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Original poster

At my wits end - Stinking Cold

76 replies

LMW1990 · 25/02/2019 21:46

So, I have had the worst cold I have ever had for the last 10 days it is not easing in anyway.

I'm pretty sure I have sinusitis due to the colour and texture (lumpy - sorry TMI!) of the crap coming out of my nose which is also bloody and when I cough. It's even coming out of my left eye which is red and sore.

I have a chesty cough which is driving me crackers.

It gets worse on an evening/night. I cannot breathe. It is unbearable. Both nostrils are completely blocked, my mouth is as dry as a bone and I keep panicking because I have episodes where I cannot swallow and feel like I'm choking.

I can't get a GP appointment for another week and I feel pathetic going to the Walk-in (which is connected to our local A&E) with a cold.

But I am wiped. I cannot sleep. I have tried:

Ibruprofen
Cocodomol - for when I feel like I've been kicked repeatedly in the face
Decongestants
Steaming my face
Vicks - which now just burns as my skin is raw
Drinking loads of water - did nada except made me constantly need a wee.

Any other suggestions? - in particular to help me breathe!!! I'm desperate!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LMW1990 · 25/02/2019 23:03

@lozz22 crikey!! Hope she's ok now. Suffice it to say that's scared me enough to see someone tomorrow.

New symptom in the past hour when I cough my head starts to pound from the back of my neck upwards.

Other than being a bit sweaty (not fever) I'm eating normally and don't feel weak. Just exhausted from lack of sleep.

OP posts:
HoppityFrog3 · 25/02/2019 23:06

Brandy. A quarter bottle. NEAT. Hope you feel better soon. Smile

SurgeHopper · 25/02/2019 23:11

Sounds like a sinus infection

Note that I am in no way medically qualified, more of an Internet healer Grin

SurgeHopper · 25/02/2019 23:12

I'd go to the walk in or see your consultant mate at work tomorrow

Original poster
LMW1990 · 25/02/2019 23:14

I work in Ophthalmology so at I can get some drops for my gammy eye

OP posts:
BitOfAKerfuffle · 25/02/2019 23:17

You should defo see someone tomorrow.
Have similar myself minus the eye bit thought it was horrific cold let it run on got worse and worse after about 10 days went to gp who sent me straight to a&e... pneumonia. 4 weeks on im on the 3rd antibiotic it seems that it starts to improve and then boom im knocked back again. Have now got pleurisy as well to add to the list ! Hope you are feeling better soon

Original poster
LMW1990 · 25/02/2019 23:22

@bitofakerfuffle oh heck!!! I honestly thought this is just a cold and I'd be told to woman up and see it through. This has put things into perspective thank you.

I'm definitely going to get seen.

Meantime I'm keeping Kleenex in business.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 26/02/2019 00:24

I had this. I went to the doctor for something unrelated and she heard me coughing, listened to my chest and pronounced ‘crackly lungs’ and I had to have a course of antibiotics.

It’s vile. You poor thing. Go to the walk in if you can’t see a doctor.

Samind · 26/02/2019 00:28

Dissolvable Vitamin c was great when I've had the cold. But that's all mines was Confused

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 26/02/2019 00:59

Oh you sound terrible OP. I've had some kind of viral thing for about 10 days , which has knocked me sideways, but you've put me into perspective. Let us know how you get on

birdsandroses · 26/02/2019 02:33

A humidifier/steamer in your room at night may help a little with the chest.

tablelegs · 26/02/2019 02:41

I've had this for 3 weeks. It's shit. I'm at the dr tomorrow for it.

WarpedGalaxy · 26/02/2019 03:04

Yep, I had similar a couple of years ago, let it go, quacked myself with over the counter meds and thought it would pass. Allowed myself to be convinced I wasn’t just being a wimp with a bad cold by DH (I suspect he got sick of living with someone who looked, moved and sounded like a Walking Dead extra) and went to Doctor. Walking pneumonia and sinusitis, two courses of antibiotics finally saw it off but I was still not fully fit for months after. Go get proper treatment before it gets any worse.

Original poster
LMW1990 · 26/02/2019 04:40

Well it's been another blissful night so far! Mostly me trying not to cough and keep poor DP awake. What little sleep I've had I've woken up drenched in sweat.

Given in and come to lay on the sofa as I seem to be able to breathe better down here.

Fed up is not the word. I'm supposed to be up at 6 for work but I really don't think I'm well enough. Hate feeling guilty about not going though...

OP posts:
appointmentsaretheworst · 26/02/2019 04:46

Op have you done a sinus flush? Not just a spray but a proper rinse? I get sinus infections and this is the only thing that helps, quite often antibiotics don't touch it.
Though I'd get them for the chest.

appointmentsaretheworst · 26/02/2019 04:47

www.boots.com/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-10077009

Lemonyfuckit · 26/02/2019 06:44

Oh OP your poor thing. Definitely no work for you, and definitely walk in / seeing a colleague today. I know what you mean re. the guilt a) about not being in work and b) about going to the doctors for a 'cold' but it really really sounds like you have an infection and need antibiotics (again, obviously no actual medical qualifications here!) - just speaking as someone who is prone to tonsillitis / ear infections / chest infections.
So many people on here who are quite clearly sensible and who don't want to waste NHS time, battling on for two / three weeks as we know the line about over use of antibiotics and how they only work on bacterial infections not viral etc., but also deep down we also know that we're not malingering, we're actually really ill....
oh @Lozz22 I hope your mum is ok now! That sounds dreadful. I hate it when doctors say 'it's just a cold' it will pass in a few weeks when really you know it's not 'just' anything.

NanooCov · 26/02/2019 07:38

Also recommend the sinus rinse @appointmentsaretheworst posted above. Glorious for shifting gunk. Still think you need to see doc though.

Teateaandmoretea · 26/02/2019 07:44

Beconase nasal spray (the steroid one for hayfever) it takes a couple of days but settles the nasal passages down ime.

Original poster
LMW1990 · 26/02/2019 07:50

Morning all

I did used to have a sinus rinse things. Where could I get one from do you think?

I feel dreadful this morning. Worse than yesterday. I think I got about an hour downstairs before DP got up. My eye was glued shut.

Day 12!!! Surely this should be getting better?!

Waiting for GP to open and see if I can express how unwell I am. If not walk in but I'm worries about driving my eye is blurred

OP posts:
sulflower · 26/02/2019 07:52

You have the exact same symptoms as me. I have never had a cold like this before ever. Two weeks in I finally went to my GP and got antibiotics as it turned out I had sinusitis. I swear my ears are going to explode when I blow my nose due to the very loud high pitched squeaking. I am only just starting to feel better after starting the anti-biotics on Friday. I'm not one to lie down to anything but I honestly have spent so much time in my pyjamas this last fortnight it's unreal. I have felt so bloody ill. I still keep going deaf due to being bunged up and scared to pop my ears. Horrible!!

You definitely need to see a doctor. Feel better soon.

CoolJule43 · 26/02/2019 08:28

Do you have an NHS walk-in centre you can go to if you can't get in to see your GP?

Original poster
LMW1990 · 26/02/2019 08:36

@CoolJule43 yes we have one connected to the A&E at the hospital - It's looking likely that this is where I will be going!

OP posts:
Pumpkintopf · 26/02/2019 11:14

Op that sounds dreadful, please go and get seen!

EstrellaDamn · 26/02/2019 11:15

I just had two weeks off work with sinusitis, it went on forever. You have my sympathies! Get some antibiotics down you girl.