Sinus Infection…SEVERE PAIN Normal??? What would you do?

posted 7 years ago in Wellness
Post # 1
Member
807 posts
Busy bee
  • Wedding: July 2010

So all last week I felt bad due to my allergies flaring up bc of the high pollen levels we have been under. Then over the weekend it hit me really hard and I knew that my allergies were turning in to a sinus infection. Now i have had sinus infections before and they suck but NEVER have I had something like this.

Monday I went to the doctor and they put me on antibiotics and told me to continue to take OTC meds for Sinus Headaches for the next couple days till the infection started clearing and I started to feel better.

I have had the antibiotics in my system for 3 days and I feel worse with each passing day. I feel 10 times worse than when I saw the doctor on monday (and trust me I felt bad then bc i HATE seeing the dr)

The pain in my head is so severe All  I really want to do is lay down and cry. My head hurts, my eyes hurt, I am having an extreme amount of jaw pain… it literally feels like someone is trying to push my teeth out of my head from the root….. my ears hurt my neck hurts back behind my ears.. It feels like my cheeks are about to explode.. anytime i move suddenly or look down it literally feels like my brain is about to come exploding out my eyes and my ears and forehead.

I have had severe nasuea & some stomach pain (it is more of a burning sensation in my stomach) … this happens about 20 mins or so after I take my antibiotics and usually results in me throwing up several times (after this my stomach feels better and my nasuea goes away till i take my 2nd dose of meds and this happens all over again.

Yesterday I started noticing alot of blood in my mucous on one side of my nose… today it has turned into nothing but blood it looks like pure blood clots coming out that side of my nose.(which is actually the side of my face that has the more severe pain)

I called the doctors office back today and told them all of my problems and how everything seems to be getting worse and I think the antibiotic is making me sicker. Pretty much she just told me that is a common side effect with antibiotics and not to take them on an empty stomach and perhaps try drinking a glass of milk prior to taking them. (this doesnt help exp since milk makes me feel bad itself & i was taking it with food)  She also recommended eating yogurt for the probotics. And said it was normal to experience some headaches & pressure with sinus problems.

I AM NOT USUALLY A BABY ABOUT THINGS. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALOT OF SO CALLED PAINFUL THINGS IN MY LIFE WITH NO PROBLEMS (c-section, knee surgery, wisdom teeth out, broken bones etc) All without the need for pain killers after the inital surgeries bc my pain tolerance is pretty high. BUT THIS FEELS UNBEARABLE to me All i can do is cry.  It hurts to eat, it hurts to talk, it hurts to move my face, I cant sleep at night bc I am in so much pain. I feel worse and worse everyday  NOTHING IS HELPING??? Typically by now I would be feeling alot better… not worse!

It is making me so mad that the nurse just thinks this is normal. How can this much pain be normal? I don’t know what to do to help it but I need to feel better.  I have had to work everyday like this and it has been terrible

Has anyone experienced this before?

Post # 3
Member
2792 posts
Sugar bee
  • Wedding: May 2011

Wow. I’m sorry that you’re feeling so horribly. I’ve had terrible horrible sinus infections, but it seems that you may be allergic to the particular antibiotic that you’re on? I don’t like how the nurse sort of pushed off your problems, especially since there’s blood clots coming out of your nose!?! I would get to an urgent care immediately, honestly. That’s some scary stuff and you shouldn’t mess around with it. You’re not getting better and your regular doctor doesn’t seem to be helping you. It is most definitely NOT NORMAL. Please take care of yourself and go somewhere that they will help you! Good luck.

Post # 4
Member
46596 posts
Honey Beekeeper
  • Wedding: November 1999

Although you have been on antibiotics for 3 calendar days, it takes 48 to 72 hours of antibiotics to see any significant improvement. You are likely just over the 48 hour mark. Hopefully the tide will turn soon and you will feel better.

If you do not see some improvement, I suggest you return to your doctor’s tomorrow.

Have you tried moist heat? saltwater nasal washes?

http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kb/content/major/hw67419.html#aa17962

Post # 5
Member
807 posts
Busy bee
  • Wedding: July 2010

Yes I forgot to mention that But I have been using a humidifier by my bed and I am using the Ocean Nasal Wash stuff. I am also staying away from , dairy , citrus, spicy foods Etc All which I have read make your mucus thicker. I have read just about every website and remedy I could find online I been using the hot and cool compresses.

I also tried the home remedy of Drinking Apple Cinder Vinegar with warm water and drinking it… It did seem to kinda loosen things up but was horrible and usual just came back up.

My symptoms as far as the drainage and amount of congestion seem to be getting somewhat better but the headaches and other pain are not.

Post # 6
Member
487 posts
Helper bee

If it doesn’t get better on the antibiotic then you might want to consider insisting to go back to the doctors (preferably one who takes you seriously).  My fiance had a really bad sinus infection that spread to his jaw.  He had horrible jaw and tooth pain, a fever, and a headache in addition to sinus infection symptoms.  He was put on an anti biotic and felt better within 3 days.  If you don’t feel better soon you might want to consider using a different antibiotic.  The blood clots sound terrible!

Post # 7
Member
1723 posts
Bumble bee
  • Wedding: June 2012

It sounds to me like your allergic to the antibiotic.  The ear and other pain that is not associated with the sinuses isn’t the sinus infection.  I’d go see a different Dr.  Soon.  Feel better!

Post # 8
Member
3041 posts
Sugar bee
  • Wedding: May 2010

These are herbal things that will/should help you:

Allergies: Get local honey & have a spoonful 1 or 2 times a day. It may be more spendy than the “generic” honey, but it REALLY helps a few friends who have allergies. Idk what it does, but the honey helps you build up against allergies naturally.

