I am just now recovering from a SERIOUS bout of tonsilitis. Like, so bad that it hurt so much I could not even swallow my own spit, and pills would get stuck in my throat and take like 10 minutes to make their way to my stomach. it got to the point where I was so desperate, I literally would do ANYTHING to relieve SOME pain. a few days ago, all I could do was lay on my back, and cry, and spit into a cup. I couldn't even turn my neck. I had a fever, aches, swollen glands, the doctor looked at my throat and literally almost dropped the light thingy. She put me on antibiotics, steroids, and a decongestant. I was taking the MAXIMUM amount of pain releivers possible each day (down the to exact hour) along with using chlorasceptic sprays, which did absolutely nothing, attempted to use cepacol cough drops which numbed everything in my mouth except for my throat, and I mean so numb I was drooling... and I was also gargling saltwater which in my opinion was a waste of time and salt. Gargling really cold water with crushed ice in it seemed better. I could not find anything to ease the pain, it was horrible agony like I had never been through before and I certainly don't EVER want to deal with it again. Now my throat still hurts but at least i can swallow... and I am stuck with this horrible itchy cough that wakes me up every 20 minutes due to my throat healing.