I might just rip my tonsils out

[SoreThroatHell]

Help! I've just had strep throat. I suffered through it for 10 days as the GP said it could get better on its own. Eventually I couldn't cope with the pain and sleepless nights anymore and got antibiotics. Within 24 hours, my throat deflated and it felt amazing!

I had a 10 day course and a couple of days before finishing it I got a tickly throat/cough. I thought I just caught a random virus from the DC who both have a cough and are full of green snot.

But now two days after the end of the antibiotics its been getting consistently worse and I am back to unbearable pain levels again. To make things worse I am starting a new job tomorrow. I honestly could cry.

Please reassure me that it's likely just a virus that will self resolve soon and not strep again? I can't do this anymore 😥

I also have a headache and body aches, and the pain is radiating to my ears.

This happened to me years ago. It was scarlet fever I had caught from my son. I did the 10 day antibiotic, felt better and then within a few days it started to come back. I went back to the GP who prescribed a different antibiotic and unfortunately on day 3 of this antibiotic I was getting staggeringly worse to the point I could no longer swallow my own saliva. I ended up in hospital needing fluids and they also gave me steroids which really took down the level of swelling so that I could at least swallow the antibiotics, I was discharged after 48hrs to continue the rest of the antibiotics course at home which did eventually knock it on the head for good. I'd ring the GP tomorrow again if I were you. So sorry about your new job starting tomorrow too, that's stressful.

Thank you so much @Nogodsnomasters it is reassuring to know it did end eventually for you as my health anxiety takes over thinking this is now going to be my life forever! This all started three weeks ago already!

Do you remember if the pain came back after you'd finished the antibiotics or during?

Mine came back while I still was on them which is why I initially thought it had to be a different virus but I dont know.

I will try to see the GP tomorrow, better to take an hour out and nip it in the bud than keep struggling and end up in hospital.

Urgh, bloody hate it

The pain definitely came back a day or two after I'd finished the first round of antibiotics but I'd say the antibiotic you had basically hasn't been strong enough to get rid of the bacteria.
3 weeks is hell to suffer that pain, you have my sympathy x

I'm at my wits end, hoping someone can advise. I'm still not on anymore antibiotics, and its just been getting worse since I last posted.

On Monday the pain seemed to be settling so thought I'd power through. By Tuesday it was bad again so called the GP who said that since I don't have a temperature it's really best to just wait it out for another 24-48 hours.

Last night I was up most of the night as I just couldn't breathe normally so every few breaths I'd just wake up startled. I called the GP again who said to come and do a swab (at reception, GP didnt see me). The results will take three days.

I cannot take another minute of it. They're just assuming it's not that bad but noone has actually looked at my throat. I'm getting so worried something might be getting missed, I shouldn't be in this much pain.

Today my jaw muscle are sort of seized up and I can't really open my mouth, I think probably from sleeping with my mouth open but half resting on it.

I've not eaten as its just not worth the pain. I'm putting on a brave face for work and crying inbetween. What should I do?

You have my sympathy strep throat is awful!
I'd go to a walk in centre, you probably need stronger antibiotics. My daughter had it not long ago and ended up in hospital.

I'm in Northern Ireland so we don't have walk in centres here but if that's an option for you I'd go to one or if not then go to a&e, honestly you're better off not leaving it any longer.

Thank you for the walk in center idea. I saw 111 could give appointments so I rang them and they referred me, but to a pharmacy. They said a clinician could look at my throat there and prescribe if required. Well, they couldn't.

They just said I need to wait 3 days yil results are back and recommended more pain killers. Still didn't look at my throat.

I started crying in front of all the queue of people behind me and cried all the way home too. Unfortunately walked past a few school mums who must have thought I was a right weirdo for bawling my eyes out in the street.

So as well as feeling like shit I'm now also very embarrassed!

Debating still going to the walk in but it's 30 mins away and closes in an hour and DCs need sorting out.

So I guess I have to wait another 24 hours.

Have you tried gargling with warm salty water?

To ease the pain in your throat get some difflam throat rinse.

