Why is it so hard to get antibiotics?

[1wokeuplikethis]

Have had an awful day. Suffered terrible tonsillitis all my life until finally having the bastards removed last year. All good, not so much as a sore throat until now.

When I get tonsillitis not only is it bacterial huge lumps of pus but also sends my pelvis unbearably sore and causes me to writhe in agony for hours/days. My kids have both had tonsillitis last week & were given antibiotics no problem.

My throat felt sore last night, then very quickly it hurt to swallow, my pelvis was agony, I spent the night squirming and sobbing in pain and didn't get any sleep.
This morning I went to the dreaded walk in centre. The nurse confirmed I have ulcers down my throat (actually look exactly the same as when I had tonsils covered in pus) but said she couldn't give me antibiotics and I'd need to ride it out.
I burst into tears because I am in agony and know my body and know I need antibiotics. Couldn't bare the thought of writhing around until Monday when I'll have to go to the Drs again anyway because I definitely need antibiotics.

Because I made such a fuss, the nurse did a blood test to test for bacteria and a urine sample. 40mins later she confirmed I have high markers for bacteria and she can give me a prescription for antibiotics.

I am grateful for that but absolutely fuming it took so long and such a hoo har and me basically chucking my dignity out the window to get the poxy prescription. Not to mention spending 4hrs there in agony and then driving around for another hour to find a pharmacy that is open to get my antibiotics all while feeling deathly.

Why is it so hard to get antibiotics? It was the walk in centre so she is not my dr (who knows my history and is very sympathetic & also knows I've been to see him with the poorly kids 3 times in the last week) so she is following guidance but it's a disgrace.

If I had the energy I'd be raving.
And how have i got a bacterial throats infection without sodding tonsils?!

[PurplePillowCase]

Why is it so hard to get antibiotics?

because in most cases they are not necessary. and taking them inappropriately leads to resistant bacteria which is very bad news for everyone, especially for those with a compromised immune system.

you body usually deals very effectively with infection, viral or bacterial.

we should only use antibiotics if really needed.
having tonsillitis is unpleasant, but after a couple of days you should be on the road to recovery even without treatment.

[Phosphorus]

Because antibiotic resistance is about to set medicine back terribly.

[BillywigSting]

Because antibiotic resistance will set medicine back a hundred years or more and most things don't need them. Even things like tonsilitis which might clear up a day quicker with them, will still go on its own without them so doesn't need them.

[1wokeuplikethis]

Well ok, but that doesn't include every single person. You are talking about those who have taken antibiotics until they felt better and not completed the course, then got poorly again.
Also everyone is different, some can bounce back from a viral infection. It my understanding is that ab's are needed for bacterial infections, which is what I have. And I suffer terribly. Is it normal to be writhing and sobbing for days? Only ab's can stop that. With two young children to look after as well...it's a complete nonsense.

[Tiredstressed]

You got antibiotics, didn’t you? Antibiotic resistance is a big issue - it is right that they are careful.

[Zoll]

Because we are entering the Antibiotic Apocalpyse. It's not to inconvenience you or cause you suffering; it's a desperate attempt to stave off a looming and terrible future. Antibiotic resistance Fact sheet, WHO

[PurplePillowCase]

You are talking about those who have taken antibiotics until they felt better and not completed the course, then got poorly again.
no. I am talking about taking antibiotics at all if your body can deal with the infection. which in most cases it absolutely can. you might feel like shit poorly for a few days, but rest and fluids and symptomatic relief will do the job.

It my understanding is that ab's are needed for bacterial infections, which is what I have.
again, not true. your body can (usually) deal with a bacterial infection just as it can deal with a viral infection.

And I suffer terribly.
take pain relief, and get as much rest as you can. the dc can watch a bit more tv than usual for a couple of days.

you have my sympathies, it really isn't pleasant. but our bodies are amazing and generally do a good job for us.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

We have a very very limited window with few antibiotics and more and more resistant strains.

I work in homelessness and the panic that ensures when a TB case turns up! Everyone is tested, the person concerned in one case was resistant and had to be hospitalized for a long time. We were worried about other clients and staff.

Life will be desperate without effective antibiotics. So if it takes tears and four hours to get them, awful as it is for you, we will have effective drugs for a little longer.

[Memememeandyou]

As up thread. Antibiotic apocalypse. Soon we will be dying of common illnesses as in the past.
Most tonsillitis will settle without antibiotics. Even if bacterial. The nurse was totally correct.

[Out2pasture]

Because even pussie looking tonsils can be viral?

