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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How to reduce COVID headache and gum ache

30 replies

Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 16:38

Hi all, sorry not really an AIBU but after a third sleepless night due to COVID pains, I am desperate to get some tips for how to manage the pain.

I find paracetamol helps with the fever and Lemsip helps with the sneezing but how to deal with the constant head ache and gum ache?

Do I use a hot water bottle? Cold compress?

I had a dental check up 8 months ago and teeth and gums were in good shape but it’s the second time I’ve had Covid and the second time my gums ache.

Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
LadyPenelope68 · 14/01/2022 16:44

No idea, sorry, but I’m experiencing the same awful headache and gum pain, you have my total sympathy.

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 17:02

Ah thanks LadyPenelope, I’m sorry you have the same pain Sad

What on earth is this virus doing to us.

OP posts:
ThreeLittleDots · 14/01/2022 17:43

Ibuprofen as long as it's normally safe for you to take. It reduces inflammation and pressure on your sinuses.

Sh05 · 14/01/2022 17:57

If your headache is being caused by a stuffy nose then maybe try inhaling the steam from a steamy cup of Vicks water. Cover your head and face with a blanket/ towel then carefully inhale the steam.
Otherwise have your tried the 4head stick? It's like a roll on balm and provides a sort of cooling sensation. I normally pick one up from the local pharmacy.

WorraLiberty · 14/01/2022 18:14

I second Ibuprofen, it really helps.

romany4 · 14/01/2022 18:37

I had a "head in a vice" headache with Covid.
Only thing that eased it a little was ibuprofen.

EdinaMonsoon · 14/01/2022 18:42

I also had the “head stuck in a vice” headache with Covid. I took ibuprofen & paracetamol alternately throughout the day - even if the pain was less - on the advice of my GP.

FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 18:43

Just coming to say “yes” about the unbearable banging headache/gum ache (also earache. Face bone ache. Hip ache. Back ache.... amirite?)

Also yes to ibuprofen. I took it with a lemsip Max and found it meant at least 3 hours of reasonable pain reduction. Either taken alone didn’t seem to do much for me....

HippeePrincess · 14/01/2022 18:43

Sudafed, it’s probably pressure from your sinuses

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 19:06

Thanks everyone. I didn't think of Ibuprofen as it didn't used to help with period pain.

DH is now allowed out of isolation so will ask him for a couple of these.

@FloatyBoaty thankfully no back ache, that would be the icing on the cake. I have developed a twitchy eye, but that one is almost fun due the novelty.

Back to bed x

OP posts:
FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 21:14

@Ellavoday

I’ve got COVID TONGUE.

I looked in the mirror last night and it was covered in weird sore looking patches ... googled and yep...covid tongue is a thing.

😩

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 14/01/2022 21:26

Oh that explains my sore gums. Bloody virus.

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 22:57

[quote FloatyBoaty]@Ellavoday

I’ve got COVID TONGUE.

I looked in the mirror last night and it was covered in weird sore looking patches ... googled and yep...covid tongue is a thing.

😩[/quote]
Oh you poor thing! Do you have to have anti-biotics?

Hope it clears up soon

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 14/01/2022 22:59

I have ulcers covid has gone but the mouth ulcers remain ffs

Phoenix76 · 14/01/2022 23:01

Oh gawd op that sounds horrible. Hopefully you’re resting now. I just wanted to say please check whether your lemsip is one of the ones with paracetamol as you don’t want to be taking it with paracetamol tablets or you could accidentally overdose which would be a serious problem. I agree that Sudafed spray would be good for sinus relief (maybe instead of lemsip if it has paracetamol) but be careful as it works so well you could form a reliance on it. My doctor also recommended anti histamines believe it or not (when I had a bad infection, not covid haven’t had that yet) as it dries mucus up, best one I used was Benadryl once a day (I tried many, even though the cheaper ones listed the same ingredients, still don’t understand that one).
Maybe a warm eye compress (or cold, different ones work for different people). Hope you get some relief very soon.

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 23:02

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Oh that explains my sore gums. Bloody virus.
Oh no, you too!

I dread to think of the long terms on our bodies.

OP posts:
mrstnov13 · 14/01/2022 23:06

I had a headache for 3 days straight, nothing i took really touched it unfortunately, I just stayed in bed and snoozed a lot. And yes to sore, tender gums! It ached where I've had a root canal.

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 23:08

@Phoenix76

Oh gawd op that sounds horrible. Hopefully you’re resting now. I just wanted to say please check whether your lemsip is one of the ones with paracetamol as you don’t want to be taking it with paracetamol tablets or you could accidentally overdose which would be a serious problem. I agree that Sudafed spray would be good for sinus relief (maybe instead of lemsip if it has paracetamol) but be careful as it works so well you could form a reliance on it. My doctor also recommended anti histamines believe it or not (when I had a bad infection, not covid haven’t had that yet) as it dries mucus up, best one I used was Benadryl once a day (I tried many, even though the cheaper ones listed the same ingredients, still don’t understand that one). Maybe a warm eye compress (or cold, different ones work for different people). Hope you get some relief very soon.
Aw thanks Phoenix. I was alternating between the paracetamol and Lemsip every 4 hours but I must admit I was tempted to take them together, but resisted.

I didn’t think of anti-histamines, how strange, will try those too.

I have one of those gel eye masks you can add to hot water, will try that as well now.

Thank you so much, hopefully will get some sleep tonight! xx

OP posts:
Sunbeam18 · 14/01/2022 23:17

I had a 3-day headache too, mine was on days 8-10 of symptoms. Was yours later on in the whole process too?

Original poster
Ellavoday · 14/01/2022 23:22

My headache started quite soon, on day 3 of symptoms.

OP posts:
PoptartPoptart · 14/01/2022 23:26

Maybe try Solpadeine (paracetamol and codeine) and/or Nurofen Plus (ibuprofen and codeine)
Just be careful to leave at least 4 hours in between due to the codeine in both.
They really help with severe and hard to shift headaches

Sunbeam18 · 14/01/2022 23:29

Wishing you a full recovery very soon

SheriffCallie · 14/01/2022 23:29

This is so interesting. My children had covid in December, I was testing negative but had a very unusual gum flare up and was in so much pain with my mouth. Have now tested positive myself this month, and mouth is fine, but I had wondered if the gum thing was a weird covid symptom for me. I’ve never had it before and don’t bloody want it again!

BIWI · 14/01/2022 23:30

You need to take a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen - intersperse them, so take paracetamol, then two hours later take ibuprofen, then two hours later more paracetamol. So there are four hours between each dose of paracetamol and four hours between each dose of ibuprofen, but you're taking some medication every 2 hours.

Don't take Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus, as they both contain codeine. So you could take Solpadeine (paracetamol and codeine) and then ordinary Nurofen, or ordinary paracetamol and then Nurofen Plus - but not both of them.

PoptartPoptart · 18/01/2022 23:32

Don't take Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus, as they both contain codeine. So you could take Solpadeine (paracetamol and codeine) and then ordinary Nurofen, or ordinary paracetamol and then Nurofen Plus - but not both of them
You can take both as long as you leave 4-6 hours in between.