I've suffered from bad throat infections since I was 17 and finally last year I got my tonsils taken out. Hallelujah I thought all my issues would be solved and I did manage to go a year without any throat infections (compared to 4 - 6 per year!)

Until the start of September that was. Anyway, after a week of it not going better, I went to the docs and got antibiotics, followed by another course of stronger antibiotics that didn't work. Finally got to see a doc face to face and they saw how my throat was red and that it was really swollen with a lump on one side. They felt my lymph nodes and they are all up. She called ENT at the local hospital and they put me on proton inhibitors to rule out silent reflux (didn't think it was this as my dad suffered a lot with this so learned the symptoms in case I ever did)  and I'm down to one meal a day so not much for my stomach to react to since I have lost my appetite (so not me I am a woman who loves her food). Anyway, I tried them for over a week and called back saying still no go and my voice has been gone for 3 weeks with my throat being sore for 4 weeks and feeling like a lump is there.

The doctor was lovely and explained she wanted to get me seen urgently at ENT so put me through on 2ww and told me to keep taking the proton inhibitors so they can't use that as a way to fob off.

Anyway got my appointment through and then suddenly a message saying due to COVID-19 it will be a telephone consultation. This just broke me I thought I was going to get to the bottom of this and now it's going to be over the phone. I know we have to be careful with COVID but I'm not sleeping or eating properly now for a month and it's taking a toll on my body. I just don't want to be fobbed off and not sure how he can do a proper consultation over the phone. The only upside is that it is next week so hopefully they will see me after this phone call.

But has anyone else had to have these telephone consultations due to COVID? What should I expect? I am always nervous with doctors so I do write everything down as I get flustered and forget to mention things.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!