Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Anyone had quinsy?

66 replies

hurtstoomuch · 10/06/2022 20:20

Felt ill for a while now but had a sore throat for nearly a week. It just seems to be getting worse and since yesterday one side of it is so painful. It feels almost like there's a spiky golf ball on one side when I try to swallow.

Anyone had quinsy and know if it's likely to be that or something else? Waiting for a call back from doctors but starting to get a bit panicky.

OP posts:
Original poster
hurtstoomuch · 10/06/2022 20:21

The side that hurts looks quite swollen and maybe has pus on it...ironically the non sore side is much more swollen and red so who knows what's going on.

OP posts:
Jalepenojello · 10/06/2022 20:22

That sounds like tonsillitis. Lost count of how many times I’ve had it and it has previously developed into quinsy and I was struggling to breathe due to the swelling. You really need an examination rather than a call back to determine if the swelling is dangerous. Hope you feel better soon OP!

Branleuse · 10/06/2022 20:24

my partner had a quinsy several years ago and was hospitalised as it ended up nearly blocking his throat. They drained over 10ml of pus from it

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
ancientgran · 10/06/2022 20:24

When my son had it he couldn't swallow his own saliva and was drooling, don't know if that is common. He was admitted to hospital as an emergency and had surgery. Good luck.

TwoBigNoisyBoys · 10/06/2022 20:27

Not myself, but ExH had it once. For all his faults he was a tough bugger and rarely moaned about being under the weather, so when he drove himself to hospital at 5am one day I knew he must be in agony! The pain he described sounds similar to you OP. Any chance you can go to hospital? I know it would mean a long wait (unappealing I realise!) but you do really need to be examined.

Hope you feel better soon.

MuthaHubbard · 10/06/2022 20:27

I had this many years ago - recurring tonsillitis and then eventually quinsy. Exactly as described - spiky golf ball in throat. I ended up having it drained in hospital as if it bursts, swallowing it can make you quite poorly.
Hopefully you get to see someone in person - not sure how this can be diagnosed/treater over the phone - but that's another issue.

User478 · 10/06/2022 20:28

If you can't swallow saliva it is a medical emergency.

One of mine was lanced at the side of the road by a paramedic.

You'll never eat camembert again.

If you can swallow, keep hydrated, get some numbing spray (difflam or Chloraseptic)

mewkins · 10/06/2022 20:29

Hi OP, I had it a few years ago. It was a sore throat that got worse and worse and I literally couldn't swallow. After being dismissed twice by my GP I took myself to the urgent care centre at the local hospital and was referred to the main hospital for an overnight stay and intravenous antibiotics. I was in so much pain. I think the fact yours is getting worse rather than better suggests you might have the same. Some people have spots on the swollen bits. I didn't but it was still quinsy and worse one side than the other. Take care x

Original poster
hurtstoomuch · 10/06/2022 20:29

Thanks all.
Not sure whether they will attempt to diagnose over the phone or let me go and see someone - I'll push to be seen. Have been trying Difflam and taking painkillers today and they aren't helping at all sadly.

OP posts:
holymolyholly · 10/06/2022 20:33

I think there's something doing the rounds atm.

I've had what sounds similar to you. Felt like tonsillitis but so incredibly painful, much worse than any infection I've had previously. Very swollen feeling and throat sprays and painkillers did absolutely nothing to help.

The gp have me antibiotics and within 12 hours the pain is completely gone.

Get checked out OP. Good luck

Pimpernella · 10/06/2022 20:34

My DS is currently in A&E with this. He is very poorly.
He was sent away by surgery on Tuesday as he didnt have enough symtoms for antibiotics.
I feel so guilty for not advocating for him sooner. I knew he was too ill for it to be the kind of sore throat that gets better by itself and yet we did as we were told.
We went to a walk in centre today who sent us to A&E but if you were going to do that, I'd do it sooner rather than later.

ancientgran · 10/06/2022 20:38

User478 · 10/06/2022 20:28

If you can't swallow saliva it is a medical emergency.

One of mine was lanced at the side of the road by a paramedic.

You'll never eat camembert again.

If you can swallow, keep hydrated, get some numbing spray (difflam or Chloraseptic)

With my son they rushed him through A&E and I held the bowl while they lanced it, no anaesthetic as they said they couldn't wait. He had to be admitted and on IV antibiotics and then had surgery.

I'm amazed I didn't faint as it wasn't nice. I was impressed at how brave he was.

mewkins · 10/06/2022 20:39

hurtstoomuch · 10/06/2022 20:29

Thanks all.
Not sure whether they will attempt to diagnose over the phone or let me go and see someone - I'll push to be seen. Have been trying Difflam and taking painkillers today and they aren't helping at all sadly.

