Can You Still Get Quinsy?

I had quinsy for the first time 3 weeks ago . My tonsil was still infamed . So got sent to ent . He said ohhh we will take tonsils out . Didn’t really look or make me not worry . Have the biggest fear of being put to sleep . So anxious don’t want it done. Not sleeping getting myself so run down worrying

I woke with a sore throat on Thursday (6 days ago) and as it was a fairly common feeling for me I assumed I was just a bit run down and thought no more of it. Nuch the same on Friday, just slightly more sore. Saturday morning came around and the pain was far worse, coming with what seemed like a nasty head cold. The 'cold' wore off on Sunday but the pain was excruciating by this point and the fever was worse than I can ever remember having experienced. Monday continued in much the same way and yesterday (Tuesday) I called for an urgent appointment [in my doctor's surgery it's either an urgent or a 1-month-wait routine appointment] and they tried to turn me away. I was told to go see a pharmacist as the doctors themselves don't care unless it's been over 2 weeks, I explained the fever and she said "yes, it's the same case with a temperature" (I'm fairly sure that if you've had a fever for over 2 weeks then A&E is a better shout than GP). Thankfully, she later called me back, told me she'd made a mistake, and put me on the triage list for appointments. Everyone I spoke to over the phone told me it sounded like a mild viral infection, I think I must not have explained properly how much pain I was in, either that or the terms 'razor blades', 'feels like my throat is being cut every time I swallow', and 'wincing so hard I drop whatever I'm holding' just don't mean anything (I have a really high pain threshold by the way). Finally get an appointment with the 'urgent care provider' who told me I have tonsillitis and sent me home with 10 days worth of penicillin. Wednesday morning now and the pain is now almost exclusively localised in the left side of my throat, swelling seems to have worsened on that side and my left ear is achy and both are filled with low-key ringing. I don't know if I should suspect quinsy, I don't know if I'll be taken seriously if I try to go back to the doctors to find out, I don't even know if they would take a real look if I were able to get another appointment. I just don't know what to do.

Hi I recently had a quinsy first time I’ve ever caught it and I’m 27 and I’ve never had tonsillitis ether i started off with a really sore throat then thought nothing of it then next day I couldn’t ether get out of bed I had the fever ?? I was in hospital in drips and then sent me home 10 hours later they give me antibiotics for 10 days and I’m not goner lie it’s still quite sore I can drink and eat food but it’s still not a nice feeling would anyone tell me how long I have this for and when it’s goner budge cause I can’t really have a descent meal yet and I just feel down about it thank you

I have had quinsy now 4 times since i had my tonsillectomy when i was 22 (im now 26) and i think i may have symptoms now.The last time i had quinsy i went to see my GP who told me i was being paranoid and it was just a sore throat and sent me away.The next day i called up to GP surgery for an emergency appointment to which i saw a different doctor.He immediately referred me over to the Consultant at the hospital and had me admitted into A&E.I was taken straight up to the ENT department where i was immediately given painkillers and antibiotics through IV.I didnt need surgery this time as after 10 hours on a drip there was significant change.I feel like GP's dont take it very seriously and its so easy for them to send you away with antibiotics and not do a thorough check.Im on the waiting list to have a second tonsillectomy as they think that during my first operation ( due to them finding i had quinsy in the surgery) that they may not have been able to remove the whole tonsil.

Hi guys , my throat started flaring up on Tuesday to a point when I yawned it was so painful my eyes would stream.. The pain is on one side , when I swallow the pain is shocking. I can feel a hard lump where my lymph is. I hate going to my docs for anything . But I'm wiped out just a small amount of cleaning I could of easily ran a marathon . So exhausted. When I look in the mirror I can see some sort of swelling but it's a very angry red raw colour ??

