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General health

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Original poster

DH ill and in bed for 5 days now...

24 replies

MrsChipsreturns · 02/04/2023 08:53

My DH came home from work mid last week feeling shivery and high temp.
He's been in bed ever since, getting hot then cold. He has a sore throat and says he feels really weak and his body is aching and his throat is very sore.
I checked his throat on Friday and his tonsils are completely white and very swollen. I got him a telephone appointment with a GP and they prescribed penicillin (without seeing him) it's phenoxymethylpenicillin 4x a day.

Since taking them he's felt worse. He's now suffering with intense stomach cramps as well, despite taking them on an empty stomach as directed.

What would you do in this instance? He's on day 3 of a 5 day course but he's no better.

OP posts:

greenacrylicpaint · 02/04/2023 08:55

has he taken a covid test?
did he have a flu jab?

Bagatella · 02/04/2023 08:56

If it's 5 days I'd ring NHS Direct

thegrain · 02/04/2023 08:58

Phone 111 or call Dr on Monday.

mycatthinksshesatiger · 02/04/2023 08:58

Sounds like he might be allergic to penicillin. I am and it gives me flu-like symptoms and horrendous stomach ache. Ibuprofen gives me terrible stomach pains too. Has he taken that? I would phone 111. Hope he's better soon.

Mrsjayy · 02/04/2023 09:01

He might be allergic to his antibiotic ring the Gp tomorrow or 111 today.

Xrays · 02/04/2023 09:02

Ring 111 now. He may need different antibiotics. He should really try and get up and move around and eat something though unless he’s literally so unwell he couldn’t even manage this. It’s hard but taking the antibiotics on an empty stomach is one thing but his stomach will need something in it. I’ve had severe tonsillitis before and it took a couple of weeks of several different antibiotics to clear it. He should also be taking regular paracetamol and ibuprofen (not on an empty stomach).

User57632678 · 02/04/2023 09:15

My friend had tonsillitis, was given antibiotics which didn’t improve it at all and then developed a rash all over her face. Was concerned about throat continuing to swell so went to A&E in the end and it turned out that it was glandular fever and she was in hospital for 5 days. One of the key symptoms is tonsillitis that isn’t getting better. I would echo what others have said here and try 111 for an out of hours GP for a second opinion as a first resort, and A&E as the second.

Madamecastafiore · 02/04/2023 09:18

Get him to gargle with dilute medical grade hydrogen peroxide (will literally bleach bacteria from his tonsils) and ask the doctor to change antibiotics as what he's suffering could be penicillin allergy.

Original poster

MrsChipsreturns · 02/04/2023 09:19

Hi, he has done several COVID tests, it's not that.

He is getting out of bed but only for a bath and some bites of food. he says he has no appetite but he is eating.

I'm just concerned as haven't seen him this poorly before. We will call GP in the morning, I don't think 111 would be able to help us today anyway.

OP posts:

tamarinda · 02/04/2023 09:36

sounds like glandular fever to me? tonsillitis-like illness not responding to Abx (and also causes a rash if amoxicillin is taken, as happened to a poster above)

Mindymomo · 02/04/2023 09:49

If it is tonsillitis, it’s very painful and will probably need a longer course of antibiotics. I think you are right in calling GP tomorrow to maybe suggest something else and possibly something stronger. You could try some Difflam, an antiseptic throat spray, which you can buy over the counter at pharmacies.

Phos · 02/04/2023 09:51

Agree its either glandular fever or tonsillitis that isn't responding to the antibiotics or a reaction to the antibiotics. I find it absolutely frightening that GPs are now prescribing over the phone without a f2f consult.

I would insist on a f2f appointment tomorrow. 111 might be worth a ring to see if they can refer to an OOO GP but I'm not sure if they do that for adults or just for kids (as I've never had to take anyone but my daughter to see one)

Phos · 02/04/2023 09:51

*It sounds like - sorry I sounded too cock sure in that post

MyriadOfTravels · 02/04/2023 09:54

111 as you need some advice re tte antibiotics.
I suspect tte stomach cramps is a reaction to them (nit unusual).
But the main issue is that they haven’t made any difference. You would expect the fever to be gone within a day if they were working.

Jules912 · 02/04/2023 11:03

Sounds like he might be allergic to the antibiotics. I would say call 111 but they took 18 hours to get back to me after I called yesterday about DD so might be quicker waiting for your own GP to open tomorrow if you can actually get an appointment there.

purplefacemask · 02/04/2023 11:58

Start the process with 111 now to get alternative antibiotics. If all runs smoothly, he'll be able to start new antibiotics this evening.

ClaraBourne · 02/04/2023 12:55

Has he got Quinsy maybe, not tonsillitis?

PortalooSunset · 02/04/2023 13:20

Call 111 or go to walk in today.The sooner he can get the correct antibiotics the better.
Did the GP not advise this? Whenever I've been given antibiotics close to a weekend they always direct to our of hours services if condition worsens/no improvement within 48 hours.

BuffaloCauliflower · 02/04/2023 13:21

Definitely call 111

aibutohavethisusername · 02/04/2023 13:29

Please call 111 I used to suffer with terrible tonsillitis as a teen and ended up in hospital on a drip.

Yellowdays · 02/04/2023 14:19

ClaraBourne · 02/04/2023 12:55

Has he got Quinsy maybe, not tonsillitis?

That's a distinct possibility. DH was in hospital with it once.

tealgate · 02/04/2023 15:11

I was going to say quinsy as well. My friend was in hospital for three days last week on a drip

MagicMatilda · 02/04/2023 15:59

You should ring 111 or go to A&E, sounds nasty and he needs something stronger to blitz it. Could be quinsy and also risk of sepsis so can’t be too careful.

MagicMatilda · 08/04/2023 07:48

OP how is your husband getting on?

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