[TopBitchoftheWitches]

Tell my daughters school that.
They gave me and her so much crap over her being off for 5 days for tonsillitis (yet again) and that was eventually with antibiotics and two doctors appointments.

[Memememeandyou]

I think a lot of people being told they don’t need antibiotics interpret it as being told there’s nothing wrong with them. That’s of course rubbish. No one is saying you don’t feel shit. She was simply following current guidelines and best evidence.

[Fffion]

Do you really not know, OP?

[eternalopt]

Because in a walk in centre that know nothing of your history, they will exercise caution for all the reasons set out above.

[Abra1d]

Yes, it's right and proper not to take ABs if you can manage without, but schools and employers still seem to expect quick returns from illness.

Meanwhile in some countries you can still buy them seemingly on demand, which makes me wonder what the point of us trying to cut back.

It's a bit like reducing emissions while China continues to belch out more and more of them.

I don't know what the answer is. Our GP let my son have them when he went down with tonsillitis four days before his AS levels started. He couldn't have taken the exams without them and even so, he was in a lot of pain, not just in his throats but in glands in his abdomen. And terribly fatigued and brain fogged.

Tonsillitis and the legacy infections are really, really grim. Sympathies, OP!

[NotThereEileen]

No we aren't talking about everyone who didn't finish the course. We are talking about everyone who has had antibiotics for a virus, or even a bacterial infection that would have recovered without them.
Your children may well live in a world where the aren't effective antibiotics, and have the risk of early death and disability from illnesses we generally shrug off.
The nurse did the right thing.

[DoYouWantABourbon]

Do you seriously not know? Or do you not care so long as you get sorted out?

[RaindropsAndSparkles]

Now I'm not an expert but is it not the case that resistance to things like amoxicillin which is probably what the op got has been building for generations and it's the bugs that have evolved not that the drugs are no longer effective.

FWIW OP I went to a hub on Thursday and saw a GO with throbbing earache. She said "it might resolve but you don't want it getting worse over the weekend, here's a prescription, use it if you need it.

I think the op's problem was she saw a nurse working off instructions rather than using proper holistic diagnostic skills.

No, ok, you shouldn't have had to endure that. It was unkind and thoughtless.

We cannot stop the damage already done by overuse of antibiotics. We can only invest in new ones and use thdm more wisely in future.

Hope you feel better soon op.

[PurplePillowCase]

We cannot stop the damage already done by overuse of antibiotics.

actually, if we were to stop all penicillin use for a while, the bacteria would 'forget' their resistance and the antibiotic would work again.

[Memememeandyou]

Raindrops delayed scripts are used and shown reduce antibiotic use. Most throbbing earaches absolutely don’t need antibiotics.

[Fairylea]

If you have a normal and healthy immune system your body will fight infections off on their own. It may take a little longer than it would with antibiotics but it is better for you and the world in the long term if you don’t use them unless it is literally a “can’t cope without them” type situation.

If you need antibiotics they will give them to you. I have a severe immune disorder (adrebal insufficiency, pituitary issues and hypothyroidism- my combination is less than 1 in 100,000 people) and I take daily antibiotics as I get infections a lot. When I have particularly bad ones I have been told to go to a and e - which I did two days ago as I had swollen lymph nodes and a fever (think it is a breast abscess - I get them even though I’m not and never have breastfed). They gave me stronger antibiotics.

I am one of those who will be well and truly fucked if we get to the point of antibiotic resistance.

[Themummy76]

I don’t think it’s the uk that needs to watch it’s antibiotic use - I think it’s other countries where antibiotics are handed out willy nilly. The cynic in me thinks it’s more about saving the nhs money. Go to Poland/us and you’ll get antibiotics easily. It’s needs to be a global effort to combat antibiotic resistance.

I agree op - it’s gone too far in the uk. You have to make a fuss or go back loads of times to get them. There’s simple tests to tell if something is viral or bacterial - these should be done more.

[Themummy76]

Fairy - you take daily antibiotics yet you are telling people with painful, serious infections they shouldn’t take them? are you the only person allowed to be ill or receive treatment?! Why should everyone else suffer but you don’t?

[Fairylea]

That’s not what I am saying.

I am saying that people with normal healthy immune systems should see antibiotics as a last resort when their own immune system hasn’t or can’t work to shift the infection. Lots of people- I am not specifically referring to the op- get an infection and want to take antibiotics straight away without giving their own body a chance to fight it.

[Themummy76]

That’s true. But you are on prohylatic antibiotics so you are being a bit hypocritical!