Throat Ulcers? REALLY? Is that even a thing?!

[Headbanger]

In the interests of preventing me from doing any more Googling (syphilis anyone?!) has anyone ever had loads of ulcers in their throat, and/or does anyone know what to do about it? Looks like the white spots you get with tonsillitis but on the throaty bit. Hurts like buggery; I cannot swallow without pain, which is obviously great for losing weight, but did mean I couldn't sleep much, and woke up to a pillowful of drool. Don't think it's tonsillitis because I'm not ill, just annoyed and fed up...

(And yes, I will be going to the GP, but I will almost certainly not get an appointment till Wednesday...)

Try swallowing dispersible aspirin /parecetomol dissolved in a small amount of water to relieve pain .
Sorry don't know what you've got - throat infection I guess .
Good luck .

Ta violet, I might try that. Seeing GP tomorrow am. Looking on the bright side a diet of tepid soup and teaspoons of ice cream is going to work wonders!

Its the same virus that causes mouth ulcers (one of the herpes family, I think) and its the pits. Are you run down? I've had this really, really badly twice - once when I was on medication that suppressed my white cell count and once immediately after a c-section, in winter, when I was a) exhausted and b) had had anaesthesia which depresses immune system. I've had the occasional small crop other times, but those were the only two really nasty times - and I utterly feel for you!

Gargle with dispersible aspirin, don't swallow it - not necessary - just gargle with full dose as long as you can, especially before eating/drinking. The best pain relief is Voltarol (diclofenac) which I believe you can get over the counter now (I was given the full dose via suppository when I had it in hospital, and the first time - believe it or not - they gave me IM diclofenac and an opiate based painkiller: thats how painful throat pain can be, and I needed a drip as I was dehydrating rapidly. Am telling you this so you don't feel like a wuss, because you really aren't!)

They tend to peak at the 5 days from starting point, and the pain goes remarkably fast after that, I promise. Get well soon, xx

Oh bless you Eli, thanks for this advice - it sounds far more likely than tonsillitis, because although it bloody hurts I don't have the raised temp/flueyness etc that I've had with tonsillitis. Your poor thing having had it that badly - I can well imagine because this seems to be almost visually spreading & definitely getting worse as the days progress. I have earache too now

I'm well physically but have had a period of the most colossal stress, which is beginning to pass, though there is a great deal of stress coming up - I wonder if that has been a factor. I will see the GP tomorrow anyway, and hopefully clarify what it is. Meanwhile I'm going to hunt out some aspirin. Thanks so much for posting. xx

This could be your first bout of herpes (simplex). I had this about 12 years ago and it was hideous - in the end I had over 40 of them all over my tongue and lips and throat and my breath was unbelievably rank.

It was my introduction to the world of cold sores, all courtesy of my ex.

Sounds like herpes simplex stomatitis or hand, foot and mouth. Herpes tends to make you a lot more generally unwell (fever, tiredness, etc) and lasts longer than HFM. The ulcers for HFM tend to be smaller, more multiple and more likely to accumulate on your palate and back of throat.

Either way- lots of soluble pain relief, anaesthetic spray or gargles, ice cubes and fluids. You can also buy something called Adcortyl in Orabase which is magic for calming particulaly nasty ulcers.

The earache is probably'referred pain' from the back of your throat up your eusachian tube.

Get yourself to a chemist and stock up.

Thanks again you folks. 'Tis getting worse and sort of creeping along the roof of my mouth (erm, not that anyone asked for further details!) so I am a little creeped out and glad I'm going to the GP.

Disclaimer: I'm not normally bothered by being poorly, I just strongly dislike not knowing what's going on!

Good luck at GP, HB. Period of colossal stress would make sense. At best, your GP will give you some strong anti-inflammatories (trust me, voltarol works better than standard strong painkillers ie codeine + paracetamol/nurofen) and at worst, keep gargling with aspirin and remember it'll be getting better in a couple of days, very fast. FWIW the first attack, I'm told (and experienced) is often the worst, and if it ever comes back it shouldn't be as severe. xxx

Thanks so much Eli. Just come back from the GP and it's something no-one could've thought of: it looks as if I have quite a nasty chemical burn. I have had a bad cold the last few days with a cough keeping me awake, so I've been using cheap herbal cough sweets. She thinks that it's given me a chemical burn that has now got infected . Who knew! I might write a stiff letter to Mr Tesco, that's for sure.

She took swabs to see if I needed antibiotics, but largely I just have to 'be very kind' to it (I think we're all agreed she means loads of ice cream, no?!) and take painkillers if need be. I'll get swab results later in the week.

It was VERY gratifying to have a doctor look down my throat, reel back and say, "Oh NO that's really REALLY nasty whatEVER have you done?!" etc. etc. (she seemed to know immediately it was a reaction to something rather than from the inside out, as it were).

Thanks once again for your advice folks!

Ugh, poor poor you!! Glad you went to GP. Yes, definitely ice cream, and probably the best, most expensive, most delicious sort (just to protect your poor throat from any risk of cheap chemicals, you understand).

I totally get the gratification part, I remember my obstetrician looking in my mouth and reeling back saying 'oh my god, that looks awful, would you like some morphine?!'

Hope you're much better soon xx