To go to the doctor for a cold?

[Saltdoughmuncher]

It’s been 2 weeks of snot and feeling lousy. I’ve spent days in bed and on the sofa and today I’m still full of green mucus from my sinus’ and in a lot of pain in my face. If I tip my head down the pain is intense but I’ve taken paracetamol every day for 2 weeks so I’m wary of continuing it.

I’ve avoided the GP so far as it is really just a bad cold/virus- but I’m meant to be at work next week and I’m not going to manage with the pain in my head and sinuses.

Purple otrivine spray is a game changer. Or a nasal rinse, I've got this one from Boots - www.boots.com/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit-10077009

They won't (or shouldn't) give you antibiotics for this as it's a virus. I had sinusitis for nearly 8 weeks the other year.

Try sterimar nasal spray. It’s amazing for sinusitis.

I have a sinus infection at least every 3 weeks (under an ENT dr)

I would really advise to go. Rarely sinus infections can pass to the brain. My brother in law died of this. Not to scare you. But that’s why they always give sinus infections antibiotics. Unless they are 100% it’s viral

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. Which can be caused by virus or bacterial. Mine unfortunately are always bacterial. My ent dr says to watch out for temp. Green mucus. Length of time.

A dr or a phone consult can help.

Aargh! this thread is giving me the rage and I don't even have a cold/sinus infection/sinusitis sorry!

All those saying no way, its only a cold, have you actually read the OP's posts? only a Doctor will know the difference between a heavy cold, sinusitis and a sinus infection, or a good pharmacist, who may direct you to see a doctor.

Steam. Only thing which helps me.
Boiling hot water in a pot for easy handling, TINIEST bit of vaporub and towel over the head.
I always have few days of fever and then it goes away.
Steam, take extra vitamin c and get yourself warm headband. If you have one now use it, if not wrap some scarf around your head to keep your forehead warm. Warm soups etc. It will go soon if you attack it with all you have.

crossposted with you @Mrshue good advice

Try an antihistamine if you are able to whilst breast feeding. They will help shrink the sinuses

Hi OP
I’m going to go against the grain I’ve been told a 2 week rule. I had the same pain as you 3 years ago I ignored it for about 2 months it’s just a cold it will pass. Finally went to drs who told me off for not coming in sooner as it needed antibiotics and it was a 3 week course due to the fact I left it too long. Go to the dr.

@MrsPMT. We have similar usernames and think alike!

I get sinusitis a lot and I have been given antibiotics most times so I’d go and get checked out .
Once my secondary sinuses (back of the skull were infected too and that was up there with flu.
You could try a netti pot which is cooled freshly boiled water with a pinch of salt and half a tea spoon of bicarb.
I find it really helps flush them out but you have to do it for a few days and always with newly prepared salt water

Try a hot-warm water soaked flannel (wash cloth) across your face, have a bowl of hot-warm water with some vics or olbas oil in beside you and keep 'warming up' the flannel in the water and laying it across the sinus area of your face - I used an eye mask to keep it out of my eyes - relief was immediate and infection cleared pretty quickly. I was on week 3 by then xx

Hot water with one tiny menthol crystal in it and a towel over the head. Curry or anything else that usually makes your nose run!

The green gunk isn’t good. Could be infection rather than just a cold.

I think your plan to leave it a couple of days and phone the doc sounds good, or just go to the pharmacist for advice tomorrow? He/she is as well trained as a doctor and will know what you can or cannot use while feeding baby.

I have exactly this. My parents had it first, I started at Christmas they are a week behind me.