Please forgive (and bear with) the long preamble, but I'm almost at my wit's end and need to give some background. (Name changed for this.)
History of migraines, but haven't been so bad in last few years since cutting out dairy. Osteoporosis diagnosed in mid-40s after spinal fracture. Fibromyalgia diagnosed at 49, and then 18 months ago was diagnosed with persistent orafacial pain because I kept going to the dentist with 'toothache' that they couldn't explain, so was referred to Guy's oral medicine. Seem to get every cold and virus going, in fact never feel 'well' anymore for longer than 5 minutes. Have tried vitamin supplements but without success (many seem only to exacerbate feelings of being unwell). Because of unsightly and sore seborrheic dermatitis across my nose, between nose and upper lip, chin and between eyebrows (which I struggle to keep under control) I have a hard time taking painkillers and other types of medication, because they tend to bring on flare-ups. It's depressing as hell. Am pretty strict with diet as have learned the hard way that there are various things which trigger migraines, fibromyalgia and/or seb derm.
Last December had yet another cold which turned into a chest infection and was prescribed Doxycycline (allergic to amoxicillin, and so probably penicillin generally). I remember going shopping one day - I was probably halfway through the course of antibiotics - and it was really cold and I suddenly noticed a painful tingling in my nostrils (sinuses?) Was a bit taken aback but thought little of it because it wore off. I was just glad to be getting over the bronchitis to be honest. But as December turned into January I began noticing that sensation in my nose most days, and soon developed gnawing toothache (mostly upper right). No stranger to that of course, but the most worrying thing was I kept getting a nagging headache in my right temple and over my right eye. Daily. And debilitating. Oh, and my eyes were sore, dry, red with sort of 'pinprick' sensations in them at times.
Now, last autumn I had an upper left tooth pulled because a root canal done on it months before seemed to have failed (ie. I was in daily pain with it). Then weeks later needed a root canal on an upper right tooth, and it wasn't long after that I got the chest infection. So by February I was back at the dentist complaining of pain in the new root canal. My dentist is lovely and does her best for me. She's always mindful of the orafacial diagnosis now so at first she just x-rayed and noticed a couple of routine fillings that needed doing. (I've had terrible luck with my teeth - had a partial denture since I was 21, which now keeps being added to.)
I went away, but the toothache, headaches and what I now realise is sinus pain didn't. So weeks later I went back and after a very long chat we agreed I'd have the root canal tooth pulled. Not an easy choice, but the grinding, relentless pain I've been in swung it. Oh, forgot to say, I've had a couple more courses of antibiotics since December, to see if they would help, but no infection was showing on dental x-rays. Well, it must be three weeks now since the extraction, which changed nothing. My dentist warned me and she was right.
Have since seen GP who suspects sinus infection, but a further course of doxycycline has achieved nothing. My sinuses are definitely part of the problem, but I can't use steroid sprays because the seb derm flares up badly, along with some cystic acne, and then takes weeks/months to bring back under control. I've been doing the salt water irrigation thing for the last few days which helps a bit but the pain is dragging me right down. I'm so fatigued that I can't stay awake in the afternoons at the moment and sleep for 2 or 3 hours. I'm depressed and have found myself thinking dying would be preferable to all this daily pain in my face, mouth and head. I've lived with various episodes of pain for many years now but this is the worst.
Not seeing GP until Thursday. Taking Sinutab some days, antihistamines (allergic to tree pollens, yay), sometimes paracetamol (codeine dries out the sinuses and is hell the next day).
Is it possible this is a very fucking nasty virus?! Or does anyone recognise the symptoms from something they've suffered with? I've noticed very occasional bits of earache but not really - definitely some tinnitus going on though for months now, and when I blow my nose after the sinus rinse I get squeaking pressure in my ears, like the air can't get through. Don't know if that's relevant but am using Otex to loosen up potential ear wax.
I could go on, but am really sorry to have banged on enough already. Just don't know what to do for the best anymore. It is sapping the life out of me! Still got sore red eyes most days, the headache, intermittent sinus pain, blowing my nose like there’s no tomorrow, and toothache (which likes to move about – today it’s on the left). My neck, shoulders and arms ache. Not sure how much more of this I can take.