I had a tonsillectomy at 17. I have had quinsy 4 times since. Twice ended up in hospital, the last two times my insistence (despite doctors assurances of a sore throat) has seen it treated within hours of it turning into another A&E job.There are suspicions that part of my tonsil was never removed properly and is still under the skin un my throat, which would make sense as apparently due to severe scarring my tonsy were buggers to remove. Quinsy is without doubt the most painful thing I have ever gone through. Unless I am a medical phenomenon trust your instincts and if you have had this seek medical attention if you have that gut feeling it is more than a sore throat

Ive had quinsy twice. The first time was four years ago, it felt like a cold, with sore throat and mild fever. By the end of the week I started feeling a bad pain on the left side of my throat. Fast forward a week or so and I had to go to emergency to have my fully enlarged abscess drained by the ENT. Worst pain of my life and fest time I have ever needed to go to A&E. Had almost immediate relief after what felt like ages. My throat felt weird about a month and a half afterwards. Last month, i started feeling my throat feel quite tight and a little weird. Because of quinsy, any sore throat pain and I freak out. Unfortunately my nightmare came true and I got tonsillitis. i didn't waste time and saw a GP in Leeds at a horrible place called Shakespeare Medical Practice. Doctors and nurses were rude and wanted me out of there as soon as possible. Was given penicillin V for 10 days. It didn't do the trick. Within days, pus started forming again and kept feeling pain. Went to my GP three times! Before finally being given another course of penicillin for 10 days. That didn't do the trick either. This time I think the bacteria may have formed some resistance as quinsy now started to develop. You don't forget quinsy and its symptoms, they haunt you for life. I immediately knew the abscess was forming as I was getting pain on my left side (same side as last time) of my throat and ear and got progressively worse with a bump forming by the third day without antibiotics. I must have gone to a total of seven GPS and called 111 a thousand times. No GP took the bloody time to perfectly analyze me and kept telling me there was nothing and completely ignored my pain despite the bump being red and clearly around the tonsil. No pain killers or anti-inflammatory meds were given. Went to A&E and saw a really young doctor who told me he was new (bad sign) he too told me he couldn't see anything despite having told him I was now increasing with pain. Told me the same thing to take Ibuprofen and paracetamol and once again, for the third time, was given penicillin V. That night I had the worst pain in my mouth and throat since quinsy and I knew something wasn't right and the damn meds wouldn't help. Called 111 and was once again seen by an incompetent, rude, and cocky doctor at Lexicon house in Leeds. Decided to wait until monday to demand from my GP that Id be seen by an ENT. I was immediately sent to hospital, by then the meds had significantly shrunken my bump and the ENT couldn't really see much, but suspected it was an infection of the surrounding tissues. At least they went through the trouble of actually checking me out properly and gave me steroids for the swelling and finally, a different and much stronger antibiotic!! Not only that I was given an anti-inflammatory mouth wash and stronger painkillers. The bump is still there, but in less than 24 hrs it shrunk from what it was yesterday and now it no longer hurts to open my mouth nor do i feel pai

I am 16 years old and I have just recovered from a quinsy on my tonsil. First about 2 and a half week ago I had been told by my GP I had tonsillitis, that cleared with some antibiotics and I felt fine for about 3 days after finishing my course. I then could feel the symptoms coming back, my tonsil was inflamed and had difficulty opening my mouth. I went to the doctor who I had my blood taken and was then referred to hospital. In hospital the doctor removed the puss from my tonsil with a needle in about 10 minutes and I could straight away feel a relief of pain. I stayed 2 nights in the hospital and was allowed to go home with antibiotics and was told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen. This all happened 7 days ago. In just 3 days I am meant to be travelling to Madagascar for 3 weeks, sleeping in the national parks and hiking around with a 65litr bag. I am currently waiting for my blood results back to get an all clear from the doctor - if I don't get that, I will not be able to go. I feel much better, I can easily swallow now, my mouth can open normally and I no longer have a fever or pain in my tonsil.

