AIBU to not leave the GP without antibiotics

I've had quinsy and the pain sounds exactly as you describe, I also could barely open my mouth and whole body convulsing with pain every time I had to swallow. Mostly I was just drooling because swallowing was so horrific. 100% you need antibiotics ASAP. I really hope you get this sorted quickly, it's absolutely exhausting. You have not come across dramatic to me because I know it really is that awful.

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3316/feverpain-score-strep-pharyngitis

they shld use the fever pain score to determine if you need anti bs which it sounds like you do.

Hurts like absolute buggery but gargling with salt water helped my teen DC when she had a bacterial tonsillitis and the GP refused her antibiotics. She was in hell with pain and a fever, could barely swallow, was dehydrated and her whole neck was swollen, her tonsils looked were covered in yellow spots and larger than I’ve ever seen tonsils go before. It did make her tonsils look like they had flecks of blood on them when she gargled with it and it really hurt when she had it in her mouth gargling but after about 15 mins they didn’t feel as sore as they had. She repeated every hour until I got her to an OOH app where the doctor there had no clue why her GP hadn’t sent her straight to the hospital in the first place (she was admitted and put on IV antibiotics).

Really no. What's actually more likely to happen is to wait 2-3 hours (typical response time really but in some areas much busier and you'll get a call back is 3-5hours by someone asking if you can make your own way to a&e or potentially we can arrange a taxi).

Very few ambulance staff will have the knowledge/ability to confidentally differetiate a quinsy from tonsillitis, this isnt part of the training and they don't carry treatments for either condition. So at best youre waiting hours for someone to arrive who has only a very surface level knowledge of quinsy, very basic ent exam, and they'll drop you off at a&e reception to book yourself in/or tell you its a sore throat, they dont think its anaphylaxis (which is the emergency throat condition they care about) you can still make your own way upto a&e. I've worked I worked in 2 different ambulance trusts and neither has any direct to ent pathway. Only paramedics who take on additional training to work in a gp surgery etc would top up with this type of assessment skill.

When I had tonsilitis that felt like that when I was still living in the UK, the doctor gave me steroids and they helped immensely, quite quickly. Think I was able to swallow without that spiky golf ball feeling the next day.

Where I am now, doctors will check your CRP with a fingerprick test if you present with tonsilitis, and can tell which are most likely bacterial from that. So much better than just relying on the individual opinion of a GP.

Blimey, I'm surprised they haven't whipped the fuckers out by now.
My sis had quinsy and was really ill. I guess hers was on the brink of bursting though.

Emergency prescription from the pharmacy - the pharmacist will look at your throat and decide if they can prescribe you something or you need to see the GP.

With the new Pharmacy First system a pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics for throat infections. My daughter tried it recently when she couldn't get an appointment at the Dr. Prescribed it without any problems. More people should use this service.

@Turtlegurl888 as a few other well-informed posters have noted, you can now go direct to a pharmacy and the pharmacist can prescribe and dispense antibiotics directly (if they think indicated).

this is a new pilot programme that the nhs has rolled out for just a few specific illnesses (eg UTIs in women) and sore throats is one of the targeted problems.

it is a radical scheme and should help people like you in these exact circumstances. Do give it a go.

no need for gp or urgent care etc.

I know the Dr will say its viral

I'm not a GP but I thought white spots on the tonsils meant it was bacterial.
It was the main thing our GP asked us to look out for when my son was in bed for a week with a horrid throat and everything.

If they are being difficult maybe ask for clarification on what the white spots are if not bacterial infection. All the best OP, you sound quite poorly.

1. Ask to be referred to ENT specialist, mention your history.
2. You sound like you do need antibiotics.

Im currently on holiday abroad with a poorly child. Went to the local pharmacist who checked her over and prescribed some antibiotics. I can tell you how relieved I am as I was getting ready to be told you need to be seen by a Gp like in the uk and wait couple of days for an appointment.

