AIBU to not leave the GP without antibiotics

You could try and get a consult in a pharmacy first,see what they say
I was "prescribed" hydrogen peroxide diluted as a mouthwash by dentist for soft gums. Used to use it in the ED for cleaning out open wounds.

Also ask for pain meds. I hope your child is in nursery so you can get some rest
Good luck ... and tell the GP about the spots as that's often the marker

Mine wasn’t tonsillitis but when I phoned they said there were no appointments. When I said I couldn’t eat or drink (I couldn’t, my mouth was a festering mess of sores) they got me in sharpish and gave me the appropriate medication. Make sure they know you can’t swallow

You have no idea what the GP will say.

I also hope you feel better soon as it's sounds miserable!

The assumption that the GP will just disregard your symptoms/pain and you will have to beg for antibiotics is astounding, get in there and see then and give them a chance first!!

It could be strep throat, a bacteria, and antibiotics will be prescribed.

You could use pharmacy 1st to assess you.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-first/

If you meet the clinical threshold for treatment then they can prescribe.

Demanding a particular treatment never goes well - especially when you do not know whether it is viral or bacterial.

Requesting a swab for microbiology seems a very fair request and will identify the bacteria if it is bacterial. It will take a few days for the results though.

Most tonsillitis is viral and gets better on it's own in a week. Height of fever is not relevant to bacterial/viral differentiation.

We should all be very worried about the overuse of antibiotics and resistance, but it's fair to say that the use in livestock is a bigger issue.

Not insane. It just has to be properly diluted.

Your GP is the expert, if it looks bacterial (tell them about the white spots) they will give antibiotics.

You say this throat pain is on a different level, I too have had tonsillitis++ through my life. I had the worst tonsil/throat pain a few weeks ago, with a fever. I tested and it was Covid. Might be worth testing. I bought some local anaesthetic throat spray as I couldn't cope with the pain.

This is a known symptom of covid so worth considering.
Either way, I hope you feel better soon.

There you go, sore throat

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/

Can’t you now get antibiotics prescribed by a pharmacist?

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-4570/hydrogen-peroxide-mucous-membrane/details

Hydrogen peroxide is widely used on many tissues during surgery. It's not insane, just needs to be properly diluted.

If you’ve got all the sympotoms of a bacterial infection, as you describe, the doctor will probably give you antibiotics. Why would you assume otherwise?

You can threaten all you like but if the GP deems it is likely to be a viral infection, they should not be prescribing you antibiotics. Ask for a swab, although things are likely to improve by the time the results come anyway.

OMG do NOT pour a bleaching agent down your throat!! Insane advice.

You can use online pharmacies such as Superdrug/boots and they will prescribe you antibiotics and you can pick them a couple of hours later or they will post them to you next day delivery.

Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections and will do nothing to destroy/remove a viral infection. If you do not have a bacterial infection, then antibiotics would be useless. Incorrectly prescribing antibiotics in this way contributes to the overuse of antibiotics and encourages and speeds up the antibiotic resistance process, rendering the antibiotic eventually ineffective at treating anybody. This is one of the biggest health issues of today: bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics at a faster rate than new ones can be created. Unless we use them appropriately, diseases that were once killers and then became curable by antibiotics, will once again be untreatable. Obviously, if antibiotics will help cure you, it sounds like you need them. But if you have a viral strain of tonsillitis, they wont help and it would be negligent of any GP to prescribe them knowing they wouldn't help. I hope you get better soon.

Get some hydrogen peroxide from the chemist. Dilute as per instructions and gargle. If it fizzes up in your throat it's the bacteria oxidising and dying.

Had mine out eventually as antibiotics didn't work in the end and I got it each month with period and this method did clear it up.

It's a tricky one. If it's viral, antibiotics won't help and you'll be taking a medicine that isn't good for your body. Usually my doc gives me a prescription and tells me to wait a day before going ahead with treatment, but you may not be able to wait that long.

So sorry you feel so unwell. It's awful for you with childcare to worry about as there's no break however poorly you feel. I've been there so my heart goes out to you. If the GP says it's viral then antibiotics will not help but it does sound like full on tonsillitis though I'm not a GP. Just a mother of a DS who has tonsillitis at least 3 times a year and always v ill with it ( and 42 years old,). To help himself he uses an antiseptic spray on his throat and lots of ice-cream or iced water. Rest when you can and sip fluids through a straw if necessary. Good luck at GP .

Has the doctor mentioned glandular fever in which case they shouldn't give you antibiotics for that but should offer alternative treatment also would need to swab to rule it out because that sounds like it is bacterial and would need antibiotics with a temperature that high.

Why would you think your GP will say it's viral? And why assume he will withhold treatment?