Anyone know what this could be?!
Question: I realize I probably will need to go to a doctor for this, but I wanted to see what people think on here. I had a sinus infection last week (I'm still on the antibiotics), but even though the sinus stuff has cleared up, I'm still coughing (have coughed up yellow stuff...sorry if that's too much info :)) and today my throat and ear started hurting. I've also been super tired the last couple days. What could this be? I'm still on antibiotics, so I would think anything bacterial would be killed from the medicine. Thanks.
Answers: I realize I probably will need to go to a doctor for this, but I wanted to see what people think on here. I had a sinus infection last week (I'm still on the antibiotics), but even though the sinus stuff has cleared up, I'm still coughing (have coughed up yellow stuff...sorry if that's too much info :)) and today my throat and ear started hurting. I've also been super tired the last couple days. What could this be? I'm still on antibiotics, so I would think anything bacterial would be killed from the medicine. Thanks.
When you have a sinus infection, the secreations can drain down the throat and irritate it. The ears will sometimes hurt too because your inner ear canal hooks onto your throat. Did your doctor give you a decongestant? If not, try a "sinus" decongestant like Pseudophed PE to decrease the secreations down your throat which should also relieve the ear pain. Gargle with salt water to thin the secreations and help clear them out of your throat. If this doesn't help then you may have a virus too.
It happens sometimes, that when a person has a bacterial infection, a virus sets in (because their immune system is depressed). Phelgm from a bacteria is greenish, from a virus is yellow, but what you may be coughing up could be just old drainage from your sinuses (not phelgm). If it is a virus, no antibiotic will help it go away, just time.
If your ear pain gets worse or persists with decongestants, I would have the doctor look at it because your sinus infection could have spread to your ear and you may need a different antibiotic to clear a bacterial infection out of your ear.
I think that it may be viral, since the Antibiotics aren't helping, better go and see your Dr. again, Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember that your sinuses connect with every other hole in your head: your ears, eyes and throat. The medication's fighting the infections and it may migrate to your chest as it loosens up-it tends to slip down your throat while you're sleeping.
Drink lots of fluids (water, juices) to keep the mucus mobile and continue taking the medication until it's gone. If everything's still bothering you by the end of next week, call your doctor back and ask if there's anything else that he/she suggests. Buy an expectorant for the cough (Mucinex is great) but stay away from the suppressants, leaving the mucus in your chest could lead to pneumonia. Get as much rest as possible, it helps your body have the energy to continue fighting the infection.
Good luck and I hope you get better soon!
The actual bacteria itself probably is gone, you are right about that. Your ears and thoat hurt because they are imflammed from all the mucus moving around bothing your cilia (microscopic hair-like projections in your respiratory system that keep things moving!). I know it's probably annoying to you, but it should subside in a few days. Your upper airways are just irritated that you had an infection. As far as coughing up yellow stuff....it's the drainage from your sinuses that went into either your stomach or lungs or both. Keep on those antibotics or you could end up a real mess! Good luck!
Sinuses are air filled cavity in skull ,, but in infections therein their inner mucosal lining get congested and start secreting mucous which with superadded bacterial infection turns to pus or purulent material. These sinuses drain into nasal cavity and hence if mouth of sinus remain patent gradually with treatment with antibiotics, secretions are cleared. Thru nasal opening these are also connected with throat and ear canal as a pipe called eustachean tube connects them. So when infection is not getting treated with the antibotic being taken ( response being slow or some resistance problem ) symptoms of pain in surrounding areas, feverish, mental clouding, sleep problems do take place.
Now best will be to get a culture test done and see for patency of sinus opening and if required change of antibiotic or some sinus lavage procedure.
Consult ur treating physician for a decision.
I just went through a 14 day course of antibiotics and I have the same stuff you do. I called my Doctor and she told me it's most likely a viral infection and it will just have to run it's course and it's been a bad year for a lot of people. If it was bacterial the medication would have worked. The cough just hangs on and hangs on. Just make sure you take your full course of meds and hang in there............Feel Better Soon