AIBU to not leave the GP without antibiotics

[Turtlegurl888]

I suspect I have bacterial tonsillitis. I've had a raging fever of between 39 and 40 even when maxxing out the daily allowance of paracetamol and ibuprofen. I can hardly open my mouth or turn my head/neck. My glands are like painful golf balls. Yesterday and the day before, my tonsils were covered in white and yellow patches, but that seems to have lessened today. I was awake every hour last night in sheer agony. I don't know how else to describe this pain. It's like being stabbed in the throat and neck. This started on Friday and its been worse every day since. I can't even speak today.

I have had tonsillitis MANY times, I'd venture to say on at least 100 times throughout my childhood, I really suffered. This feels different. The pain is next level. I can't eat or even drink. I am forcing myself to sip water but I'm screaming internally every time I have to swallow.

I know the Dr will say its viral and to wait it out but I can't. I need something. I have my 15 month old all week with no childcare or another adults help and I'm not going to be able to cope like this. Can I be like, I'm not leaving until I have antibiotics? Or at least a swab test for bacterial? I'm usually a massive pushover and willing to accept a doctor knows more than I do but it's so bad I think I need to stand up for myself.

The assumption that the GP will just disregard your symptoms/pain and you will have to beg for antibiotics is astounding, get in there and see then and give them a chance first!!

I also hope you feel better soon as it's sounds miserable!

You have no idea what the GP will say.

Mine wasn’t tonsillitis but when I phoned they said there were no appointments. When I said I couldn’t eat or drink (I couldn’t, my mouth was a festering mess of sores) they got me in sharpish and gave me the appropriate medication. Make sure they know you can’t swallow

Also ask for pain meds. I hope your child is in nursery so you can get some rest
Good luck ... and tell the GP about the spots as that's often the marker

Clearly you lot have more effective GPs than I do! I've been meaning to switch for months and haven't gotten around to it. I've called them 278 times since 8am and constantly engaged so not sure I'll be seeing anyone today regardless. Thanks for helpful comments.

I assume they will say it is viral because they always do. My son had a bacterial infection a few months back and was ill for weeks until they finally conceded and gave antibiotics after which he miraculously recovered. I totally understand antibiotic resistance. However, the last time I had antibiotics, I was about 4, so I feel like I've done my bit for humanity (I am only joking, I know it doesn't work like that)

You could try and get a consult in a pharmacy first,see what they say
I was "prescribed" hydrogen peroxide diluted as a mouthwash by dentist for soft gums. Used to use it in the ED for cleaning out open wounds.

I use hydrogen peroxide on a cold sore if that helps anyone 😂

It does sound like you'll probably meet the criteria for antibiotics, however that being said it is worth noting that in all the studies antibiotics in tonsillitis very rarely make any difference at all in severity of symptoms or duration of infection. The measures that make a difference to symptoms are regular use of paracetamol and ibuprofen (if these are medications you can take), salt water gargle, pharmacy can issue difflam spray which has a slight numbing effect.

What tends to happen with tonsillitis is most have a big improvement/resolution day 7-10 without any abx, people tend to present about day 2-4, so if they're issued a 5 day course of treatment they're improving over the course and better at completion so they believe the abx has worked. People swear they know their body xyz but in trials the placebo is as effective as antibiotics even for bacterial.

Again that being said, the difficulty opening your mouth you describe its absolutely worth to goto gp, that's not typical in tonsillitis (normal pain/severe pain on swallow), it can be a sign of abcess/quinsy which needs draining.

If you do get to see them, get them to score you on the centor criteria or fever pain score regarding if you need antibiotics or not! It’s the scoring system the NHS use for whether you meet the threshold for antibiotics for tonsillitis. Obviously make sure they rule out potential other causes to ensure the antibiotics are correct.

See if you can switch GP practices. If you can’t get through ring out of hours or go to a walk in centre.

I definitely sympathise because sore throats are genuinely awful. But it does sound like you've presented several times to gp with sore throat and been told you didn't meet criteria for antibiotics, you've presumable recovered from each episode previously so GP was correct in that you didn't need antibiotics to get better.

