Severe Sore Throat - When do I go to GP?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I've had a really nasty sore throat since Monday. I haven't been checking my temperature, but I certainly seem feverish in the afternoons and evenings (I think I'm very cold, I just want to lie down).

I know a GP told me, after X days of a sore throat, it must be bacterial, you need treatment. Was it three? Or five?

(I'm 100% sure this is strep. I've had it before. When it came on, I thought, this is strep. Maybe I should have gone to the GP then.)

If you really think it's strep I would go to the doctors as soon as you can. They can do a test and get you on antibiotics as soon as possible.

Hope you feel better soon.

tbh if you've had it before you know where it is headed. I have a stash of throat lozenges and a spray but if that doesn't catch it then it is off to the drs. I've had a bacterial followed by a viral less than a week later.

Unfortunately, lozenges annoy me, and the spray always ends up freezing my tongue. I take fruit teas, gargle with salt water, and take pills to help me sleep (codeine). Oh, and this time around, I'm living on oatmeal. I'm breastfeeding, so I have to eat, no matter how little I feel like it, or I go all green and nauseated.

Right, phoning the docs this am. Here's hoping for some antibiotics. Not great while breastfeeding, but this week is killing me.

I have used the sprays and the lozenges and agree about the freezing tongue bit - not much use. Hope the GP will give you a phone consultation and help you out.
If you ahve to wait to go in - have you tried gargling TCP? I know it is really really disgusting but as a last resort when I have a bad infection I use this and is very unpleasant to do but really helps to numb te pain and kill off any lurking bugs. Just a thought.
Hope it is sorted out fast.

What is TCP?

Think she means the yellow antiseptic liquid. Used ot make me retch as did trying to gargle with soluble aspirin or paracetamol.

btw have you got a headache across your forehead and into the temples, supposed to be one of the classic symptoms.

No, no headache. Sore ears, though.

The GP phoned, and agreed to see me, so at least I'll get checked over. Living on oatmeal and feeling like crap is really wearing me out.

Pants. I got "it's viral", which means "sod off". Oh, and apparently I should "curtail my activity level". You think? And how, exactly, do I convince my 3-year-old of this?

I guess I'll see if I can get him a lift to school in the morning. Or something. This is where my whole walk-everywhere-don't-drive system falls apart, it appears.

sorry, don't suppose that makes you feel any better.

i had such a sore throat about a year ago i could barely swallow, my gp took one look at it and said oh dear, prescribed ab's and i felt better within a day

its very difficult to know if a sore throat is viral or bacterial. Generally speaking if your tonsils are covered in white spots it is considered a bacterial infection & you'll get abs.
Since I was a teenager I have suffered endlessly from tonsillitus, pharyngitus & laryngitus & have been offered tonsillectomies by numerous GPs but am too scared to have the op. However, I am an expert on alleviating sore throat symptoms.
Here are my tips:
Drink lots of fluid (preferably water or squash with ice in it)
Use Difflam spray - available from pharmasist - as often as allowed
Gargle with Difflam or Oraldene, both fairly disgusting but good
Alternate gargles with soluble asprin solutions
Take as much nurofen & paracetamol as allowed
Take echinacea & vit C
Go to bed early!!!!!!
Hope this helps

bundle, I've had exactly the same experience. Several times. Saying "this is the same as then" carries no weight.

Bugsy2, you sound like you know your stuff! I will send DH off to the pharmacist.

The GP said my tonsils were ok. I don't have any tonsils! (Ok, maybe they lied to me when they said they removed them. Maybe they grew back. Either way, huh?)

Now I just have to scrounge up lifts, gah.

Didn't they do a swab for strep?

I thought they did, KATG.

I might be getting better now, who knows. I've sorted some of the help I need for tomorrow, so hopefully I'll just lie better and heal.

Oh, and gargling with soluble paracetamol helps, too!

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