To wonder if i should take antibiotics? (possible strep throat)

[Chestnuts2017]

Shamelessly posting in here for traffic as I'm going to collect my prescription in an hour..

Woke up Sunday morning with a terrible sore throat - assumed it was from sleeping with open mouth but it didn't seem to shift all day.
Fast forward to yesterday and still nothing is helping, i can barely swallow without feeling like i've swallowed glass, i've tried throat sprays, strepsils, gargled with salt water, gargled with aspirin, taking co-codomol, ibuprofen and nothing is shifting the pain.

I'm shattered as i'm waking up half way through the night in pain and i can't get back to sleep.

Finally had enough this morning and phoned OOH's - they were too busy to see me but just faxed over a prescription for penicillin to one of my local pharmacies.

I'm a bit reluctant to just take them incase it isnt strep throat as they haven't seen me - can they really tell just based on your symptoms??

They asked me if i had a fever and honestly i don't know, i don't have a thermometer, i dont feel like im burning up though.
I have swollen glands on the right side, no other symptoms like cough, runny nose etc, i've tried looking down my throat but i can't see right to the back as the uvula and the tissue above it is hanging down too far.
The uvula is red and has like a clear "halo" all around it.
I don't have tonsils.
The tissue all above and around the uvula is bright red sort of streaky veiny. There's also a weird yellow colour on the roof of my mouth.

Don't really know whether to take them and hope it is strep or leave it longer to see if it goes but i just cant bear the thought of trying to ride out this pain any longer!

God yes, take whatever you can, fast!

They don't just hand out antibiotics willy-nilly these days, so they have obviously decided that yes you do need them.

I’ve had strep throat 3 times in the last year and it is agony, so you have my sympathy. When I get it the pain feels a little lower down in my throat than a normal sore throat (but that could just be me).

The description you’ve given sounds pretty spot on. Glands like golf balls, difficulty swallowing, unbelievably sore throat and feeling shattered. Normally a white/yellow pus coats the back of your throat/tonsil area but it takes a while to develop.

Last time I had it the white flecks had only just started showing up in my throat so they gave me a prescription anyway. The Dr was pretty sure it was about to flare up and by then I could tell the difference between strep and normal sore throat.

Left untreated strep can get pretty bad so I’d take the antibiotics. They don’t give them lightly and if normal pain relief has had no impact, chances are you have something going on.

Hope you feel better soon. 💐

If a doctor has prescribed you antibiotics then you take the antibiotics. Not sure why your questioning it. Unless this is a drip feed and you're actually allergic to them?

Been prescribed drugs, have collected drugs... err... take drugs?

Either you're bored, are about to drip on us that you have twins in the oven, or have anxiety.

Just take the bloody drugs.

AND GET BETTER SOON

I think OP is being very responsible, anti biotics will very soon cease to have any effect due to over use. As the dr hasn’t even seen her she’s very right to question whether the dx is correct.

Antibiotics will only work if you have a bacterial infection, which can only be confirmed by a culture test.
The advice in the old days used to be to just take the antibiotics as it was easier to issue a prescription than to carry out the test. Not sure that is still perceived as being wise.

Take the antibiotics 🙄

I get that you shouldn’t take antibiotics if they’re not needed. I’d rather see OP get a second opinion rather than just not taking them.

But if left untreated strep has nasty complications including kidney inflammation, Rheumatic fever and scarlet fever. It’s also contagious until you start antibiotics so if it turns out to be strep after waiting another week, you’ve also spread it around quite a bit.

lol no im definitely not bored - if they had physically SEEN me and examined me i wouldnt even question it, its just the fact that i rang up said i have a very sore throat, couldnt confirm a temperature or white spots and yet they still prescribed me antibiotics.

Yet everything i read on the internet says viral sore throats and bacterial sore throats present with pretty much the same symptoms and antibiotics wont help.

But yes I think i will take them, i don't like the sound of the nasty complications.....

My DD got very ill after strep throat , she didn't get anti biotics and ended up with glandular fever type symptons

@Chestnuts2017 Why the fuck are you asking random strangers if you should take antibiotics prescribed by a doctor??

You say you're asking because the doctor didn't examine you - but neither has anyone from mumsnet, or the fucking Internet!

Stop being stupid and take your prescription.

Centor Criteria is widely used as it is fairly sensitive to correctly identify bacterial infection as opposed to viral infection for sore throat. It saves waiting days for positive culture.

1. High Temperature
2. Tenderness & swelling in cervical nodes (glands under jaw and at side of neck)
3. Pus exudate
4. Absence of cough

You should get at least 3 of these to qualify. It is possible that the yellow you can see in your mouth is exudate and most likely based on what you have said on the phone would suggest you meet the criteria.

Take them. You will not be doing yourself any harm, at worst taking a course that may not be completely effective for your particular infection but may prevent an infection from developing complications. On balance I think it more pragmatic to take them.

You should also consider dissolving 3X 300mg Aspirin (if you allowed to take it and not allergic) in water and gargling 4 times daily before swallowing. Tastes rotten but the Aspirin starts to absorb immediately in your mouth. You can also take 2 x 500mg Paracetamol 4 times daily to control your temperature and further combat pain. Please discuss this with your Pharmacy when you pick up the prescription to ensure you are ok to take the above and so the pharmacist can give the appropriate advice on Paracetamol & Aspirin use.

All infections are best fought by your bodies own defences and you can aid this by making sure that you are well rested. Get to bed, keep warm, keep hydrated and eat as best as you can despite the pain.

Get well soon.

Tbh if you’re taking co-codomol and it’s not touching the pain then it sounds like there’s more going on than just a sore throat, I’d take the antibiotics.