My throat is killing me!!

[amandakarrin]

Hello everyone! If someone can help me with this, I'd be so very happy!

Okay, so I'll start from the beginning.. 3 weeks ago, I got sick with what seemed to be a sinus infection. I went to urgent care because I'm in between primary doctors right now.  The doctor at urgent care said it was sinusitis and he put me on amoxicicillin.

A week later, all of the sinus-like problems seemed to go away but I had developed a pretty bad cough, and was coughing so bad that I had to catch my breath and it caused me to throw up. I went back to urgent care and the same doctor told me that I now had acute bronchitis. He said there was some fluid in my lungs and that I had pre-pneumonia symptoms. He then put me on albuterol (inhaler), levofloxacin, prednisone, and promethazine-codine (cough syrup). The symptoms seemed to die down and I was feeling a lot better. Went back to work (last Friday) and I was fine.. Just tired.

Saturday morning came along, and I woke up with this horrible pain in my throat, traveling to my ear and neck. I tried my best to ignore it and continued taking my meds,  hoping the pain would subside. Monday I went into work and my throat started to hurt even more, to the point that even just swallowing my own saliva made me want to cry. I felt like my throat was closing up on me. Went back to urgent care and saw the same Dr.. He told me that he couldn't diagnose me because he wasn't able to see into my throat, and referred me to an ENT. (my appointment is on Thursday). He also said that he doesn't think what I have is bacterial since the antibiotic isn't helping me, and he tested for mono, which came back negative.

Later on that night, the pain seemed to be just on my left side and that is how it remains, right now. It's worse when I first wake up in the morning and drinking fluids does not help. The weird thing is, I'm stuffed up too, so I have been sleeping on my back with my mouth wide open, which causes my mouth/throat to be super dry - when that happens, the pain in my throat isn't as bad.. Weird. If I sleep on my side (either side, actually) I can feel the pain in my throat and ear.  If I sleep on my back, it's not as bad.. But I'm a side sleeper, so I have been having horrible nights, trying to sleep. Yawning kills me, swallowing is a nightmare, and my ear only stops hurting if I lay it on a heating pad. The pain is sort of in the side of my face and it does travel into my neck.. My neck is sensitive to the touch. I have also been running a fever, on and off.

Does anyone know what could be wrong or can anyone tell me what I can do for pain relief? Besides Tylenol.. Like I said, I have an appt with an ENT Dr on Thursday, but that's a week away and I was hoping for some relief before then.

Thanks so much!

[Ekkiemom]

I feel for you. Sorry I cant be of more help. Sometimes sinus drainage is like acid on the throat...i have a Chinese herbalist and he makes me Bronchii Tea and it helps so much, tastes like crap but is a miracle tea. Chinese have used herbs for 2000 yrs and there is something to it...swear by the tea...
Be well
Peace
Deb

[amandakarrin]

Thank you for your help though! I do appreciate it! :)

I'm just so exhausted and I can't seem to get any good quality sleep. It ***** because I've been out of work, and I'm not getting paid for the days off. :(

[amandakarrin]

Well, the dr at urgent care did say that I had pre-pneumonia symptoms,but I don't know if it's still like that. My chest did hurt last week, but it doesn't now. I do occasionally hear the cracking and I'll hear it when I cough, sometimes.. but it's not like it was last week. My throat is the biggest issue for me right now, and my head. the pain in my throat subsides as the day goes on, but it comes back later at night and it's always worse when I first get up. I did have sinus pressure the other day when I bent down.

I'm going to try the neti pot in a little bit to see if that helps at all, because I am very stuffed up. I can still smell and taste though, which surprises me, because usually I lose my smell and taste when dealing with all of this. I'm starting to question if this is sinuses, or something else.. I've just never experienced this type of pain in my throat, EVER. Usually when my sinuses act up, my throat only hurts the first day and then it's completely fine.

I've also been feeling more nauseous and sick to my stomach too. I just want this to all be over!

[Ekkiemom]

UR IN THE BIG APPLE......stay out of the cold, drafts and don't make ur self overheat and sweat.....that's a no-no
Take care
PEACE & GOOD KARMA
Deb

[Ekkiemom]

Well as far as pneumonia goes it will be harder and harder to breath you will hear cracking when you in/exhale and ur chest is going to hurt. U may also be getting a sinus and ear infection. Might just be the good old flu bug. Do u have sinus pressure when u bend down towards the floor. If you need some sinus relief in the interim b4 u see ENT take a cup of the warmest water u can handle without burning add tsp of salt mix until dissolved close up one nostril and sniff some saltwater in other nostril as long as u can. Take ur finger off of the plugged nostril and u will be surprised to see how much mucos starts to come out. Repeat 2-3 times in ea. nostril. I am always amazed as to where it always comes from.....is it my grey matter lol. Let me know if it works :)

[amandakarrin]

I'm not sure if levaquin is the answer since the doctor told me it isn't bacterial, but I don't know. I'm also not sure how pneumonia works, but my main concern is the pain in my ear and throat.

[amandakarrin]

My mucus is clear and I was already on levaquin

[Ekkiemom]

What color is your mucous??   If it is bright yellow or greenish you have a bacterial infection and by now it sounds like you could have a full blown sinus  infection. You need a heavy duty antibiotic such as levaquin which is a 7 day treatment and you might have to take it more than once. I am also concerned that u have fluid in lungs that's not a good sign and could be a sign of pneumonia! If it becomes increasingly harder to breath go right back to emergency pronto! Good luck