I'm in so much pain and I don't know what to do

[Typo22]

Sorry to post here and for the dramatic title, I'm just in desperate need of help.

I've had this god awful cold since Friday and have been bed bound with fever, nausea, aching and no energy.

Yesterday I thought I was on the mend but then I started to get a throbbing in one side of my jaw. Today this has gotten so much worse and the entire right side of my face is throbbing and in agony and I have a horrific headache. I can't take ibuprofen because I'm allergic, so I've been taking Paracetamol but today it isn't helping at all. I've been crying most of the day which is making my headache worse, but I'm just in so much pain and I don't know what to do.

I bought some stronger decongestants from the pharmacy today to try which haven't helped, the GP receptionist I spoke to this morning said if they didn't work to call back later today and they can see if they have an appointment. So I called back and spoke to someone who said no space, try Livi (no appointments on there either)

I don't know how I'm going to get through tonight because I can't relax or sleep, all I keep thinking about is the pain. And what if I call my doctors tomorrow and they can't see me? Or say they can't prescribe antibiotics and I just have to ride it out. I'm so desperate to feel well again.

I have tried hot compress, hot shower, bowl of boiling water and a towel over my head, I've ordered one of those neti pot things which hopefully should arrive by tomorrow. I've been doing facial massages I found on YouTube. I'm all out of ideas.

Are you sure this isn't toothache or an abscess?

Co-codomal?

111

If it’s this severe I would ring 111. They can assess you and get you seen in out of hours. It could be anything from an abscess to a nerve issue.

I think you need to get help from somewhere.

Sure it’s not an abscess?

I'm pretty certain it's sinus related, I've been so blocked up for days not able to breathe through my nose, every now and then when I move I hear/feel a little crackling noise.

I do have co-codamol which I will take when I can have some pain killers although I took it earlier in the week and it made me stomach so nautious.

It's Thursday, the pubs aren't shut yet. Frankly, I'd go to A&E. You are likely to be awake all night anyway. Or, you phone your local.private hospital tomorrow that runs a GP service and pay £95 for the appointment and probably £50ish for a private prescription.

I hope you get help and feel better soon.

I was going to say it could be sinusitis. You can get over-the-counter nasal decongestants which may help. I've had it before after a cold, which is very painful. I also got pain in my teeth and thought I had an abscess, so I went to the dentist, but nothing was wrong with my teeth.

Sinusitis pain often mimics toothache. I take 30/500 cocodamol which usually wards it off.

I had covid last year and was recommended nasal douching for sinusitis - I was in agony. GP basically recommend cool boiled water with salt in a mug, leave over the sink, block one nostril whilst you tip/sniff the water and then let it run out the other nostril. I retched a few times but it actually worked better than pain relief. I recommend it to anyone. Hope it works if you give it a go.

*lean over sink!

I had this, was convinced it was my sinuses, turned out to be a dental abscess.

or get a neti pot!

You can buy natural salt water sprays on Amazon for next day delivery. American friend recommended them when we had covid. I used mine religiously and it really helped. Have you tried eucalyptus oil in boiling water? Although I think salt spray is most effective. Try also vicks vaporub lightly dabbed (don't burn your face!) under nose and on the pressure point between your eyes as well as the usual chest + back. Finally, an ice block wrapped in a tea towel on the head sometimes helps if you've maxed pain relief.

In addition to all the above, are you drinking enough? If you've been crying a lot it can dehydrate you and when we're ill we can often need more fluids than we feel like anyway.

I'm defo not saying that will solve the problem! But if you're even a bit dehydrated it absolutely won't help any headache.

I really hope you get pain relief soon. Sorry OP, sounds absolutely miserable.

Sinusitis or tooth abscess, either is utter agony.

@Soothsayer1 if they're in that much pain and discomfort they may want to try this tonight. They said the neti pot will hopefully arrive tomorrow...

Poor you, I had sinusitis a few years ago like this. A helpful tip I got from the GP was to use Beconase twice a day for up to a month. It's a different type of decongestant to the kind in cold medicines. She also recommended hot flannels and lots of steamy baths and showers.

111 can prescribe antibiotics- they did
for my husband when he had a bad ear infection at the weekend so couldn’t get a gp appointment

My mum was fobbed off saying she didnt have a sinus infection and just a migraine, it spread to her brain and turned into meningitis which then formed an abscess on her brain and she had to have 2/3 brain surgeries to remove it, yes this was a freak story and rare and I am not trying to scare you but just don't leave it, go to a&e to be checked

Ring 111. Don't take paracetamol and co-codamol as co-codamol has paracetamol in it.
Make sure you are propped up with your head turned so the bad side is higher.
If you have some vicks or tiger balm rub it all over the side of your face and massage the sinus on that side. DON'T get it in your eyes.
It sounds as if you need ABx so 111 is your best bet.
Sinus pain is awful. If your eye or the area round it starts swelling, go to A&E.

Try an antihistamine and gentle facial massage to try to clear the sinuses.

That sounds like sinusitis. When I had it ANYTHING just touching my face was agony. You almost definitely need antibiotics.

Call 111.

I would also call 111. When I had pain like this it was an infection around my bottom wisdom tooth. It was agony down the whole side of my wisdom tooth.