When to see doctor and what can they do?

[Twizbe]

I'm sick with some kind of bug that is kicking my arse.

It started like a cold but with a terrible cough. I'm now so congested my teeth hurt.

I'm exhausted, I can't do anything, I'm doing the bare minimum to care for the kids in the day.

I'm off food and feeling sick a lot of the time too.

It's day 8 of this. I feel like crying today. I've got so much to do and I hate being so useless.

I'm taking lemsip and it's not touching the sides of this.

I don't seem to have a fever.

Thankfully DH is wonderful and taking over after work every day.

Should I see a doctor? What can they do if it's a virus? Is it a virus if I'm still so unwell after so long?

So congested your teeth hurt sounds like my sinusitis. Apparently I have massive sinuses. Sinutabs work for me. Other people find Sudafed is better - they have different decongestants. Paracetamol etc doesn't touch it. Try lying with your head tipped back over the arm of the sofa for a bit. It's generally a virus so you just have to tough it out.

Thank you. Can you take Sudafed with lemsip? I've got some in but would need to wait a bit if that's the case.

I'm just so miserable

Yes sounds like sinus pain. A steroid nasal spray will probably help and something like sudafed or sinutabs like pp said. Ibuprofen is also pretty good for sinus pain and fine to take with lemsip.

I had a period where every cold went to my sinuses and it was really painful. The combination above really helped.

Thank you. I'm waiting for DH to get home from the shop then I'm going to take some Sudafed and go to bed.

Sounds utterly miserable and also as though there isn’t going to be a lot a GP can do to help you unfortunately. Nasal spray / decongestant / steam for your sinuses (talk to a pharmacist for recommendations) and paracetamol/ ibuprofen for general grot and pain. Some useful info on looking after coughs and when to see a doctors here www.nhs.uk/conditions/cough/

get well soon!

It's not advisable to take sudafed and lemsip together as both contain a decongestant.

I also found submerging my whole face, or one half of my face at a time, in a sink of hot/warm water really soothing.

I had this for 3 weeks, it's definitely a virus that's going round.

There's not really anything a doctor can give you.

Not much advice but I feel your pain. Day 8 of horrible tonsillitis. Started as a cold. Called the doctor. Says there's no point in antibiotics at this stage and need to sit it out. I've not left the house all week. Have to get the kids soon as oh is working tonight. Dreading it.

I had a very hot bath and plunged my face in. It really did feel a lot better thank you.

I'm in bed now and DH is doing dinner and bed for the kids.

He's amazing. Whenever he isn't working he's looking after the kids / me.

Have you got a saline nose rinse bottle? If not get one on Amazon prime. They really help flush your sinuses out.

That and night nurse got me through.

Blood can be taken and tested to see if it is bacterial or viral. If bacterial then antibiotics can be taken. Many years ago my DH nearly went permanently dead from sinusitis. You pay for the NHS through your taxes. It’s not gold leaf. Its there to be used. Make an appointment if you want to check.