postpartum swollen tonsils, sore throat, lump in neck

I just want some advice on what to do about my sore throat. I (24F) am 6 weeks postpartum. I’ve had air hunger since a week after my baby was born. they ruled everything out and said it was probably just from the hormonal changes postpartum. i looked in my throat a week and a half ago after having the feeling that something was stuck in there and noticed my tonsils were super swollen with white stuff on them. my throat looked swollen and red, too. went to the doctor and they prescribed antibiotics based on appearance and how long my symptoms went on. then i went to the pharmacy and did a rapid step test which came back negative and they said it was viral and they didn’t recommend taking the antibiotics. waited another 5 days without taking antibiotics and now it hurts to swallow and i still have difficulty breathing that’s getting worse. tried to go on the elliptical and my air hunger got so bad. i have a lump in my throat that i can’t tell if it is my thyroid or swollen lymph nodes. my throat still looks inflamed as well as my tonsils…

should i take the antibiotics anyway and see if my symptoms go away and then go get it looked at again if they don’t? should i go in and get re-evaluated since the strep test was negative? im in a lot of pain and anxious about it after noticing the lump and feeling difficulty swallowing & breathing. idk if it would be thyroiditis as hyperthyroidism runs in my family but i don’t think that would cause the swollen tonsils…

any advice is greatly appreciated. don’t want to take antibiotics if i don’t have to as i am breastfeeding! but everything I’m reading says that strep is the most common cause of bacterial infection!