Tonsillitis is hell

[Coffeeandaworry]

I've got my first bout of tonsillitis at 31. It's a white plaque on one side and is making me feverish and unable to eat anything that isn't ice cold and liquid.

Besides the fever I have no cold/flu symptoms so suspect it's bacterial, but my GP has refused anti-biotics because I'm able to swallow fluids despite the pain. Surely if I was physically unable to drink at all I'd be put on IV ABs anyway?! They said to call in 3 days if it's not better. Currently on day 2.

Any tips? I'm maxing out paracetamol and the difflam spray, using strepsils and salt gargling. Would a TCP gargle help? It is worth putting pressure on my GP? I can't carry on like this. It's agony and making me a shitty parent to my toddler.

[Ilovewheelychairs]

From my own experience, I was told that tonsillitis requiring antibiotics producing the white spots/areas of pus on your tonsils, whereas viral tonsillitis didn't so often. That's just what my GP said to me though, so not sure if that's correct! I had my tonsils removed in the end after repeated bouts so sending much sympathy to you; it's bloody awful!

I would gargle with a dissolvable painkiller (solpadeine or similar) to give some topical pain relief. I can't take co-codamol but lots of people swear by it, and you can take ibuprofen too which will reduce the swelling and ease your swallow.

Personally, I'd ring back and get it reviewed again. Tonsillitis can turn into a quinsy which could potentially require a hospital stay if left unchecked. If you're not feeling better tomorrow morning, don't feel afraid to ring again!

Hope you feel better soon!

[KLago10]

Hi, sorry you're feeling so rough! I had my first bout of tonsillitis at 27, and I've never been in more pain in my life.

Have you tried sulpadeine max? They're dissolvable tablets that are a mix of Paracetamol and codeine, that may help take the edge off the pain.

Definitely sounds like mine was (bacterial) and I'd absolutely put pressure on your GP, or call 111 if the pain is unbearable.

Hope you get sorted really soon x

[OrigamiParrot]

Oh you poor thing - you’re right, it is hell on earth and makes you feel terrible. I’d definitely call the GP back tomorrow re antibiotics.

In the meantime, ibuprofen and ice lollies! Hope you feel better soon.

[NorthernChinchilla]

Is there any way you can get to an out of hours doctor? I suffered very badly with tonsillitis, had them out, but still occasionally get bacterial infections/strep throat that is pretty bad. If I get this, I call 111 (obviously evenings/weekends!) and explain, and they've always sent me.
It's utter agony, so definitely a codeine based painkiller plus ibuprofen.

[willowmelangell]

It is the worst, my sympathies op.
Are you getting any help with your toddler?

[SillyOldMummy]

Solpadeine was the only painkiller that gave me any relief when I had tonsillitis. I'm so sorry for you, it really is hellish

[sammylady37]

Oh tonsillitis is rotten, the sickest I’ve ever been. Try gargling with soluble solpadeine. And tcp if you have it. Be careful not to od on paracetamol - I very nearly accidentally did as I was using it to bring down my raging temp.

[Palavah]

Take photos of your throat, yes to gargling with TCP (1 part to 5 parts water) and also gargling with soluble aspirin helps

[noname55]

If you have white spots on your tonsils then I'd assume you need antibiotics. You have my sympathy, I was really unwell last time I had it. Get well soon!

[Tianatiers]

Gargle with salt water, half a mug of boiling water and a teaspoon of salt, let it cool down and then gargle. And take a couple of paracetamol. Get well soon

[ThatsnotmyBorishishairistoneat]

Its absolute hell, sorry your feeling so crap. Difflam can help to temporarily numb the area. I won’t do any harm to ring the doctor back.

[ThatsnotmyBorishishairistoneat]

Also, just to say if you feel that bad consider calling 111. I ended up in hospital for a couple if days a few years ago with what I thought was tonsillitis, I got to the point were I felt so unwell I asked DH to take me to a and e. I was admitted to resus, had a severe infection of the throat space and a cyst on my windpipe.