The antibiotics cost about a tenner. Job done.

Why the heck do we put up with a shite and a disgraceful health system in the UK?

i ended up googling jibs out here last night soooo tempted to pack up and go. I know the grass is not always greener but I want to live in a country where basic rights of a human being of having basic health care is met. I have no confidence any gov will be able to fix this utter shambles of health care.

I’ve had quinsy 13 times so I do have an idea. It closes your throat up and incredibly quickly. It’s a medical emergency. It may not be what she has but the symptoms point to it and she’s asking for advice online, therefore I’m trying to help.

Honestly with those symptoms I'd be heading to urgent care/ A&E and asking them to check for quinsy.

You have no idea what the OP has as an 'armchair' dr.
She isn't so unwell she can't go to A&E.
She's able to make phone calls and type online.

Yes. It can turn into sepsis if it bursts. It is a life threatening illness. Learn before berating someone. Good God.

You can’t demand antibiotics if they are not indicated (although I think it probably is and I think they will give you them) but what you can demand is adequate pain relief. I would be asking for co-codamol to be used short term to get the pain under control. Doctors can be reluctant (sometimes rightfully so) to prescribe these medications due to the high risk of addiction however in your case used for short term would offer great pain relief. With that type of pain I wouldn’t be fobbed off with paracetamol and salt water gargles.

My sin has always had problems with his tonsils he's had white spots on his tonsils most weeks since January and when he hasn't his tonsils are swollen and red but no spots but when the spots are there they give antibiotics. He's had obviously loads of courses now and plenty of swabs for strep a and he's a carrier. Nothing is clearing this strep from him. If you've got spots they'll hopefully give you them anyway but also ask for a swab to see if you carry strep a

Oh FGS!

Really?

You're suggesting 999 and an ambulance for a sore throat? (which is what it is.)

Good God.

Oh FFS, you can buy Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash from chemists, it's been available for years..it's not neat bleach for god's sake

Sadly, tonsillitis as an adult is usually worse than when younger. That's recognised.

Mine was worse at your age when I was working with young people and catching everything going.

This is why it's often best to have your tonsils out. I do suggest you see an ENT consultant.

Do try gargling- get some soluble aspirin or paracetamol and gargle every hour to help ease the pain.

Drink through a straw of that helps.

I'd push for an emergency appt at the dr. They usually reserve some OR try the pharmacy. Pharmacists are able to prescribe now.

Can someone take you down into your town to see one?

Yes stand your ground. I had bacterial tonsillitis at Christmas and it was absolutely awful. I couldn't eat and I felt completely terrible. I got antibiotics but I didn't really feel much better once they were finished but then it did clear up quite quickly.

Doctors love to say things are "just viral". My little boy had recurring ear infections for about 18 months and was told just viral, just viral until one GP finally went you know what I'll give him antibiotics even though most others wouldn't. His ears absolutely poured fluid out them for days and he hasn't had a single ear infection since. That's been about 2 years now. My little girl last year was told at A&E she probably just had a viral infection and it was implied I was just anxious. Cue a phone call a few days later to tell me the test results came back and she actually had RSV and Strep A and needed antibiotics 🙄

Ambulance is your best bet too as I doubt you can speak well (hot potato voice) or open your mouth much (trismus). They’ll fast track you through so you don’t have to repeat yourself. It is a medical emergency and can be life threatening.

Whilst you're waiting for gp appointment are you able to post a picture of the back of your throat?

I was going to say quinsy, too. If it starts to happen regularly you will need to consider having your tonsils out. Not fun as an adult, but better than being sick a lot. Good luck.

If you go to the pharmacist, make sure you tell them you have had the symptoms for 5 days. They have a set checklist to follow and if you don't match they won't prescribe you anything. My daughter had the same and they wouldn't give her anything. I went with a chest infection and again couldn't get any antibiotics. We both ended up going to the GP and being prescribed them