I want to rip my face off

[FreeButtonBee]

had a mild cold (not covid!) and I now have the inevitable sinusitis after. I have steamed. I have flushed out with water. I have taken ibuprofen and solphadine. It hurts. No snot, no cough, just this awful pressure in my head. Arghhhhh.

Do I just submit and get antibiotics? Any other old wives tales to try? Luckily have private GP service so might actually be able to get them relatively quickly...

Op what about a neti pot if the spray isn't getting up high enough?

I'm bookmarking some of these tips for next time mine block up!

In desperation I looked at a self sinus massage on YouTube and attempted that.

It kind of worked I think, but it seemed to have pushed the infected “stuff” into my throat which was a different kind of pain.

Long term I swear by zinc ; I used to have 10-15 episodes (1 week +) of sinusitis per year, so bad I was going to the gp each time.
After a few months taking zinc religiously they more or less stopped happening.

(Having to start again as I neglected zinc taking the last year or so due to life stuff .)

Co-codamol and aspirin. At the same time.

Keep your head tipped right back as much as poss.

AntiBs.

You have my utmost sympathy

Antibiotics got rid of mine in two days, was agony….

I actually once took myself to the dentist and told them I had an abscess.
They told me my teeth where fine but I had a sinus infection.

I had antibiotics and decongestants.
I now have a humidifier in my bedroom.

I second Otrivine nasal spray. Best decongestant ever.

I've suffered from sinusitis on and off all my adult life so have tried most things. One thing which I have found very effective is acupuncture. Thought I might be a bit freaked with the idea of needles in my face but I was so desperate I was willing to try anything and it did actually work for me

Also, I am a big fan of Otrivine spray

Have ordered saline spray and otrivine spray because of this thread. Will see if they work and look into the massages. Hopefully everyone here can cure their sinuses. Someone up thread also has the same as me, nothing coming out just feels like inside my nose is swollen shut.

Poor you OP!

If you have access to a private GP, go! I would try antibiotics if nothing else is working.

I get terrible sinusitis in the winter and this is what helps me:

Otrivine (but don't overdo it, if you dry out your sinuses they will also be painful)

Ibuprofen

This easy acupressure trick, a bit similar to the holding your breath thing: www.lifehacker.com.au/2020/01/clear-your-sinuses-in-20-seconds-with-your-tongue-and-your-thumb/

Saline rinse a few times a day, make sure you are tilting your head so the saline really gets up there.

Grapefruit seed extract -- this was recommended by a French pharmacy and it really does help: www.sanareva.co.uk/nutrisante-grapefruit-seed-extract-200ml-100ml-free.html?___store=en_gb&type=shopping&campaign=mediumproducts&pays=UK&gclid=Cj0KCQjwkIGKBhCxARIsAINMioJr4EXZxQMZHwateBBCSjCNGIYM0wpjJxYP5XlXTUpPRYqOi9Eo8_QaAvjREALw_wcB

Don’t EVER make a DIY sinus rinse or use water. You can get a particular strain of meningitis that has a 99% death rate.

You have my every sympathy, I had this when heavily pregnant & couldn't take anything other than paracetamol. I couldn't sleep for the pain, I just cried. I cried to the GP & begged him for help, he gave me antibiotics & it cleared up within 2 days. I could have kissed him x

Can you get ClaritinD in the UK? or any of the antihistamines with a 'D' after the name. They are OTC but usually behind the pharmacists counter here in the US.