Severe tonsillitis

[Lottiebugz22]

Had to go to hospital as I couldn't breathe. I've been given antibiotics. Is there any ways I can heal quicker? Really cannot cope being immobile in bed as I've got so much to do.

Get some children's ibuprofen, the syrup stuff. Take the dose for 'adults and children aged 12 and up', it's about half the bottle. That takes the edge off the pain enough to take some paracetamol too. Be strict about keeping up with the painkillers. Lots of warm but not hot drinks. Scratchy food (seems counter intuitive but leaving the puss on your tonsils with soft food actually makes it hurt more).

Plenty of rest and accept that you are actually pretty unwell. Even mild tonsillitis is fucking awful.

Be careful it doesn't turn into quinsey

Thank you. Wouldn't wish this horrible illness on anyone. I feel completely helpless.

I had tonsillitis a couple of weeks ago and agree with the scratchy food above, definitely helps. I also felt fizzy water/drinks helped too.

Feel for you OP, so painful

Get well soon, OP.

Thank you x I'm not great at sitting still either so it's just stressing me out. If anything I feels like it's getting worse.

Can you see the back of your throat and swallow and breath ok. If you feel its getting worse I would call 111 for advise.

Feel for you OP, I had a terrible bout of tonsillitis a few years ago and I can still remember how bloody awful I felt.

You need some good pain killers, call 111, I had zapain that I somehow managed to swallow and it helped

Hi everyone yes I can see the back of my throat and my tonsils look bigger with more yellow/white spots on them. It's absolute agony. I've taken antibiotics since 5am yesterday. Does it get worse before it gets better?

Have you tried gargling with salty water? X

absolute sympathy for you it’s horrific; if you start being unable to swallow saliva please go to a+e

When I had tonsillitis, I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I certainly wouldn't be able to swallow 'scatchy' foods.

Yeah tried everything. Shouldn't it get better from antibiotics not worse?

I read a great article by Charlie Brooker in the guardian (it's old but worth googling) about the horrors of tonsillitis. I think it will make you feel better. He also talks about having 3 days of agony after taking antibiotics until they kicked in.

Gargle & spit with salt water to clean the area then gargle & swallow with soluble paracetamol so immediately soothe the area.
My GP gave me this advice when I was getting tonsillitis every 4-6 weeks in my late teens.
It got to the stage that my flat mate could take my student photo id/NHS number/proof of GP registration to my local pharmacy, they would give her the antibiotics for me and as soon as I was well enough to get to my GP, I would get a backdated prescription to take to the pharmacy. Can't see that happening now as thinking back it was highly dodgy!
I was delighted when I got them taken out when I was 20!!!

Shouldn't it get better from antibiotics not worse?

Antibiotics take time to kick in. Usually 24-48 hours. Until they kick in properly the illness will keep developing. Unfortunately you just have to give it time, and you must rest.

Okay thank you for everyone's replies. Does anyone know if I'm still contagious? Missing my daughter terribly.

Tonsillitis is not very contagious. I've had a phase of getting it a lot after I had my first child, but never passed it on to anyone.

It is grim and you do need to rest. If you don't, it may come back with a vengeance. Nothing is as important as getting your health back. Everything else can wait.

Hope you feel better soon. If antibiotic haven't kicked in after 48 hours, I'd call GP.

Gargle with hydrogen peroxide solution. You get it from chemists, it's less than £1. Mix it 1:5 with water and gargle hourly. Tastes dreadful, fizzes in your throat which is the bacteria oxidising but it will work so much quicker than the antibiotics.

I had bad tonsillitis for years and became immune to all the antibiotics and had to rely on this before the fuckers finally agreeing to remove them, mind you that was horrific as an adult.

Same as bloomburger i had mine taken out at 21. Just sending sympathy as it really is dreadful and I remember it well.

Tonsillitis isn't really contagious. Your antibiotics should kick in in 24-48 hours. If your struggling to breath or it gets worse you could have what's called Quinsy - quite rare but would need medical attention.

Keep drinking lots of water. Max out on painkillers and you could also asked GP to prescribe the numbing mouthwash which definitely helped me when I had my tonsils removed.

Good luck, you should hopefully see an improvement in the next 24 hours

Icey water with loads of lime in it, only thing that ever helps me when I get it (other than the drugs!!)

Thanks so much for everyones helpful advice I appreciate it. Hopefully it'll subside. I'll try that peroxide thing thank you for that.

Difflam from the chemist but go back to the GP if you're not getting better. I had to have IV antibiotics on 3 occasions for tonsillitis. It's awful.