Sinus infection: I had a sinus infection & I got colloidal silver. Its a nasal spray that you can get at a health mart/health food store/ natural/homeopathic store. I would start using this along with new anti-biotics.

Garlic is a natural anti-biotic. I have a sore throat & I sucked on a garlic clove & it helped & its supposed to help other things too. I also added garlic to soup & I could kinda just feel the garlic working.

Otherwise, I’d either switch dr’s (at least for this) or go to a ear/throat/nose specialist, there are doctors who are more trained in the sinus areas than a healthcare dr. Idk if I’m using the right terms, but sinus issues can be VERY SERIOUS. There are 2 things I don’t mess around with, sinus issues & eye issues because I’ve been told by dr’s that if things get bad, I could die. I’m not trying to scare you, but it sounds like you need to get more help for this.

What brand of antibiotics are you on?

EDIT: I just saw the part about a lot of blood clots… that is NOT ok, please see someone in the morning & I hope you go to a different doctor, bring along the antibiotics you’re taking as well. Please at least call a different doctor.

Post # 9
Member
3041 posts
Sugar bee
  • Wedding: May 2010

Also, I read from a book (by Prevention Magazine) to take vitamin C & also zinc. Also, don’t sleep too long (it can make it worse due to staying in the same position). When you do sleep, you want your head elevated about 6 inches.

Hope you feel better!!!

Post # 10
Member
297 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: September 2011

I do agree that you need to see a Dr. for the bleeding. Are you maybe blowing your nose to hard and have torn the membrane?

I just had an awful sinus infection and the only thing that cleared my sinuses (at least temporarily, I tried many meds with little relief) was a NetiPot. It looks like a teapot that fill with a saline solution. You tilt your head over the sink letting the solution run in one nostril and out the other. It sounds horrible, I promise you that if your sinuses are that congested you will not even feel it. If you are willing to give it a try it will loosen up all the gross stuff in your sinus’ and you will not feel like you want to rip your face off anymore (for awhile anyway)

Post # 11
Member
297 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: September 2011

@canthugallcats: I have tried zinc when I think I am getting sick, seems to do the trick. They can make you nauseous on an empty stomach

That also makes sense about sleeping too long and explains why I had intense pain with my last sinus infection when I would wake up. 

Post # 12
Member
689 posts
Busy bee
  • Wedding: August 2014

The pain isn’t what I would necessarily worry about, its the blood coming out of your nose. Be very persistant.

I went to the doctor every month for six monthes with similar pain (cheeks, ear, jaw, neck, etc) I was diagnosed with sinus infections 5 out of the 6 months. Finally I was in so much pain I was constantly sick to my stomach and dizzy. She sent me to an ENT and within 2 minutes he found out the problem. I have stress induced TMJ- something that gives you all of that pain without an infection.

I’m not saying you have TMJ, I’m saying you need to really be persistant and demand to see your doctor again.

Post # 13
Member
3041 posts
Sugar bee
  • Wedding: May 2010

two things… first I wanna know how you’re doing! 

second, I was wrong on the silver nasal spray.. its actually elemental silver u need (coloidal silver is also healthy but we got that for DHs kidney infection. elemental silver is what you’d want (i had a sinus infection & this fixed it

Post # 14
Member
10366 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
  • Wedding: September 2010

If you don’t get your allergies under control, the sinus problems won’t go away. So, talk to your doctor about that.

Second, if you are vomiting up your antibiotics, they aren’t getting into your system to kill the infection in your sinuses. You may be allergic to what they gave you – I assume you’ve gotten that straightened out by now?

Being sick to your stomach could also be caused by an extreme amount of drainage going into your stomach. I get extreme sinus infections because of my bad allergies (which I got under control this year…finally!) and I am always sick to my stomach when I had a lot of drainage. I’ve been so sick a few times that I vomited drainage up.

Post # 15
Member
231 posts
Helper bee

@FutureMrs.Harless: I so feel your pain. I have had chronic sinus infections for as long as I can remember. Picture what you are going through and make it about once every few weeks. I was dying. Jaw hurt, head hurt, eyes, everything. I did neti pots and then became so immune to augmentin that they had to give me a new antibiotic, which I was allergic to. Hello, I have a sulfa allergy. Fun time. So then they gave me another antibiotic which gave me horrible side effects, i literally could not think or speak. 

 

So enough was enough and I went to a ENT. Turns out I had a deviated septum and my turbinates were crazy out of control. I had surgery (a septoplasty and a turbinate reduction) in March. It was very painful and it felt like a MAC truck hit my face. They packing was unbearable and I cried a lot. However, now that I am healing (I am still not healed all the way, it can take months) I can finally breathe out of both nostrils (whereas before I could only breathe out of my left side) and no sinus infections. It is amazing.

 

Honestly, what you are describing sounds like what I went through POST-OP! That is not normal! I would suggest going to an Ear Nose Throat specialist asap. That is what they are here for!

 

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon because it is a horrible thing!

Post # 16
Member
286 posts
Helper bee
  • Wedding: April 2011

Sooo I never had any bleeding, but 6 days before our wedding, I got really really sick with a sinus infection. I thought my head would literally explode, my ears were hurting and popping, my throat hurt really bad, I was sick to my stomach.. I even had a fever one day of 103..I went to the doctor and they gave me an antiboitic…over the next 3 days I continually felt worse..The Netipot did NOTHING for my nose. I couldn’t use my nose at all…

I went to a different doctor 2 days before the wedding and he said that I had an Allergic reaction to the sinus infection?? I’m not sure how that even happens or if that was really it or not, but he gave me some steriod pills and a nose spray and they worked like magic! I felt 90% better on our wedding which was such a relief! I hope you find something that works for you!! I never knew a sinus infection could hurt so much, but it is the sickest I have ever been in my life!

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