University life for freshers (2019/20) - Christmas backpacking (or not) and festive homecomings with all the tinseltastic trimmings!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread.

I remember being at Bath and having to get a minimum of 40% in all exams to be allowed to progress to the second year. Generally I got 60s and 70s but in one subject (Engineering Maths) my goal was purely to get over 40% as I literally hadn't understood a single word all year.

I got 45% and I think it's the grade I'm still most proud of in all the exams I've ever taken. I worked so hard for that 45%!

@holdmylobster I also did engineering (different uni) & we had a subject called Maths Physics which was probably similar. I also had no clue & just managed to work out how to do enough of the easier questions (without really understanding them) to pass.

One of my friends had to repeat a year because of this subject. He is now vv senior in a well known engineering company...

No bingate for dd, as the shared kitchen in cleaned for them weekly and, more importantly, one if the students is very particular and leaves them messages about whose turn it is to empty the bin and who has left anything to wash up.
Just the stinking leftovers left in the fridge by someone who went home without binning them, that I ditched and cleaned the fridge for her before anyone tried cleaning their shelves once her food was in as she is stuck with the bottom shelf.

DD has phoned to say the tonsillitis has come back! She finished the second course of antibiotics on a Wednesday. She’s had 7 days of clarithromycin and 10 of penicillin since 24/12. Both times it’s cleared up in days only to return 4 days later. Only now she’s 200 miles away! I’ve told her to ring 111. Help!

• on Wednesday

Anyone had tonsillitis?

Oh no Benji. This strain is very persistent
I hope she can see someone about it and get some more meds soon.

I feel helpless. I’m amazed that it keeps coming back. When she went back to uni last Sunday, she only had 3 days left to take and she completed the course. She was better within days both times she started the treatment so I presume that shows it’s bacterial. Anyone had experience of it coming back so soon after antibiotics?

Sorry Benji don’t really know what to suggest apart from early nights, fluids and rest? Could it be more than tonsillitis? Could she go to uni medical centre as a visitor? or A&E - they are good in Durham according to my neighbour whose DD has been to A&E there a lot.

More than tonsillitis? She was seen by 2 separate doctors than said tonsillitis-pus on tonsils, swollen glands etc. She responded quickly to the antibiotics so presumed ok but each time it’s been 4 days later, throat gets sore again. In between she’s felt well, been to the gym, feeling fine.

4 days after the course ends.

If it wasn’t tonsillitis it wouldn’t get better on each course of antibiotics would it? She’s not been to the GP in years before this so it’s typical that this happens now she’s miles away.

Poor DD getting tonsillitis again! DH, DS and I have all had a hacking cough and heavily congested chest. Just dropped DS back at uni following his extra time off after exams. I wanted to be able to get back with as much daylight as possible so couldn't spend time cleaning the kitchen at his flat which I think has been somewhat neglected to put it mildly. One way to keep accommodation cheap seems to be to dispense with cleaners. DS's room wasn't much better. I have threatened to visit with a pinny and rubber gloves next time. Not a natural state of affairs for me, either.

Technically I don’t know if it is tonsillitis but sounds likely as it’s exactly what happened at the end of the first lot of antibiotics. I’ve never had it and neither has she before so I have no experience of whether it usually takes a few courses or not. Anyone else?

@Benjispruce that sounds miserable. I remember suffering similar repeated bouts during my uni years. Perhaps she could ask them to take a swab to check for the cause and bacterial/viral. Those are broad spectrum abs and maybe a more specific one would help.

Thanks @Liz we were told penicillin wasn’t broad spectrum!?

@LIZS what worked for you in the end?

Eventually the bouts became fewer and longer between. Still get occasional bad sore throat with a cold and have enlarged and scarred tonsils but nothing so bad as in my late teens/early 20s.

I could under if the bouts were new but this seems to be the same bout that doesn’t quite get knocked on the head. Strange that she never had it as a child as she always had large tonsils!

*understand

Benji we were told at the hospital that it’s been the worst December in nearly 20 years. The doctors thought the flu and winter bugs season would be early this year (apparently they look at patterns from Australia) but it’s been relentless. They said the wet warm winter is probably the reason. We need a really bitterly cold dry period to knock out the bugs.

Thanks @zanda I know you’ve been dealing with worse, I just feel helpless as she is so far away. Taking 4x 2 tablets a day on an empty stomach for 10 days was a pain with a teen that sleeps in and eats all over the place due to work shifts but she had them all.
How is your DD now?

I would suggest she needs to be seen and possible a swab taken. She could have step throat or something which can need longer antibiotics to clear.

I thought bacterial tonsillitis WAS strep throat. As in the bacteria is streptococcus. Isn’t strep throat what they call tonsillitis in USA?

@Benjispruce could it be glandular fever. It’s often the same symptoms with swollen tonsils and enlarged glands. Your poor DD and I can understand how helpless you feel.