White spots on tonsils with sore throat, stones or infection?

[Purplecarrots123]

I can’t get in to see the GP and nor a pharmacist so hoping for some broad advice to tide me over. I’ve whitish coloured spots on my tonsils, unsure whether this is tonsil stones or if it’s something form of infection. I do have a sore throat, the kind that feels stingy and makes you wince. I’m tired but not unusual! And I don’t normally get tonsil stones! What are people’s experience of tonsil stones to help me try and benchmark.

Sounds like tonsillitis to me

Gargle with saltwater and avoid sugary drinks until you can see doctor. You might need antibiotics. Poor thing. I've had this so many times.

Salt water is a good shout. I should have thought of that. The pharmacist said to see the GP as she wasn’t sure and said only take antibiotics if needed. The GP doesn’t have any appointments for 2 weeks and I missed the on the day emergency ones today as I called at 8.15 not 8! Of course Google couldn’t help me and came up with tonsil stones!

Have you got a fever? I would think it's likely viral tonsillitis

I feel like my cheeks are flushed and have hot flushes across the day but no fever. My neck also feels achy

Book an appointment at the pharmacy, pharmacy first and you’ll be to get antibiotics

My first thought was strep throat. Highly contagious, so use caution to not infect others until ruled out.

Do you have a photo OP?

I do but it’s fuzzy - you can make out one of the white spots and what looks like a very red tonsil!

I think tonsil stones are painless, so if you have pain, it’s likely tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis.
Tonsil stones don't hurt, and the typical wince when you swallow with an achy neck is a classic telltale of tonsillitis.
It doesn't always need antibiotics, but I get it ridiculously bad but rarely and my DD gets it multiple times a year and always ends up needing antibiotics within a few hours of spots appearing.
See the pharmacist again tomorrow because it will have progressed by then so they should be able to say if antibiotics are needed. Have you actually checked your temperature? You'd be surprised that you can have one but not feel feverish.
In the meantime Ibuprofen and paracetamol alternated every 6 hours.

I had tonsil stones for decades until I had a tonsillectomy. They are like hard little lumps that get lodged in your tonsils but when you manage to extract them (with your tongue!) they squish into a smelly paste between your fingers. They stink and cause bad breath. It’s some sort of calcified deposits that build up in inflamed tonsils. Sounds like you have bacterial tonsillitis and need urgent antibiotics. Hope you get well soon!!

It might just be oral thrush? It looks alarming until you know what it is?