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.

So you haven't had a consultation yet and you think you won't get antibiotics when you do? Catastrophising is not good.

Do your local pharmacies have a sore throat scheme where they do a consultation, throat swab and antibiotics if needed?

Seriously if you cannot drink it sounds like quinsy and you do need to be seen today. Google it. Good luck and try your best to get them removed soon.

I haven't had tonsilitis since I was about 20, around a decade ago. And as I got older, it got much less frequent. The bulk of frequency was when I was in late primary/early secondary school.

I only mention that because I KNOW what tonsillitis feels like and this feels 50x more painful. I can function with viral tonsillitis. I feel like another couple days of this pain and I'll want to kill myself.

I can physically swallow (with a fair bit of effort, feels like there's a golf ball in my throat too) but the ensuing pain is so horrific I'm in tears. It stings like a motherfucker.

Sorry if I've come across as dramatic. We've just done 3 day stint in hospital with my little one who has had chicken pox, tonsillitis and a chest infection. I'm completely drained of everything I have so feeling this ill after that experience is just pretty upsetting tbh. I'm not demanding anything from my doctor. I just want them to realise how much pain I'm in and personally I don't think it's normal. My entire neck is swollen (looks like I've got a huge double chin)

Why wait a couple of hours when you could go to the pharmacist.

You would def not be unreasonable to ask the GP for a sustainable solution if you keep getting tonsillitis so often and so badly.

Meanwhile, at the hint of a sore throat or sniffle I recommend gargling with dilute TCP

Gargling soluble aspirin is also great (for some reason soluble paracetamol and ibuprofen don't seem to work quite as well).

You don’t know they will say it’s viral- white patches usually indicates bacterial and I’ve never had to fight for antibiotics in this instance it’s just been immediately prescribed

I’ve had quinsy 13 times. Go straight to A&E and have it aspirated by ENT doctors. They will give you an IV steroid, penicillin and metronidazole. It will take about a week to feel better in any way! Hope you’re okay x

Like pp's I'd wonder about Quinsy which can make you very ill. Even hospitalise you.

Have you pushed to see an ENT specialist OP? Maybe your tonsils need to come out. After you're better from this obviously.

Anyway, you need to get some treatment.

If you go to the pharmacist, make sure you tell them you have had the symptoms for 5 days. They have a set checklist to follow and if you don't match they won't prescribe you anything. My daughter had the same and they wouldn't give her anything. I went with a chest infection and again couldn't get any antibiotics. We both ended up going to the GP and being prescribed them

I was going to say quinsy, too. If it starts to happen regularly you will need to consider having your tonsils out. Not fun as an adult, but better than being sick a lot. Good luck.

Whilst you're waiting for gp appointment are you able to post a picture of the back of your throat?

Ambulance is your best bet too as I doubt you can speak well (hot potato voice) or open your mouth much (trismus). They’ll fast track you through so you don’t have to repeat yourself. It is a medical emergency and can be life threatening.

Yes stand your ground. I had bacterial tonsillitis at Christmas and it was absolutely awful. I couldn't eat and I felt completely terrible. I got antibiotics but I didn't really feel much better once they were finished but then it did clear up quite quickly.

Doctors love to say things are "just viral". My little boy had recurring ear infections for about 18 months and was told just viral, just viral until one GP finally went you know what I'll give him antibiotics even though most others wouldn't. His ears absolutely poured fluid out them for days and he hasn't had a single ear infection since. That's been about 2 years now. My little girl last year was told at A&E she probably just had a viral infection and it was implied I was just anxious. Cue a phone call a few days later to tell me the test results came back and she actually had RSV and Strep A and needed antibiotics 🙄

Sadly, tonsillitis as an adult is usually worse than when younger. That's recognised.

Mine was worse at your age when I was working with young people and catching everything going.

This is why it's often best to have your tonsils out. I do suggest you see an ENT consultant.

Do try gargling- get some soluble aspirin or paracetamol and gargle every hour to help ease the pain.

Drink through a straw of that helps.

I'd push for an emergency appt at the dr. They usually reserve some OR try the pharmacy. Pharmacists are able to prescribe now.

Can someone take you down into your town to see one?

Oh FFS, you can buy Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash from chemists, it's been available for years..it's not neat bleach for god's sake

Oh FGS!

Really?

You're suggesting 999 and an ambulance for a sore throat? (which is what it is.)

Good God.

My sin has always had problems with his tonsils he's had white spots on his tonsils most weeks since January and when he hasn't his tonsils are swollen and red but no spots but when the spots are there they give antibiotics. He's had obviously loads of courses now and plenty of swabs for strep a and he's a carrier. Nothing is clearing this strep from him. If you've got spots they'll hopefully give you them anyway but also ask for a swab to see if you carry strep a

You can’t demand antibiotics if they are not indicated (although I think it probably is and I think they will give you them) but what you can demand is adequate pain relief. I would be asking for co-codamol to be used short term to get the pain under control. Doctors can be reluctant (sometimes rightfully so) to prescribe these medications due to the high risk of addiction however in your case used for short term would offer great pain relief. With that type of pain I wouldn’t be fobbed off with paracetamol and salt water gargles.

Yes. It can turn into sepsis if it bursts. It is a life threatening illness. Learn before berating someone. Good God.

You have no idea what the OP has as an 'armchair' dr.
She isn't so unwell she can't go to A&E.
She's able to make phone calls and type online.

Honestly with those symptoms I'd be heading to urgent care/ A&E and asking them to check for quinsy.

I’ve had quinsy 13 times so I do have an idea. It closes your throat up and incredibly quickly. It’s a medical emergency. It may not be what she has but the symptoms point to it and she’s asking for advice online, therefore I’m trying to help.

1. Ask to be referred to ENT specialist, mention your history.
2. You sound like you do need antibiotics.

No one should suffer like this.

Im currently on holiday abroad with a poorly child. Went to the local pharmacist who checked her over and prescribed some antibiotics. I can tell you how relieved I am as I was getting ready to be told you need to be seen by a Gp like in the uk and wait couple of days for an appointment.

The antibiotics cost about a tenner. Job done.

Why the heck do we put up with a shite and a disgraceful health system in the UK?

i ended up googling jibs out here last night soooo tempted to pack up and go. I know the grass is not always greener but I want to live in a country where basic rights of a human being of having basic health care is met. I have no confidence any gov will be able to fix this utter shambles of health care.

I know the Dr will say its viral

I'm not a GP but I thought white spots on the tonsils meant it was bacterial.
It was the main thing our GP asked us to look out for when my son was in bed for a week with a horrid throat and everything.

If they are being difficult maybe ask for clarification on what the white spots are if not bacterial infection. All the best OP, you sound quite poorly.

@Turtlegurl888 as a few other well-informed posters have noted, you can now go direct to a pharmacy and the pharmacist can prescribe and dispense antibiotics directly (if they think indicated).

this is a new pilot programme that the nhs has rolled out for just a few specific illnesses (eg UTIs in women) and sore throats is one of the targeted problems.

it is a radical scheme and should help people like you in these exact circumstances. Do give it a go.

no need for gp or urgent care etc.

With the new Pharmacy First system a pharmacist can prescribe antibiotics for throat infections. My daughter tried it recently when she couldn't get an appointment at the Dr. Prescribed it without any problems. More people should use this service.