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Original poster

Anyone else have this virus with a really painful sore throat?

78 replies

TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:31

If so, has anything helped you with the pain? If not, I sympathise.

Had this for 2 weeks so far. Started on one side of the throat, swollen one side which then switched sides and switched back again. GP recommended a throat spray which hasn't helped. Fair enough little that she can do as antibiotics don't help with a virus.

Having been living on hot tea, soup and cold ice lollies! Worse at night and first thing. Currently can't sleep as the pain is keeping awake. So up again drinking yet more tea.

I find it difficult to gargle so can't try the saltwater thing. Stressing and lozenges seem to tickle making it worse. Cough syrup hasn't helped.

I've never had such a sharp painful throat.

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:45

So must be that very few people on here have it or they've knocked themselves out on whiskey etc.....ooh......good idea if only...

  1. I liked whiskey but hey who cares if it helps?!
  2. I don't have any whiskey.(could be because I don't like it😂)

The night time knock yourself out cough syrup I took obviously hasn't worked...
If there was one called Knock Yourself Out Cough Syrup I would buy it.

Looks like delirium is setting on now.
I'm on decaff tea so can't even blame it on that.

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:49

Should have given this thread a more appealing title to draw in the crowds....

OP posts:
GarlicRound · 19/12/2025 23:51

Have you got a cough, fever, aching, fatigue or a snotty nose? If so, you likely have Covid or flu depending on the cough/snot ratio. If not, it's probably a strep throat but call 111 if you're worried.

Honey helps, traditionally with hot water, lemon and optional whiskey/brandy/rum. If you've got paracetamol syrup, rinse it around your throat before sleeping.

You can gargle with salt water or antiseptic mouthwash, won't do any harm and might help clear it up.

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General health
GarlicRound · 19/12/2025 23:52

If there was one called Knock Yourself Out Cough Syrup I would buy it.

There is! Night Nurse 😴

TheCurious0range · 19/12/2025 23:54

Me! Don't tell me it'll be two weeks I've only had it since Monday... Also can't take any cold and flu remedies for to a recently diagnosed heart condition so just hot lemon and honey and paracetamol

Lighttodark · 19/12/2025 23:54

I’m not sure extreme temperature- v hot drinks / ice cold etc - are helpful!

Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:56

GarlicRound · 19/12/2025 23:51

Have you got a cough, fever, aching, fatigue or a snotty nose? If so, you likely have Covid or flu depending on the cough/snot ratio. If not, it's probably a strep throat but call 111 if you're worried.

Honey helps, traditionally with hot water, lemon and optional whiskey/brandy/rum. If you've got paracetamol syrup, rinse it around your throat before sleeping.

You can gargle with salt water or antiseptic mouthwash, won't do any harm and might help clear it up.

Thanks. Not worried just fed up with pain! It's like knives but not affecting my swallowing. No fever or aching joints but exhausted from tickly cough and lack of sleep from the same.

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:57

GarlicRound · 19/12/2025 23:52

If there was one called Knock Yourself Out Cough Syrup I would buy it.

There is! Night Nurse 😴

Edited

Well it hasn't worked on me! I must have some immunity to it. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 19/12/2025 23:58

Lighttodark · 19/12/2025 23:54

I’m not sure extreme temperature- v hot drinks / ice cold etc - are helpful!

Probably not but its the only things that give me a small window of relief.

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:03

TheCurious0range · 19/12/2025 23:54

Me! Don't tell me it'll be two weeks I've only had it since Monday... Also can't take any cold and flu remedies for to a recently diagnosed heart condition so just hot lemon and honey and paracetamol

Sorry! You might be lucky though. I usually only have milder symptoms if anything is going around whilst others have it worse. This time it's knocked me for six.

There's so many viruses going round at the moment. People keep coming into work when they're ill and passing it on and I'm pretty sure that's where I've picked it up from.

OP posts:
IHeartJeff · 20/12/2025 00:03

Does that difflam spray really not help? It’s amazing

idk if this will help but my dentist recommend clove oil when I had dry socket. It’s a natural numbing thing? I believe you have to mix it with a carrier oil but it’s midnight I’m too tired.

Not2identifying · 20/12/2025 00:06

I had identical symptoms, including time of day it hurts worst, and taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen took the edge off it a bit but it was still extremely painful. Good news is that it moved away from my throat after 2 weeks. It went to my ears for a week, then the middle of my head for a week and then my chest for a couple of weeks so I was unwell for about 6 weeks but the throat was by far the worst and once it moved on from there I was able to do basic life stuff like work even though I wouldn't have been up for anything strenuous.

Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:06

TheCurious0range · 19/12/2025 23:54

Me! Don't tell me it'll be two weeks I've only had it since Monday... Also can't take any cold and flu remedies for to a recently diagnosed heart condition so just hot lemon and honey and paracetamol

Don't most of the cold and flu remedies contain what you're taking anyway? GP recommended paracetamol, rest and fluids so don't think there's much else you could take anyway ( apart from the throat spray and cough syrup which have been useless for me anyway)

OP posts:
TheCurious0range · 20/12/2025 00:08

TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:06

Don't most of the cold and flu remedies contain what you're taking anyway? GP recommended paracetamol, rest and fluids so don't think there's much else you could take anyway ( apart from the throat spray and cough syrup which have been useless for me anyway)

Show quote history

Ibuprofen would help reduce the swelling in my tonsils but I'm not allowed it, also no cold/flu meds to stop the snottiness

Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:11

IHeartJeff · 20/12/2025 00:03

Does that difflam spray really not help? It’s amazing

idk if this will help but my dentist recommend clove oil when I had dry socket. It’s a natural numbing thing? I believe you have to mix it with a carrier oil but it’s midnight I’m too tired.

I didn't try the Diflam. The one I've tried is Uktra Chloraseptic. Just looking at the ingredients I see that they're different. Thank you. I'll get some tomorrow, well, not me, I'll it to dhs list! He won't be best pleased! Anything different to buy tends to throw him.😂Thank you for your suggestions esp in your tired state.🙂

OP posts:
Getdne · 20/12/2025 00:14

That sounds like covid.
The awful throat was the huge symtom during the summer.
Painkillers, honeycand lemon with disprin inna hit drink helped.
It was awful.
Mind yourself

Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:17

Not2identifying · 20/12/2025 00:06

I had identical symptoms, including time of day it hurts worst, and taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen took the edge off it a bit but it was still extremely painful. Good news is that it moved away from my throat after 2 weeks. It went to my ears for a week, then the middle of my head for a week and then my chest for a couple of weeks so I was unwell for about 6 weeks but the throat was by far the worst and once it moved on from there I was able to do basic life stuff like work even though I wouldn't have been up for anything strenuous.

Hope you feel better soon.

Nooooooooooo!
It hasn't gone to my chest which I'm grateful for and hopefully it won't.
Yes, the sore throat is horrendous isn't it? If someone had said to me it could be this painful, I'd have been surprised.
It's not as exhausting as a chesty cough with the painful ribs from coughing but still rough. I never thought I'd be kept awake by a sore throat.
Thanks for posting though. I couldn't go back to work like this.

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:19

Getdne · 20/12/2025 00:14

That sounds like covid.
The awful throat was the huge symtom during the summer.
Painkillers, honeycand lemon with disprin inna hit drink helped.
It was awful.
Mind yourself

Really? I didn't know that. Adds "Covid Test" on shopping list for dh tomorrow.....

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 00:23

TheCurious0range · 20/12/2025 00:08

Ibuprofen would help reduce the swelling in my tonsils but I'm not allowed it, also no cold/flu meds to stop the snottiness

Show quote history

Oh gotcha. That sucjs. I should be more grateful.
Ironic that your user name has orange in it. Oranges have really tickled my throat just before this started.
I hope you're feeling better soon.

OP posts:
RescueMeFromThisSilliness · 20/12/2025 00:26

I've had a sore throat for about a week. Bit headachey too and driving home from work today it dawned on me it might be a touch of covid. Had a slight upset stomach one day last week too, the day before the throat thing came on.

The Strepsils with the anaesthetic in them are my usual go-to.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 20/12/2025 00:56

Sounds like covid to me. It's the only time I've had a sore throat like razor blades. 💐

HauntedBungalow · 20/12/2025 01:04

After two weeks you may have an infection which antibiotics could potentially help with. I got doxycillin from the GP and it helped massively. I was really bad before I took it but within a day and a half was much better, it was astonishing how quickly it worked. Also, difflam sore throat rinse does actually numb your throat properly in the meantime. You gargle with it. I agree the sprays aren't great.

AussieManque · 20/12/2025 01:22

XFG COVID variant which has been dominant this year is nicknamed "razor blade throat".

And just in time for the new year, new variant B3.2 is on the rise which is quite different to previous ones so take precautions against catching it again.

Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 04:27

@RescueMeFromThisSilliness @AussieManque
No stomach issues and the strep sits, which usually work for me, tickle even more. Maybe is Covid. The razor is a good way to describe it. Awake again at 4am now due to phlemy cough. Yeh thanks for sharing that with us you say......

OP posts:
Original poster
TissuesSnotCough · 20/12/2025 04:31

HauntedBungalow · 20/12/2025 01:04

After two weeks you may have an infection which antibiotics could potentially help with. I got doxycillin from the GP and it helped massively. I was really bad before I took it but within a day and a half was much better, it was astonishing how quickly it worked. Also, difflam sore throat rinse does actually numb your throat properly in the meantime. You gargle with it. I agree the sprays aren't great.

I thought it was in spray form only. I'll look into that although gargling I find difficult. Maybe I'll ring the GP again on Monday see what they say although think they'll be reluctant to give me antibiotics. Sorry to sound negative.
Everyone's been kind to offer their advice.

OP posts: