Tonsillitis as an adult

[LoftyDreamer]

New here. Looking for some reassurance as I have health anxiety and just don’t cope well with being ill mentally or physically. I’ve only had tonsillitis once previously that was about 10 years ago. I am now 34 and started with a sore throat about 4 days ago then the following day one white patch on tonsil then following day from that a swollen painful gland under my jaw in my neck and white patches all over left tonsil. Went doctors Wednesday night and got antibiotics, I’m in agony still, absoloute agony to swallow, feel ridiculously run down and sick, my left side gland under my jaw is making me feel so sick and uncomfortable I just hate the feeling of it it’s making me feel ill how swollen and sore it is. Is the swollen gland normal? I’ve never had it before so I’m unsure. Both tonsils are now bright red, full of white patches and ulcers in my mouth now as well. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

I have had tonsilitis a few times as an adult, not recently touch wood

What you described is exactly what it looks and feels like. Lousy!

Swollen gland is your body fighting the infection your immune system will actually work in conjunction with the antibiotics

Antibiotics take a few days to work you should start to feel better towards the end of your course. It feels like it will never get better but suddenly clears up

Take paracetamol for the pain and reduce any temperature which you can get with this.

Try Difflam spray from chemist. It numbs the back of your throat so you can swallow more comfortably. Try sucking ice lollies/ cubes and eat stuff that’s easy like yoghurts. Most important thing after fluids is rest. Hope you feel better soon

I had exactly the same earlier this year - it was miserable but the antibiotics did help after 48 hours or so plus regular paracetamol.

Yes it's horrible. I went through a stage in my 30s of getting it regularly. The doctor was talking about taking my tonsils out but I had to have it 3 times in a year for them to do that. I had blood tests for glandular fever as well once or twice. I'd walk in and he just had to hear me speak to know I had it.

I used to be only able to eat strawberry and fresh cream Victoria sponge cake (don't ask 😂) when I had it. M&S and Sainsbury's do lovely ones!

I occasionally get it mildly now and dread it coming back.

Yes to difflam, I also found gargling aspirin helped for some reason. I last had it in my early 20s and I’m praying it never returns. Used to get it around 3-4 times a year growing up before I had it so bad at 16, I developed quinsy and was hospitalised for days. That was the third worst pain of my life behind a dental abscess and childbirth- yes the abscess was worse!

To be honest it’s supposed to start clearing up within a few days of starting the antibiotics so I’d be inclined to return to the GP.

I haven't had tonsillitis for a few years thankfully, but I did ho through a stage of getting it regularly I always got white patches on my tonsill,sand needed antibiotics, theu would take 24 -48 hours to kick in ,paracetamol and ibuprofen helped with the pain
If it gets worse go back to the Dr ,my sister ended up in hospital with Quinsy.

Tonsillitis is miserable. I had it loads as a child then all through my 20s. I asked the doctor if I could have them removed as it was an instant yes. So much better and wish I had them removed when I was young. It was a week of pain, a week if being uncomfortable but ten years later it's on my list of 'best things I have ever done'.

Ice lollies help and one of the spraud will help with the pain but a fever and vomiting usually accompanies it too unfortunately.

Yeah, that's totally normal for tonsillitis. I sympathise - I've had it several times and it's a miserable thing to go through.

I think the sheer unpleasantness and pain of it comes as a shock to people who haven't had it (or who have only had a mild case before). It's a routine, common ailment and usually goes away on its own, so I think people who haven't had it usually assume it's just going to be like any other sore throat, but when you're actually in the middle of it, it's very uncomfortable and just generally absolutely foul.

I think the difference between a sore throat and tonsillitis is like the difference between a bad cold and a proper case of flu.

Hope you feel better soon!