Over the phone they will probably tell you to gargle with aspirin or salt water and only to worry if you get a temperature. Do you have a minor injuries unit or something you can walk into?

User478 · 10/06/2022 20:39

My ENT consultant says they're the best thing when people come in with as the minute they "pop" the pain goes away almost instantly.

ancientgran · 10/06/2022 20:39

Pimpernella · 10/06/2022 20:34

My DS is currently in A&E with this. He is very poorly.
He was sent away by surgery on Tuesday as he didnt have enough symtoms for antibiotics.
I feel so guilty for not advocating for him sooner. I knew he was too ill for it to be the kind of sore throat that gets better by itself and yet we did as we were told.
We went to a walk in centre today who sent us to A&E but if you were going to do that, I'd do it sooner rather than later.

Hope he's doing OK. Once it was lanced and he was on IV antibiotics it was amazing how quickly he improved.

Rodneytrotterslovechild · 10/06/2022 20:42

Yes 3 times-once at 17 and I started coughing up blood
was rushed to the doctors and they had to inject me in the thigh every day for 2 weeks

again at 20-I was feeling rough the day before I went into labour
ended up having it while I labour and they gave me antibiotics to get rid

again at 29
got rushed into hospital and they had to drain it

i wouldn’t wish it on anyone

Rosewaterblossom · 10/06/2022 20:43

Quinsy is one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. Even swallowing your own saliva is too painful as it feels like razor blades.

Rachelw84 · 10/06/2022 20:46

I had it a few years ago, it came on suddenly

By day 3 I managed to get an appointment at a walk in centre. I was prescribed antibiotics by the doctor who said if they don’t work within 24 hours they would refer me for surgery.

Luckily the antibiotics kicked in within 6 hours and the huge swollen area had burst and I spat it out (sorry for if that’s graphic).

I guess I was lucky the antibiotics worked but it’s highly recommended to get someone to see you as the swelling was causing me issues with eating and may then have affected my ability to swallow and breathe.

I hope your situation is resolved quickly.

AnyFucker · 10/06/2022 20:49

My dd had it. She couldn’t eat, drink or swallow her saliva.

she was in hospital having IVAB and monitoring as it is pretty dangerous

Pimpernella · 10/06/2022 20:52

Just to add... Ds did not have a temperature until day 6 though he was certainly feverish.
That stopped him getting treatment. 😕

MumofSpud · 10/06/2022 20:55

Yes I had it a couple of years ago - I had never heard of it before!
I couldn't swallow my saliva - the pain! I nearly ended up in hospital
Now every little throat twinge I get I worry that it will come back
I suppose the positive was that I lost a god few pounds

LilyMarshall · 10/06/2022 20:59

MumofSpud · 10/06/2022 20:55

Yes I had it a couple of years ago - I had never heard of it before!
I couldn't swallow my saliva - the pain! I nearly ended up in hospital
Now every little throat twinge I get I worry that it will come back
I suppose the positive was that I lost a god few pounds

That was me too. Couldnt even swallow saliva. Couldnt get out of bed. Lost so much weight i was put on build-up milkshakes that they give to people with anorexia.

weegiemum · 10/06/2022 21:02

I had it twice as a child. I'm over 50, and back then the GP treated it by sticking a big pointy thing down my throat, lancing it and then getting me to gargle! I was about 6 the first time, and pretty much all I can remember is pain and the smell of whisky from the GP! Another world ........

annonymousse · 10/06/2022 21:03

Same as any fucker. My dd had it. Diagnosed with tonsillitis to start with. Antibiotics didn't work. Got to the stage she couldn't swallow her saliva. Had to have it lanced. Was on iv antibiotics and morphine. She was also tested and positive for glandular fever at the same time.

GiggleMcdimples21 · 10/06/2022 21:14

I would urge you to get checked out, I have just been discharged from a 3 day hospital admission due to supraglottitis (epiglottitis). It started as a very sore throat that came on suddenly, difflam and painkillers barely helped and by day 3 I could not swallow my saliva or any water. 111 said to wait till Monday initially, but the pain was immense so they referred me to A&E. It all got serious quite quickly, and I was admitted for steroids and IVAB for 3 days. Still feeling rough but much better than I was. It is classed as a medical emergency when your throat is tightening and you can't swallow, the extent of the infection was only known once the wonderful ENT Dr's used a camera down my nose and throat. Hope you begin to recover very soon x