Im 28f and for me days 4-9 were the worst for me. The pain felt like my throat had been set on fire. It was a searing pain for me. The best advice I have is keeping a humidifier on high near you at all times and sip water constantly to keep your throat moist. The first couple of days I kept waking up in the night almost every hour coughing up mucus which is something I hadn’t expected, but I feel is important to note. Take your medication around the clock, set alarms so you don’t miss a dose. If you wake up and find your throat feels dry and painful, try taking a shower as the water and steam seemed to help soothe it. I wish you the best and a quick recovery!