I really need somebody to put my mind at ease at this point. I am a 20 years old guy in Montreal and a couple of weeks ago I went through a really bad cold/flu. I couldn't go to work one day because of how bad I felt. The symptoms I had were mild fevers, extreme fatigue, congested nose of white mucus and the other usual symptoms of a cold. I noticed that cold was more aggressive than the usual colds I've had before. I also noticed my nose was extremely congested, I kept blowing my nose frequently and had lots of white mucus coming out of it. Once the cold began to go away I began experiencing a lot of pressure in my head (sinuses areas and kind of in the back of my head), confusion kind of feelings with dizziness, brain fog and still a congested nose but dry (white mucus always). Together with all of this I have been experiencing anxiety spells because of the frustration of not knowing exactly what to do about it.
It has been a little over a week since all of this started and I believe this could be a sinus infection. I just got a decongestant with saline solution and got some tree tea oil to inhale with boiling water once a day. I have been feeling better very slowly throughout the week but I am TERRIFIED this could be something not related with a sinus infection. I have been googlying my symptoms like crazy and found stories from people experiencing this stuff for years and that scares the sh* out of me. The brain fog has been very frustrating because it has been affecting my concentration and short term memory. That kind of comes and goes but it is very frustrating since I don't have any memories of experiencing this before.
As far as I know, I haven't had any allergies my whole life and I don't think that is the root of the problem because as I said earlier, I had a really bad cold before this. I know colds can cause sinus infections afterwards.
I don't have access to doctors for now because I am an international student about to graduate next month. I don't have a health card or insurance to cover me with medication or doctors. I am hoping the decongestant and the tea tree oil might cure me so I am waiting a week to see how I feel but the anxiety about this has been killing me because I don't really know whats going on. Please anyone that has experienced this before or has any idea of what is this help me out!
Hi George, I have had the same symptoms as you for a long time now, at first they caused me no end of anxiety and panic attacks, try useing a small amount of Menthol Crystals in some boiling water you can buy them from behind the counter in most chemists, inhale the through your nose for about 15 mins, this should remove the congestion, good luck, Jo.
Thank you for replying Josephine. I have been doing the tree tea oil inhaling for a couple of days and it works very good removing congestion. Have you noticed improvements?
Hi George, it's the only thing that really helps, you could also try a few drops of Olbas Oil on your pillow at night so you don't feel congested in the mornings, take care. Jo
Sometimes when you get flu your sinuses get infected. One can feel depressed after a bad virus like this and fatigue. Some extra vitamins could help, B12 helps with memory, but a multi vitamin could be helpful. There are some U Tube Sinus massages on there I tried doing. There are points on your face when pressed as described, can help clear, blockages. It can take some weeks, you are experiencing bad fatigue, it will get better. Be good to yourself, drink lots of water the mucous will be thinner and clear easier.
Be patient the brain fog will improve. Some of us bounce back after a virus, less lucky are those like us who take a few weeks to recover. You have probably heard of ME this is sometimes what happens to some of us after a virus. I get this sometimes, I thought it was something far more serious. Brain fog muscle weekness are symptoms. But the good news is you get over it. I use Echinasea this is comes from a plant and it can improve our Imune system, taken for a couple of weeks some people swear by this, I have used this in the past too.
George, on its own a sinusitis should go after three weeks. You have described a typical case of sinusitis. Tea tree is not going to cure you. Your body can do it by its own. You can help the sinus to ease with a netty pot, you need to use it constantly. If your symptoms do not ease after 3 weeks you really need to see a doctor who may try with antibiotics. You should consider allergies if the sinusitis keeps coming back.
Thanks Dave. I guess the winter and many other factors made me get this sick. I normally don't get sick except from the usual colds but this time it was much more intense.
I hadn't mentioned before, but I have had the fatigue this week after a visit, to my daughters and grandchildren in Norfolk. They live around a hundred miles from where I live, and new they had all had colds and my eldest daughter, was feeling fatigued and had a little brain fog too since the cold. She now looks after her four children, ages from18 - 10. She was when working a certified accountant. She usually plays badminton and cycles, some days a 15 mile cycle. But like me she takes a while to overcome colds. So when you do get ill, put your feet up when you can, visit a local Health shop ask them for recommendations. Your vitamins, I try to make sure there is Iron in it (Ferris Sulphate I use. Obviously not continuous, with Iron) also B12 helps with the nerves and memory. I hope you do well in your studies.
I have had similar episodes. I'm not in Montreal but I know it gets cold there. If you are staying in Canada remember this is something you can get annually at the same time of year. As previous posts suggest, take Echenisea or stuff similar to that 'BEFORE " you get sick. I use a popular brand name product that works for me. I would also recommend always wearing a hat or headband to keep your ears covered, even in the spring and fall. When you are a student you want to look "cool" , (we all did ) but let it go . Dress warm. ! Hope this helps.
I hope you are feeling better. I had similar symptoms to you - dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, sinus headaches, sinus pressure, not much congestion in my case. It turned ou to be a sinus infection. When I told my doctor about the dizziness he shook his head in disbelief that a sinus infection could cause that - what did he know. He was totally wrong. I used a nasal spray with manuka oil I got on-line whch is for sinus infections and allergies and it cured me. I did not have an allergy has I did not have the sneezing, itcy eyes etc. plus I was tested clear for allergies. So it must have been a sinus infection. I'm not sayng you have a sinus infection but all the indications are that you do. You need to kill the infection
Hey guys! I can't express with words how thankful I am for your reponses! You aliviated my mind so much! It's been almost two weeks and I can really tell you I am much better now. The brain fog has improved, the pressure is less frequent and my energy is getting back to normal, although the sinus isn't completely gone... I haven't been using the netty pot, just the inhaling tea tree oil and a saline solution decongestant. I'm going to go buy the netty pot tomorrow, I don't really think antibiotics will be necessary. I hope this is gone in a week or so... is it normal to still have the sinusitis lingering on 2 weeks? THANKS
Sinusitis like HIV is tough to kill Just because you're recovering, it doesn't mean bacteria is gone or that you won't get sick again first time. So take everyone's advice carefully. If I were you, I'd be buying netty pot this morning and watching my health carefully.
Guys it's 2 weeks or more I'm not really sure and for sure the symptoms have improved, specially the brain fog, but I still get the fatigue, the head pressure and the dry congested nose. This thing has triggered my anxiety (I had issues with it before) and its really bothering me. I had my antibiotics sent to me but they're gonna take a while to come, around 2 weeks. I'm getting the netty pot today, what else would you recommend meanwhile I wait? Is it normal to not have an infection but still keep experiencing these symptoms for this long? Thanks
I have had sinus problems for years, the doctor used to give me several courses of antibiotics unfortunately these don't do anything if there is not an infection. Sinusitis can be caused just by congestion and it can be hard to shift. I gave up seeing the doctor as it never seemed to help. I use Sudafed that doesn't have paracetamol in (paracetamol never gets rid of my bad head so I don't take it) - the ones you get from the pharmacy not the ones off the supermarket shelves. As other people have said Menthol helps and it is really important to me to wear a hat when it is cold, if I don't my sinuses start to play up. Hope that you feel better soon.
p.s. What is netty pot!? I live in the UK and have never heard of it.
I'm curious as to whether anything in particular ended up working for you? I couldn't believe my eyes as I was reading your description of symptoms, because mine were identical and I too was experiencing anxiety because of them. Any update you can provide would be greatly appreciated as I'd love nothing more than to shake this sooner than later.