To want to rip my tonsils out myself

[Thurlow]

I got tonsillitis at half term. 6 weeks ago, 6 sodding weeks ago. And I just can't get rid of it at all. I've had three rounds of antibiotics, each one works instantly and I'm better within a day or so but then five days or a week after finishing them - bam, it's back again. I've been feeling shitty all day and just checked my throat and I can see the fucking white spots again. I'm so tired of this I want to cry.

Plus it's Sunday tomorrow, I'm on my own all day with the DC and no car so it would be almost impossible to get to out of hours, and anyway what will they do but give me the same antibiotics again? So I'll have to wait for Monday to see my GP. While trying to get through a day in pain with a 6yo and a 17mo.

And then what will they do about it anyway? This is the 4th time, I think I have to go through this whole cycle again for another two weeks, and that will coincide exactly with DP going away for 2 weeks with eldest DC while they try and work something out.

I'm just feeling very sorry for myself right now and so pissed off

My doctor recommended gargling with soluble aspirin as it coats the tonsils.

I’m allergic to penicillin so they usually prescribe clarithromycin but it takes longer to work.

I found Difflam spray from Boots good. It didn't take all of the pain away, but it was usually enough to take some painkillers and have a drink.

I don’t understand this reluctance to remove tonsils. My last and worst bout developed into Quincy which lead to kidney disease, scarlet fever and suspected rheumatic fever. I had 10 days im hospital during all of that.

I think the ‘rule’ about ten bouts in 12 months is ridiculous. Tonsils aren’t that useful. I’ve managed perfectly well without them since.

Oh god, really sorry you’re going through this! But I am going to be the bearer of bad news... having a tonsillectomy doesn’t always 100% work. I still get tonsillitis a few times a year, I get white spots at the site of where my tonsils used to be- it was explained to me that because the tonsils are shaved back a small amount of the tissue remains and infection sticks to it.

Can I just recommend putting a little throat infection kit together?
There’s a cough medicine called robutussin in a blue box- i shit you not it feels like HEAVEN, makes it feel normal for a few hours, you can get difflam numbing spray which tastes vile but does work wonders, plus soothers, and of course paracetamol and ibuprofen on a cycle works wonders.

But please ask the drs to consider a longer course of antibiotics, or to keep you on them until you have your tonsils out- not all Drs approve (DR refused DD despite her being on antibiotics every other week but her friends brother with same issue was put on antibiotics until he had his tonsils out!)

Have they swabbed your throat to see what bacteria is causing the infection?

Sorry you did say no swabs as of yet.
Do feel your pain though. A PP asked if you’ve had a blood test to check for GF?

Hope you feel better soon!

If you’ve got private healthcare, just get them taken out.

I used to get tonsillitis a lot as a kid. It got better once I stopped biting my nails! My glands and tonsils still flare up every so often though.

In the meantime, numbing throat spray, numbing throat sweets, very hot drinks, very cold drinks, gargling with salt water and lots of echinacea and zinc.

Hope u feel better soon.

Ah lemonmuffin sounds like a quinsey. I had that. I had my tonsils out aged 28 BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE bar none. I was lucky to get it on nhs .

When this kind of recurrent infection happened to me as a child, it's because the back of the tonsils were necrotizing, literally rotting in the back of my throat. Couldn't be seen from the front, the doctor only realized how bad it was during the surgical procedure itself. I was supposed to have been allowed to take the tonsils home (I was 6, that was the very height of gross-cool), but they were classified as dangerous infectious waste and incinerated instead after being examined.

Thanks again for the advice. I'll shall power through today on painkillers and numbers and be grateful it's a short day as the kids slept in.

No swabs, no blood tests, last time the GP just have me the same antibiotics that didn't kill it last time. I will raise some merry hell tomorrow about finding out what it is! I don't think it's GF as when the tablets work I feel fine, it just come back about 5 day's after I finish every round.