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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want an 'emergency' doctors appointment for tonsillitis?

60 replies

NoNonsenseNoddy · 23/04/2014 10:13

I'm currently in significant pain, unable to look after my two young children. Having had tonsillitis a lot on the past (once having been hospitalised), I know what this is. It only came up yesterday evening (after having normal sore throat and ear ache for 2 weeks), but I really want to see a doctor today to get antibiotics ASAP. The only way to do this at my surgery is to get an 'emergency' appointment. Which I have now got after having a tense/stressful conversation with the receptionist who scoffed down the phone at my predicament.

I am fully aware that tonsillitis is not an emergency, but I don't see why I should wait and suffer like this for a week when I am pretty sure that within 24-48 hrs of taking antibiotics I will start to feel better.

I would love to hear from a doctor and from others. AIBU to insist on seeing a doctor today?

I am feeling a bit embarrassed and also wondering whether it is acceptable to request antibiotics like this ? Considering I'm in a lot of of pain and haven't had antibiotics for years and years.

OP posts:

WilsonFrickett · 23/04/2014 12:13

Go! I've only had full blown tonsillitis once, the AntiB's were like a miracle, I started to feel better within 12 hours. You shouldn't have to suffer with that sort of pain!

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 23/04/2014 12:14

YANBU. I had tonsillitis about a year ago over Christmas. I thought 'oh it's just a sore throat' and then I felt really flu-ey so thought 'no point going to the Dr with flu' and then I couldn't eat or drink and was running a temperature and shaking and in agony. Went to the walk-in centre (as was the day before Christmas eve) and got triaged by a nurse who took one look down my throat and said 'bacterial tonsillitis for you!' Then had to see another nurse who actually said 'Oh. Wow. Those are the biggest tonsils I've ever seen!' And gave me a bucket load of antibiotics and liquid paracetemol and a HUGE lecture about how I should not leave it so late next time in case I ended up in hospital not able to breathe properly or with blood poisoning. So YANBU, tonsillitis can be exactly the sort of thing you need to see a GP/walk-in centre about ASAP.

VivaLeBeaver · 23/04/2014 12:19

Yanbu. Surely GP emergency appts are for stuff like bad tonsillitis, ear infections, bad UTIs, etc. stuff where you feel ill.

Non emergency appts are for the stuff like my knee has been hurting for two weeks and not improving.

More serious than tonsillitis, other illnesses where you feel ill you'd be going to a&e.

Topseyt · 23/04/2014 12:21

Tonsillitis can certainly be an emergency, especially if it presents as quinsy (where the tonsils develop abscesses and can swell up enough to block your airway). Perfectly reasonable to demand an emergency appointment IMHO.

I used to get quinsy regularly. I never had tonsillitis at all as a child, but as an adult I began to get quinsies, one of which landed me in hospital. After that one, at the age of 37, I decided to have my tonsils removed to stop it happening again. Best decision I ever made. I have never had any trouble with my throat since then, and that was 10 years ago.

A receptionist is not medically qualified. Most are fine, and they do have a lot of crap to deal with from the general public, but some do seem to think it is their job to actually STOP people from seeing a doctor.

Hope you are better soon. Tonsillitis is horrendous.

WhateverLover · 23/04/2014 12:21

I have always considered tonsillitis as an emergency as it's bloody painful and makes you feel like crap!

Also agree with a PP saying that a lot of doctors receptionists are on power trips!

Dwerf · 23/04/2014 12:24

Tonsiitis is bloody awful. The last time I had it, I went to the chemist to ask for something that would allow me to just stay on my feet for the party I had to attend that evening. He directed me down to the walk-in clinic. By the time I got there I was hot, shaky and felt very very unwell. The doctor there mentioned quinsy and gave me a boatload of antibiotics.

x2boys · 23/04/2014 12:39

I am really not sure why some Dr,s and the department of health say antibiotics are not affective as I said before I am prone to tonsillitis as soon as it flares up I know i need penicillin otherwise I will be I'll for weeks on good Friday I knew I had tonsillitus felt terrible spent hours in the walk in centre got penicillin still bad on Saturday but felt much better by Sunday if I had not got penicillin I would still be I'll now what's the sense in suffering?

x2boys · 23/04/2014 12:40

Sorry for the random apostrophes in ill .

MichaelFinnigan · 23/04/2014 12:44

I had it over Christmas. On the fifth day I went to the dr and got the 'it's probs a virus' talk

On the seventh day they relented and let me have antibiotics and thus I was cured

Bastards making me suffer

VivaLeBeaver · 23/04/2014 12:44

A friend of mine had tonsillitis which developed into a quinsy. The GP called an ambulance to come to the surgery and take her to hospital she was that sick.

whois · 23/04/2014 12:49

And this is why people who regularly get tonsillitis stockpile antibiotics after traveling to countries where you can buy them OTC.

