AIBU to not leave the GP without antibiotics

Because it is so easy to be seen at the GP, walk in centre or A and E, isn’t it? the pharmacist was wrong not to look at the throat but they are required to do quite a bit of training before they can hand out antibiotics. Let’s face it, most doctors are consulting by telephone these days anyway. Very hard to get a face to face appointment.

What can happen, though, is you become unable to continue to take the form of antibiotic you have had a lot of. Happened to me - I had IV penicillin in hospital years ago (septicaemia), then had the odd prescription for bacterial infections through the years and then suddenly had a rash whilst on penicillin. GP told me because I had the reaction, I must now consider myself allergic to penicillin and ask to be prescribed another form of antibiotic in the future otherwise it was potentially life threatening (seizures etc) and was caused by the amount I had taken in my life so far.

I have bought antibiotics and other medications via private prescription for sailing too.

https://www.anytimedoctor.co.uk/onlinedoctor/medipac.html

Saved me from a nasty chest infection when we were weeks from shore!

Really glad you are following this up with your GP. You do seem to fit the criteria for quinsy so would defiantly be good to have a medical professional examine you. Even it turns our to 'just' be tonsilitis, five days will be too short a course (I've had severe tonsilitis many times and always given 10 day course) so if GP is happy with you taking oral antibiotics I would just query with them that you have been prescribed enough to sufficiently kill the infection. Don't want it coming back!

Here is the NICE guidance on sore throat in adults. If your score indicates the clinical need for antibiotics you will be prescribed them.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng84/resources/sore-throat-acute-in-adults-antimicrobial-prescribing-visual-summary-pdf-11315864557

I agree, surely the most simple way of managing these situations is that each GP surgery and pharmacy has simple swab tests to see whether a patient has a bacterial infection.

As seen by this thread, people think that the severity of pain, the appearance of white spots, the height of the temperature are all indicators of what type of infection it is.

OP might have a bacterial infection or she might not. And if she hasnt, then she'll take the anti biotics, feel better in a few days because thats how a virus runs and then be convinced it was a bacterial infection, despite never really knowing because no swab has been done.

You can actually get anti inflammatory mouth wash which I used because I cannot take oral anti inflammatories.

My limited understanding is that the "training" pharmacists are given as part of the pharmacy first scheme is pretty limited. When I read the start of this thread I was already thinking "hope you don't end up relying on a pharmacist because someone needs to examine you who can recognise a quinsy". I don't like the sound of your neck swelling at all, and I hope that you make it to the GP or A&E this afternoon if not already. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if you GP decided to send you in - so maybe think about how and when visiting A&E is least impractical/unpleasant for you and your little one. Best wishes.

Glad that you have antibiotics but quite frankly I'm astonished the pharmacist didn't even examine you properly - quinsy is no laughing matter and can be dangerous.

I feel for you op but glad you've got some antibiotics now 💐
When I was around 7 weeks pregnant last year I had it really bad too, couldn't even swallow my own saliva I was up all night crying from the pain. I went into my GP surgery with a ton of tissue it was incredibly painful to swallow. They also tried to write it off but gave me antibiotics in the end.

Having recently had a quinsy, the muffled voice is a big sign.

I would recommend A&E, but if you REALLY can't, then at least call 111. They were very good and the GP who called back asked me to send a picture of my throat.

The 'good' news is that if it is a quinsy, it's treated as a medical emergency so you should be triaged quickly at least.

That's a very specific situation, one that isn't relevant to the vast majority of people in the UK and which you didn't mention in your original post.

''Self help'' isn't just advising people over the internet to ''stockpile antibiotics''

Hell, why not stockpile diamorphine as well for the pain?

Self help and saves a trip to A&E.

Drugs on fishing ERRV and other vessels are responsibly kept- they wouldn't be saying ''Buy your own, online'' - to total strangers

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/644a82362f62220013a6a19a/MSN_1905_final_amendment_3_20_04_23.pdf

I had a similar issue with a chest infection I had years ago, was missing days at work, symptoms were only getting worse, and I had to tell the doctor that I knew it was an infection. He seemed offended that I knew my body better than he did, and prescribed them begrudgingly. Magically my infection cleared up once I started taking them. I don’t like to take antibiotics unless necessary either. I think it does happen where the doctor is wrong. In many other countries you can buy antibiotics over the counter, but here we have a lot of restrictions.

