Tonsillitis and health anxiety

[Healthanxietyisshit]

Hello

Please be gentle. I'm feeling a bit rubbish with tonsillitis, currently on day 4 of antibitoics. Tonsils still swollen and covered in white exudate, plus horrible feeling of thick mucous in my throat that I can't shift.

Worse than this though is the acute anxiety I keep getting about developing an abcess or epiglottis. Both of which I hadn't even been aware of until googling tonsillitis.

I know I've just got an infection and related symptoms. I know the throat symptoms are triggering anxiety. But I'm really struggling. Keep having panic attacks and wanting to go to hospital, even though there's no medical need.

I feel scared and tearful and on edge. I know I need help with my anxiety generally but has anyone got any tips for getting through the next day or two?

I'm obsessing over every little sensation and driving myself insane.

Hopeful bump :(

OP I really feel for you, I have health anxiety and also get a lot of tonsillitis, it's horrible. And health anxiety is so relentless. Have you got someone with you? I'd say distraction is the way to go, and reminding yourself that while you're feeling anxious, feelings aren't facts and it's highly unlikely you have anything serious. I've never heard of the things you're worried about and obviously no one on MN can say if you have them. But many people get tonsillitis every day and get better with no lasting effects. Have the antibiotics started to work? If not maybe it's worth another chat with GP if possible?
For now maybe just try to distract yourself with whatever you feel up to doing, eg nice TV show, hot bath (I always find that eases the pain), jigsaw puzzle etc. This too shall pass.

Thank you for replying. I'm on antibiotics but I've not eaten in 4 days as I'm so scared my swollen tonsils will make me choke to death :( my anxiety has ramped up so much and the feeling of "something" in my throat is making it x100 worse. Have you found any way to improve your health anxiety? I know I need help but it feels like it's too severe to be treatable 😭

You poor thing tonsillitis makes you feel truly awful - as a long time sufferer of tonsillitis ( and health anxiety ) I totally understand . I think you need to cut yourself some slack as it’s not irrational to be worried when you feel so ill. However , rationally do you feel any better on the antibiotics - is the thick mucus throat simply your tonsils sloughing out the infection ( for me it is , but I’m wary of saying it is for yiu ) . As chocolate lemsip has so rightly said tonsillitis is SO common and many don’t even get any antibiotics and so few get complications it is unlikely. Made less likely as you have some level of antibiotic treatment helping you . If you don’t feel any better it could be that you need a higher dosage (have they given a 500mgdosage of amoxicillin or just 250mg? ) or a different type You could call 111 rather than going to A and E and whilst it’ll probably be a long wait to speak to a Dr , being warm and at home would be better for you whilst you wait. Have you also tried gargling with soluble aspirin this really helps mine

Tonsillitis is absolutely miserable OP. Avoided it in childhood and got it with a vengeance as a student.
Good news is antibiotics are every effective and it is not deadly. They should also stave off an abscess.

Oh dear OP :-(
Are you drinking?
You really need to eat and drink to help you feel better (in my experience). Also, lots of painkillers. And gargling with salt water often, kills the infection.

Focusing on these sensations is making it so much worse.. Can someone come and be with you? You sound really panicky like you need company. If no one is around and you are able to speak, try calling Samaritans? They are usually really good. Call 116 123 at any time.

The best thing I have found for health anxiety is staying off my phone and finding things I care about that override the anxiety. Also keeping a notebook of all the things I was anxious about that turned out to be nothing serious.

Thank you, I will try all these suggestions and it's helpful to hear of all your tonsilitis stories. I know in reality it will be fine but then I suddenly panic and think I'm about to die. I keep setting alarms in the night to check my throat. I know its insane but i feel like if i dont i might die. I honestly am not usually this bad so I think the meds and lack of food are making it worse. It's co amoxiclav (?) Never had it before but it's not nice.

I've just messaged a friend to see if she can call me. I had the same panic last night and survived so that should be reassuring me really 😅

Thank you all for replying it really does help xxx

Op I have been in your shoes a few times. Honestly gargling salt water several times per day really really helps, it helps the swelling feeling go away faster for me. I'm sure you're already keeping well topped up on painkillers but also treat yourself to some rest time that is also distracting - reading, colouring, jigsaw puzzle, word search book. I find just lying watching TV or a movie isn't enough to take my mind off things. Try really really hard not to Google any further, I know the compulsion is strong but until you're feeling better I'd go as far as deleting your browser or Google bar/app off your phone (I've had to do this a few times as I literally couldn't stop myself going on Google the urge was so compulsive).

Yes you're absolutely right about goggling things. I hadn't even heard of epiglottis until today 😅 and now I've read the symptoms I'm a) convinced I have them and b) panicking more which mimicks the symptoms. It's ridiculous but I can't seem to stop. The panic is so real

I also suffer from both anxiety and frequent tonsillitis so I empathise. I’m quite amazed actually that I’ve never worried about this particular thing happening to me!

Do you live alone and if so, might it be possible for you to go and stay with a friend or relative until you’re better?

if not then in my experience, the antibiotics should work to make you better v soon. Which should hopefully ease this particular anxiety.

If you’re anything like me, your mind will then just move on to something else to worry about!

How are you feeling today OP?

Thank you for checking in. I'm waiting to hear from the crisis team as things have spiralled. This has to be rock bottom for me. I can't ever let things get this bad again. I've got to find a way to deal with this anxiety and never let it get this bad again

Oh OP.
I really feel for you. I have severe HA and I have a DRs appointment tomorrow as I was an utter mess over Xmas.

I have been breaking out in gives and googling that led to be all sorts of diseases.

I had tonsillitis constantly between the ages of 15-16 so I can completely understand. You are taking antibiotics so they will be kicking bacteria butt!

Do you have an out of hours GP at your local hospital so you can see them for reassurance and get some stronger pain relief? If you call 111 as PP's have said you should get some support. Xx

Oh no :-( I'm so sorry. What a rotten time you're having.

Thanks for all your messages. They really have helped. Even just to know I'm not the only one who gets like this. It isn't usually as bad as this, I'm not sure what's gone so wrong this time but I know it cant happen again, this has to be a sign that its time to do some serious work on my anxiety. The only way it up 🤞❤️

Hope you get some sleep OP x