Extra dose of co codamol?

[Cait73]

I've had a nasty viral infection for 10 days the worst effect is my throat it's so inflamed I can barely swallow - I'm taking co codamol every 4-6 hours and am aware maximum dose is 8 tablets within a 48 hour period

BUT today has been particularly awful I've been up since 3am and I've literally counted the minutes to the next dose of painkillers

By 10pm I've had 4 doses stretched out from 3am, I'm now really worried how I'm going to get through the night if I can't take another dose ('till 5am when I took my first dose) would it be really awful to have an extra dose as a one off??

[vastgrandupgrade]

You could take aspirin if you’ve got some. But call your GP in the morning. If it’s that bad you probably need someone to look at it. Viral throat infection shouldn’t be that painful

[VitalsStable]

If it's bacterial In your throat get some hydrogen peroxide from the chemist and gargle with it (diluted as per instructions). It'll start to oxidise the bacteria and you'll feel a lot better quickly. I ended up not being able to take the antibiotics for tonsillitis just after I'd had DS and a lovely pharmacist on Boots told me to do this after I broke down crying on her as I couldn't move my head, swallow my own spit and had had enough. It really is a game changer. Oh and the numbing throat spray in between.

[Einszwei]

Had this after Delta. Pain was so unbearable I had to go to hospital as painkillers weren't touching it and I couldn't swallow water.

Strong doses of steroids were the only thing that cleared it up for me.

[sashh]

Ask your Dr to prescribe codeine and paracetamol separately so you can titrate the does yourself ie more codeine.

Don't drop the paracetamol it isn't strong in itself but does work with other painkillers.

[Bagelsandbrie]

Has anyone actually seen your throat? I’m asking because if you’ve had a virus and are run down it may actually be something like oesophageal thrush. You wouldn’t necessarily see a white coating / white spots with it. If it is that you’d need Fluconazole, Daktarin gel and / or corsodyl mouthwash to clear it. (I suffer with oesophageal thrush regularly due to autoimmune issues and it causes me pain exactly like you describe, I actually take Tramadol for it),

[Cait73]

Made it to 5am mostly by pacing, crying and trying not to swallow

Gp saw my throat last week said she can't see anything which amazed me as it feels like molten lava down there, I wasn't given antibiotics because she said it was "just" viral and would go by itself, a week later I was given antibiotics because it's getting worse

It's still worse, counting the minutes 'till next lot of painkillers AGAIN

Can't cope, 3 year old is driving me mad (absolutely no fault of his he's a wonderful child) feel sick and dizzy today still running a temperature literally ANY ideas welcome but not with painkillers I can only take cocodamol and or paracetamol as I'm on lithium

[Cait73]

@Bagelsandbrie I feel like the gp looked in my mouth and the problem is down my throat although my mouth is bloody fragile now it's the throat that's the problem

[LowlyTheWorm]

You need seen again today. Get an emergency appointment at your GP

[SmartCar]

Get the gp to prescribe just codine then when it's them hours where you can't have paracetamol you can have the codine

[Cait73]

@SmartCar can't I just buy codeine?

[BabbleBee]

Get some Peroxyl - Boots and pharmacies sell it. It’s a hydrogen peroxide gargle solution, if there’s any bacteria in your throat it fizzes it away. I saw it recommended here when I had tonsillitis… literally the most disgusting thing I have ever experienced but it works!

[Cait73]

@LowlyTheWorm my gp (surgery) is really useless I'm amazed they saw me in the first place, I only got the antibiotics yesterday they'll tell me to give them a chance to work, I'm being made to feel a bit neurotic here tbh

[Cait73]

I'm not being made to feel neurotic here on the forum, sorry I meant by the gp surgery

[LowlyTheWorm]

Did you get seen yesterday when prescribed the antibiotics?
If not then you need seen again. And if you did see then you still need to call to say that your pain relief is not adequate and can you get separate codeine rather than paracetamol and codeine. Then you’d need to space them out to cover the day. Hopefully today will see an improvement as the antibiotics kick in and the pain lessen.
Diflam or good old salted water gargling can also help… and a scarf or warm thing round your neck
If you cannot swallow saliva you do need see again though- could have developed quinsy and need IV antibiotics

[ApolloandDaphne]

I would call your GP back today and ask what else they can offer which might help given that you can barely swallow.

[Frymetothemoon]

Can you get a spray with lidocaine in? Numbs the area

[MrsPelligrinoPetrichor]

Just because your throat was ok last week when you were seen it doesn't mean it is now. You need to be careful in case it's Quinsy. Get seen today or go to urgent care.

[Cait73]

@ApolloandDaphne I could barely swallow last Wednesday when I was seen, appointment over the phone yesterday I said it's now not only extremely painful to swallow it's impossible I feel like there's a rock down there or something

I've eaten bread and some potato in a week and cried through that just to get something down me

Doing salt water, I can take tiny sips of warm water too

[BIWI]

You have to go back to your GP! If you really have so little faith in them, you could always try calling NHS 111 and see what they advise?

[user2908143823142536475859708]

Don't take difflam if you can't take inbuprofen. It contains it.

[Bagelsandbrie]

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Just because your throat was ok last week when you were seen it doesn't mean it is now. You need to be careful in case it's Quinsy. Get seen today or go to urgent care.

Yes this.

[SmartCar]

No clue if you can just buy codine. But you need something. Hope you feel better soon.

[BIWI]

My son developed quinsy and had to be admitted to hospital - the dehydration from not being able to swallow (even his own saliva) caused serious - thankfully short term - issues.

[Grandville]

Do you have a walk in centre nearby you can go to? 111 might also be able to get you in with the hospital outpatients dept.

[MrsSkylerWhite]

You need chloraseptic spray, numbs pain quite effectively.
Bad idea to take extra dose.