Do I need to see a HCP about this or wait it out? (Virus etc now very red eye & facial pain)

[Coffeecaketoday]

Hi all.

I've had a virus/cold for about 10 days now. Quite a bad one that's knocked me for six. I've had cold sweats and hot flushes etc. I had a small fever which I posted here about as I wondered if it could be an infection. I didn't have any coughing (yet). Anyway, still unwell with nausea/runny nose and now since last night I've developed a cough where I was coughing so much I was vomiting.

All 4 COVID tests are negative.

2 days ago I had terrible pain down one side of my face, in my cheek, jaw and behind my eye. Since I'm still very snotty I assumed sinuses. It was very painful so I was taking regular paracetamol, the pain has gotten a bit better now but my eye on the side where I have the pain has gone very very red/bloodshot.

Basically I have no idea if I need to do anything or just keep taking the paracetamol. The eye thing has thrown me as well. Could be related or just one of those things. Haven't scratched it or got anything in it either! It also started prior to the cough, it coincided with the facial pain.

Thanks :)

It could be Uveitis so you need to see an Optician ASAP (Not the GP) see if you have an emergency eye centre near you connected to a hospital. Ours is just a walk in

I second the suggestion to see an optician. I have had uveitis, diagnosed by my optician who wrote a letter for me to take to the nearest A&E with an eye emergency dept.

Sounds like it might be shingles to me
You can get medication to help with this
Yes you need to see a GP

Thanks all.

I've had uveitis in both eyes before and I don't have any light sensitivity like I did then. So not sure it's that to be honest.

You need to see a medical professional.

Thank you. I'm unsure who to contact - GP, optician etc

phone your Gp surgery today and see what they say you are in obvious discomfort.

If you have a local eye hospital with an A&E I would go straight there. We took DS recently without a GP letter (as I'd done in the past) and we were seen surprisingly quickly by doctors with specialist knowledge and access to specialist imaging equipment. Otherwise I second the optician.

Sounds a bit like shingles to me too with it only affecting one side of your face

I'd ring GP first, I had a sinus infection that went to my eye once and it started with it being red/bloodshot then the next day I could hardly open it. Was told off for leaving the sinus infection so long, although I'd called for antibiotics 3 days before and been told I'd not had the sinus infection long enough 🤦🏼‍♀️ i suffer with them a lot so know when I need antibiotics x

Sounds like shingles to me. If you see a GP today they may be able to prescribe you anti-virals to help if you’ve caught it early enough. There’s only a certain amount of time to take them before they don’t work so I’d get seen sooner rather than later.

Just to update, I've got an opticians appointment later today. Thanks for your advice!

It doesn’t sound like shingles to me.