To feel like I need antibiotics?

[Keychain2306]

I started with a sore throat on Monday, since then it’s got steadily worse to the point that it’s now agony to swallow even water. My ear on one side feels like I’m being stabbed with a knife and my glands on my neck are so swollen and painful. The only thing that takes the edge off is paracetamol and ibuprofen taken at the same time, I’ve been taking these for 5 days now every 6 hours which isn’t ideal.
I can’t sleep as the pain is so bad.

Although I haven’t got a fever , I do feel quite ‘fluey’ and exhausted with chills.

I called my GP yesterday who told me to go to the pharmacy as they can usually prescribe antibiotics if necessary- the pharmacist said because I didn’t present with a fever and there were no white pus spots on my tonsils (my throat is bright red, which red streaks) that I didn’t qualify for antibiotics despite the fact I told them it had got worse and I was nearly in tears because of the pain.

I have a GP appointment this evening as that’s the only time they could fit me in. I’m going to ask for antibiotics as each time I’ve had this in the past I’ve needed them to clear it up, and I don’t remember it even being this bad before. I’m so tired I’m literally laying on the sofa and I’ve got hardly any appetite which isn’t like me.

Usually by this point it would be improving, normally it goes slowly, just getting less and less painful but this is just getting worse.

The chances are it's a virus and antibiotics will do nothing. You can't really 'feel like' you need antibiotics. But of course if your GP thinks there's a decent possibility of a bacterial infection, I'm sure they'll prescribe you whatever you need.

You would usually see very noticeable white/yellow/greenish spots all over your tonsils and throat with a bacterial infection so it's not unreasonable of the pharmacist to say no to prescribing.

I had that virus. I took a few drops of oil of oregano (natural antiobiotic), vitamin C and zinc. I hope you feel better soon.

Even though I’ve never had a sore throat / ear pain get worse not better before? Everyday I wake up thinking it will be better and it feels worse.

It feels like a knife in my ear and a golf ball in my throat.

The ‘fluey’ feeling has come in today , surely it should have been more towards the start of the illness? Normally by now I am improving.

Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections though. So even if you're feeling ill they won't prescribe if the pharmacist thinks it's viral.

If you're getting a fluey feeling, it's even more likely to be a virus.