I caught a cold from my 2 year old earlier this week, about three or four days ago. Each day I felt worse than the day before although today it seems to be easing up a bit. The thing that’s got me worried though is this:
I wear upper dentures, and this moning (about 17 hours ago), I started noticing some pain above my right upper gum area right below my sinuses. I took my teeth out for most of the day thinking that my gums were irritated from grinding my teeth, which I have a habit of doing especially when I have a cold.
It hurts pretty bad too…I’ve been gobbling up Advil all day.
So about fifteen minutes ago, I tried to put my teeth in and my gum was so swollen on the right side, they wouldn’t fit. This really sucks, because I was planning on going to see about a telemarketing job tomorrow which I desperately need.
If I need to see a doctor, I’m stuck going to the emergency room because I don’t have insurance or cash.
Is this something I need to go see about right away, or should I give it a day or so. I hate to waste the hospitals time if it’s just my sinuses swelling because of my cold, but I’d hate to have some kind of infection that could kill me too. If it was an infection, would there be any other symptoms like a fever or something?
*I know seeking medical advice on message boards isn’t the best route to go, and I’m going to do what I think I need to do regardless. I’m just looking for some advice so I can make a semi informed decision Thanks in advance!
Most cities have free medical and dental clinics. Call ahead and show up early. But deal with it quickly - I’m not a doctor, but I’ve heard of dental and gum infections spreading into the brain and meninges, which is a Bad Thing.
Well,
I just made an appointment for later today with a doctor who will take payments. This really sucks…I can’t breathe through my nose, I can’t wear my teeth, my face is swollen and it hurts like a motherfucker. None of which is as bad as the fact that I can’t go see about that job today.
I didn’t really need to post this question in the first place, but I’m not a person who goes to the doctor very often, and I never know whether things are bad enough to see one or not. I’ve been to one three times in the past ten years…twice for strep throat, and once because my ear had a wax ball that I couldn’t get out.
I guess since I’m pushing 40, I should start taking health issues a little more seriously.
I guess my my General Question is this:
When should you see a Doctor? How do you know when you’re sick enough to need medical help, and when you should just sweat it out with over the counter drugs? I
Well, I’m not usually one to advise people to hold off on seeing a doctor, but then I know how it is to be without insurance, too.
Have you tried taking an OTC decongestant? It might reduce the pain if you can reduce the congestion; at least it’s worked for me when I’ve had sinus infections and couldn’t get to the doctor right away. The damn things are so hard to kill, anyway; there have been times when I had to try 4 different antibiotics until one of them worked. But an OTC decongestant should only take an hour or so to kick in; I suppose it can’t hurt, unless it keeps you from treating the actual source of the infection.
In the emergency room I’m working in at the moment we tell people that if pain, discomfort or swelling is keeping them from performing normal everyday activities, or activities you really enjoy, and has been doing so for more than 24hours, it’s time to see a doc asap.
I’d say not being able to wear dentures or attend a job interview would put you in the above category.
Likewise, any faints, blackouts, shortness of breath, or traumatic injuries more severe than a graze need medical attention. Throwing up once, or two or three rushed trips to the toilet in a day do not require your doctor’s time.
This isn’t a huge deal, I get the same thing every now and then. Not sure about the swelling since I don’t wear dentures so I wouldn’t really notice. Sounds like you have a sinus infection.
Thanks for your answers you guys, 'specialy irishgirl for the rules of thumb.
It was a sinus infection, so I got some Amoxillin and Guafensin/pseudoephidrine tabs. Hopefully the swelling and the pain will go away by tomorrow so I can go get a job.
Thanks in advance!