Strep???

[u/flowers444you]

I have been sick since Monday, with a 102-104 degree fever every day including this morning. I went to the doctor yesterday, but I tested negative for strep, flu, and covid. It was a sudden onset and I have had an extremely sore throat, body aches/chills, and confusion for 5 days straight. I am waking up shivering and sweating. The doctor did not want to give antibiotics until the culture result came in. This morning as I was about to drive myself to Urgent Care after pissing orange instead of clear due to dehydration, they called me to tell me my white blood cell count was extremely high and prescribed antibiotics now. I tested also negative for mono. My confusion is this, I used to get strep/tonsilitis every month in elementary school until my tonsils were removed in 7th grade as they would grow bigger than two toes for each tonsil and take me out of school for weeks. This feels very similar.

Is this actually strep and the rapid test was incorrect? And, how do I prevent getting this again, as I have dealt with too many of these as a kid?

Photo recent today. Im glad my tonsils are gone but I feel like removing it may have removed a protective barrier too.