It's not just antibiotics resistance, they cause lots of side effects and damage to gut health, the extent of which isn't really fully understood yet - from chronic pain ibs/like conditions, nutritional disorders, mental health conditions, you really don't want antibiotics unless there's going to be a significant benefit in taking them.

Finally got through after 300+ (genuinely) engaged calls and no appointments left. I've filled out an online form for the practice which a doctor is supposed to review and said I'm unable to swallow or drink, but the receptionist did say pharmacists can prescribe antibiotics if they are required, so I'll give it a couple of hours for the GP to respond and go up the chemist if not. Lots of tears my end to be honest. So frustrating to be calling from the second they open, not get through until 40 minutes later, and by then it's too late.

You can't insist on being given any meds if your GP feels they are not right for you.

I do know how painful this is.

The only way to find out if it's bacterial is to take a swab.
White spots show an infection but viruses cause infections!

Did your GP suggest mouth gargling with soluble aspirin to take down the inflammation? That's one of the best things.

Other posters who have mentioned the dangers of using ABs when not needed are spot-on.

Have you never been offered a tonsillectomy? If you have had tonsillitis 100 times then you should have perhaps had your tonsils out. I was offered the op in my late 20s as I got tonsillitis 2 - 3 times a year. I didn't proceed but it's something you should consider.

If you agree with your statement that the Dr knows best, then by default no don't demand antibiotics.... just because its "bad" doesn't make it bacterial....covid is viral, that's bad too. If antibiotics are warranted then they will be given but we have a moral duty to not encourage antibotic resistance by unnecessary prescribing

Explain your symptoms, let the gp decide how to treat you.

Dont "demand" anything, Drs deserve decent manners too

Thankfully in anaesthetics I'm yet to suffer from patients demanding the method in which I keep them asleep (even if most don't think we are drs in the first place)

I'm sorry you are in so much pain but are you really unable to swallow?

If you really truly can't swallow then it could be quinsy, which is an A&E job. Scroll down to the bottom of this link to see if your symptoms fit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tonsillitis/

Google your nearest walk in centre. In the mean time benzoate type local anaesthetic throat spray is super helpful

I was just about to mention quinsy!

Yes, that's dangerous.

But as someone with a history of tonsillitis I know there is a difference between it being agony to swallow and not being able to at all.

As a child when I had tonsillitis I used to hallucinate as my temp got so high.

I do suggest OP that you ask for a referral to an ENT consultant and consider having your tonsils out. I decided not to - there are pros and cons- but in my late 20s I was losing a lot of time off work with tonsillitis.

It is a horrible thing.

Most sore throats are viral, but doctors should use a system called the Feverpain score to help them decide, as it can be tricky and we know antibiotics are overused. Google it. I’m fairly sure you’ll be in the antibiotics category.

Don't want to worry you, but my DB finally had his tonsils removed in his 50s after bouts of sever tonsillitis and they discovered that the reason for his symptoms was cancer of the tonsils. He is clear and symptom free now, a couple of years later, after chemo and radiotherapy.

That's cheery news for her :(

Why wait just go to the pharmacy? Our pharmacy prescribed DS antibiotics for tonsillitis a few months ago, you can call or walk in with our local one just make sure it's a prescribing pharmacy (Google)

Some of you clearly haven't been victims of repeated medical gaslighting and withholding of proper investigation and treatment. It's very common among women.

Can you actually not swallow though? I mean if you were to be given a glass of water you'd be unable to drink it? Because if that's true then that's a goto A&E problem. For one thing it means a gp would be unable to prescribe you antibiotics because you wouldn't be able to swallow them. But also oral antibiotics even if they were absolutely needed and your body was not able to fight the infection will not typically show any benefit/improvement until day 2-3, by which point you'll have a kidney injury from dehydration.

But if you are able to swallow, despite having said you can't, then all this achieves is 'professional disbelief' of your account. I.e. it's evidence that you lie and exagegerate the severity of your symptoms to push clinicians to provide a particular treatment. This really isn't a position you want to get into, have clinicians seeing in the future. Always describe your symptoms as accurately as you can.