I realize this original post was posted around 8 years ago but I, too, would like to share my experience with PTA.
It truly seems to have been a downward terrible roller coaster until today. I apologize that since it is so recent, it is going to be very detailed. I just hope it can help anyone that may have a similar experience although I hope you don't!
*FULL DISCLOSURE: First off, I am young adult female and live a fairly healthy lifestyle and have a pretty strong immune system. I rarely get sick and hadnt been for over a year. The last time was a chest or head cold with congestion. Since then, I have received the flu shot about 4 months ago for work (not sure if it is relevant but just to put it out there). As a child I had suffered bad ear infections and gotten strep maybe once I'm not even sure.
In recent years, I try my best not to take any westwern pain relief medications like Advil, Tylenol, aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, whatever. I would rather not have to take antibiotics, or cough medicine, congestion medicine, and anything that can be bought at the store. I prefer to try to let any ailments run their course with the hell of home and more "natural" remedies, so to say.*
Anyway,
The sore throat began about 2 weeks around Monday. I began to feel it only after waking up in the morning then nothing throughout the day. By the Friday of the first week, I woke up with swelling of the tonsils, mainly my right tonsil and there were visible white patches on it. Out of fear for strep throat I called out of work and went to urgent care/walk-in clinic. They took a throat swab to do an immediate strep test and then sent another away to the lab. I was told it was viral and was not prescribed anything. They said I could take ibuprofen or Tylenol for the pain. That was it. I was so glad it wasn't strep but decided to rest that day and wait this out.
Over the weekend, I still had a sore throat but was able to somewhat "ignore" it, trying to use home remedies such as tea and honey, saltwater gargle, rest. By Sunday, it was hurting more and a headache developed so I caved in and took some Advil.
Monday it wasn't too bad but I noticed it hurting more, mainly when I swallowed. I couldn't really eat much so I got a smoothie and started trying cough drops since the throat ones weren't available to me. Monday night I could not sleep and was sweating, tossing, and turning all night. I again gave in and took Tylenol (usually I stick with Advil but had none at this time - I don't think I had ever taken Tylenol and if so, it was very long ago). I may have had a fever as I awoke every 30 minutes, sweating.
On Tuesday, the throat pain was still bad. I went to work but ended up leaving a little early because the pain was not subsiding, even with the Tylenol. I tried aspirin as well. Tuesday night I slept better, only waking a few times with pain. I tried to relieve the pain by drinking ice water when I woke up in the night and then drinking lemon honey and apple cider vinegar in the morning. I thought I felt a little better in the morning so I went to my internship.
It was now Wednesday. I went about doing my work, trying to ignore the pain. I still could barely eat, drink, or swallow without feeling as though I wanted to die because the pain was so consistent. There were times I felt I was maybe overreacting so I tried to stick it out. Around later afternoon the pain was so bad I couldn't concentrate. I, again, left work early to go to another urgent care/walk-in clinic. The pain had started to reach my ear and at this point the pain from my throat to ear felt so unbearable. At this clinic, they again did a quick test for strep which was negative then for mono, also negative. They said the same thing as the first doctors even though I tried to explain that the pain was only getting worse. The Advil and Tylenol weren't even masking the pain, just making it less unbearable. When I asked why the pain in my ear was getting so bad (even though there was no fluid) the doctor just shrugged and said it's because everything is connected. My tonsils are swollen like golf balls and she just said to me, "yeah there's some swelling, I've seen worse".
I must be overreacting then, except this pain is nothing I've experienced before . I was often on the verge of tears at this point. They perscribed a mouthwash that "might" help. It costed more than it should so I opted not to get it and bought cepracol for the throat. Those did not do much for me.
Wednesday night was pretty bad, I did not sleep very much because of the pain in both my ear and throat and inability to swallow. I was not eating properly and would also often feel nauseous a as I still tried alternating the Tylenol and ibuprofen.
Thursday morning I went to work early only to realize that it made no sense to be there's because the pain was just worsening and worsening. I couldn't swallow without wincing. It had been almost a week with intensifying symptoms and I had no idea how I was getting through each day. I left after an hour to go rest, thinking maybe I just haven't been able to rest enough. I bought vitamins and popsicles and took a few naps. Around the same time as yesterday the pain intensified. I was so confused and frustrated. I couldn't eat or drink but I tried to force some jook/congee, which is a soupy rice, down and drank tons of ginger tea and honey.
