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.

Side of my face, not wisdom tooth!

yes of course...good point!
( I wonder if some sort of teapot would make a temp' sub' for the neti?)

Ring 111.

Op are sure it's not COVID?

@RosesAndHellebores

Ia this how private stuff works? I'e you can use it ad hoc and don't have to sign up etc?.
How do you find a private doctor?

Call 111, but in the meantime put a pinch of menthol crystal added to a bowl of hot water, put a towel over your head and inhale the vapours. It really helped me when I had sinusitis.

If you take co-codamol make sure you account for your previous doses of paracetamol. It’s really easy to take too much when you are in pain and not thinking straight. Write down to time of each dose.

This sounds like something i had a few years ago. I had had pain in my sinuses for years and was referred to a specialist who couldn’t find an issue, then one weekend it became horrendous, all across the side of my head and face - I’ve never known pain like it (even worse than child birth) i fainted at the walk in centre due to the pain, was sent to A&E, they scanned my brain, gave me oramorph… it turned out to be a tooth abscess. It seems that every time i was slightly congested it affected the nerve in my tooth. It may be worth seeing if you can get an emergency dental appointment? Hope you are ok x

Could it be TMJ? I get it and it’s agony. Ibuprofen helps, is there another anti inflammatory you are able to have- I’m not sure if there’s anything similar?

Definitely sounds like sinusitis - I suffer with it regularly. I'd go to urgent care at some point and they'll be able to give you a prescription. 500mg Amoxicillin/doxycycline is the only thing that shifts mine when it starts. You'll feel like a new person by the second tablet. Hope you feel better soon OP

It could be either sinusitis or a tooth abscess. Some people have roots that actually go into the sinus, so it can be hard to tell. If the pain is absolutely unbearable you definitely should see someone tonight.

Oh sounds like sinusitis, you need antibiotics. I had it earlier this year, it's so painful, like being punched in the face

Sinusitis can turn really nasty and even be fatal, it's also agonising.......make an appointment with out of hours if you need to but don't delay getting antibiotics. The sooner they get to work the better.

I had awful sinus pain when I was pregnant, paracetamol wasn't touching it, and I had the toothache too. I found Anbesol ( teething liquid/gel for babies) to be a Godsend, dabbed it on where the "toothache" seemed to be and it gave me some ease. Also those little hand held warmers, that click the wee button inside to warm up your hands? Well I had two of them and basically kept one on my face at all times and the other was resetting itself in boiling water, as you have to reset the gel in boiling water once it goes cold. And then swapped them over as needed. This kept me sane until I got prescribed antibiotics which was the only thing that shifted it for me. Hope you get some ease soon, it's just awful😩

Have called 111 and am waiting on a call back from a clinician. Thank you all for your kind words. Not sure how I'm going to get to sleep but I'm praying I will be prescribed some antibiotics and start to feel better soon

You can just google private hospitals in your area and ring them direct. Most will let you pay as you go - I’ve done that many times, ie booked to see a consultant and just paid for the appointment (usually £250ish per appointment). Often if you need treatment they’ll offer a 0% interest payment plan if it’s over a certain amount for a surgery etc if you don’t have insurance. (Not saying op needs to do that, just replying to your query).

Wisdom tooth?

It sounds as though it might be trigeminal neuralgia as OP mentions pain on side of face. It’s acknowledged as being some of the worst pain that can be experienced. OP, I hope you get sorted soon.

These were my exact symptoms when my eardrum burst due to an infection. Well technically just before it burst. I thought I had a cold and toothache, but then I was doing some face massages and my ear sounded like a tin whistle and bled. It was absolutely agony before that! You need antibiotics regardless of what it is - hope 111 are helpful ❤️

ps it really can be the worst pain ever, I promise it passes!

I hope you get seen by a medical professional soon, in person.

This seems to have come on suddenly, out of the blue. That warrants checking out, plus you seem to also be systemicslly unwell :(

It does sound potentially tooth related but we can't diagnose here.

Sinusitis tends to be bilateral if it involves the normally affected sinuses, and not just one one side.

The pain isn't behind your ear, right?

I also wondered about shingles..that can make you feel really, really bad.

Hope you got some help OP! Sounds terrible

It’s your sinuses. Mine broke yesterday after 3 days of horrific pain.

Can you hold your nose and blow and try and get your ears to pop? It was the only thing that gave me any relief. Ibuprofen, which usually works for me for dental pain didn’t touch it, paracetamol eased it, but didn’t give total relief.

When equalising my ears, the sore side took a lot longer to do, and was ‘sticky’. I’ve got some microwaveable hand warmers and I spent 2 days with them on my face.

Good luck OP, it does pass eventually.
you probably don’t want me to tell you that my cough is back worse than ever, so I won’t ;)