Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

I do not have health insurance, so a trip to the doctor is a costly event. I want to know that it would be worth it to fork over the cash to a doctor first.

I know a few of you have suffered from diagnosed sinus infections so I need your help. This was my 3rd "cold" in 2 months and they occur back-to-back. It's mostly nasal congestion and pain in the upper side of my nose and eye. For lack of a better analogy it feels like someone has taken my eye ball and dragged it over concrete...it hurts that much! It's also dripping into the back of my throat and I have an icky taste in my mouth (sorry if TMI). These "colds" start out with a sore throat, which last only a days, and then just progress to severe nasal congestion accompanied by bad pain after a few days. I usually go through 2 boxes of tissues per day! I wonder if the sore throat is from the post nasal drip. Now I'm also nauseous...which may be a virus.

So, if everyone thinks it's just a cold, I refuse to shell out the money that I don't have...if it's something that people have associated w/ a sinus infection I will happily get an antibiotic if it means I will no longer be in this misery.

I can't think straight...any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Sounds like a sinus infection. You probably need an antibotic.

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

A lot of times my sinus infections start off just like bad colds...but colds usually come and go within a week and the sinus infections linger. Maybe you haven't had several colds back to back, but rather one bad sinus infection. It can also explain the pain by your eye.

Sometimes I go to the dr. for a sinus infection, sometimes not...only when it is a bad one. You don't want to overuse antiobotics.

Whether I get an antibiotic or not, my doctor has always told me to also take an OTC decongestant and use nasal spray (usually Rx, but sometimes not).

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

I have been using the OTC decongestants, but it seems to keep coming back. I have tried saline sprays and gargling and air bourne...I feel like I'm sick more then I'm healthy lately. I may feel better for a couple of days, but then I seem to "relapse". Normally I would not spend the money, but I'm thinking 3 weeks is more then enough. I have heard of bad sinus infections spreading to the bones of the skull...no tank ya'. I just feel awful...I missed class again tonight (I missed yesterday too). Tonight was more so due to the stomach issue. I had to take an anti-spasmotic and it's making me sleepy.

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Well....sounds like you already know that you should go to the doctor. You'll have to pay for the office visit (they never run any tests on me besides that blood test in the office to see if my white count is up) and probably the antiobiotic.

Ask your doctor for a sample of the nasal spray...it's always enough to last the duration of the infection. Also, ask your dr. to proscribe a generic antibiotic-- you should at least be able to save a few buck that way. I hope you feel better really soon

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Posted by Rooster

Well....sounds like you already know that you should go to the doctor. You'll have to pay for the office visit (they never run any tests on me besides that blood test in the office to see if my white count is up) and probably the antiobiotic.

Ask your doctor for a sample of the nasal spray...it's always enough to last the duration of the infection. Also, ask your dr. to proscribe a generic antibiotic-- you should at least be able to save a few buck that way. I hope you feel better really soon

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Posted by Rooster

Well....sounds like you already know that you should go to the doctor. You'll have to pay for the office visit (they never run any tests on me besides that blood test in the office to see if my white count is up) and probably the antiobiotic.

Ask your doctor for a sample of the nasal spray...it's always enough to last the duration of the infection. Also, ask your dr. to proscribe a generic antibiotic-- you should at least be able to save a few buck that way. I hope you feel better really soon

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

not to be gross but when you blow your nose is it green?
that is a sign of infection....

there is Mucinex DM...which is a great decongestant..and will loosen up the mucus...its behind the counter in the pharmacy.

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

I agree, if the stuff coming out of your nose is yellowish, it's definitely bacterial and it would be worth your while to pick up some antibiotics

If it's clear it's probably a virus and you'd just have to wait it out anyway

There are some doctors that will charge you less if they know you don't have insurance. I don't know where you're located but I think there is a doctor in Coram like that.

Good luck and feel better

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

uugh, sounds like a sinus infection to me too. One of the meds the doctor prescribed for me was the same kind of thing as mucinex, but I also needed an antibiotic. If you do not have insurance,, definitely ask for a generic RX, and Target and Wal Mart have some great generic prescription programs where you would only ahve to pay like 4.00 for it.

Feel better!

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

that's a sinus infection that has not been kicked.

Go to the doc. You need an antibiotic and a nasal spray.

Just spend the money...3 times in as many months is an infection that is not going away.

I hope you feel better.

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

I would say go to the doctor. Many colds become sinus infections - colds are basically viral sinus infections - while most sinus infections are bacterial and you will need antibiotics to get better. Unfortunately only a doctor can tell you if it is bacterial or viral - if it is viral antibiotics won't help - but if you have had it longer than 10 days it is probably bacterial.

You definitely want to get checked out though - in rare times untreated sinus infections could turn into menigitis - but this is very rare and in very bad infections.

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

it does sound like a sinus infection, like others have said if your snot is a neon green/yellow color or you have thte same color discharge comiing out of your nose thats a tell-tale sign. (sorry if TMI)
Also, the pain you are having behind your eye could be sinus pain. The nausea is probably from your post-nasal drip - you are swallowing that stuff, which your tummy doesn't like.

If it had just started, I would say wait a week or two and see if it goes away on its own, but the fact you have been suffering for some time warrants a trip to the Dr. Have you tried sudafed, that works great for OTC.

Feel better!

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

Re: Ok, I need opinions: sinus infection vs cold

I judge it by the color too! green or yellow.


There are health clinics that you can go to - I think they are less expensive and you can usually walk in.