WilsonFrickett · 23/04/2014 12:58

Now that is not the worst idea I've ever heard on MN whois...

SugarPlumpFairy3 · 23/04/2014 12:58

Yanbu. Tonsillitis is awful and makes you feel really poorly.

The thing is, what kind of things do they want you to use the emergency appointments for? Anything much more urgent/serious then you'd go to the walk in centre or a&e. To me, an emergency appointment to see a gp would be something you felt couldn't wait until the next normal appointment was available. You can't wait a week or 4 with tonsillitis!

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 23/04/2014 13:01

Tonsillitis definitely warrants an on the day appointment. Why they call them emergency appointments, I don't know, as surely an emergency is what A&E is for?
You were right to push to see the GP. Tonsillitis can be serious, DH was told to go to A&E when he started with tonsillitis so badly he could barely swallow liquids (his tonsils were touching across his throat!) we rang for an OOH appointment, but were advised to go to A&E. The Dr at A&E said he was right to go in, and he had never seen tonsils that big in his whole career! They luckily managed to get some liquids in him and antibiotics, but they kept him in for monitoring as he was at risk of a blocked airway.
So yes they can need urgent treatment, if severe.
Ignore the receptionist (Or gate keeper as they are known here!). I hope you get sorted and are feeling better soon.

paulapantsdown · 23/04/2014 13:03

Yep wilson - 20 euros worth in Greece last year here. I would never bother with the GP again with tonsillitis, when you are prone to it you know what you need.

carabos · 23/04/2014 13:09

I've had four attacks of tonsillitis since Xmas. I've managed to get a GP appointment once. She gave me a prescription for ABs but only because I was going on holiday and she made me promise not to take them .

I didn't take them on that occasion, but did take them week before last as I was so fed up. I'm at my wits end to know what to do about it.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 23/04/2014 13:16

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Tonsillitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

the nhs website says that most tonsillitis is viral so antibx wont have any effect.

minibmw2010 · 23/04/2014 13:24

Yes but not all tonsillitis is viral, quite often it's bacterial which is very easy to diagnose so antibiotics will have an effect.

Trooperslane · 23/04/2014 14:36

This really fucks me off.

Receptionists are NOT qualified to do triage. Sake.

Hope you're feeling better soon OP.

Prettykitty111 · 23/04/2014 15:43

Tonsillitis IS an emergency. First time I had I thought it was a combination of flu and poor student diet.
By the time my parents came to get me from university three days after symptoms started I had developed a serious blood infection and a Quincy. I nearly died from blood poisoning.
Thedoctor told me the next time i developed tonsillitis I HAD to have an emergency doctors appointment to get antibiotics straight away. Leaving it will only allow the symptoms and the Quincy to come back worse.
Please don't allow them to fob you off I didn't think I could get as ill as I did as quickly as I did.

YouAreMyFavouriteWasteOfTime · 23/04/2014 15:56

the NHS link above says:

"When to see your GP
Tonsillitis isn't usually a serious condition. You only need to see your GP if symptoms:

•last longer than four days and don't show any signs of improvement
•are severe – for example, if you're unable to eat or drink due to the pain, or you have difficulty breathing"

so surely the thing to do is read the nhs website and if you meet the criteria you go to the doctors, otherwise you follow the advice.

MaidOfStars · 23/04/2014 16:10

Am I the world's most blase person re: tonsilitis? I have never been to the doctor with it. Big white pus blisters, inability to get out of bed, can't eat or barely drink (have to let fluid trickle down). I just ride it out Mine has always gone within 5 days-week - does that mean it's not as serious as some?

goodasitgets · 23/04/2014 16:11

I had a locum GP last time who said to me "and how do you know it's tonsillitis?"
Opened mouth
Locum recoils
"Yes we will get you some antibiotics for that"

Original poster

NoNonsenseNoddy · 23/04/2014 17:26

Some interesting stories here... Many along the same theme! Got the AB's, so just looking forward to them kicking in. Also good to hear some other POVs - maidofstars - you're obviously a lot more hardy than I am!

From what I understand inflamed tonsils can be a result of viral or bacterial (strep throat) infection. I've already had a lesser pain sore throat for 2 weeks so I'm not convinced my immune system is knocking this back. And another reason I suspect it's bacterial is my previous bouts and successes with ABs.

I guess it does okay to be a little bit assertive with the receptionists sometimes!

OP posts:

EduCated · 23/04/2014 17:35

For me with ABs it means I'm horribly ill for up to 5 days. Without, it's over a week, and longer to come out the other side of it.

I did actually have glandular fever the one time. Had the hugest tonsils ever, they were actually touching!

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