Then the night was the worst yet. I was able to nap from around 7pm to 10pm (19:00-22:00). However, as soon as I woke, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep again. Throughout the course of the night I took about 3 showers to try to help distract myself from the pain. I was pacing, crying, hoping I could get through the night. I'm not religious and I even tried praying, just to show how desperate I really felt. Now, I thought I should go to the emergency room but it was late in the night and I would've had to travel far and alone so I did not feel safe, especially in the state I was in. I had to wait until morning. The pain was so bad I slept for no more than 30 minutes trying to distract myself in-between. I called my mother in the middle of the night crying out in pain that I wanted to go home (I'm a big baby, yes). I had to wait till early morning to take a 1.5 hour train ride home. This was torture.
By, now Friday, morning, I had been awake mostly all night and now I couldn't even talk or open my mouth. At this point, the pain was probably a 8 or 9 of 10, which seems extreme, I know. The pain ran from my right side of throat to my right ear. Constant and consistent. Even when I wasn't trying to swallow spit or anything. Soon as I was picked up from the train station, we went straight to another urgent care, for a THIRD time. In hindsight, going to the ER would've been a better decision. Anyway, I could not talk to any nurses or doctors so my mother had to. I could barely open my mouth for the doctor to see inside. When she could finally see a little bit she said I may have a PTA (abscess on my throat/tonsil) or cellulitis. However she was not sure and said I would have to wait until MONDAY to see an eyes nose throat doctor. Incredible. Did not prescribe any pain meds despite the tears running down my face and my inability to talk or even swallow!!! She perscribed me cylindamicin to take every 6h.. WITH FOOD. Insane.. I could barely swallow my own spit let alone some food. Either way we took her advice hoping I would feel better by Monday. Friday was a long day but I was able to sleep some. I still had extreme pain and discomfort. Gargling salt water was the most difficult and painfully weird experience every. I forced myself to do it because I thought it might help. I thought that the antibiotics were helping but eating and drinking was a true struggle. And the pain was not subsiding, it got worse when any of the meds wore off after about 2 hours. I read a lot online about PTA so I was really considering going to the hospital maybe. Because from reading, that provides many others with instant relief and I wasn't sure the antibiotics would be effective. Why should I have to wait in such pain. I was unsure why the doctor from the 3rd urgent care visit didn't send me to the ER.
By Saturday morning I felt a bit better but was still in pain. Finally decided "screw this" and went to ER. Still could barely talk or swallow. At the ER I was checked and told I did, in fact, have PTA. No kidding! They said they had to do a needle incision and drain it. Oh joy. I'm very bad with these things and my mind controls it all. I make it extremely difficult for anyone to get anything even remotely near the back of my mouth/throat and I swear my tongue has a mind of its own. However, after much difficult and more meds (low dose of steroids, numbing agent, and anti anxiety) she finally performed the procedure. I wouldn't describe it was painful.. it did take some time for her to get it all out. In fact, she showed me the syringe which was soo full of puss and whatever nasty bloody fluid, that she had to go get another one and do it again to make sure there's nothing left. I didn't even care because wow I could now finally feel my whole mouth. I could shut my teeth and move my tongue and even talk! It was incredible. The pain went down to like a 2 from what had been a consistent 7-9 for about a week.
Post-procedure, I drank a smoothie, and took the nicest nap I have had in a long while. I feel like a different person. This darn infection took a lot out of me, especially because nobody knew what it was and I'm not sure if people believed me when I kept saying it was getting worse and worse. I mean hell, even I thought I might be exaggerating... until I finally learned about PTA and read other's accounts. What I can take away from my experience and what I hope to help you with is that, if you are feeling consistent worsening pain on one side of your throat and maybe your ear, and it's not getting better but you've tried all else, you may want to see an ENT or go to the ER rather than live in pain just because they told you it's probably only a virus. I was told I had no fluid in my ears and everything was fine. Maybe it took time for The abscess to show or the others couldn't see it.. idk.. regardless, it took over a week. I am feeling immensely better! They change my prescription and I still have to see an ENT to follow up. However, I can now eat and drink somewhat normally. But when I drink water, it comes out of my nose. This isn't pleasant but I'd take this any day over what I've been through. I realize this post is probably extremely long but didn't not want to leave out any details. I hope this can be of help to anyone out there. Thanks everyone for sharing and allowing me to share!