I'm 22 years old and had quinsy when i was 12. I went to the GP 3 times with my mum and all 3 times they said i had mild tonsillitis and told me to 'eat plenty of ice cream'. This was in the space of 2 days. After this, I was in so much pain to the extent that i could not open my mouth without feeling like my jaw was going to completely dislocate. My mum took me to the hospital and they were shocked that the GP hadn't referred me as it was apparently one of the worst cases they had seen yet. I was in so much pain and even at the young age of 12, i said to my mum 'I just want to die.' My mouth would barely open, it could only fit one wooden tongue dipresser stick in. I had my tonsils drained 3 times then i made a recovery after about 2 weeks in hospital and losing 1.5 stone from not being able to physically eat. After, i was told by several nurses that if i get any signs of tonsillitis, to seek medical attention asap. So yesterday i had pain swallowing, today my tonsils are inflamed and i have large white spots on both sides. It is virtually impossible to book an appointment with my doctor (2 week wait) the walk in centre was CLOSED?! I called 111 at 6pm to be told that i would get a call within 6 hours! Low and behold, 7 hours later and no call back. So angry. BUT yes

I had never heard of quinsy until I got it just over 11 years ago. I went to my GP as I knew I had tonsillitis I was given antibiotics andwent home. Literally from leaving GP surgery and returning home I couldn't swallow at all tried to take a tablet even broke it in half. It was not going down suddenly my temp peaked at 41 degrees and my partner called an ambulance!! I've had 5 children and giving birth was less painful... Well yesterday I woke up with tonsillitis for the first time in 11 years and am crapping myself in case I get it again..

I have had quinsy twice and have been treated appallingly both times. The first time I went to back to my gp because my symptoms were getting worse and my throat was closing up. He said I had antibiotics already, so what else did I expect him to do? Went to A and E later that evening as I couldn't breathe. Got told off for letting it get so bad. Quinsy lanced within hours. Immediate relief. The second time I went to the gp (different practice) four times before I got referred to the ENT ward in a nearby town. I arrived late afternoon, was put on a drip straight away and I then sat on a hard chair in a corridor for 13 hours before they found a bed for me by which point my blood pressure was through the floor. I was 7 months pregnant at the time. I was discharged after being on a drip for 24 hours and the abcess burst in my mouth later that evening. I'm now suffering badly again and desperately hoping it isn't quinsy. I can't bear the thought of begging for treatment when I can barely talk.

Well said Kate ... I'd very similar symptoms. And it came on within hrs! When I eventually saw a gp she said it was pre-Quincy. I'm still on penicillin which finish on Sunday. Do not feel right -though much better than Monday. With ur info above - & others I'm now informed and prepared should this not b cleared up. Thank you.

I have been on antibiotics for 2 and a half days after I was told I have quinsy. Today I noticed pus very slowing coming from the bottom of the abcess what does this mean

Can quinsy be passed on to other people if close contact, my husband has it and is very ill, really worried incase my son gets it, as he suffers from tonsillitis Kind regards Terri

On July 14th I went to emergency dentist for a tooth out after getting a tooth I began late Thursday night getting a pain in my throat by Friday I was really struggling with my throat so I said to my wife we nee to go to A&E on Saturday morning I was given two lots off antibiotics by late Saturday night I was struggling to breath my throat felt like it was closing up so I was rushed to A&E were I was admitted it was later I was diagnosed with quinsy they tried to syringe the pus from my throat but there was no pus so they then made an incision at the back off my throat but still no look they repeated this for three days then decided best cause was to remove my left tonsil I'm now recovering on antibiotics

Hi, three weeks ago on a Friday I experienced aching all over, every bone and muscle seemed to be painful and I just put it down to doing too much over the weekend, by Sunday night I could hardly move and started to develop a sore throat. I had an awful night unable to sleep and managed to get a doctors appointment for the following morning. The doctor advised it was tonsillitis bordering on quinsy and to come back if I felt it was getting worse, he gave me a high dose of penicillin to take. The following morning I was in agony and returned to the doctors at 4pm, he advised it was a quinsy and referred me straight to ENT at the hospital, they aspirated 3mls of pus when I arrived and I spent 4 days in hospital on fluids, antibiotics, penicillin and pain relief. When I was admitted my blood pressure was low and my temperature was high. I was discharged after 4 days as I had started eating a small amount and in all honesty I did feel better but my throat was still sore. As soon as I returned home I went downhill quickly and ended up being readmitted within 24 hours for more antibiotics, fluids and pain relief. They attempted to aspirate again a number of times but could not get anything. I had a camera passed to ensure that the infection hadn't spread and there was talk of feeding tubes as I hadn't eaten much for 10 days at this point and also lancing.Thankfully I ended up having neither and was discharged on a shed load of tablets after 2 days. I have been ill for almost 3 weeks at this point and although I can now eat and drink the swelling is still present and I have no appetite whatsoever. I returned to the doctors and they have given me stronger pain killers and antibiotics as the infection is still there. I am noticing a very small improvement each day but the recovery is a very, very slow process. I'm hoping I will be back at work soon and am due to visit the doctor again tomorrow, I do still have some pain and swelling though. One thing I have noticed is that I wake up panicking I can't breath a lot...it's quite a scary illness to have!

