Tonsillitis

[GeorginaA]

Any tips to make this either go quicker or less painfully?

I'm currently alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen to cover 24hrs. Can't take anything stronger as I'm breastfeeding.

Trying to avoid going to the docs because from what I have read, they won't do anything or will prescribe either penicillin or erythromyacin - both of which I am allergic to.

I'm on day 2 and it feels like knives are sticking into my throat, have got horrible aches and pains and, frankly, feel like complete shit.

Now would be a great time for someone to tell me about a fantastic safe alternative remedy that will clear it all up in 24hrs . Alternatively, someone tell me how much longer this is likely to last?

[lou33]

gargle with soluble aspirin or paracetamol, drink jelly drinks ( v watery jelly so it doesnt set)

[laneydaye]

have suffered most of my life with it GeorginaA
paracetamol was only thing that made the day more easy im afraid.... have fortunately grown out of it as my gp said when i was a nipper.(am 33though)
xxxxx hugs its awful

[laneydaye]

always lasted about 6-7 days for me....

[lou33]

dd1 is having her tonsils out on thursday

[GeorginaA]

Can't take aspirin unfortunately - I'm asthmatic Will send dh out for some jelly later. Is icecream okay? It's about the only thing I've been able to eat for a couple of days - I'm hungry but I just can't swallow easily.

laneydaye: argh - 6-7 days It gets gradually better after the second though, doesn't it, doesn't it, please

[laneydaye]

WELL MY WORST DAY WAS DAY 2 THEN GETS BETTER FROM DAY 3..... SORRY I WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A BIG BOTTLE OF LUCOZADE TO MAKE MYSELF FEEL BETTER

[GeorginaA]

well if it's going to be slightly better tomorrow, that's something at least! Just so long as it isn't going to get worse...

[lou33]

i found the jelly sort of coats the throat

[sievehead]

My sympathy - I had this a few months ago and it was dreadful. I think you would normally have 2 really bad days, and should feel a slight improvement by day 3 or 4. I found that Solpadeine was excellent for the pain - was good to gargle with too. Also, have you got white spots on the throat? Hope you feel better soon.

[oatcake]

OK guys, make way for a natural cure...

Works a treat for my throats...

a glove of crushed garlic in a spoonful of honey.

Garlic is antibacterial and honey has antibiotic properties. Manuka honey is the most therapeutic honey I believe.

OK. So I didn't say it would taste nice, but it works!

[GeorginaA]

Havent been able to see properly... ds1 nicked my torch Earlier this morning it was very inflamed, looking very textured golf-bally with white areas and (sorry, tmi I know) now it feels as if I'm at the pus stage.

Oh, I just want to be healthy for more than 3 days in a row - we seem to have had every illness going this winter

[GeorginaA]

ew oatcake - that sounds disgusting! Um... it'll work for tonsillitis - ie. cure it? Or will the foul taste just take your mind off it for a little while

[Kibby]

I had this two weeks ago and am only feeling better now - sorry. I struggled with natural remedies and then had to take antibiotics on Friday. I only took them for two days and felt better almost at once. The only relief I could get was gargling warm salt water which does work. Hope you're feeling better - oh merocets form the chemist or some of those antispetic sweets work a bit too

[oatcake]

yeah, it's a kill or cure type of thing!

as for the antibiotics, don't you need them if it's definitely tonsillitis??? There are so many antibiotics that one will definitely suit you.

Go to the docs. I had laryngitis and paryngitis in '99 - for the first time since the salmonella episode of '91, I was off for a whole week. it was so painful that I would have gone through childbirth again rather than have laryngitis and pharingitis for a week.

Hope it clears up soon. Do let me know if you try the honey and garlic (believe me, I would have if I'd known about it then...)

[GeorginaA]

re: antibiotics - from what I can tell is that it really depends on whether it's a bacterial or viral infection (it can be either). All the health sites say tonsillitis is self-limiting...

Dunno, if I still feel shit tomorrow, I may well be queuing outside the doctor's surgery BEGGING for antibiotics. Hate them though, I often think antibiotics are worse than the original illness as they really seem to mess up my system (and will probably mess up ds2s as well as I'm breastfeeding)

[GeorginaA]

oatcake, I think I hate you

Just tried the honey and garlic out of desperation. Was almost sick... BLEUGH!

This better be an instant cure

[GeorginaA]

WHY didn't I try the jelly first... WHY?!

[laneydaye]

How you feeling now?

[LIZS]

If you have white pus and still feel lousy then I'd say you need to visit the dr. I really don't understand UK drs - there is a really quick blood test, routine in Switzerland, that could be done while you wait to determine whether it is bacterial or viral. As a result you get treated earlier, a more accurate diagnosis and recover faster . Also would prevent the need for surgery revisits a few days down the line when 10 % of patients haven't recovered from their "virus" and then need AB's.

Hope you feel better soon.

[GeorginaA]

I feel better than yesterday but still wiped (although that could partly be from not eating for the last 3 days, ho hum)

Throat has gone back to feeling scratchy and sore and swollen rather than stabbing knives, which is a good thing. On the other hand, it feels like that all the time, rather than just when I have to swallow, which is a bad thing.

Going to leave it until tomorrow before I decide whether I need a docs visit I think...

Thanks for thinking of me

[laneydaye]

sounds like you through the worst bit to me...just keep drinking love..xxxxxxx

[GeorginaA]

I will I will! Of course, the important question is when can I start drinking alcohol again

[northerner]

I'm plagued by this too. 18 months ago I had an extremley bad bout and ended up in hosoital for 48 hours.

I feel for you.

[GeorginaA]

Ugh northerner That sounds horrendous!

I feel almost better, just by association and that I'm not in hospital, tbh!

You poor thing.

[northerner]

The anti b's they gave me didn't work and I could not even bear to swallow a sip of water I was in so much pain. I also had 'hot potato voice' as the specialist called it!

It developed into quincies (sp?) and my throat was closing up.

I lost half a stone though