In so much pain,can anyone help

Froglet

Some background first.4 weeks ago I started getting swollen glands,mild feelings that came and went,but eventually I got bad sinusitis so got antibiotics from the doctor which sorted that out.I do suffer with sinus pain and get bad headaches enough to warrant a doctors visit about once a year.

No sooner had I come off those than I got a chest infection and an infection in my gums.Meanwhile I slipped in the shower and bruised,if not actually cracked my ribs.Back to the doctors ,a different set of antibiotics because coughing really hurt,and some co codamol for the pain.

Another week passed and on Tuesday this week I was finally feeling better,and my ribs not troubling me much.Then through Tuesday night I felt a sore throat coming on,which I imagined would end up with maybe a head cold.

Oh no,nothing as simple as that.By Wednesday evening my throat was burning,my neck glands swollen again,this time quite badly and eating and drinking was becoming difficult.Swallowing was painful and so I got an emergency appointment at the doctors,this time,not my own,on Thursday.

He was very efficient,asked lots of questions and carried out a full health check.His opinion was that it is a virus,and to drink plenty,rest,painkillers etc.

Except that no painkillers touch it,and today I'm virtually crying every time I drink even iced water or try to eat sloppy food like yogurt,or ice cream.It burns my throat and really hurts like crazy to swallow,talk,cough,blow my nose,anything.I hardly slept last night,and just feel so exhausted,and tearful.At least my husband is at home and doing what he can to help.

Has anyone else had this so bad they would prefer not to eat at all.I know I have to drink,that's just as bad.Any ideas to lessen the pain,I have tried gargling warm salty water.

Armchair23

Aw Froglet, that sounds dismal.

You know we can't give medical advice but we can send our love and hope you feel better soon.

Trouble is one infection knocks you back and another rushes in when you're at low ebb.

Do all the good things you already know about, eat as well as you can, rest as much as you can and do anything sensible to make yourself more comfortable.

I get out the Olbas oil, hot water bottle, neti pot (sounds grim works a treat) and wait for it all to go away.

Hugs

Torry_Quine

For a cough try rubbing Vic on the soles of your feet before putting on socks at bed-time.

kerri_gt

Oh dear, I do hope you're feeling better soon. I have no idea if all these are related or you've picked up other things having your immune system fighting things then visiting the docs (understandably) and all the associated lingering germs there.

I did have a terrible throat infection, swollen glands, generally feeling awful about 10 hrs ago (yes i still recall it) I spent a week in bed before being able to go to the docs. Horse sized antibiotics even though I could barely swallow. I think it took about two weeks for me to be able to eat, and then it was jars of baby food (yuk!) on the upside, it was fab for weight loss.

Sorry, prob not what you want to hear but you will get better. Stay in bed, wrapped up and try to sleep as much as possible to give your body some rest. Perhaps a warm bath if you're up to it, you could try adding Epsom salts to it and soak in that, they're supposed to be good for bruising, aches, muscles pain and generally good minerals for the body. Obviously as well as the virus you've got sore ribs to deal with, do any positions feel better than others? Would a long body pillow help to support you on your side?

Do try and keep hydrated, I do appreciate the pain, my mum used to freeze ice cubes of orange and black current squash when I had tonsillitis as it was more pleasant than just water.

I find soluble aspirin is the only thing that really helps my throat pain. You could also try gargling with TCP.

Lavender if you like the smell has very calming properties and might just help relax and soothe you.

I also tried the Vick ultra-chloraseptic spray - the one you spray on the back of your throat. It's a bit rank but does numb the throat for a bit of relief.

Baton down the hatches, rest up, watch rubbish TV. And I 'recommend' baby or puréed food when you feel you want to eat a little.

Oh, and never underestimate the power of clean pjs to make you feel a teeny bit better x

shandyclover

Sounds awful!

A few years ago my family lived in a remote part of Spain. We all got a horrible flu/virus, the worst any of us had ever experienced (it was probably swine flu, when it first hit the tourist areas the local drs. refused to diagnose it)

It affected me particularly in my throat. I constantly felt like I had razor blades there. My mum sent me the bee propalis lozanges available in holland and barrett. They were the only thing that brought relief. I found the only way to drink was to have a something ice cold and sip through a straw lying down.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/beehealth-propolis-lozenges-60004954

kdogg_05

Sore throats can be really bad and I usually use a combination when they are. . . .It's safe to use / try the following - all at the same time.

1 - Gargle - with either TCP or Difflam Rinse
2 - Lozenges - Local Anaesthetic ones like Tyrozets
3 - Throat Sweets - You can only take so many Tyrozets in a day, so use soothers in between
4 - Drink plenty
5 - You can also take Ibuprofen or paracetamol for some added pain killing

Hope you're feeling better soon

Froglet

Armchair23 wrote: »

Aw Froglet, that sounds dismal.