[harknesswitch]

Get some bongela on a cotton bud and dab it on your tonsil ulcers, stings like a bastard initially but it will give you some relief for a bit. Paracetamol and ibrofen for the pain

[Roberta268]

You have my sympathy too - I got it several times a year throughout my teens and early twenties (but still not often enough to have my tonsils removed!). There’s not much that will help except liquid food, preferably cold, and time. One day soon, you’ll wake up and feel much better.

[Coffeeandaworry]

Thank you for the validation MN, it does feel ridiculous to be so wretched from a sore throat. I want to write a written apology to everyone who has told me they had tonsillitis for not weeping and hugging them immediately.

I've paid a tenner to an online gp service to beg for anti-biotics, hopefully will find out this morning if I've been successful.

DH went out on a co-codomol run last night and also got a spray with lidocaine and chlorhexidine, so I'll bin the difflam and go back to oral ibruprofen with iced milk.

This morning I could barely manage 3 sips of water to take analgesia. If the drugs don't allow me to drink more I'll have to go back to my GP, or it's next step IV fluids.

I'm a nurse and I've worked throughout covid, I feel so let down by the NHS that I've been told to come back after 3 days of no eating and acutely painful drinking for something that feels very likely to be bacterial.

[gingercatsarebest]

hope you have some luck with online gp. I have had tonsillitis a few times. 3 years ago was the worst. .gp refused to help.ended up with quinsy. .hospital stay throat drained.it's not a pleasant experience.

[gingercatsarebest]

Not a pleasant experience! gps do not take sore throat very seriously. ..Once you tell the receponist there's a fight on your hands

[Passthewinebottle]

Oh OP. I have suffered bacterial type my whole life (although nothing for 2 years- touch wood!)

It's massively underestimated by those who've never had it & my god, it's just utter hell, I've never felt so ill. I cannot believe your GP has refused antib's FFS! I've never been refused, unless I've gone too early, but I guess with my history, they just dish them out. Hope you can get relief v soon

[Twinkie01]

Get some hydrogen peroxide solution from the chemist, dilute as per instructions and gargle with it every few hours. It will oxidise the bacteria (foams up and tastes vile but works) and you'll feel better quickly.

I had to do this as became immune to the antibiotics and it was actually better than the antibiotics.

[Saltedhero]

Really sympathise I used to get tonsillitis at least twice a year for years and only antibiotics could ever clear it up. It's bloody agony and wipes you out completely. Thankfully I had them removed about 6 years ago late 30's and have never regretted it.

[Laila747]

I feel for you OP. I had tonsillitis for the first time when I was 21. I remember being on the bus going to the drs with tears streaming down my face. I had never felt so ill in my life....my whole body ached, I had a fever and chills, it was rotten. Thankfully after getting anti biotics I was pretty much back to normal 24 hours after. I’ve only had the occasional flare up over the last 15 years since then.
My DD suffered with it terribly and her whole body would feel like it was on fire. Again, once she has antibiotics she was fine 24 hours after.
She used to suck ice cubes and found that helped but really, only the antibiotics made it better.
I feel for you, I really do. I always found people that had never suffered with it were very dismissive...” oh it’s only a sore throat” yea right!!!

[Dinky2004]

I had tonsillitis a few years back and was crying everytime I swallowed, as a few others have said the only thing that gave me slight relief was solphadine max
Hope you feel better soon

[crochetcrazy1978]

TCP gargle definitely helps and gargling soluble painkillers too. Hope you get the antibiotics soon x

[EternalOptimist7]

Just wondering why this is in Relationships? Hope you feel better soon OP 💐💐

[Thisbastardcomputer]

You have my extreme sympathy, it's awful.

I had a sore throat for 5 years, that would often turn into tonsillitis, the only time I got relief was on antibiotics.

I had the most dreadful time trying to convince nhs to remove them, I was 33 at the time and considered too old wtf !

I got the operation by paying privately to see a consultant, he was horrified by my situation and agreed to operate on them and admitted me as an nhs patient, I had go into a hospital out of my region but it was a small price to pay.

I've never looked back and had maybe one sore throat since.