Severe sinus headache and now coughing is making it unbearable. Is this worth a trip to the ER on a Saturday?
I've got a raging headache, no fever or vomiting and thinks it's sinus related. Have had it off and on for one week. My ears are popping and now I'm coughing. My neck hurts and the coughing is making the headache unbearable. I can't function normally. It's Saturday and don't know if the ER room is the right choice. My doctor on call can't help with any meds. Help!
Public Comments
1. Go to the ER.2. The first thing I would do is go to a drug store and ask the pharmacist what non-prescription medicines might help.
It seems like a really manly cough suppressant to stop the torturous cough, some ibuprophen for the headache, and a good decongestant for the sinus issue.
If you talk to the pharmacist you can get real sudafed as opposed to the wimpy stuff they sell out on the shelves.
To answer your question, no, don't bother with the ER yet. It will wind up costing you a ton of money for no good reason.
3. I wouldn't go to the ER unless, you are puking blood, have a temp of 103 or higher, or you can't breath.
What you need to do is stay warm, keep the fluids going.
Your throat, neck probably sore because of swollen glands, which mean your body is trying to heal itself.
I would follow the one suggestion of going to the pharmacist for over-the-counter medications. If you need to go out, keep wrapped up.
Think of warm/hot tea to soothe your throat.
More than likely, your doctor probably won't write a prescription if they think it's a cold. Mostly, they want everyone to tuff out the cold. Not too many antibiotics ya know. Just so people develop resistance.
So, let it run it's course, but if you don't feel better by tomorrow, then stay home from school or work for Monday and then go to the doctor's.
Feel better.
4. If you can type on a computer then it doesn't sound like it's bad enough to warrant a trip to the ER. In the ER you will wait in a poorly lit, loud and crowded waiting room for a long time and it will cost a ton. You won't get priority treatment with a headache, unless you faint or seize, so everyone who comes in after you that looks or sounds worse than 'headache' will get treated before you until you give up or they have some spare time. I come from a family of migraine sufferers with headaches that range from bad to where we just sleep for an entire day to the other end where it turned out to be a mild stroke... So I have some experience with what a bad nasty headache is, what is about to turn into an actual migraine and what is just a headache.
How about a trip to a Primacare (one of those chain clinics that are open late and on weekends)? You sound like maybe you need some kind of anti-inflammatory like a one-time celebrex dose or even a cortisone shot if it is really bad.
If I were you, I would darken my room (cover the windows and turn out all lights in adjacent rooms), make it as quiet as possible and sleep off the headache as best as you can. Sleep is the best treatment you can give yourself when a nasty headache hits.
5. It sounds like the flu.
It sounds like you are miserable. Take some tylenol, and a decongestant.
Then you can follow these instructions to get rid of a sinus infection .The only things that really helped me was when my Dr. told me about a sinus wash that will kill bacteria.
you need
distilled water
sea salt
liquid chlorophyll and colloidal silver from the health food store.
in a glass mix 1/4 cup water with a pinch of salt and heat to body temperature.
add 5 drops each silver and chlorophyll and mix.
using a large dropper (like one used for infant medication) drop 2 full droppersfull into one side of the nose while laying down.
Turn the head and let it drain out the other nostril. Be sure to have paper towels handy.
The silver kills the bacteria and there are several hundred kind that can live in the sinus cavities and anti biotics don't get rid of them all.
Do this twice a day for a week, mixing up the mixture fresh each time.
Then do it once a week for maintenance.
There is nothing in this that will hurt you, and it cured me.
I do not have to take claritin, or antibiotics anymore.
best wishes
