If you are prone to tonsilitis is there anything you do to prevent it?

[Cloud44]

If you have had tonsillitis a few times, is there anything you have found that prevents it? I remember someone in here mentioned gargling with strong mouthwash everyday has stopped them catching it again?

I used to get it all the time. I saw a quirky slightly strange locum GP in my late twenties when suffering wiith a particularly bad bout and he told me to stop drinking out of cans.

Seems crazy but since then I never drink out of cans and have only had it twice in the 25-ish years since.

Are there any other tips on how to stop it coming back?

Have you tried gargling with baking soda at the first sign of trouble?

I’ve never used baking soda before, I know it sounds stupid but I’m not sure where you get it from or how to use it? Does it work when there are white spots on the tonsils? Better than tcp and mouthwashes?

I know when I’m going to get it because it’s just what my body does. For example if I do a concert or show I and I don’t get sufficient rest. If I’ve been on my period (which makes me physically sick) and not been eating correctly I will get it. If I’m too busy.
and then sometimes there is no cause, it’s just happening because it’s that time of the year, such as the start of the summer hols, end of Easter holidays etc.
it is always bacterial and always with white spots that do not shift, and usually it takes an”longer than usual” amount of antibiotics to shift it.
I get it between 8-10 times year (depends on how busy I have been and how many solos I have sang) and actually have a standing prescription for a cycle of antibiotics that I just go to the pharmacy for now. The pharmacist checks my throat and goes “here’s the antibiotics”
I usually take 1-2 days off work during the first flush and 1 day off during the last couple of days to rest and top up my fluids but I can’t take any more time off - I run my own business.

You can get baking soda in the baking section of your local supermarket. Make sure it's baking soda, not baking power. At the first sign of trouble dilute half a teaspoon in a small amount of almost hot water and gargle with it. It should taste fairly disgusting but manageable. Repeat often, every couple of hours if possible. It won't cure a bad case of tonsillitis. However it will prevent some setting in. It will definitely clearly sore throat much better than any mouthwash. Germs produce acid when they multiply. Baking soda is a strong alcoline. That's the science behind it. I introduced a lot of people at work and family to baking soda. Everyone agrees it gives excellent results. The only downside- the gargling solution doesn't taste very pleasant

Thank you @Kosenrufugirl i’ll give this a try.

DD and I are really prone. We both get it far less when we are looking after our immune systems - sleep is absolutely key, as is a healthy diet, plus fresh air and exercise. Drink plenty of water. I take vitamin D too.

Im trying to do those things @Partridgewell but don’t seem to be having much luck the last few months.

I know, it's really tricky. I just know I get it more when I'm knackered and rundown. I'm much better now the kids aren't as little, and DD gets it less these days.

@Kosenrufugirl is bicarbonate of soda the same thing?!

Recurrent tonsillitis is often a sign that your thyroid isn't functioning properly. Worth a blood test.

Yep. I think this is because we are susceptible, therefore pick up germs from things like cans.

I managed to stop getting tonsillitis when I stopped dating. Every time I met someone new and snogged them I'd get tonsillitis. Sane deal really; my tonsilts don't like being subjected to new germs.

I never thought about cans! It’s like I’m near someone at work who has a cold, cough or something and it’s going straight to my throat a few days later?!

I grate turmeric, garlic, lemon and orange zest, and ginger into a jar.
I keep this in fridge.
and out good tea spoon of it with honey and hot water. I have this every morning. And it seems to stop me getting bugs.
because when I forget for a few days or run out and don’t make up more straight away I end up catching the first germs that come near me.
i swear by this now that I have germy school kids, and call it the elixir of life!

Best thing I ever did was get my tonsils removed at 24. I was getting it every 6-8 weeks in the end.

Yes. Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda.

Baking powder is bicarbonate of soda with cream of tartar, which potassium bitartrate. Probably wouldn't do you any harm to gargle with it, but may not be as effective as bicarbonate by itself. Apparently it's a byproduct of wine production.

I suspect if you are prone to recurrent tonsillitis (or recurrent other infections,) it's probably a sign that your immune system is struggling in some way and you are therefore just more prone to infections full stop. We all know people who tend to pick up every bug going round, whereas others either don't get them at all or get them very mildly.

However, if your body is frequently having to battle infection in the tonsils and you can live without them, it seems logical to remove them and give your immune system a chance to recover properly and build itself up again, especially if tonsillitis stops you eating, meaning you're reducing your ability to get good nutrition, which is also important to the immune system.

It might be worth requesting a course of anti fungals.

My ENT spotted signs of a fungal infection where the base of my tongue and my tonsils meet. He told me tonsillitis can be fungal, and antibiotics tend to make fungal tonsillitis worse.

He's prescribed me a 10 day course of high dose fluconazole, and if my symptoms don't ease after this, he'll put me on the list for a tonsillectomy because we'll have exhausted every option to keep it at bay xx

Exactly. Have the fuckers removed and never worry about it again.

This is interesting, I've had a few phases of chronic tonsillitis/throat infections since I was a teenager, and thinking about it, the worst times do actually coincide with when I didn't have a fizzy drink habit. Now I get a sore throat whenever I am run down, or get a cold so I am still somewhat prone, but it doesn't tend to turn into a full blown infection. Currently have a very bad sore throat and haven't had any fizzy drinks in a few weeks which is unusual for me. Off to gargle with some of these suggestions and will go back to fizzy drinks again.

I really feel for you @Cloud44

My childhood was antibiotics every 6-8 weeks. Finally got my tonsils removed in my 20s as it was affecting work. No problems with my throat since then.

Unfortunately my DS was the same. In 2021 he had tonsillitis 13 times. Referred to have them taken out but the waiting list was huge. One bout of tonsillitis he ended up hospitalised and then thankfully he had the operation the following month.
A months after recovery, he was so upset as his throat was really bad again. We went to the Dr's and they advised to use Chlorhexidine mouthwash everyday. I bought Corsodyl the first time, but then bought the own brand for about £1.50 when that ran out. He's never had a bad throat since. Used the mouthwash until that 2nd bottle ran out, and there's been no problems.

I hope you get it sorted

Ive always had a weakness in my throat since a child but it’s this year for some reason it doesn’t seem to be properly clearing.