Strep or viral - can’t wait for the bank holiday to end.

[RainbowSkiesGalore]

Been bed bound for 3 days with a sore throat, soaking wet with sweat and chattering teeth.

Managed to get to a pharmacist today but no longer doing on site strep tests because of COVID. Could phone out of hours but would mean waiting hours for a callback then probably an out of hours appointment with a GP and then trying to find a pharmacist that is open to pick up a prescription.

What if it is just a viral sore throat I’d just be wasting everyone’s time.

Only thing that has been getting me through the last few days is painkillers and ibuprofen but now unable to swallow them and they are getting stuck in the throat.

What should I do?

Get difflam spray over the counter from a pharmacy. Makes your throat feel sufficiently better that you can swallow the paracetamol/ibuprofen.

I’ve got difflam but even with that the pills have started to get lodged in the oesophagus

I had a really nasty case of strep throat during 2020 lockdown. It was so bad my whole uvula swelled up and I woke up choking on it in my sleep! Had to hold my tongue down breath.
The Out of hours Go prescribed antibiotics over the phone so it’s worth giving them a call and seeing if you can get some prescribed and picked up diets thing tomorrow

If you're having trouble breathing I'd get seen by a doctor ASAP. I believe tonsillitis can develop into quinsy which can be very serious. I'm not a doctor but I wouldn't hesitate to 'bother' a doctor about this. Hope you feel better soon

As Cuddly says above - tonsillitis can indeed develop into quinsy and is incredibly serious if not dealt with quickly. I hope you get help quickly and feel better soon

As others say, please see a GP as soon as possible.

I have had a sore throat for around ten days now, but it's thankfully getting better so assuming viral and not strep. Ibuprofen has helped.

Hope you feel better soon OP.

If you can't swallow tablets you need a gp. In the meantime get some soluble paracetamol to keep you going. It works better than tablets for tonsils

If you are having trouble swallowing/breathing I would get proper medical advice - phone GP OOH, it's what they are there for.

@RainbowSkiesGalore how are you this morning? Have you managed to get gp advice?

[quote HotelCaliforniaOnRepeat]@RainbowSkiesGalore how are you this morning? Have you managed to get gp advice?[/quote]
Thank you for the concern! Thought I would try to sleep last night as surgery was back open this morning save ringing out of hours.

Was tossing and turning until 5am then thought I can’t go on like this. Rang 111, they were extremely busy but said I’d get a callback. Didn’t get a call back between 5am and 8am when my surgery opened.

Rang my surgery was 23 in the queue, managed to speak to the receptionist, doctor rang back by 9:30am! Diagnosed and antibiotics in hand by 11am, amazing!

Just having a soak in the bath waiting for them to work. Have to keep an eye on it though because there is a query abcess towards right side.

So pleased you got antibiotics 💐

Feel like a different person today, can’t believe how ill I was!!! God bless Sir Alexander Fleming!