Sore throat, but worse

[Mr.Jimbo]

Hey guys,

I've had a sore throat for a few days now, it started off as a normal one, slight discomfort when swallowing etc, but it progressed on thursday into a really sore dull kind of pain, all the time (made much worse when swallowing, eating and drinking is interesting right now!) I'm swearing like a frenchman as a result.

Last night I kept waking up with alternating cold sweats, high temperature etc, and was very bunged up this morning, I keep coughing up not just phlegm but more solid chucks of... something, which are white and sometimes a little bloody (rare, but a bit alarming)

Is this just a normal sore throat procedure or something a bit worse do you think? I would have already gone to the doctors but its a saturday I know I've got a cold, but the throat feels much worse than 'normal' sore throats

[The real Apache]

A&E now matey

[Mr Gearchange]

A&E Now is a bit strong for a sore throat.

Phone NHS direct and ask what they think

[E21_Ross]

chances are you've just got an infection which has inflamed your larynx (laryngitis - causing the sore throat) and the repeated coughing has damaged the tissue in the area causing bleeding. white stuff is most likely dead cell matter, probably dead white blood cells.

just sounds like a nasty infection. i'd personally ride it out for another couple of days and see how it goes, but, you're the one with the symptoms. if swallowing is becoming very difficult and eating is really hard, then yes, A&E, don't care what anyone else says.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Well, I've managed to eat today (soup and a curry for tea) so I think as long as I stay topped up on painkillers and antiseptic throat spray I should be alright, I haven't got a cough, just been clearing my throat, I've looked it up on the internet and have had tonsoliths (where you get small material build up from your tonsils) in the past, so I think it could just be these?

If it gets worse, or blood starts appearing (been fine since) I think I'll go to A&E.

Thanks for the advice guys

A very croaky Mr.Jimbo

[gedG]

I'm just starting to recover from something that sounds very similar. I think it is glandular fever, try googling it, or see http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/glandularfeve... to see how closely it matches your symptoms. Unfortunately there's no treatment, you just have to ride it out.

[E21_Ross]

OP doesn't mention extreme fatigue, which does accompany glandular fever (aka mononucleosis )

hope for the OP it's not. usually long full recovery time and can lead to M.E.

[trix-a-belle]

sounds nasty & very similar to how I felt when I had glandular fever a few years ago (presented as tonsilitis initially but more painful/inability to sleep)
rest, warmth & fluids op & hope you feel better soon

S

[Mr.Jimbo]

I've read through that website, I don't believe its glandular fever (thank god) as whilst I feel a bit tired, don't think its drastically worse than the usual tiredness I'd get from a cold etc.

Will keep an eye on it and see how long the throat takes to recover, thanks again for the advice guys

[oilandwater]

I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
I have had lots of sore throats in the past.
I have found that if you can gargle with whiskey, it stings a bit to say the least, but it does kill the pain, and hardens the tissue. Try, I say try, not to swallow it.
I repeat, I am not a doctor, it is just something I found worked for me.

[doctordr]

You should be fine.

Look at your tonsils, are they affected ?

This could very easily be confused with pharyngitis. Which in that case antibiotics won't really do much and your best course of action is to let it take it's course.

Combo of paracetamol and ibuprofen should keep you sane, gargling salt water will help aswell. Should take around 2 weeks.

If tonsils are clearly swollen then antibiotics will clear it up assuming it's bacterial and not viral.

But as stated, it could be pharyngitis which in that case let it take its course.

IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE GETTING WORSE, CAN'T HANDLE IT OR SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT, GET DOWN TO A&E!

[E21_Ross]

doctordr said:

This could very easily be confused with pharyngitis. Which in that case antibiotics won't really do much and your best course of action is to let it take it's course.

you can get bacterial pharyngitis though, meaning anti-biotics would help, non?

also, inflamed tonsils could also be due to viral infection, in which case, anti-biotics wouldn't help...?

please tell me if i'm way off the ball park, keen to learn.

agree the OP should stay put unless it gets worse though.

[doctordr]

E21_Ross said:

doctordr said:

This could very easily be confused with pharyngitis. Which in that case antibiotics won't really do much and your best course of action is to let it take it's course.

you can get bacterial pharyngitis though, meaning anti-biotics would help, non?

also, inflamed tonsils could also be due to viral infection, in which case, anti-biotics wouldn't help...?

please tell me if i'm way off the ball park, keen to learn.

agree the OP should stay put unless it gets worse though.

Yes you are correct, antibiotics would help if it was a bacterial infection of the pharynx.

If the tonisls are due to a viral infection then no, antibiotics will not help. Viruses are not alive unlike bacteria, viruses are just DNA that injects itself into that cell, which it then goes onto reproduce that cell. Therefore there isn't actually anything for the antibiotics to kill.

[Mr.Jimbo]

Hi all,

Update, I took a look in the back of my mirror with a torch and mirror (don't know why I didn't before) And my tonsils are swollen and covered in black areas, so I believe I have tonsillitis. Doctors on monday morning I think, its not serious enough to go to A&E with unless it worsens or some of the other conditions above become apparent, right?

once again, thanks so much for all this advice

[doctordr]

Could be bacteria dying, or could even be mold !

10 GBP on OP getting penicillin ( or similar ) on Monday ... Any takers ?

Where abouts are you going in Warwickshire?

Edited by doctordr on Saturday 8th May 23:03

[ShadownINja]

Since you've had lots of useful replies...

[Mr.Jimbo]

Ha ninja, I've felt like that could be useful the past couple of days

doctorDr: It won't be in Warwickshire, I'm at uni in Derby, but don't live (at home) in Warwickshire any longer. Just seen on your profile you're from Rugby, I moved away last September! (Mum and Dad now live in Lincolnshire.)

[doctordr]

Mr.Jimbo said:

Ha ninja, I've felt like that could be useful the past couple of days

doctorDr: It won't be in Warwickshire, I'm at uni in Derby, but don't live (at home) in Warwickshire any longer. Just seen on your profile you're from Rugby, I moved away last September! (Mum and Dad now live in Lincolnshire.)

Now that's a shame !

Could have had a bit of a laugh and won myself a tenner as I am very up to que with Practitioners etc about in and near Rugby.

There goes the patient confidentiality !

[E21_Ross]

doctordr said:

E21_Ross said:

doctordr said:

This could very easily be confused with pharyngitis. Which in that case antibiotics won't really do much and your best course of action is to let it take it's course.

you can get bacterial pharyngitis though, meaning anti-biotics would help, non?

also, inflamed tonsils could also be due to viral infection, in which case, anti-biotics wouldn't help...?

please tell me if i'm way off the ball park, keen to learn.

agree the OP should stay put unless it gets worse though.

Yes you are correct, antibiotics would help if it was a bacterial infection of the pharynx.

If the tonisls are due to a viral infection then no, antibiotics will not help. Viruses are not alive unlike bacteria, viruses are just DNA that injects itself into that cell, which it then goes onto reproduce that cell. Therefore there isn't actually anything for the antibiotics to kill.

just it sounded like you were saying pharyngitis can only be caused by viruses etc. sorry for misunderstanding. we have quite a clever way of dealing with viruses, insert into cells, make lots of protein, some of their protein gets caught in MHC1 from us, macrophages etc recognise and kill. then present to others with MHC2. simple, but clever

[trix-a-belle]

ah you're at uni! when I had glandular fever it was during my finals so good luck I hope its not that but get a copy of the extenuating circumstances form on hand ready.