You know we can't give medical advice but we can send our love and hope you feel better soon.

Trouble is one infection knocks you back and another rushes in when you're at low ebb.

Do all the good things you already know about, eat as well as you can, rest as much as you can and do anything sensible to make yourself more comfortable.

I get out the Olbas oil, hot water bottle, neti pot (sounds grim works a treat) and wait for it all to go away.

Hugs

Thank you.I am all but giving up eating,the pain is not worth it.I am sitting here with a hot water bottle to keep warm and an iced flannel around myneck.I can't lie down again,as I suffer from allergic rhinitis and trying to keep clearing my throat hurts unbearably.so I shall sit here till hubby wakes up now.

You are right about getting low,I think antibiotics work well at the time but they knock out all the good bacteria as well so I have nothing left to fight with.Am taking probiotics but they are of limited help.

Froglet

kerri_gt wrote: »

Oh dear, I do hope you're feeling better soon. I have no idea if all these are related or you've picked up other things having your immune system fighting things then visiting the docs (understandably) and all the associated lingering germs there.

I did have a terrible throat infection, swollen glands, generally feeling awful about 10 hrs ago (yes i still recall it) I spent a week in bed before being able to go to the docs. Horse sized antibiotics even though I could barely swallow. I think it took about two weeks for me to be able to eat, and then it was jars of baby food (yuk!) on the upside, it was fab for weight loss.

Sorry, prob not what you want to hear but you will get better. Stay in bed, wrapped up and try to sleep as much as possible to give your body some rest. Perhaps a warm bath if you're up to it, you could try adding Epsom salts to it and soak in that, they're supposed to be good for bruising, aches, muscles pain and generally good minerals for the body. Obviously as well as the virus you've got sore ribs to deal with, do any positions feel better than others? Would a long body pillow help to support you on your side?

Do try and keep hydrated, I do appreciate the pain, my mum used to freeze ice cubes of orange and black current squash when I had tonsillitis as it was more pleasant than just water.

I find soluble aspirin is the only thing that really helps my throat pain. You could also try gargling with TCP.

Lavender if you like the smell has very calming properties and might just help relax and soothe you.

I also tried the Vick ultra-chloraseptic spray - the one you spray on the back of your throat. It's a bit rank but does numb the throat for a bit of relief.

Baton down the hatches, rest up, watch rubbish TV. And I 'recommend' baby or puréed food when you feel you want to eat a little.

Oh, and never underestimate the power of clean pjs to make you feel a teeny bit better x

Thanks Kerri.I started this while still on antibiotics so have to go along with the doctor's theory it is a virus I explained to armchair23, ©I am finding being in bed makes my rhinitis worse especially as I have the remains of the cold/chest infection still.Luckily the ribs don't hurt now

Yes I am sucking ice cubes,doesn't help Ford long enough though.I know I need to drink more but it's hard and I can't bear anything even warm.pureed food is good idea I hadn't thought of that.what sort of things would puree ( I'm vegetarian) ?

Froglet

shandyclover wrote: »

Sounds awful!

A few years ago my family lived in a remote part of Spain. We all got a horrible flu/virus, the worst any of us had ever experienced (it was probably swine flu, when it first hit the tourist areas the local drs. refused to diagnose it)

It affected me particularly in my throat. I constantly felt like I had razor blades there. My mum sent me the bee propalis lozanges available in holland and barrett. They were the only thing that brought relief. I found the only way to drink was to have a something ice cold and sip through a straw lying down.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/beehealth-propolis-lozenges-60004954

Thanks for the link,Shandy.Yes I am convinced there's broken glass hiding down my throat.never had so much pain before,I remember having tonsillitis in my teens and I was still eating then.

If there is one bright side,like someone said,it's that I will hopefully lose a bit of weight but not eating won't help fight this.Nor will feeling guilty that I had to call in sick again as I work at weekends and was off last weekend to rest as driving hurt my ribs.

Froglet

kdogg_05 wrote: »

Sore throats can be really bad and I usually use a combination when they are. . . .It's safe to use / try the following - all at the same time.

1 - Gargle - with either TCP or Difflam Rinse
2 - Lozenges - Local Anaesthetic ones like Tyrozets
3 - Throat Sweets - You can only take so many Tyrozets in a day, so use soothers in between
4 - Drink plenty
5 - You can also take Ibuprofen or paracetamol for some added pain killing

Hope you're feeling better soon

Than you kdogg.I am gurgling with warm salty water and sucking strepsils for sore throats,but my teeth react badly to anything hard like those and I don't want to risk toothache.I wish I could drink plenty but it is hard.I am already on strong anti inflammatorys for arthritis and co codamol I was given for my ribs Making no difference unfortunately.

justme111

When I had it similarly bad soluble aspirin gargles helped. Or may be it run out its course. .