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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stay off work today? Tonsillitis

30 replies

amber763 · 27/09/2019 07:06

Aaaargh I've had a sore throat all week and have struggled through work but have been up all night with a sore throat and earache and just looked in the mirror and saw that white gunk I remember from tonsillitis as a kid :(. Even sipping drinks is really painful to swallow. Anyway my aibu is that I'm currently working my notice and finish up at the end of October. Do you think they'll think I at it if I stay home? Also I'm reading conflicting info about it being infectious and needing antibiotics. Do you think I should try get a docs appointment or is it wasting their time?

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 27/09/2019 07:10

My dr is always happy to give me antibiotics when I have bacterial tonsillitis.

Get well soon Flowers

Ithinkwerealonenowtiffany · 27/09/2019 07:14

How many times have you had tonsillitis? My work colleague had lots of SL with it till they were removed 2 months ago. People dont take it seriously. See the GP.

If you feel guilty about taking the day off, go in and then say “enough for today” and go home.

Azadewow · 27/09/2019 07:17

U need to go to the gp if u have tonsillitis. I almost died from it as a teenager, it was swallen so much I couldn't swallow my own saliva. Had to go to emergency room admitted to the hospital, twice a day for a week they would pierce with needles and suck out the white gunk... Sad

Original poster
amber763 · 27/09/2019 07:22

Thanks guys. I dont recall ever having it as an adult! im going to call the surgery when it opens at 8.45. I don't actually think I'd be able to talk on the phone anyway which is my job. Urgh any hints and tips to feel better/make it less painful to swallow would be appreciated x

OP posts:
JaneEyreAgain · 27/09/2019 07:27

Gargle with cayenne pepper, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and raw unpasteurised honey. Do this every hour for 8 hours. You will need lots of lemons. After the 8 hours have passed, continue gargling ever 4 hours (only while you are awake) until it is better.

HoneyWheeler · 27/09/2019 07:30

I had it earlier this year and was hallucinating with a fever. I actually thought I was going to die, I had that 'impending doom' feeling. Never been so ill in my life! Take it seriously and take it easy. There was no way on earth I could have worked!

Queenie8 · 27/09/2019 07:34

Neurofen meltlets as you don't need to swallow them, tyrozets (from the pharmacy) will help numb the pain, and a GP appointment. Hope you feel better soon.

Zebraaa · 27/09/2019 07:37

You shouldn’t go into work because it’d be selfish to pass an illness on to your colleagues!

Spidey66 · 27/09/2019 07:39

When I've had tonsillitis as an adult, I was unable to get up, so definitely not fit for work

Singlebutmarried · 27/09/2019 07:40

Dequacaine lozenges. Totally numb your throat so those will help.

If it’s bacterial hopefully the GP will give you some abx and you’ll start to feel better.

As suggested above, I’d probably show willing and then go home.

If you can’t talk, then I’m guessing it’ll be hard to work.

OkayGo · 27/09/2019 07:41

Tonsillitis is the worst :( I was so poorly with it and definitely wouldn’t have been able to go to work.

Grammar · 27/09/2019 07:43

My dd has had it so severely and so often over the last 2 years ( hospitalised 3 times for IV antibiotics (Quinsey, where your tonsils can obstruct your airway).
She ended up on constant, regular antibiotics which still were not perfect.
She was advised, by her NHS ENT consultant to gargle with vinegar ( any vinegar). It was the longest she went without a flare up, and got her tonsillectomy 2 months ago.
I'd take this seriously, if white pus, you GP will prob prescribe antibiotics.
Very reasonable to have a couple of days off.
Have you got a temperature? ( not that that can differentiate between viral and bacterial tonsillitis ( doc will apply Centor criteria to establish that).
I would not use vinegar until it has cleared, too harsh. But used preventatively, for repeated episodes , anecdotally, it's been good for her.
All the best.

babbydriver · 27/09/2019 07:43

Difflam spray if you can get out to get some.....and lots of rest. Tonsillitis is the worse

fedup21 · 27/09/2019 07:44

You need to see the GP and see what they say. Don't tell work that you have tonsillitis unless the GP diagnosis it-by all means say you have a sore throat though.

babbydriver · 27/09/2019 07:45

And I had to take my DC to hospital last year as he had tonsillitis.......they said to try and eat crisps! Something to do with the salt straight to the throat?

Mitebiteatnite · 27/09/2019 07:47

Tonsillitis can be really nasty, I had a few years where I seemed to have it constantly but thankfully I haven't had it for a while now. The thing that helped me most (apart from antibiotics) was soluble paracetemol. Drop 2 in some room temp water and gargle them as much as you can bear around your tonsils, then swallow. It numbs the pain far better than any other topical spray I tried. That should give you a good 3-4 hour window to eat and feel semi normal. When I felt able to swallow I'd take 2 ibuprofen as well, as theyre anti inflammatory. Just remember to not take anything else with paracetemol in obviously.

Hope you manage to see the GP today OP, and don't be worried about not going into work. It's not like they can fire you!

palahvah · 27/09/2019 07:57

You would be unreasonable to go in - why are you taking your germs in for everyone else to catch? You won't be productive anyway.

AMAM8916 · 27/09/2019 08:00

I had it a lot as a kid and I was always bed bound and couldn't swallow properly. They still never removed them!

Livpool · 27/09/2019 08:03

Tonsillitis is horrible and makes you feel very ill. I am glad I had my tonsils out.

Stay off. Hope you feel better soon

Bloomburger · 27/09/2019 08:04

Get some hydrogen peroxide from boots or local chemist, it's less then £1 and gargle with it hourly (diluted), take paracetamol for the pain, it will work quicker than the antibiotics and won't affect your gut like antibiotics.

Nameusernameuser · 27/09/2019 08:06

After I gave birth I decided that still wasn't as bad as having tonsillitis. Stay off work and pray it's bacterial so you can have antibiotics!

needmoresleep1 · 27/09/2019 08:08

I suffer with it, get some difflam (the mouthwash not the spray) it's like magic

ShatnersWig · 27/09/2019 08:11

I had tonsillitis a few years ago. I have never felt so ill in my life. On day two I had to call my mum over to help me get out of bed to the toilet and having rung the GP was told to take me to hospital where they considered admitting me as I was borderline quinsy. I couldn't walk into the hospital they had to get a wheelchair. Was given huge amounts of anti biotics. I was off work for 7 days. I didn't get out of bed bar toilet for 5. I lost over a stone in weight.

Myriade · 27/09/2019 08:22

Bacterial tonsillitis is contagious!
I wouldn’t go to work and would head towards the GP instead.

SomewhereInbetween1 · 27/09/2019 09:08

Tonsillitis is the only fairly common illness I really fear! The last time I had it I couldn't manage to swallow any fluids at all and ended up dangerously dehydrated. Stay home and focus on your health. Hope you feel better soon ♥️