tonsillitus remedies please

[tiddles]

So eldest child is starting GCSE's next week, and can feel the onset of our old friend Tonsillitus. This is something that strikes her down badly two to three times a year, and of course, this spells disaster. Diet already has loads of fresh fruit and veg, so any ideas about anything that might keep this at bay for the next couple of weeks? All advice very gratefully received.

[EDmummy]

Oh no! Poor her. Brings back dreadful memories - I also suffered terribly from tonsitis at that age plus being terribly afflicted by hayfever, I would throw everything at it. Antibiotics from GP, vit C and zinc, Bach flower, lots of regular neurofen and paracetamol on rotation and the healthy diet she's already following. All the best.

[EDmummy]

I forgot - salt gargles. And, lots of v positive sounds and hugs from family.

[Pickle]

I suffered terribly from my early 20s until I had my tonsils removed at 25. In my experience once it's taken hold it is very difficult to fend off - I used to recognise the early signals and go straight to the GP for antibiotics. I had years of misery, so I feel for her. For me, if untreated, it took about 24 hours before I was struck with fever and rendered useless for days.

Healthy diet etc definitely helps (and something I was probably lacking from at the time), but with GCSE's looming I think you should take her to the doctor.

Good luck x

[minder]

Your poor daughter. My son also suffered with this a few times a year. I would dread it as it really brought him down and it was always before something like his GCSEs and A Levels. It's probably stress related too.

A couple of times he had antibiotics but I got him to gargle with salt water and tried to get him to have a tablespoon of vinegar with a dash of salt and pepper. This was a remedy of my Dad's for myself and sisters years ago if we had a sore throat.

Paracaetomal every 4 hours too.

[ClareC]

Ouch, I had this recently and was unable to get to a Dr for antibiotics. I did some googling and gargling with apple cider vinegar came up as a natural remedy. Apparently it creates an environment where the bacteria cannot survive.

I tried it, and it actually worked (I had had it a few days at this point but having never had it before not immediately recognised what it was).

I had been using ibuprofen for the pain up until then, not that that helped much with the sore throat.

Definitely get antibiotics ASAP but gargle with the apple cider vinegar too, worked wonders for me - although not exactly pleasant!!

[sjw]

My daughter suffered for several years with tonsillitis I think she has grown out of it thank goodness. She just couldn't get the hang of gargling. I found a spoonful of Manuka honey a couple of times a day helped soothe the soreness but had to resort to antibiotics on a few occasions . White or yellow spots on the tonsils are one sign antibiotics are needed.

[Saffron]

I've also read that gargling is good for this, and for keeping colds off in general.

For anyone who has difficulty learning to gargle, my daughter learned to gargle at a young age by practicing in the bathtub! This made it more fun, and it didn't matter if she made a mess while learning.

I've also read that mixing turmeric with honey makes it more effective, as turmeric has antiseptic properties.

Much sympathy! xx

[tiddles]

thank you all - stocked up at health matters, + vitamin C and zinc. Keeping it at bay (we hope) The vinegar gargle is being wheeled out tomorrow depending on how she is feeling (she's not keen!!)

fingers crossed and many thanks for all your suggestions. I am seriously considering having them whipped out now!

[Pickle]

Having been through having them removed at 25, I have vowed that if my kids show signs of tonsil problems I'll have them taken out as early as possible.

It wasn't until after they were gone that I realised just how sick, pretty much constantly, they had been making me. In the (eek) 15 years since, I've had a much stronger immune system, and have never felt as sick as I did in my early 20s.

It was hard being the only patient over the age of 8 in the day surgery unit - I was surrounded by bouncy kids who were fine post surgery, whereas I felt rotten. Not helped by the nurses offering ice lollies, when actually I wanted cold hard drugs (and my Mum) :)

[treehugger]

My daughter now 20, is and was very sporty, hard working and a girl who wants to achieve highly. She suffered terribly from tonsillitis from the age of 14 or so. Every time she did too much (even just a late night) she would go down with it, needing antibiotics. We tried everything: gargling, manuka honey etc etc. When she was 18, she and I felt the only answer was to have them out. My husband felt strongly that a lifestyle rethink was needed and a bolstering of her immune system and that the tonsillitis was a symptom of overdoing things and that having them out wasn't the answer. Although I had sympathy with this, she and I agreed to have them out (when the consultant saw the state of them, she pulled such a face of disgust, I was completely won over). My daughter coped well with the op and has been so relived that she no longer suffers the inevitable illness following a period of "doing too much", although she has learned that she is not invincible and needs to sleep and eat well.

Best of luck with the GCSEs, but my advice is, get them whipped out over the summer. Xxx

[Bonfire2010]

I would also agree with having them taken out - I suffered terribly with mine for years and it didn't take much for me to go down with a bout. Sressful times such as GCSEs and A'Levels were particularly bad. Like treehugger's daughter, even just a late night would result in the first twinges and I would know it was on the way. The only thing that got rid of the tonsillitis was having my tonsils removed at the age of 19. It was very painful for exactly 2 weeks but then the pain literally stopped overnight and I have never looked back! I still get the (very) occasional sore throat when run down or overdoing things, but absolutely nothing like during my teenage years. If you can get them removed (although I appreciate you won't be able to do anything imminently if she is about to start exams) then I would really recommend it, but in the meantime trying to ensure she gets enough sleep should help. If she starts to feel that she is coming down with a bout get her to the doctor asap whilst gargling with warm salted water and drinking warm lemon and honey in the meantime (these helped me so hopefully will also help your daughter).

Tonsillitis can really make you feel dreadful, so best of luck to you and your daughter during the GCSE season.