Sinuses, ow, how much longer??

[nellynaemates]

I had a cold last week (well started week before last) and it was magically replaced by extremely painful sinuses on Wednesday morning, I'm not managing to cope with the pain without regular paracetamol (and ibuprofen if I'm not going to be feeding DS for a while). It's only on the right side of my face so my nose is producing nasty green mucus, my head, behind my eye, my cheek bone, my nose, and my top teeth are very sore.

I'm really fed up of it, was hoping it would pass by now. How long does acute sinusitis usually last for? I've read that if it's not gone in 7 days to see a doctor but it'll be Christmas then (and I've also read that antibiotics are unlikely to be effective anyway as it's impossible to tell if it's bacterial or viral).

Grr. Just wanted a little moan and some reassurance that it will all end soon!

I had this and the Dr said that if the sinusitis lasted more than 2 weeks after the onset of a cold (virus), then it was likely to have developed into a bacterial infection and antibiotics might help. Could you see your doctor before crimble and get a prescription just incase?

I have had this, it went on for a week and I got amoxixillin in the end, they stared to have an effect straight off but have had some side effects....feel loads better today.

Nelly, I had my first bout of sinusitis in the summer, and was shocked to realise that it wasn't just a bit of pain in the cheek area, as I'd always assumed. As well as the pain you describe, I felt DIRE, really under the weather. Must have been the infection making me feel so bad, I assume.

I never even guessed it might be sinusitis - just went to the GP to find out why I felt so bad and after a week why it wasn't any better. She diagnosed it, and prescribed anti-b's, which I took. Lo and behold, I got better and TOUCH WOOD, have not had it since, although I'm told once you've had it once it's likely you'll get it again at some point.

I've just had a bout of this and got amoxicillin (sp?) from the drs - feel much better after a day or 2.

I sympathise - I felt awful.

Have you tried boiling water with olbas oil in?

My sister says sinutab works (I'm not sure you can take this if pregnant or breastfeeding).

get some antibiotics just in case. If you start getting a mixture of clear & green snot then very likely to be an infection.

Thanks for the replies, I completely forgot to come back and check! Sinus pain (and yukky) snot have not gone yet but they are gradually becoming less painful so I'm hoping that it's getting better by itself.

I'm just loathed to take antibiotics unless I really really have to as I'm prone to thrush.

curlyhaired assassin - I know what you mean about being shocked, I've had sinus pain before as part of a cold, but never pain like this! I couldn't believe the pain in my teeth especially, it reminded me of when I had braces and the feeling after they'd been tightened!

The level of pain isn't quite what it was so think I can manage it, if it continues for more than a week I will go to the docs just in case but it does seem to be fading away.

Yes, that teeth pain thing - I had that too, horrible. Exactly like the tightening after braces. My whole jaw bone hurt. Glad it's getting better for you.