Can I go to out of hours doctor for severe throat infection?

[fanjolina]

Or should I wait and try to get doctors appointment in morning?

Havent slept for 2 nights with the pain. Can't eat or drink anything. And stinky pustules are falling off my throat into my mouth.

Yes. Poor you

thanks for reassurance. keep trying to convince myself its not severe enough as not an emergency, but oh hell, the pain. painkillers arent touching it.

Go and get some hydrogen peroxide from the chemist, dilute as it says on the bottle and gargle - seriously you will be better in 24 hours - quicker than antibiotics not so crap for yuour system and cheaper than a prescription. What you spit out after gargling is foul but it is just where the bacteria has been oxidised and so killed and therefore you will be cured.

No one ever believes me but tis true!

Yes you can I got told to go to A&E by NHS direct but I went me to an OOGP instead when I had a severe throat infection earliar this year.

It is grim hope you recover soon.

NHS direct always tell you to go to A&E - they told me to go there when I was phoning for advice on lancing an ingrowing toenail!

Thanks for the tip on the hydrogen peroxide Madame. The OOH chemist is next to the OOGP - so I will venture out to both.

Have had dreadful thought that with the aches and chills I am suffering too that it might be swine flu - but thats not around any more is it?

current (last week) flu rates

Hope you feel better soon.

MadameCastafiore is quite right about the hydrogen peroxide. I landed it up in hospital with a terrible bout of tonsillitus and they had me gargling the stuff every hour.

Thank Connor I have told countless people about it but everyone looks at me as though I am quite mad - which of course I am but I know about throat infections as am allergic to antibiotics so have to find lots of ingenoius ways to kill those bloody germs!

No worries Madame. Quite why Dr's don't prescribe it more often I don't know?

Anyhoo remember to dilute it Fanjolina and don't swallow it either (taken out of context that's a rather dubious sentence )

Oh goodness get yourself there asap. I really feel for you tonsiltus is incredibly painful

thanks all. I saw the nurse at the walk-in centre and have some penicillin now. Didnt make it to the ooh chemist, but will get to the chemist tomorrow for some hydrogen peroxide. Thanks for that tip MC!

Apparently fresh lime juice is also really good for tonsilitis and helps with the pain. I had the most agonising tonsilitis a few months back so I really do sympathise. Didn't manage to get hold of any limes so I can't vouch for it, but several people have told me that it helps.

(Apparently you sip it in warm water with a little bit of honey, not neat)

thanks spiderlight, I'll try that

Glad you've got some anti biotics. Tonsillitus was my nemesis last year!

you mean it can come back? oh, don't tell me that!!

OYBBK, I'm not ignoring your help regarding the flu rates, but unfortunately your link doesn't load for me

is this better?

though tonsillitis can def be as bad as flu. treat it seriously and if it doesnt clear properly go back.

Not for everyone but I had large and cryptic tonsils apparently

Hi Fanj, I had a throat infection a few months ago and it was HORRENDOUS, just as you describe. I get sore throats from time to time but I knew pretty quickly that this was a whole different kettle of fish. The antibiotics worked v quickly, trusting yours will too. Ice lollies and ice cold water through a straw helped me keep my throat moist as apparently it feels a lot worse if you allow it to dry out. Good luck! x

Another tip from my vast experience of tonsilitus I found I always had loads of thick phlegm that I could neither swallow or hack up {sorry tmi} so I found it really helpfull to use one of those nasal sprays that loosen everything up a bit.

Also perhaps put a bowl of water next to the radiator at night to stop your throat drying out whilst you sleep. Won't cure anything but lessens the discomfort.

Ice packs around the neck are very soothing too.

Also finish the course of antibiotics. I had similar evil tonsilitis a couple of weeks ago and didn't finish the course because the antibiotics gave me chronic headaches. . The evil bug came back two days later and I had to take another course to clear it up.

Hi glad you got the penicillin - have had tonsillitis now 3 times in 3 months, first time in ENT ward for 5 days! Taken in by ambulance - so it can be serious. On ENT ward was on IV meds but also Difflam mouthwash - which is amazing too, though sure the h p is cheaper!

Thanks for all your tips. Have added all the suggestions to my shopping list. Now need to persuade my neighbour to go to the shops for me, as I cant face leaving my bed!

OYBBK - that second link worked thanks. Seems there isnt much flu around. I think my aches are just from being run down.