To ask gp for different painkillers

[SuziSecondLaw]

Posting here for traffic, but please please please help me.

This is just details, can skip this.. woke with sudden bad sore throat when swallowing on right side 5 days ago, also had chills, fever, body aches, huge swollen glands in neck etc, called 111 2 days later as couldn't eat or sleep due to throat pain, sent photo of throat, they said strep or tonsillitis, gave me antibiotics. Today (2 days after that) called 111 again as no improvement in throat at all. Went to see a doctor he said possibly tonsillitis and glandular fever (at this point pain has swapped sides but actually even worse), he's prescribed me different stronger antibiotics, and full strength cocodemol.

Here's the issue, the cocodemol does NOTHING 😩

I have tried everything and nothing even vaguely dulls the absolute searing agony every time I swallow. It's unbearable. What can I do?? Is there anything stronger I can take? Should I ring Dr yet again tomorrow and ask for anything?

I've tried: paracetamol, ibuprofen, Co codemol, difflam, gargle salt, gargle tcp, that numbing throat spray, all the lozenges.. Ermm I think that's everything. But nothing touches it, not even slightly. Please say I've missed something magical?!

My daughter had similar in the past and it was Quinsy. She was admitted as it was impacting her swallowing, eating and drinking as the pain was so bad. We went via 111 to OOH and they sent us to A&E. Might be worth a call.

Well I was on phenoxymethylpenicillin, for 2.5 days, but stopped as they weren't working.

I am now on Clindamycin (maximum dosage for severe infections 300mg). Only started those this morning, I'm just dreading the thought of waiting the 2 or 3 days before they kick in. I really need some pain relief tonight, or even tomorrow..

Sorry ignore my post, my page hadn't refreshed and can see you have been checked for that.

Sorry, in the bath thought I could remember it but just checked through my search history and it's actually clarithromycin 500mg (I Google all new meds for side effects etc.. I probably shouldn't 😆)

Sorry should have also said, no fever anymore, no drooling, I definitely can swallow, but occasionally it gets a bit stuck and tries to come out my nose 😬

Also go into a pharmacy and ask over the counter for some lozenges containing lidocaine. Each pharmacy have their own versions so not sure what their branded version would be.

Get some crushed ice cubes and eat them. Ice pack against your throat.

Are you taking the ibuprofen as well as the co-codamol? Make sure you space doses so you're topping up frequently. Set alarms tonight and wake up to take whatever you are due. Do not let the pain killers get completely out of your system - if you're down to zero, it takes longer (I found) to then get back to full efficacy.

Spray with the Difflam spray been if you don't think it's working, but you can also get benzocaine throat sprays if you have a late night chemist you can get to.

How are you swallowing antibiotics and co-codamol/ ibuprofen etc if you can't swallow yoghurt? 😟

Are you taking 2x cocodamol? I’m sorry you are suffering

I used to suffer very often with tonsillitis and had glandular fever. When co-codamol did nothing, soluble aspirin 3 x tablets dissolved and gargled every four hours DID help! Try it, it's worth a go as they're only cheap from the supermarket. You have my sympathy OP

From what I remember, all those painkillers come in dispersible or melt in the mouth forms. I had to do that when I had bad tonsillitis myself.

Ah I had the same antibiotics and same issue a couple of weeks ago
The new antibiotics took about 2-3 days to kick in from what I remember and they worked. The penicillin seemed to dull it down but my throat was still covered in gunk

If you’ve tried Difflam and it’s not helped, you might want to try Ultra Chloraseptic Spray (Benzocaine) or vice versa depending on what you’ve tried. It’s a total shit that they stopped making them, but I used to rely on Tyrozets for this sort of thing. If you have a friend or family member who is known for a well stocked medicine cabinet they might have some - worth a shot. The Benzocaine throat spray is a close second.

Hope things settle down for you soon

I can swallow yogurt, it's just very painful and a bit scary when it starts coming back up, same happens with water or milk etc. I am still swallowing tablets, just bloody hurts. So far none of those have attempted to come out my nose, thank god 😅

@SuziSecondLaw clarithromycin is a pretty good broad spectrum antibiotic (the penicillin is narrow spectrum and usually works for tonsillitis but not always). If you’re not drooling and don’t currently have a fever then you should hopefully start to turn the corner overnight. Have you been able to get the max doses in today? I’d probably try and get a dose in overnight if you wake up

Oh really? This give me a little hope for some reason. 2-3 is manageable.. I think 😩

Yes, the Dr said this, too. Basically just in case it's something else entirely.

It's 2 a day, so I've had 1 at about 3pm and will take another in the morning, or do you think I could take my 2nd dose sooner? (sorry, I'm just assuming you're a doctor/nurse/pharmacist/far far smarter than me)

I’m not a medic, but I have a lot of experience with tonsillitis. If I were you and if I could manage it I would stay up as close as I could to midnight and take the next dose. Or I would take it when I woke for pain relief in the night. I wouldn’t wait until morning. 12 hour spacing is optimal but a little less should be ok too.

That ^^

I'll take it about 3am then, I'm awake throughout the night anyway.
Thank you for your advise, very helpful!

www.theindependentpharmacy.co.uk/pain/naproxen-tablets

Various online pharmacies sell naproxen - you just have to do a consultation first. I've bought it for period pain. Would recommend taking it with Omprezalone or such though! (can buy various types off the shelf in Boots or Super drug.)

How are you doing @SuziSecondLaw ?

It was another rough night, but I took the Co codemol and ibuprofen at regular intervals (was easy as was awake most of the night). Also took 2nd antibiotic at 3am.
Pain is the same, but the gland on my neck is less swollen, I feel like this is a good thing? Also more importantly (to me!) definitely got some relief from the Co codemol, it reduced the pain down to a normal sore throat like I've had before with flu and covid etc, so was able to sleep for a couple of hours a couple of times in the night. Which I feel so much better for. It only reduces the pain for 2 hours, about an hour after taking it, but this must be progress? Got to be..
Ibuprofen still has no affect, but I'm going to continue taking it every 6 hours anyway.

I've just taken my Co codemol and I'm looking forward to my blissful couple of hours.. Might get up and actually eat something though instead of sleep. I feel actual hunger this morning for the first time since Wednesday.

Sorry for the essay! I'm trying to be as detailed as possible, mainly to help other people if they search for threads like this in future. It's what I do when I have an issue etc.

So I'll keep posting until I'm 100% better.

That sounds like progress to me. Hopefully it will continue

I my experience the pain can take a few days to go, even after the swelling and pus has subsided. I like the ibuprofen liquid capsules for tonsillitis. Paracetamol does nothing for me. Glad codeine is helping.