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Original poster

DESPERATE for help about sinuses so painful I want to cry

28 replies

IlanaK · 26/12/2006 14:38

I have never experienced anything like this before and really need some help. I had a really bad haed cold about a week ago that has since developed into terribly painful sinuses. Well, at least I think that is what it is. I am getting pain on the right side on my head (which is the same side the worst of the head cold was on) which varies between being right at the top of my nose, behind my eye sort of area, or actually much higher on my head. The pain is excruciatingly bad. Christmas day I had to leave the dinner table and lay down in a dark room. It is not a migraine - I have had them before thoguh rarely and this is nothing like it. I no longer have any stuffiness in my nose and only the last remenants of the cold.

Nothing is working to stop the pain. I have tried the cold medicines I was taking last week (which worked well on my cold) like sudafed, benelyin, etc. I have tried a sinus spray. I have tried neurofen, paracetamol, anadin, co-codamol.

It comes a goes a little through the day. I woke fine this morning but am now typing this in agony and am about to go lay down again.

I will try to get a GP appointment tomorow when they re-open, but am now wondering if it could be anything more serious and should I call NHS direct or go to out of hours clinic?

In a way, I am hoping someone will come along and just say that this is normal for sinisitis and it only feels so bad as I have never experienced it before and it will pass. On the other hand, it has not passed in many days and I want to be able to do something about it.

Please help if you know anything about this.

OP posts:
foxinsocks · 26/12/2006 14:43

how high on your head is the pain?

have you tried inhaling steam (put your head over a hot bowl of water, put a towel over the top of your head and inhale the warm air)?

jampots · 26/12/2006 14:44

Ilana - i sympathise i really do.

What might work is Kool & Soothe - menthol pads which you apply to your head/neck area (as appropriate). Also lie on your bed on your tummy and hang your head over the side of the bed - this is the optimum position to drain your sinuses. Also Taking your forefinger and thumb press the hard bit on teh bridge of your nose firmly between thumb/forefinger - this also helps to "break the seal" as it were and enables drainage/releases pressure.

Kittypickle · 26/12/2006 14:45

Huge amounts of sympathy, I had sinusitis that wouldn't clear for a bit once and it was horrible. I rang my doctor who said that if sudafed etc wasn't working then they were probably infected and that I would need antibiotics to shift it, which they did. I think if it were me and cocoadol wasn't dealing with the pain I would ring the out of hours clinic to see what they say. Hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
IlanaK · 26/12/2006 14:54

Thanks everyone. I did wonder if they might be infected, but as my nose is no longer producing copious amounts of green snot as it was when I had the cold, I assumed they weren't. I think I will get a GP appointment in the am (hopefully) and get some antibiotics.

OP posts:
Carmenere · 26/12/2006 15:15

Oh no you don't need to have a snotty nose to have a sinus infection I really feel for you as I get them frequently. avoid dairy products like cheese and cream as they are mucus forming and can aggravate your sinuses and go to your gp asap as it certainly sounds like you need ab's. Good luck.

Original poster
IlanaK · 26/12/2006 15:23

Ah ok. I just assumed snot would go along with it. I will definatley push for an appointment tomorow then. How long does it take to clear once on the antibiotics?

OP posts:
Carmenere · 26/12/2006 15:28

The relief is pretty rapid and it will clear up in a couple of days.

3flightsofsleighbellsring · 26/12/2006 15:30

Eeeek, had this a fortnight ago and was in 1st trimester and couldn't take anything for the pain. Soooo painful, I do feel for you.

Here are my tips...
Get some menthol crystals from over the counter at a chemist, fill the wash hand basin with hot water (not boiling), stick a towel over your head and stay there for 5 mins breathing through your nose (if poss!).
As well as the pressure point between your nose and cheek, there's another one (and this is weird) between your thumb and forefinger in the fleshy bit - press with other thumb and forefinger for temp relief when it gets too bad.
Paracetamol - not great but helped me sleep.
Vicks and olbas oil for help sleeping.
4 pillows to keep you upright-ish in bed.

My green gunk (sorry!) was totally stuck for a week, I spoke to NHS direct and they said if it was infected I would need antibiotics (as pp said) - and if sudafed etc. isn't working, I suspect it might be...

Good luck - you have my sympathies.

foxinsocks · 26/12/2006 15:35

also ask the doc how quickly they (the antibs) should work so you know when you should go back if you need to - (the antibs never worked for me but then I was given a nasal spray because apparently the pain was caused by inflammation rather than infection)

Original poster
IlanaK · 26/12/2006 15:41

Ok, thanks. All good tips. I have been lucky to have dh home over the last few days when it has got really bad so he could take over for me, but he goes back to work tomorow. Not sure how i will cope!

OP posts:
BibiThree · 08/01/2007 09:07

HI, I'm hijacking this thread as I've got nasty sinitis too, can't see the Dr until 4:30 this afternoon, and I want to rip my face off. I haven't been able to eat or sleep for about 3 days, the pain is in my upper gums so I can't chew and from what I've read online this is a sinus infection.

