Swollen tonsils for coming up to 7 months? What can I do?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi, apologies in advance for the length of this post but I feel that I need to get the whole story across.
Early in March this year I had the flu, I was bedridden for a few days but then the symptoms began to subside within around 10 days. A couple of days after I suffered from a horrendous pain in my throat and my tonsils were huge. I was coughing up yellow solid masses, I had suffered from tonsillitis before but never with symptoms so severe.
I went to see my GP who diagnosed tonsillitis and prescribed a course of phenoxymethylpenicillin. After taking the whole course the symptoms did not clear up at all so I went to a walk in centre who prescribed another antibiotic (begins with a 'c' cannot remember the name), again this had no effect.
I went back to my GP who said that the infection was just lingering and that it would clear up in the near future. Blood tests and a swab test were taken, both of which turned up clear.
I was subsequently referred to an ENT specialist who diagnosed my symptoms as mild subclinical tonsillitis and recommended salt gargles for 4-6 weeks. I was told not to worry and that it may just be down to stress and that it would clear up soon.
Again I did as advised and again the symptoms did not improve even slightly (I have kept up the gargles to this day). I went to my GP in Cornwall (I have recently relocated) as the symptoms appeared to be getting worse. She took another swab and gave me another course of antibiotics. This time the result of the swab came back as abnormal and confirmed the presence of steptococchus. I was advised that the course of phenoxymethylpenicillin should clear this up. I again took the whole course and the symptoms did not clear up but when I went back to my GP another swab was taken which came back normal.
Due to my ongoing symptoms I was referred to an ENT specialist in Cornwall. After examination the ENT specialist stated that this was just an ongoing viral infection that will pass eventually. I wasn't convinced and asked numerous questions regarding what else it could possibly be and whether any other tests should be conducted. The ENT did not seem to listen and maintained that it was just a virus and that sometimes these can last for a while. Blood tests were taken and I am due to see the ENT again on the 29th.
Essentially I am not convinced in the slightest that this is just a viral infection that will go away. I am generally a healthy person and have never been ill for longer than 3/4 weeks. I find it hard to believe that after this long my body will suddenly deal with the infection of it's own accord and it's clear that antibiotics will not solve the problem.
The condition is having a serious effect on my quality of life and although I can make it to work I feel that I am just surviving at the moment as my symptoms together with the fact that there is no sign of me ever recovering means that I am finding it hard to enjoy anything.
I feel that I am being fobbed off time and time again with doctors putting it down to stress and suggesting that I need to boost my immune system. I have done all that has been asked of me and have taken steps to lead a more healthy lifestyle, I now no longer drink and I eat very healthily, I am also resting up whenever I can but the symptoms just do not clear up. After so long I am beginning to get fed up with the lack of progress and it is hard to remain optimistic.
It seems clear to me that I will not recover without some form of intervention, either by way of strong alternative medication or a tonsillectomy. Furthermore there is always the worry that this may be something more serious and I am concerned at the length of time that has passed without an X ray or MRI scan being undertaken. I feel that I have to convince and push the doctors at every turn to take any action.
How long should this go on before a tonsillectomy is considered as an appropriate treatment? Is there anything else I could be doing or anything I could say at my next consultation to spur the specialist into form of action? Are there any suggestions as to what this may be? Should I be worried that it may be something more serious?
So far I have been treated by the NHS, should I consider going private?
Any help or answers would be greatly appreciated.
Here is a list of my symptoms:
Enlarged and swollen tonsils
Yellow pus-like areas on tonsils and throat (sometimes a little blood)
Ongoing tonsilliths (had these before but nowhere near the frequency)
White patch at back of tongue
Difficulty breathing, especially at night, partner says that she has noticed me stop breathing on occasion.
Fatigue (not sure whether this is actually a symptom of the condition of whether mentally I am just fed up with the situation and have no drive as a result.)
0 likes, 4 replies
christine98681 nick69213
Posted
you have done everything by the sounds of it i would feel at the end of my tether if i was you before now the only thing you havent said do they effect your breathing ??? i would think yes they do but you may think your tonsils are only there for one thing because we was born with them your tonsil's play's a big part in stopping anti-virul infections they also stop strep infection but on the other hand it can be a nuisance till you need to have them out when they making you feel ill.... .
The only thing you haven't said have you tryed another DR from your surjury if not then get get another opinion from another DR a and ask him to refer you to another consultant choose another Hospital. otherwise if he sends you and you get no joy again then you have no other choice is go private obviously all these Antibiotic's is a waste of time he should no this two or three lots should tell him the not moving it.
your DR sounds as though he is not much use or he wouldn't keep giving you them im not a DR but even then they sound like they need to come out when i was only 4yrs old i suffered like you for a yr and of the DR could only give me a childs dose of Anitibiotic's and with me only been so young they wouldnt take them out till i could hardly breath they decided i had to have them out i was 5 by this time they were nearly blocking my airway's up you couldn't hardly see down my throat they were so enlarged.
They didn't do a swab of the throat then it was a stick on the tongue say R that was it my DR took me to the Hospital himself had me Admitted i know this is not much consulation to you but i wouldn't let them fob you of any more try again but if all fail's then plump for the private consultaion.
Your DR cannot stop you from getting an opinion its not coming out of the NHS if you can afford it as it looks like this Consultant isen't much good either but you can give him the benifit of the doubt first when you go back on the 29 if this fail's do it you don't have to go private all the way through with it as all consultants do private consultantation's then refer you onto a waiting list.
well i do hope you get sorted out as there is nothing worse than unessasery suffering. and please let me no how you get on i will be most intrested on how this gose for you.
Take Care
Christine
adam26388 nick69213
Posted
sampess nick69213
Posted
Hey Nick! So I see this was posted about 3 years ago. Lately, I've been having the same problem with my tonsils for about a month now. I have gone to the doctors and have taken antibiotics and steroids but nothing has helped. I know you may not see this but I would love to know what has happened since this post has been made? Any updates? I hope they're okay & that you're okay.
n33955 sampess
Posted
Hi Sampess! Sorry to hear you're having similar problems. I have had the same for about five months now, although the initial infection, with severe symptoms almost identical to Nick's, cleared up with a ten day dose of Augmentin (amoxicillin & clav. potassium). Since then, my tonsils have been red and swollen and I have gotten severe sore throat infections twice. Some things I've found that help are:
-cutting out gluten/wheat and/or dairy. I found that cutting out gluten especially has reduced my symptoms, although my tonsils are still swollen. Cutting out dairy did not do much for me but I still avoid consuming a lot of dairy, because it increases the amount of thick mucus you produce in your nose/ears/throat, which can make things worse.
-gargle daily with hydrogen peroxide. My ENT recommended this to prevent future infections and keep the tonsils clean. I've noticed this helps a lot. I mix hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water and gargle, making sure not to swallow because it can cause stomach lining damage.
-taking a probiotic supplement targeted for the mouth/throat that specifically contains Streptococcus salivarius K12. Apparently, this good, commensal strain of strep produces compounds that kill Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (the cause of strep throat), and people who tested positive for this normal oral Strp bacteria in their mouths had a greatly reduced risk of developing a Group A strep infection.
Hope this helps, if you're even having problems still.
Also, I'm starting to think the root cause of my throat problems are not my tonsils but a eustachian tube defect. My most recent sore throat went away in two days by abstaining from gluten and taking pseudoephedrine (during the day) & ibuprofen (round the clock) to reduce inflammation and congestion in my head/ear/nose and allow things to drain. My swollen tonsils may just be a side effect of those problems maybe?
~N