PLEASE HELP I'm in so much pain - severe sore throat

[carinaa99]

I have never had a sore throat like this
I am in so much pain and building up so much saliva as swallowing is so painful.
I have Jakeman's sweets, paracetamol, honey and lemon - nothing is cutting it.
I am thinking as this sore throat is so severe, could it be COVID?
I just need help with the pain management so any tips would be much appreciated x

Difflam spray.

If you can't get paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets down your throat then you can take kids liquid medicine, just adjust the dose (speak to a pharmacist if unsure about the maths).

Frozen yoghurts, ice cubes.

If you are starting to dribble saliva you need medical treatment urgently - could be quinsy.

@SeaToSki

Do you have a temp?

Does your tongue look like it has little raised dots on it or darker dots? A bit like a strawberry?

Do you have a stomach ache of any description?

Do your ears hurt?

Can you swallow properly?

Are your armpits uncomfortable, or your hips on the inside corner where your legs join your undercarriage?

no temp tongue fine no stomach ache ears hurt cant swallow without pain armpits and hips fine

It really does seem like people have forgotten there can be diseases other than covid! I had a strep throat once, waking up when the pain killers wore off is what made me go to the doctors. Yours could be tonsilitis, could even be glandular fever. I'm glad you're making an appointment to check it out.

Do you have children and if so is there someone else there who can take care of them? If so take 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen and get yourself to bed. Hope you feel better soon.

Neat whisky in tiny sips stings but numbs it.

Sounds like tonsillitis. Call 111, that's what they are there for.

Sea to ski and if she does...? What is it?

Just read a Covid thread elsewhere on MN.

You needed to get tested asap

Please please be careful with codeine if you take it. Tyrozetes are amazing but are being discontinued so if you can grab them, grab them. Ice cream, cold drinks and swallowing honey.

A really bad painful sore throat can be awful! It sounds petty and not a big issue like just a sore throat but I have literally felt your pain!

Chloroseptic spray can work well, if you can really get it in to the back of your throat. Gargling with Corsadil is helpful. I find cocodamol way better as a pain killer. If you can stomach the effervescent ones you can also gargle that.

I would think about a covid test. As although not a symptom in the UK messaging it is one of the main symptoms in messaging elsewhere.

I’ve always found soluble paracetamol a huge help when I’ve had sore throat in the past. I don’t know why but it seems to be the only thing that works for me, gargle then swallow it.

Hope you feel better soon op

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng84/chapter/terms-used-in-the-guideline

The guidelines for getting antibiotics are here. There is a criteria.

I've had glandular fever and the sore throat is very painful but it also causes severe fatigue (often for years afterwards).

Lots and lots of rest (and I mean literally doing nothing), sucking on ice cubes or ice lollies and any liquids you can get down and keep down. If it is glandular fever then this will be long haul care. All the best.

I think you should get checked by a Doctor. It could be tonsillitis and if left untreated the bacteria can cause heart valve problem.

To pps who have recurrent tonsillitis, I used to, until the last dose many years ago when I was really ill with it. I had it every year.

I was given 2 weeks of ABs for the last dose, since it was so bad, and I’ve never had it since. I’m quite sure I was a carrier of streptococcus - some people are - and it was only the last mega lot of ABs that finally killed it off for good.

I second seeing a doctor. I had strep A about 15 months ago. Started off as very sore throat, then developed into really bad earache (couldn’t sleep properly for the pain, despite taking paracetamol and ibuprofen), ended up with perforated eardrum and facial palsy on that side. Admitted to hospital, given steroids and IV antibiotics, had grommet inserted. Then more oral antibiotics, and ear finally stopped leaking pus about three months later. Fortunately palsy wore off within six weeks.