Also had recurring tonsillitis throughout childhood and eventually got my left tonsil taken out aged 21. I’m surprised you haven’t had yours taken out yet? Anyway I hope you do get it sorted and it clears up for, it’s uncomfortable all round.

People without spleens take a penicillin or equivalent if allergic to penicillin every single day.

The body doesn’t get used to antibiotics.

op, pharmacists only give 5 day supply of antibiotics. Tonsilitis is a 10 day course to prevent rheumatic fever which is a heart condition that can damage heart valves.

Absolutely true.

It's a worldwide problem.

Before antibiotics, many people {and animals} died from infection.

The agricultural issue of crowded animals definitely needs looking at- it will make meat more expensive, as the animals and birds will have more space- but it's much more humane.

@Turtlegurl888 I have had something very similar sounding. First time I swelled from chin to collar bones and no neck at all. I had a severely ulcerated, pussy throat. Very contagious. Like you very high temp and drinking water felt like swallowing a pack of razor blades. Had to sleep on an incline so I could breathe when sleeping.

Had the same things multiple times. Antibiotics definitely needed and Dr would be in full PPE. It would take around 10 days on the couch to be over the worst of it.

To help with the swallowing, lozenges with anaesthetic were very effective. They definitely gave relief from the pain. The pharmacist recommended them when I'd gone in to fill the AB script. She was worried about me being able to swallow the tablets.

So you're in the middle of the ocean, no WiFi or phone signal surprisingly (sarcasm), there are two crew, and you have caught your finger in the winch and lost the end of it. 2 days later It's going red, hot, and hurts. What would you do?
Wait 3 weeks to get to shore ( by which time you may be either dead or best case, lose your arm, or do you take a broad spectrum antibiotic for a week.

What do you think people all over the world do when they can't get to a doctor or afford one?

It's only in the west that this attitude of lack of self help prevails. Most people are actually very responsible when using antibiotics and quite capable of treating their own uti and other mild infections. And it's the attitude that they can't that isn't helping the NHS.

@Turtlegurl888 Hopefully the antibiotics you have been prescribed will kick in soon.

Hope you feel better soon.

Sore throats are horrible- Saline gargles can help.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-throat/#:~:text=Dissolve%20half%20a%20teaspoon%20of,(do%20not%20swallow%20it).

It's not my 'ideal little world' I happen to think that viewing antibiotics as a miracle cure all is grossly irresponsible. People not finishing their prescribed course because they feel better haven't necessarily killed off all the bacteria the antibiotics have been prescribed to fight, meaning they start to develop resistance.
Agriculture routinely dosing their animals with them so they can keep them in close proximity (for profit) while reducing the chances that they pass infections to each other further increases this.
Without effective antibiotics we may end up back in a world where people routinely die due to secondary infections after operations such as transplants or caesareans. This is a global problem not a UK one so I would say it is you that is in your own ideal world. Not me.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

In covid era, I had mysterious red rash and blisters in a line

Showed pharmacist who said it was a plant allergy. ''Contact dermatitis''

{It was the hot covid summer and I had been gardening}

When the pain got so bad {like a burning fire and wasp stings and a deep gnawing ache, and the red rash were tracking in a line I phoned GP who just from description alone said ''That sounds like shingles''.

He prescribed antivirals, but said ''It's a bit late for those, but worth giving them a go''.

HAD the pharmacist said ''That's shingles'' I could have been spared a lot of pain by taking antivirals in a timely manner.

Years ago doctors seemed to whip out tonsils and adenoids- for some reason this isn't done any more.

Lots of mum's generation are minus their tonsils. {They still do get sore throats though}

People keeping stashes of un-prescribed antibiotics are definitely part of the problem.

Advising others to do the same is grossly irresponsible.

You're not being dramatic OP, I know that pain and it's awful. To answer your questions:

• it's possible for one person to need AB in the household and not others. Everyone probably has the same bacterial infection but it's possible to recover without AB (Everyone in my household always does apart from me).

• as you mention the muffled voice, I'd definitely consider quinsy as others have said. The AB will still help but you may find it returns once you finish the course (5 days absolutely doesn't sound enough, I would bet it will return!)

Don't be like me and suffer on and off a few weeks just to end up having your throat drained in A&E one night and end up on IV AB!