Sinus infection

[Anonymous]

I used to get sinus infection all the time but haven't had one in about 8 years. Now I have the cold that never ends and in the last 2 days, my left sinus has been nasty, full, and regularly discharging green gunk, as you would expect with a sinus infection. But...it doesn't hurt. At all. And I have no fever. Could it still be an infection, or isn't cold just a particularly bad one?

[Anonymous]

Oops. I meant "is this cold a particularly bad one?"

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're setting up for an infection, if you don't have one already. For me, pain in the teeth and eye socket is always the tipoff.

I recommend you use Afrin for a few days, to keep things open and draining. Remember not to use if for more than three days, or you'll get the rebound effect and essentially be addicted to it.

[Anonymous]

How do you feel? I get sinus infections fairly frequently, and what sends me to the doctor for antibiotics is how able I am to go about my daily business. Right now I have one and I am hopeless--sleeping most of the day, dizzy, head feeling sore and stiff. I went to the doctor and based on her exam, I barely qualified for antibiotics--just green discharge from one nostril and clear fluid in the ears--but once I explained the way I felt, she was less hesitant to give them to me. (BTW, I rarely get fevers when I have sinus infections, no matter how bad they are.) Other times, I have had the green discharge, but generally feel ok, so just use the saline nasal spray and take sudafed for a few days and it goes away on its own. Best of luck getting healthy! I can't wait to feel like myself again.

[Anonymous]

If your sinuses are readily draining, you should still be in the clear.
It's when they're not draining that it becomes a bigger problem.
Use saline nasal spray and a hot washcloth on your face to keep them draining if they start to clog.

I always know it's time for a round of antibiotics when my upper back teeth start to hurt.