I am a male 59 years old and currently in hospital receiving IV Drips of antibiotics and paracetamol after being diagnosed with Quinsy. I had just finished a long haul flight on which I became very dehydrated whilst sleeping with no saliva left in my mouth and throat. I drank plenty water and thought I had just inflamed my throat as it still ached. After 4 days of self treatment with paracetamol,ibuprofen anything I could get over the counter I had to give in to all of the pain symptoms and get an emergency appointment at the Infirmary on a Sunday night. Boy, am I glad I did. I had to wait 1-1/2 hours after my appointment time to be seen. The first doctor suspected Quinsy as it was only my left side that was hurting like hell and I now had got to the potato mouth stage.After a quick second opinion I was whisked off to ENT for another assessment then told I would be staying the night and the IV treatment would start and in the morning there would be another assessment. I was hooked up at midnight and by 01:30 the pain had eased. I could breathe and swallow again.By 02:30 I was back to feeling human and wandered why I didn't do this sooner rather than go through the last days of real pain. I have had sore throats many a time but nothing like this. I had my TONSILS removed when I was 3 years old. This added to the puzzlement. Anyway, no pus draining required,Staying in hospital for 36 hours leaving tomorrow feeling a new man again.

Anout 3 years ago I had a quincy and couldnt eat, drink or open my mouth. It was very painful even just breathing, visited my gp who informed me it was a quincy but it would just burst on its own accord and sent me on my way with antibiotics and told me if nothing happened within a week to come back and they would drain it. as it was about 2 days later the thing burst was absolutely horrid never realised quite how serious these can be.

Hi everyone. I am a 35 year old male. I nearly always suffer with tonsillitis if I end up with a soar throat. I had tonsillitis from Boxing Day onwards which did not start to improve until a week later when I had to be back at work. I have had tonsillitis again since Friday night all over the weekend and suddenly I thought it was improving on the Monday only to wake up on the Monday night with severe pain in my neck, ear and throat on the right side. I also had a fever. I became more concerned as I had read about Quincy at this point online. The left side was not at all painful or swollen at this stage even though it had been on the weekend. But I had all the signs of Quincy which worried me greatly. I got a doctors appointment for later on that day. I voiced my concerns about Quincy just as he was about to prescribe me antibiotics and he immediately took another look and referred me to the ENT unit at the hospital. I went to the hospital and when I was eventually seen to the doctor examined my throat, neck and ears and asked me a few questions. At this stage he called his superior and was told to see if he could extract any puss out of it. He informed me that if puss does come out then I would have to stay on an intravenous overnight. I explained I really did not want to be spending the night but understood that this would be for my own good. Fortunately for me there was no puss extracted. However the doctor explained that it could still be early stages of Quincy but that it was hard to tell. I was sent home with an oral rinse called Difflam which contains Benzydamine hydrochloride. I have to gargle with this every 1and a half to 3 hours. I was also prescribed with 2 different antibiotics. Phenoxymethylpenicillin and Metronidazole. Now I managed to get the medicines at my local morrisons pharmacy on my way home that night. So I took my first lot that evening. Took some again this morning. I accept it's early days but thinking about it now I wished I had not been so anti about staying in hospital over night as I think n intravenous drip with antibiotics might have been a quicker solution to getting back on the mend. All of the main reasons that the doctor did not have a problem letting me go away with these antibiotics and oral rinse were as follows 1/ No puss was actually extracted (he tried 4-5 times and got nothing but blood) 2/ I could still breath ok 3/ I told him I could still swallow (now I realise although I can swallow. It hurts like hell). I am hoping the antibiotics work. My dad said that my mum had Quincy a couple of years back and that although the doctor diagnosed it at her local GPs, he did not refer her to hospital. She found the first antibiotics did not help and had to go back and was prescribed some stronger ones which did work. My mums Quincy was worse than mine from what my dad said her throat had closed up a lot. I'm hoping because I've been to hospital they will have just given me the stronger stuff anyway and that there