Will the Dr give me antibiotics while pg? I'm trying to manage with paracetamol but they aren't touching me at all, and I spent a large part of yesterday crying in pain.

DumbledoresGirl · 08/01/2007 09:20

Bibithree, don't take this as gospel, but think you can have penicillin in pregnancy and that would clear your sinusitis.

I know this because I had sinusitis when pregnant and could take nothing for it because I am allergic to penicillin and no other ABs were suitable given my pregnant state. I had to suffer for ages, doing all the steam inhalation stuff (which was fairly useless as I recall) but I definitely remember there was a drug I could have had had I not been allergic to it (I am allergic to more than just penicillin).

DumbledoresGirl · 08/01/2007 09:21

PS, meant to offer you a sympathetic hug as you sound in agony and I remember well the misery of it all.

BibiThree · 08/01/2007 09:28

Thanks Dumbledores girl, I am ready to try anything now, I really hope they can give me something.

mrsdarcy · 08/01/2007 09:35

I've had penicillin in pregnancy for sinusitis and it clears it pretty quickly. I used to get it at least once every winter, but since I started doing inhalations with tea tree oil I have been able to clear it up myself.

Just put a few drops of tea tree oil in some very hot water and stick your head over it with a towel on top. The steam helps clear your sinuses and the tea tree oil helps with the infection.
hth

DumbledoresGirl · 08/01/2007 09:38

I was going to suggest exactly what Mredarcy has suggested re steam inhalation. I used a menthol eucalyptus thing you can buy in the chemist mixed with hot water. IME it won't really help, but it will make you feel you are doing something while you wait for the dr appt! It sounds like you will be prescribed penicillin, and it will soon relieve your symptoms, so hang on in there and be brave!

caffeinequeen · 08/01/2007 10:12

I would definitely second the inhalation method. I was in such pain before Christmas - and like the OP just wanted to cry - I had toothache, faceache as well as the sore throat etc that are associated with an infection.
I was steaming about 5 or 6 times a day and made a huge difference - much more than anything I bought otc.
Hth and that you feel better soon. You have my sympathies as it's horrid.

runnyhabbit · 08/01/2007 10:42

My mum has suffered with sinus pain for years but keeps under control by having regular facial massages. The beautician she sees is well aware of mums sinus trouble, and just uses a very natural moisturiser (no oils) to carry out the facial. For a day or so afterwards, her nose runs non stop, but then everything is fine. She goes about 6-8 weeks, and hasn't had any sinus problem (or very little) in the 2 years she's being doing it.

HTH

BibiThree · 08/01/2007 11:00

I've been inhaling steam about 5 times a day, and have tried olbas oil, vicks and karvol over a bowl and with a steam inhaler, but none bring any relief, I'll try the tea tree oil though. The steam inhaler from Boots seems compeltely uselss as no steam seems to come out of it, not like when you inhale over a bowl anyway.

I just wish my jaws didn't hurt so much, I can't chew and anything I do manage to swallow comes straight back up anyway thanks to mornign sickness.

Roll on 4:30!

wildwomanofborneo · 08/01/2007 11:04

A drastic last ditch option for people who really suffer long term with sinus problems is a nose job! Both my boyfriend and brother were treated this way as they had had years of sinus problems and what a difference it made. It's a medical procedure of course so is done in NHS hospitals and there isn't a lot of change to the nose shape as it's all internal.

jalopy · 08/01/2007 14:43

I've got bad sinus pain and have had it for weeks. Mine isn't due to a cold but allergies. I think the cold damp weather has started if off. Leaf mould and spores are the culprits. On top of that I suffer dust allergies, etc. Central heating and air con don't help either.
I've got eye pain, sore teeth and gums but no nasal drainage. I can feel heat over my cheek and eye area. It's horrible. Got an appt. to see Dr in a few days. Sinus pain so bad I've had a twitching eye for weeks (don't laugh).

foxinsocks · 08/01/2007 14:45

I've got the same jalopy (I also get that twitching eye - it's horrid, isn't it!) - it's so annoying and I feel I haven't been without a sinus headache now for weeks ggrrrr.

I've bought some Flixonase from Boots and I'm going to try and use that every day for a few weeks and see what happens.

Will be interested in hearing what your doctor says.

jalopy · 08/01/2007 14:49

Hi, foxy. I've never had it so bad that it has affected the nerve in my lower eye area. Not sure if GP will give me antibiotics as I don't have any drainage just really bad inflammation. It's awful, isn't it?

foxinsocks · 08/01/2007 14:53

yes, I have the same. My nose is a bit blocked but not like a cold or anything. I'm sure the pain in mine is from inflammation and like you, I think it's been triggered because of some sort of allergy. I took a piriton the other night and slept like a dream but they make me feel too groggy. I'm hoping the Flixonase might do the trick.

The eye thing really is horrible - I think it's made worse my not sleeping properly as well you poor thing! Let us know what the doc says.

foxinsocks · 08/01/2007 14:54

I meant to say 'by not sleeping properly' not my! hope you feel better soon

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