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Original poster

Tonsillitis, more than a sore throat?

19 replies

NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:08

I'm currently at home, off work with tonsillitis and conjunctivitis.
I feel absolutely horrendous, aside from the incredibly sore throat I feel dizzy, nauseous, tired, yet having trouble sleeping.
I've sent my DS2 to nursery today so I can try and rest but honestly I'm having trouble even focusing on the TV.

Is this a normal part of tonsillitis to feel so incredibly unwell?
I started Amoxicillin 3x a day on Wednesday afternoon so I'm really hoping they'll start working soon and I can feel better.
I am floored.

TIA, just looking for some reassurance that this is ok 🤣

OP posts:
Phunkychicken · 09/05/2025 13:10

DD had recurrent tonsillitis until she had them out. She would be so ill, high temp, headache, vomiting, lethargy, aches etc.

It's a bacterial infection, no wonder you feel ill. Really hope the meds kick in soon

ElizaMulvil · 09/05/2025 13:12

Yes sounds like the tonsillitis I had in my 20s. Perpetually recurring too. At 26 I had them out. Best thing I have ever done: got a new lease of life.

FloraBotticelli · 09/05/2025 13:16

Sounds normal to me. Go to bed! And try ice lollies and salt and vinegar crisps to ease the throat pain. Get well soon!

Mumofoneandone · 09/05/2025 13:22

Yes, you can feel absolutely horrendous with tonsillitis - I always have to take it seriously, as ended up in hospital with it in my 20s!

nahthatsnotforme · 09/05/2025 13:22

Tonsillitis is thoroughly awful. I’d expect you to be feeling better by now.. certainly by tomorrow.

Whoarethoseguys · 09/05/2025 13:24

FloraBotticelli · 09/05/2025 13:16

Sounds normal to me. Go to bed! And try ice lollies and salt and vinegar crisps to ease the throat pain. Get well soon!

Salt and vinegar crisps? I've never heard of that to relieve pain, does it work? Don't the crisps make the sore throat worse?

Original poster
NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:27

Thank you so much for the replies.
Good to know it is normal.
I guess I feel slightly better than yesterday and helps not having LO around to run after, it's the dizziness/lightheaded ness that's concerning me the most.
I slept most of the morning. Felt hungry so had some lunch and now feel nauseas again. Here's hoping tomorrow is better

OP posts:
MoonOnStick · 09/05/2025 13:27

Yes. I used have it every month for several years until they took them out in my 20s.

I used to described how I felt like I'd been beaten head to toe with a cricket bat - wide ribbons of pain. The first onset symptom for me was being unable to turn my head properly because my neck was swelling up. I couldn't take tablet meds, I had to have everything as a liquid to fit through the tiny gap in my throat. Nausea and the fever were dreadful.

I barely ate for ten days at a time but with hindsight it was effectively managing my weight for years 😂 Silver linings and all that.

Dose up on painkillers, and get wrapped up warm. Plenty of sleep if you can, and prop up on pillows a bit for ease of swallowing in your sleep. Also recommend easy snacks like Quavers where you don't need to swallow anything solid. Soup may be too hot.

Lots of sympathy.

Original poster
NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:28

Mumofoneandone · 09/05/2025 13:22

Yes, you can feel absolutely horrendous with tonsillitis - I always have to take it seriously, as ended up in hospital with it in my 20s!

Oh my goodness! What took you into the hospital 😧
Genuinely can't believe it can make us so poorly

OP posts:
EveryFlavourJellyBeans · 09/05/2025 13:28

I've had it once and I felt soooooo rough. The sore throat wasn't too bad, it was the fever symptoms!

Original poster
NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:31

Phunkychicken · 09/05/2025 13:10

DD had recurrent tonsillitis until she had them out. She would be so ill, high temp, headache, vomiting, lethargy, aches etc.

It's a bacterial infection, no wonder you feel ill. Really hope the meds kick in soon

Poor DD!
DS has had it twice, caused a terrifying choking episode where he wasn't able to swallow. Took him to out of hours that evening and told it was tonsillitis, I remember just giving him purée's and yogurt until he was better out of fear he'd choke again. I feel so awful for him now I know how truly horrific it feels!

OP posts:
Happymomoftwo · 09/05/2025 13:32

I had tonsillitis a few years ago. God I felt rough. I stayed in bed for three days and it took the penicillin about five days to kick in. My DH even went back to the pharmacist as we were worried the tablets weren’t working but was told it could take a while. If you’re no better in a week, you may need something different to help.

Original poster
NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:33

MoonOnStick · 09/05/2025 13:27

Yes. I used have it every month for several years until they took them out in my 20s.

I used to described how I felt like I'd been beaten head to toe with a cricket bat - wide ribbons of pain. The first onset symptom for me was being unable to turn my head properly because my neck was swelling up. I couldn't take tablet meds, I had to have everything as a liquid to fit through the tiny gap in my throat. Nausea and the fever were dreadful.

I barely ate for ten days at a time but with hindsight it was effectively managing my weight for years 😂 Silver linings and all that.

Dose up on painkillers, and get wrapped up warm. Plenty of sleep if you can, and prop up on pillows a bit for ease of swallowing in your sleep. Also recommend easy snacks like Quavers where you don't need to swallow anything solid. Soup may be too hot.

Lots of sympathy.

Oh my goodness how awful for you!!

I will try the propping up pillows as I've woke up the last 2 night seemingly choking on nothing.

Thank you for the advise! Keeping up with paracetmol and ibuprofen every 2 hours

OP posts:
hennybeans · 09/05/2025 13:43

Tonsillitis is always my body’s illness of choice. It’s truly dreadful. Once I got quinsy from it and had to be admitted to hospital. I couldn’t even swallow my saliva, I was drooling. That qualified me to get my tonsils removed but I had three very young dc including a newborn and the doctor said recovery for adults is rough and lengthy. I never had them out, but thankfully don’t get tonsillitis as often as I used to.

Mumofoneandone · 09/05/2025 13:54

NixieDust · 09/05/2025 13:28

Oh my goodness! What took you into the hospital 😧
Genuinely can't believe it can make us so poorly

Show quote history

From what I can remember the tonsils were so swollen they were affecting my breathing. Needed to be put on massive amounts of antibiotics. Fortunately never been as bad since and now in my 40s!
Hope you get better soon x

SaraSosej · 09/05/2025 14:04

Yes it’s awful. I was so ill once I ended up overnight in hospital hooked up to IVs

violetmondays · 09/05/2025 14:05

Yep awful. Used to get frequent tonsillitis in my early twenties. In bed for a few days and sometimes I would hallucinate with the fever. Antibiotics tend to kick in quite fast. Hope you’re on the mend soon.

Slothlydoesit · 09/05/2025 14:07

Yes I get it repeatedly and you feel very unwell until the antibiotics kick in.

Original poster
NixieDust · 11/05/2025 11:21

Update for all, feeling 99% better!
By late friday night I was feeling more human and Saturday a lot better.
Today even better, those antibiotics are magic.
Thank you all for the advise and support! I won't forget this one - now to finish the course of meds

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