Hi everyone. I am a 35 year old male. I nearly always suffer with tonsillitis if I end up with a soar throat. I had tonsillitis from Boxing Day onwards which did not start to improve until a week later when I had to be back at work. I have had tonsillitis again since Friday night all over the weekend and suddenly I thought it was improving on the Monday only to wake up on the Monday night with severe pain in my neck, ear and throat on the right side. I also had a fever. I became more concerned as I had read about Quincy at this point online. The left side was not at all painful or swollen at this stage even though it had been on the weekend. But I had all the signs of Quincy which worried me greatly. I got a doctors appointment for later on that day. I voiced my concerns about Quincy just as he was about to prescribe me antibiotics and he immediately took another look and referred me to the ENT unit at the hospital. I went to the hospital and when I was eventually seen to the doctor examined my throat, neck and ears and asked me a few questions. At this stage he called his superior and was told to see if he could extract any puss out of it. He informed me that if puss does come out then I would have to stay on an intravenous overnight. I explained I really did not want to be spending the night but understood that this would be for my own good. Fortunately for me there was no puss extracted. However the doctor explained that it could still be early stages of Quincy but that it was hard to tell. I was sent home with an oral rinse called Difflam which contains Benzydamine hydrochloride. I have to gargle with this every 1and a half to 3 hours. I was also prescribed with 2 different antibiotics. Phenoxymethylpenicillin and Metronidazole. Now I managed to get the medicines at my local morrisons pharmacy on my way home that night. So I took my first lot that evening. Took some again this morning. I accept it's early days but thinking about it now I wished I had not been so anti about staying in hospital over night as I think n intravenous drip with antibiotics might have been a quicker solution to getting back on the mend. All of the main reasons that the doctor did not have a problem letting me go away with these antibiotics and oral rinse were as follows 1/ No puss was actually extracted (he tried 4-5 times and got nothing but blood) 2/ I could still breath ok 3/ I told him I could still swallow (now I realise although I can swallow. It hurts like hell). I am hoping the antibiotics work. My dad said that my mum had Quincy a couple of years back and that although the doctor diagnosed it at her local GPs, he did not refer her to hospital. She found the first antibiotics did not help and had to go back and was prescribed some stronger ones which did work. My mums Quincy was worse than mine from what my dad said her throat had closed up a lot. I'm hoping because I've been to hospital they will have just given me the stronger stuff anyway and that there

I went to the doctors with a left sided sore throat, doctor was concerned that I had so much swelling inside and out (I had an 'Elephant Man' and the glands looked like I was smuggling sausages under my skin. Doctor only said go to hospital if it causes me problems with breathing and they will syringe the glands. Didn't say anything about blood poisoning or rupturing abscesses! I was put in 2000mgs of penicillin a day. This was on the Monday, it got worse, then started to clear up Thursday. I would have gone to hospital if I had known the risks. Went back to work a week later but now off sick (after 3days) with sore throat and cough. I work in a school but didn't realise penicillin reduces your immune factor, so I caught the first bug I met. Should have been given better information.

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Many thanks for your comments. I'm sure they will interest our readers. For your information we are a UK-based site.

