Pharyngitis

[HoboHippo]

My throat is very very painful. No pain relief touching it. Can't get throat spray far enough back, just numbs the back of my mouth. Tried warm drinks, paracetamol, ibuprofen, Difflam. Saw OOH GP who said it was borderline whether viral or bacterial and prescribed antibiotics but said to wait 24 hrs to see if it improves or take them if symptoms get worse. I'm a SAHM of a nearly two year old, and am not looking forward to tomorrow when DH is back at work. It hurts to talk and my head is also painful.

It hasn't got worse since this morning, or not significantly, I don't think. I had no pus in throat when seen this morning, have no cough and no fever, though did have a mild one overnight and couldn't get warm to the point of shivering for two hours last night, then woke up boiling after using extra blankets. GP said neck glands are up. He said unlikely to be Strep A as no strawberry tongue or tummy pain.

My throat is very painful. I can swallow but it hurts.

Should I start the antibiotics? It really is very sore and I'm not looking forward to tonight but equally don't want to take them if they'll have no effect anyway as it's viral. Any thoughts as I'm getting a bit desperate for pain relief.

Where are you in the country?

I'm in North Yorkshire, so miles away from you. It does sound very similar what we have got.

Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. Hope you have a peaceful night!

I definitely feel better than I did. So glad I took the antibiotics. Just over 24hrs and I feel much more human. Still got sore throat and headache and come out in sweats when I have to get up and do something, but it feels more manageable again now. Hopefully you will have the same experience soon from the antibiotics starting to work.

How are you feeling? So I feel like I'm 12 hours behind you but really struggled last night with all this weird phlegm which is turn was making me cough. My stomach is struggling with the meds and no food but I do think the throat is a little less sore. I still feel like I've been hit by a bus but I do think I feel slightly better.

This morning, my throat is a little worse again but still not as bad as it was. The phlegm in the throat is gross, it just sits there and is super uncomfortable. Headache still there but not as bad, yesterday was literally having to hold and press my head to try and get some relief. I feel absolutely hit-by-a-bus exhausted and keep getting the cold sweats when I get up and move around. Hopefully we are starting to be on the mend... What a horrible bug though!! As you say, I'd take Covid over this any day.

I'm defo turning a corner. No swab results back yet but I've got to think it was bacterial because the antibiotics seem to be working. I've still spent the day in bed but I have managed to eat more and I'm generally much more comfortable. Hoping tomorrow will be a more comfortable day. Yea wow what a bug, I've been with my husband 15 years and he says this is by far the most poorly he's ever seen me. How are you getting on?

Throat still sore but it is more manageable. Am just wrung out like a wet rag!! Managed to migrate to the sofa today rather than the bed, and eaten more as well. Cannot wait to feel better. Glad to hear the antibiotics have started to work for you.

Ugh I feel shit again. Coughing more now and just so wiped out. Trying to remember it isn't as bad as yesterday but I've had to retreat back to bed.

How's it going for you @vickyq1983

Haha everything you write I could have written. So I managed to sit in the garden with the kids for a few hours after school but have taken a decline and am back in bed. I still feel absolutely awful but like you say I'm trying to remember how I felt yesterday and take positivity from that. I am hopeful tomorrow will be a turning point. So my friend had something very similar over Easter and she warned me to take it very easy even when you start to feel better. She overdid it thinking she was better and had a big relapse and spent another few days in bed.

I made the mistake of trying to drink oj thinking the vit C would be good and my throat felt much better and oh my days the pain 😭. Just some friendly advice to steer clear of anything acidic for a while longer 🤣

Ha thank you for the heads up!! I have developed a tickly cough this eve so starting to suspect it is viral not bacterial 🙈 for me anyway. I just want it gooooone!!!

I am ready for crying this evening, except it would hurt too much. The throat pain is too much now 😭

@vickyq1983 how are things today?

I’m on week 3 and my throat is still sore. Never had anything like it. Sipping fizzy water is the only thing that helps.
I finished a course of antibiotics a week ago. Yes to the weird phlegm/ catarrh. I wake at least 4 times a night as my whole mouth/tongue/ throat dries up completely and needs water. I’m apparently snoring like a hog too. I haven’t been properly well since December with one bug after another.

Hey. I've been trying to post to catch up but it's not been letting me for some reason. I mean yeah I'm better but I'm still really poorly. Throat is still horrendous but not as bad and my energy levels are on the floor. Had to let a man in the house today to measure a window and I was so exhausted after that I had to go back to bed. How are you?

Oh sorry to hear that @BorgQueen that sounds awful. Was yours definitely bacterial? Hope you feel better soon!

My throat still hurts a lot but it's definitely not as bad and headache and earache just mild now. Very very wiped out, just as you describe, but am really hoping that I'm going to feel better each day now. Hopefully you will too. Really looking forward to the day it doesn't hurt to swallow and my throat isn't full of gross stuff!!

@BorgQueen so sorry this has dragged on for three weeks for you!! Really hoping this will not be the case for me. You've made me crave fizzy water now as well - going to have to try and get some. The phlegm / catarrh is still there and it stops me talking very much as starts to trigger my gag reflex, it's really unpleasant. I really feel for you being ill since December. I've been ill pretty much solidly for the last 5-6 weeks and I thought I was doing badly but you must be absolutely fed up.

Saw GP again today, has progressed to tonsillitis now, got pus on the tonsils. She said to keep on with the ABs and she would expect to see it turn a corner over the weekend 🤞. How are you both @BorgQueen @vickyq1983 ?

@BorgQueen you should go back to GP if throat still sore after finishing antibiotics - you might need another dose.

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that, you must be feeling so rubbish. I've turned a massive corner and I feel somewhat human today. The only issue I'm having now is I've got a dreadful cough and spent the whole of last night propped up in bed coughing intermittently.

So you've had a viral infection which has now progressed to tonsillitis? That sounds horrendous. Hoping you start to turn a corner soon. Are you managing to sleep at all?

I’m starting to feel ok, at one point I was falling asleep on the sofa by noon and again around 8pm. I take my Grandson to nursery most days, it’s less than a kilometre and I’ve just got to the point where I’m not gasping for breath any more when I get back. The little germ monkey is why I’ve been continually ill - he started full time nursery school in September.

Ahh yes, they are indeed germ monkeys!! I'm sure I don't remember it being so unremitting with my eldest (16) but this time round, it seems like there are bugs everywhere. Glad to hear you're feeling a little better @BorgQueen

@vickyq1983 I don't feel the best but still better than I did. I'm so so tired and throat still sore but managed to look after toddler today, though there might have been a lot of TV involved! Really hope I'll wake up tomorrow feeling better. She just said the pharyngitis had progressed to tonsillitis, so I guess whatever infection is in my throat is just infecting it all bit by bit or something. Glad to hear you're feeling on the mend. I've also got an annoying cough but doesn't sound as bad as yours. I am sleeping but disturbed because I don't feel right and can't get comfy from the catarrh or painful ears and then get woken by toddler through monitor as well. Can't wait for my bed!!

Have you tried Beechams with Lemon. They really soothed my throat when I was unwell.