Relief from sinus infection?

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

Went to doctors 2 weeks ago with migraine headache i'd had for a week and told I had a sinus infection.

I was prescribed Co-Codamol, Naproxen and a nasal spray. All have run out.

I'm mostly ok, but wake up with a headache and if I don't take paracetamol this progresses to cheek and nasal pain. If I let myself get hungry or thirsty I can't get rid of the headache that comes with it.

I can't sleep as it hurts my cheek too much and painkillers don't touch the pain at night.

I can't get into the doctors for 2 weeks as it takes 200+ phonecalls to get through for a same day and they're all gone by the time I get through.

So what can I do to relieve the pain? I have a 3 year old so can't just rest.

You've got an infection for it to be going on this long and you probably need antibiotics. See your GP.

I suffered from them for years. Until you see your GP, cut out dairy products, inhale lots of steam and try a vaporiser... the plug in type.

In agony with this but can’t get through to a doctor to see me

Could you buy some otc co-codamol in the mean time? And take ibuprofen too? I’ve used a decongestant nasal spray from the supermarket/boots before and found it very good. Definitely agree with steam and the plug in vaporiser and drink loads of fluids. Sleep wise, I find propping myself up as much as I can with pillows helps. It’s much more painful lying flat.

Can’t take ibuprofen as I’m asthmatic

Sinus pain is the worst. I've tried lots of different remedies and found putting my head over a bowl of boiling water has provided the most relief. Hope you feel better soon.

I walked down to the doctors, no appointments. The receptionist said I'm unlikely to get a same day appointment due to demand so to keep my routine one which is on 14th November.

Will be honest and say I've taken a blister pack of 30/500 co-codamol off a friend as they did the job when the doctor gave them me before, they're working now too.

Do you have a local OOH GP service that you could contact?

We use this more than our own GP to be honest as if you phone at just past 6.30pm when they hand the phones over, you can get an appointment within a few hours.

There is but it's in the next town and I don't own a car so I try to avoid using them as I have to wake DD (aged 3) up, walk to my mums and then either take DD with me or leave her with my mum.

I will present myself at the surgery at 8am tomorrow morning and hope it's the sympathetic receptionist. DDs Nursery opens at 7.30 and I've dropped her a bit before then occasionally so sure they won't mind.

Have you tried a neti pot ? Snorting salt water also works

Sudafed tablets, the only thing that works when I have sinus headaches.

Its agony you poor thing ! Ok call the 111 NHS number and insist you see someone . Buy a bottle called neil mes or neli med and douche your sinuses . You need antibiotic and they will probably give you a rubbish one like amoxicillin before ... what you need is doxycycline. Maybe tell them amoxicillin makes you feel itchy and then you will get doxy ! Been there ... lots of steam and those neli or neil med rinses , steroid nose drops too .
Its quite common after kids as pregnancy hormones mess with the linings of the nose . With the NHS he who shouts loudest gets heard ! If you cant get an lappointment them you have a one sides headache that makes you feel sick and light hurts your eyes and you have a temperature... that'll get em running cos they will have to exclude meningitis

Sinutab are much better than sudafed - just discovered them this year and they are amazing. They have paracetamol in them so be careful. It took me three packs to clear my last awful cold/infection. Hard if you can’t take ibuprofen to top up in between though.

No OOO near you? Sounds like it really might need an antibiotic.

Was going to say Neti pot, amazing to see how much comes out! Best relief of the punched in the head throb of a sinus infection I've ever found

Last year I had a sinus infection for nearly two months but got nothing from the doctors so don’t count on getting anything from your gp.

Multivitamins, the purple Otrivine nasal spray and inhaling menthol steam saved me. This year I got a sinus rinser from boots too.. good luck!

I feel for you, I suffer with a lot of sinus problems.
A hot flannel over the face gives me some relief.

I have the same thing Sudafed will help but if it’s been going on this long you need antibiotics.i went to drs on Tuesday and thankfully was prescribed them and I am starting to feel a lot better. I would try to get an appointment ASAP. I sympathise as it’s horrible

Look up sinus rinses or nasal douching it will really help. I suffer quite regularly but our CCG have instructed GP's to only see patients when there is a sign of chronic infection. TMI here but for my GP that's when the you blow your nose and it smells.

I've already been to the GP two weeks ago as I had a migraine that had gone on for a week so they insisted on seeing me, was given a nasal spray which I think was a decongestant. But he said to go back if I got worse or didn't feel better within a week as I might need oral antibiotics - I've been trying to get in to a GP again since.

I have asthma so GP usually sees me if I'm complaining of congestion/breathing problems as it usually ends up on my chest if not.

I've taken the co-codamol and feel much better, I'm relieving the last bit of pain with a hot water bottle on my face.

If I can't get into GPs tomorrow my mum will make me go to OOH over the weekend so at most it's 48 more hours before I see anyone.

Try otravine sinusitis. It's £4 in the pharmacy

Our drs appts open at 8am for same day. Phones open at 8am and doors open at 8am. Any chance you can turn up 10mins before they open and be first in line?

I regularly get sinus infections. I’ve found the best over the counter relief is sinutab. It’s got a different decongestion medication which I find a lot better than other cold and flu stuff (think it’s pseudo ephedrine rather than phenylephrine). Boots do an own brand one without paracetamol so you can take it with cocodamol if you need to, although you’ll probably feel a bit woozy! Hope you’re feeling better soon.

It’s a 40 minute walk from Nursery to Drs but hoping the Nursery will take her 10 minutes early as I never use all the hours I pay for anyway so hoping to be at doctors by 8am at the latest. They open at 8 for telephone calls first appointment is at 8.30

Hope you get it sorted, i had ongoing sinus pain for a long time until gp finally gave me antibiotics and a spray. The spray was the same one i use for hayfever (beconase) which you can buy at pharmacy if you cant see doc.

www.rd.com/health/conditions/sinus-headache-home-remedies/

Humidifier also great

Bloody sinus infections are crap! The otrivine spray is fab but be careful as you can only use them for a few days. The best thing I found was the nasal rinse (Neti pot) and the Sudafed sinus pain tabs.