I had quinsy over 20 years ago in France. It happened very quickly a fever severe muscular constriction And saw throat loss of speech and then spitting a non spop fountain of white foamy puss! It took me 3 days to get out of bed and literally crawl to a doctors. Luckily no receptionist . The doctor when he entered the waiting room ignored the two elderly patients who were asking if they could go in front of me so they could catch the bus. He new exactly what I had and grabbed me dragged me to his bench put 4 syringes in my neck massages my joints and stretched limbs out as I was contorted. I didn't need to speak! Luckily as I couldn't . The abscess must have burst, but there had been a constant supply of puss beyond that which the abscess could contain. It all happened over 3 days! The puss continued for a couple more days then stopped. In France it is just called angine which literally means saw throat it wasn't until I mentioned it to my UK GP that I got it's name. This is because it's a condition that hasn't been allocated an international Latin name. Many people used to die from this, so doctors do need more training. You sometimes do need to act very fast. If I hadn't forced myself to crawl to that doctor I may have aspired the bacterial infection into my lungs which would have caused me a fatal or more dangerous condition. I've read the NHS data on Quincy and it claims it's a slow process, which would suggest to a patient that it is not urgent. Well my experience was not slow . If the abscess hadn't bursts I would have stopped breathing the burst put me at other risks. It took a lot to get to that doctor. It must have looked scary to passers by a woman crawling with a contorted body moaning and a fountain of puss coming out of her mouth! I had never had any tonsillitis as a child no history of anything like this. The joint and muscle pain was worse than the throat pain. I was very week for a few weeks afterwards. My UK GP said that it is very rare, a relative later informed me that my mother had it back in the 50's so perhaps there is susceptibility to certain strains of bacteria. The locals of Macon where I was at the time claimed that it was an area prone to it due to its famous river?! ( not the Beaujolais!) Anyway- I think that anyone with symptoms of Quincy should push to get immediate treatment . Corner the doctor with its risk of aspiration and lung damage see if he wants to be sued for that ! Don't go bursting it yourself and try not to be left alone because it can grow quickly and block your airways this is how many died in the past. Hope this has been helpful and insightful Regards Kate From old Blighty I'm guessing this is an American sight Where you don't yet have an NHS Well beware of a large inward looking institution that functions mainly for its union employees! Most top dog research is American but does any health practitioner in NHS bother to research/ read it?! NO, why because they are no

Yesterday my father was diagonised,he has Quinsy.He was admitted in hospital for a few days its odd that he has quinsy.Late teens and children usually get this.My father is old i dont understand how he got it.He is having antibiotics and other tablets as-well,getting better.Why cant doctors recognize the quinsy illness earlier?

Hi there I am suffering from a real bad case of tonsillitis it is painful as hell ...I thought it was quincy at first as I am prone to keep getting it ...the pain is unbearable and I've never felt pain like it ...I just hope my doctor has caught it in time as it will be another trip to the hospital ...hope you all feel better soon ...

I woke up this morning with extreme pain on the left side of my mouth to the point where I could barely open it and was finding it difficult to swallow and I can't talk properly. The pain also radiates to my ear and head. I've also been suffering from Nausea. I went to the doctors and he diagnosed me with viral tonsillitis. Since reading this article I'm worried I may actually have Quincy? The pain has just woken me up in the middle of the night, which has led me to this article.. Do I go back to the doctors? Or would he be able to recognise Quincy immediately? He said himself, there was only really swelling on my left side

Friend has had sore throat and was seen my Dr who gave pain relief but it got worse and had problem breathing another friend said this is quinsy and was qdmited to hospital I don't understand why doctors do not recognize the signs of quinsy because it causes so much pain to the individuals so they should know and help people quickly

my boyfriend is 26, from the UK but has been here since he was 7. for whatever reason he is proned to abscess. well over a week ago he woke up in the morning with a stinky kinda hard off white piece of something on his tounge. after investigating his mouth he noticed a small whit puss pocket at the left rear end of his throat. (no pain at all) but stinks like hell. he decided to try to get some of the puss out so he wouldnt swallow it, using a needle he had to use a digging method to get any of the stuff to come out. he then made the pocket hole bigger hoping that would allow the infection to excape. no luck. its now going on the second week and although it dosent seem to be growing its not going down either. now as of last night hes experiencing moments of bad nausea as well as vomiting. then it stops. we are goting to er today. we will follow up with results.

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Sorry to hear you are feeling this way, the antibiotics should kick in quickly and with plenty of rest hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.

I am suffering from a small quinsy that was diagnosed yesterday!! Antibiotics started along with paracetamol and ibrufen. Pain is horrendous. Can hardly swallow own saliva let alone anything else. Ear, head and neck pain too and general unwell feeling!! Fighting it hard and cant wait to feel better.