Not sure if this is allowed but since you are all mostly parents in this forum I figured that you could give me some insight.
I have had the worst cold the past 3 days. I feel horrible. My nose is stuffed up and there feels like there is mucus in my throat, but nothing will necessarily come out. I’ve tried the Neti Pot, cold medicine, steam, hot shower, tea, peppermint oil, Vick’s, you name it. Nothing will unplug my nose or clear my throat out. I have a slight dry cough every once in a while.
I keep blowing my nose because I can hear drainage as I sniffle, but as I blow, nearly nothing comes out and it only makes it worse. I woke up 6+ times last night because my nose stuffiness and feeling in my throat were bothering me so much.
Does anyone know anything that I could do? I literally feel so horrible and it’s just really hard to do my homework and focus when I’m feeling like this. I rarely ever get sick.
Is it more stuffed up at night than during the day? You can use nasal spray (like Afrin or another brand) - I recommend my kids use neti pot during the day and the medicated spray at night (so you can sleep) - be aware that they recommend to not use this spray for more than 3 days or so - whatever you use, READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!
You tried a long, hot shower? That will often break things up a bit. No fever?
Also, make sure you do some of those things repeatedly…so…drink more fluids, use the Neti Pot, take cold medicine - whatever - but you need to repeat - not just do things once - for more of the duration of the cold. If it is indeed a cold, most all those things will not make it go away - just treat the symptoms. Time will take it away.
If you’re not feeling better by mid-week maybe check at the health center or an urgent care (depending on your insurance, etc.)
I agree on Afrin for severe congestion. I prefer to use it at night and sudafed during the day to reduce the rebound effect, but don’t exceed the 3 day limit regardless. For sudafed, be sure to get the formulation that uses psuedoephedrine as the active ingredient - in most states these days you need to get it from the pharmacist after showing ID (it might be marketed as a 12 hour formulation). The regular formulation on the shelf has a pretty weak active ingredient. For really bad congestion I’ll sometimes do 2x the sudafed dosage if the regular dose isn’t working, but be aware it can make you feel jittery and really dry you out.
Do you have a fever? What you’re describing happens to me when I get bad sinus infections. For me personally, they don’t get better without antibiotics (though most people won’t give you antibiotics now for a sinus infections unless you’ve had it for a week or more).
For the sleep issues: try sleeping with your head elevated… like, quite a bit. It can relieve the pressure on your throat and reduce the night time/morning throat problems.
I don’t have a fever I have been sleeping almost sitting up and it was still bad. I took some Nyquil yesterday and I was able to sleep through the night (thankfully)
I had a bad sinus infection for 5 weeks last year and the doctor refused to give me anything so I don’t think that would be an option even if I did have one lol.
No fever is good. What color is the discharge? If it’s clear and runny, I’d say just hydrate like crazy and be patient.
If it’s goopy and whitish, take mucinex and hydrate.
If it’s green or yellow, go to a different doctor than the one mentioned above because you might have a secondary bacterial infection after whatever initial allergy reaction or viral cold that you had.
Mostly, though, I’d say hydrate hydrate, hydrate. If you can, go for some brisk walks to get the air flowing and blood pumping in that area.
Neti pots don’t work super well when your sinuses are swollen and inflamed-you really can’t get the water up there to rinse out the mucus.
You can try taking some zyrtek or claritin if you have no contraindications to see if you’ve developed an allergy. Younger D (16) is miserable this time of year until she’s been on zytek for a few days-stuffy head, sore throat from the post nasal drip, feels yucky, etc.
I will occasionally do some nasonex when I feel my sinuses getting achy; it seems to knock out whatever might be brewing in there.
I’m not a doctor, but we’ve had our share of sinus issues.
@anomander it wasn’t my usual doctor (I think mine was on vacation at the time or something). The one I had said that “it was a virus” and there was nothing she could do about it. I mildly fractured a rib coughing from it, too. The only thing she ended up giving me were some coughing capsules and some antibiotics to help fight it off. It was crazy tbh
^^^You’re saying she did give you antibiotics -and probably Tessalon Perles for the cough - that’s treating it! That’s what we would expect if any of us went to the doc.
I’m not really even sure if they were antibiotics tbh. I can’t remember what they were exactly, just some large white pills hahaha. I do remember her saying that there wasn’t anything we could do, and my mom got angry because she knew that it wasn’t just a virus.
I like Robitussin DM because it has Guaifensin, which is an expectorant. It helps loosen the mucus in my system and keeps it flowing better. Sounds like thick mucus is causing your worst symptoms. And it also has a cough suppressant. Mucinex DM has the same active ingredients.
My H is a doctor and he says sinus infections are tricky. Something about antibiotics taking a long time to reach the area. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them though.
If you see your doctor again ask about prednisone. Steroids are the strongest anti-inflammatories IF that is a major part of the problem. And please use distilled water if you use your Neti pot again. Your nasal membranes are a vulnerable part of your body and you want to be absolutely sure that nothing harmful is in that water.
I have been sleeping almost sitting up and it was still bad. I took some Nyquil yesterday and I was able to sleep through the night (thankfully)