Yes unfortunately I've tried all the remedies, nothing works 😪

I ended up going to the walk in center and was seen within minutes. He took one look and sent me to A&E as my airway looks too compromised for comfort. I'm feeling quite worried now!

I'm here bracing myself for a long wait and unfortunately I have very low battery on my phone and am starving!

Im so glad someone is taking you seriously op. Good luck xx

This happened to me, I ended up having two of the 10 day courses but it came back after each course was finished. The Pharmacist recommended a 20 day course instead which the GP prescribed and it seemed to kill it off properly that time. Sometimes the course just isn't long enough to kill it off completely and it starts to regrow

Glad you're being taken seriously now, you're probably in for a long night, are you on your own?

No advice OP just wanted to sympathise as I've (suspected) strep also at the min. Mines started on Friday, couldn't swallow so had to spit into a container. Had a fever, awful body aches etc. Genuinely was worse than influenza. Luckily my gp started me on phenoxymethylpenicillin straight away (no swab) and I felt so much better on Saturday. But went to work on Sunday which caused me to get worse again. Since Sunday, the symptoms have fluctuated a lot, but currently sore again this evening and have now caught conjunctivitis on top of it all, likely caused me drooling all over my pillow whilst sleeping on Friday. I requested another 5 days of phenoxymethylpenicillin today as I'm still quite unwell. Dreading the next two days at work. Ibuprofen barely helping at the minute. Apparently manuka honey is meant to be good but can't vouch for it personally.

Yes I'm on my own, DP at home with the little ones, feeling quite sorry for myself!

Feeling shivery, headachy and just exhausted from the constant pain.

You honestly can't even distinguish my individual tonsils anymore, it's just one big swollen block in front of my throat.

Sorry @ATrueBlue , sounds very similar to me. I had 10 days of that antibiotics and it was like magic at first but sadly it came back. I've tried manuka honey too to no avail. The only thing that helps a little is drinking a lemsip I find.

I've started a new job this week, luckily remote. Today I was putting on a brave face during meetings and bursting into tears inbetween. i can't wait to feel better.

I also can't believe it's taken 3 weeks for someone to actually look at my throat. I never see the GP, why would they think I'd want an appointment to chat about a standard sore throat? Noone believed me that it wasn't normal!

Am really glad your being looked at now op. I hope your feeling better soon

Sounds similar to my son he had strep throat/ scarlet fever 3 times in 8 weeks he was so poorly. He had 2 courses of 10 days of antibiotics and then after the 3rd time they gave him a different antibiotic and that finally got rid of it. Really hope they get you sorted may need IV antiobiotics

Aw so sorry you're on your own, there's nothing worse than being ill, being alone and stuck in a horrible a&e uncomfortable. Have they triaged you or given you a blood test or anything yet?

They said I would see a doctor before 10 but I am still waiting. Waiting to be able to get my charger from the car so it will at least feel less lonely. I keep having to go on flight mode to save my remaining 5%. The pain is also now so bad as my last lemsip as well worn off 😭

Oh no, I hope you are seen soon and that they are able to give you effective help and pain relief. I’ve been there with strep throat and with scarlet fever, and it’s miserable. Good luck 🤞

Sounds like tonsillitis might have progressed to quinsy. The GP and pharmacist really shouldn't have dismissed you so quickly without looking at your throat, but at least you are in the right place now.

Hope you get your charger soon as it's gonna be even more boring without the phone distraction. You should ask them for painkillers while you wait! They could at least give you IV paracetamol if you can't swallow tablets right now.

Thank you all for the support. I've been admitted with quinsy. They have drained it with a needle and now need 24h of observation and IV antibiotics.

It was quite eventful as I had a bad reaction to an injection and fainted twice, they ended up rushing me in.

Urgh, I knew I was in a bad but didn't realise quite how bad!

The ENT specialist couldn't believe that I could still drink with a throat like that and had no fever. I guess that's why I didn't raise any red flags with the GP and pharmacist, but still rubbish noone looked at it despite me pleading! So glad I got seen and this will soon be behind me!

Oh and I'm now super worried to get fired from my new job for calling in sick on my first week. This is really a stress I didn't need. I'm getting DH to bring my laptop in the morning so I can at least do a little bit.