Anyone had quinsy AFTER tonsillectomy?

[RampantKrampus]

I had my tonsils removed almost 17 years ago. I have suspected for the last five years at least that I have a tiny patch of tonsil tissue which has regrown or wasn’t removed as whenever I get a sore throat there is a very localised patch of soreness of about 1cm square that looks pink and spongy.

I have had a sore throat on this one side only on and off for two weeks. In the past 12 hours this has rapidly progressed to pain that painkillers won’t touch, earache, a change to my voice, an inability to swallow even my saliva, drooling, and an inability to properly open my mouth. I managed to get to sleep, albeit uncomfortably, about 4 hours ago after painkillers and now they’ve worn off I’m crying in the bathroom and have no idea what to do with myself. Surely this isn’t normal for a sore throat?

Looking at it’s the side of my throat (where my tonsils would be) just looks like it’s on an angle and is quite red from what I can manage to see with my mouth half open. There’s no obvious pus or ulceration or anything.

I should say, I’m using Difflam spray and it’s doing fuck all.

If you cant drink or eat and you are drooling and unable to swallow salvia
Go to A&E
They will burst it, if needed and give you a drip and iv antibiotics if needed

Surely they’re going to laugh me out of a&e with no
tonsils though?

Well quinsy isn’t an infection of the tonsils it’s between your tonsil and the wall of the throat and you can still have a throat infection completely separate from tonsillitis. I would call 111 or maybe take some more painkillers and get a bit more sleep and call 111 in the morning.

I also had the same issue of a bit left or growing back after tonsil removal, which I had to have removed separately. DD called 111 with quinsy and they didn't recognise it as an emergency at all. She called me then at 4am and, entirely because of Mumsnet, I recognised that's what it was, she got an Uber to A&E and within 15 minutes she was having it burst as it was affecting her breathing. 111 called back 12 hours later when it was all over (well, other than the two nights stay in hospital).

Is there a walk-in centre anywhere near you? Otherwise we have been to A&E once when we have been worried, but it's turned out not to be quinsy, so if you don't get any joy through 111 or other options, I would be tempted to go there.