To wonder if this nurse should have given me these

[Summeblaze]

Two weeks ago I had a sore throat and felt like I was getting a cold. Nothing happened except a lingering cough. That went and in its place I have a very large swollen gland on the right side of my neck halfway down my neck. It is the size of a Ping pong ball and it very painful.

I went to see the nurse at my doctors today and she said it looked like I was fighting an infection and gave me antibiotics. She said that some docs wouldn't have given me anything but as I had had it for 2 weeks she would.

The problem is that over the years I have had real problems with thrush. Once I get it, I have it for months and have to use extremely strong medication to get rid of it. I don't want to use these antibiotics if I don't need them and end up in a worse state.

AIBU to think that she has given me these when she maybe shouldn't. I really don't know what to do.

I actually wanted to see my doctor but they don't seem to have them around much at my practice at the moment.

No I didn't tell her. It was one of those situations when I kicked myself as I walked out of the building.

I guess I wanted her to say I definitely needed them and then it would be just tough. If I get thrush then I get it. It was just with her saying that some docs wouldn't give it, maybe it will go away on its own but take longer.

I didn't mean she was wrong as if I didn't have the other problems then I would have though it was a good idea.

Well, I suppose you need to decide what's worse - the painful swollen gland or the risk of thrush...

I second the suggestion of starting to take probiotics as this may solve your antibiotics v thrush problem.

Can you phone your surgery and ask for a telephone consultation with a GP to discuss your pre-disposition to thrush and whether the antib's are appropriate?

The alternative is to ride the infection storm and hope it gets better rather than worse.

Well, if it's a virus the abs won't work, and if it's a bacterial infection they might. Nothing else that the nurse could have done, really. They're the only type of medication that might help.
Whether you take them or not is your decision. You could always talk to a pharmacist in the morning?

I try to avoid antibiotics too, have had good success with holding off in the meds for a day or so, then massaging couple drops of tea tree oil over the swollen gland; seems to knock whatever it is on the head without needing the meds

Could they do a throat culture to see what the infection is, maybe that would help determine whether the ABs are necessary?

Perhaps you could get prescription for thrush medication to take at same time as antibiotic, whether it be pessary, tablet or cream.

If you don't have a delicate stomach you could take 2 garlic capsules every two hours, I find they are excellent for getting rid of infections.