tried soluble aspirin, which helps for a couple of hours and two types of anaesthetic lozenges which haven’t worked at all.

I don’t understand why it’s not going away, that’s the first thing, but does anyone have any ideas as to how I can keep it at bay? I can’t see my GP until Monday.

Thanks

[MeadowHay]

You've had a sore throat for about 3 days, is that correct? It's really not unusual to have a sore throat (most often caused by a viral infection) to go on for at least a week, sometimes even a bit longer, so you don't need to worry on that front. I'm afraid it may be a few more days until symptoms improve. Unless you've had a sore throat for more than 10 days or so, it's not usually necessary to visit the GP about it, unless the pain is so severe that you are not able to swallow food and liquid. Your pharmacist is the best person to see for advice, because it's really only about symptom management at this stage.

You can continue to use aspirin in line with the dosage info on the box provided you don't have any underlying medical condition that prevents you from using it. Other OTC painkillers which are generally effective for a sore throat include paracetamol and ibuprofen. Throat lozenges in my experience are not much more than soothing but some people find them useful. Hot drinks and warm food, like soup and cups of herbal tea, may sooth the pain too. I also find that gargling salt-water helps, which is an alternative remedy you could also try, and keeping the throat wrapped up snug in a warm scarf. Apart from that just generally keeping a healthy diet and making sure you get enough rest and fluids to aid the recovery process. Hope you feel better soon. :)

[INeedNewShoes]

I've had a sore throat since the 27th of December - thoroughly fed up of it now!

Three days isn't long. It may yet develop into a standard cold!

Hot water and honey is soothing and paracetamol will take the edge off it.

[Pleasemrstweedie]

This is news to me. I’ve never had one last this long before, so it’s taken me by surprise. I also imagined that anything advertised as pain relief for sore throats would actually make a difference. The latest lozenges I tried, the pharmacist stressed that I should be very careful with hot drinks because I wouldn’t be able to feel anything! They’ve made no difference at all.

I can’t swallow properly because of the pain, so I keep choking and I am into my fourth day of not eating, drinking or sleeping properly. It’s miserable.

I guess though, all I can do is try to ride it out.

[antimatter]

or go and see your GP who can tell you if you need antibiotics

[merrygoround51]

Just be careful that it doesnt escalate into a quinsy - if you are getting high temps then I would go to the doc.

[Clarella]

Hi Mrs T,

I've had some pretty nasty sore throats and they can drag on for a week or two.

Last year one went on for 3 weeks with no real change and though GP couldn't see anything gave antibiotics to see. My son had had scarlet fever and I do think I caught it from him. I felt extremely peculiar in the first week and got better from that but throat hung about. (Also had the rash on chest briefly)

There's quite a lot of it about at the mo so not unreasonable to get checked out though GP may be reluctant to give ab so soon. A friend had two lots of abs for a very stubborn sore throat recently.

My tips are - glycerine, ibuprofen and paracetamol alternating doses, warm clear drinks with lemon (lots, can add glycerine) garlic and tyrozets (really numbing)

Get well soon!

[Pleasemrstweedie]

Thanks Clarella. I've given up on the Tyrozets though, they're not touching it!

[Clarella]

If you're really gagging maybe do go see GP - but I do remember an appalling throat where I was sick several times due to size of tonsil and was told just viral. It was fecking awful!

Quinsy can come on quickly though I think, my dh had it as a teen,

[iamEarthymama]

Please go to see your GP or a walk in clinic

My nephew was admitted to hospital and given intravenous antibiotics last week. He was in danger of developing sepsis after a viral sore throat suddenly got worse.

Don't leave it, you don't sound at all well.

You could try gargling with one drop of tea tree in a cup of warm water.
Definitely gargle with warm salt water, next time you have a bad throat try that straight away.

Hope you feel better soon

[Pleasemrstweedie]

Pleased to report sore throat has virtually gone overnight, which is good news. However, I am still far from well, with raised blood pressure and a heart rate over 100, so it's clearly an infection.

On my own at home today, so going back to bed.