Any doctors in the house? Advice needed ASAP

superbiatch · 05-11-2007, 20:39

I've had illness after illness of recent. Just got over a 2 week long virus (head, throat, chest - everything affected) and now i've developed sinusitis - pain in the head, all down the right hand side of my face into my jaw and teeth. I've bought some sudafed with paracetemol in and they just aren't helping at all - can i take ibuprofen??

I've asked NHS direct the same question, but there is at least a 2 hour wait for a nurse to ring me back, and i need to do something now before my head explodes

Thanks very much for any advice, its appreciated

brundles · 05-11-2007, 20:46

Not sure about the ibuprofen (my wife thinks so says it won't make a difference - and she's not a doctor!)

The best thing I can recommend as an immediate relief is a bowl if steaming water with a spoon of vick vapourrub type stuff in it. Make that up and cover your head and the bowl with a towel while taking it in.

In the end my wife had to have anti-biotics to clear this same thing up recently. One word of advice if you see the doctor for that - if they go to flick or poke you just above your eyes then move - FAST. It will bloody hurt - for quite a while.

05-11-2007, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I've had illness after illness of recent. Just got over a 2 week long virus (head, throat, chest - everything affected) and now i've developed sinusitis - pain in the head, all down the right hand side of my face into my jaw and teeth. I've bought some sudafed with paracetemol in and they just aren't helping at all - can i take ibuprofen??

I've asked NHS direct the same question, but there is at least a 2 hour wait for a nurse to ring me back, and i need to do something now before my head explodes

Thanks very much for any advice, its appreciated

imo no, don't mix paracetamol & ibuprofen - not beyond what you would take of each separately, anyway...

Have you got one of those wheat bags you can warm up & put on your face?

- when I've suffered with similar symptoms I've found that any kind of heat can be soothing

superbiatch · 05-11-2007, 21:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

Not sure about the ibuprofen (my wife thinks so says it won't make a difference - and she's not a doctor!)

The best thing I can recommend as an immediate relief is a bowl if steaming water with a spoon of vick vapourrub type stuff in it. Make that up and cover your head and the bowl with a towel while taking it in.

In the end my wife had to have anti-biotics to clear this same thing up recently. One word of advice if you see the doctor for that - if they go to flick or poke you just above your eyes then move - FAST. It will bloody hurt - for quite a while.

Thanks Brundles

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

imo no, don't mix paracetamol & ibuprofen - not beyond what you would take of each separately, anyway...

Have you got one of those wheat bags you can warm up & put on your face?

- when I've suffered with similar symptoms I've found that any kind of heat can be soothing

I'll give that a shot, i've got a wheat pack there - but i'm thinking maybe a course of anti-biotics cos i've had this since Thursday

05-11-2007, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I'll give that a shot, i've got a wheat pack there - but i'm thinking maybe a course of anti-biotics cos i've had this since Thursday

It does sound like an infection, but the 'proper' doc will advise whether antibiotics are necessary

soup dragon · 05-11-2007, 21:13

we have been told you can mix ibuprofen and paracetamol but leave a 2 hr gap, so take 2 para wait 2 hrs take 2 ibu wait 2 hrs take para again etc.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 05-11-2007, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by homealone

imo no, don't mix paracetamol & ibuprofen - not beyond what you would take of each separately, anyway...

I recently had a virus and was told by a nurse at the walk in centre to take both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time every 4 hours or alternately at 2 hour intervals (apparently its the current fashion for to prescribe this treatment). It certainly gave me some relief

I was also told to inhale steam. Boil some water in a bowl and put your head under a towel over the bowl. If that doesnt work rub some vick on your chest, shout if you need any help

Uncle Peter · 05-11-2007, 21:16

Ugh I suffer from sinus problems from time to time and it's really horrible. There isn't a great deal other than sudafed and the usual painkiller suspects that you can get off the shelf. Sometimes menthol crystals provide a bit of relief but doesn't help the underlying problem of course if you've got an infection. Hopefully the doc will sort you out and you'll start feeling better soon.

superbiatch · 05-11-2007, 21:17

Thanks for advice everyone, NHS direct phoned me back and told me it was ok to take them as well, just hope they get to the pain. The fireworks are really hurting my head

Wicked_and_Crazy · 05-11-2007, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by superbiatch

The fireworks are really hurting my head

Dont poke them up your nose then

alferret · 05-11-2007, 21:29

Ibuprofen and paracetemol are ok, Ibuprofen and co-codamol even better, my partner takes 1x400mg ibuprofen and 2x 8\500 co-codamol for pain, works well. Me I cant take ibuprofen (old ulcer) but when needed I take 3x 8\500 co-codamol works 99% of the time (all these meds have be pescription from docs)

05-11-2007, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret

Ibuprofen and paracetemol are ok, Ibuprofen and co-codamol even better, my partner takes 1x400mg ibuprofen and 2x 8\500 co-codamol for pain, works well. Me I cant take ibuprofen (old ulcer) but when needed I take 3x 8\500 co-codamol works 99% of the time (all these meds have be pescription from docs)

be careful with the co-codamol, codeine is an opiate & is converted to morphine, in vivo - you may get constipated

v0id · 05-11-2007, 21:59

It depends whether or not you're allergic to ibuprofen I guess.

I'd say go for co-codamol, or co-proximal if you have any.
But I'd still think you should see you GP first thing tomorrow, or if the symptons persist head to A & E this evening

TheDaddy · 05-11-2007, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

Dont poke them up your nose then

Don't know, might be the perfect way to clear the sinuses

Alien · 05-11-2007, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret

Ibuprofen and paracetemol are ok, Ibuprofen and co-codamol even better, my partner takes 1x400mg ibuprofen and 2x 8\500 co-codamol for pain, works well. Me I cant take ibuprofen (old ulcer) but when needed I take 3x 8\500 co-codamol works 99% of the time

Next time you run out of Co-codamol, ask the chemist for Paramol instead. They're stronger than the OTC doseage of Co-codamol you've been taking, & 2 of those should be at least as effective as 3x 8\500 Co-codamol, & better/safer for you as well, as you're not supposed to have more than 1000mg of Paracetamol at a time [too much Paracetamol can damage the liver].

Quote:

Originally Posted by alferret

(all these meds have be pescription from docs)

You can buy 400mg Ibuprofen and the 8\500 Co-codamol without a prescription; you only need a prescription for Co-codamol that has higher quantities of codeine in it, e.g. 15\500 or 30\500. Paramol are different in that they have dihydrocodeine instead of ordinary codeine.

As for the Paracetamol itself, it's never had any affect on pain at all with me. The only good it's ever done me is to help reduce a fever/temperature. I think the only reason it's put in Co-codamol, Paramol, & Co-dydramol [the stronger, prescription-only version of Paramol], aside from it's affect on fever/temperature, is as a deterrant to stop people getting high on the codeine/dihydrocodeine.