When is a cold more than just a cold?

[mommasita]

I just need an opinion, if you all will?

I started the sniffling, sneezing, lousy crappy feeling Tuesday night. Woke up in FULL bloom on Wed, continued Thurs, Fri, Sat, and now today. I still have the runny nose, and then totally congested nose thing. I had a fever and chills yesterday, but not today. I general feel lousy..

Do you think this could be a sinus infection? Should I go to the clinic tomorrow? How long would you generally wait to see a doctor? I mean, how long should a headcold remain? Thanks in advance..

 

[__disneygirl]

I always see a doctor right away, because you never know if it could be a viral infection or something that can be treated, I can never tell the difference at least. I would say see a doctor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well mine started last Friday night..so I am going on 9 days now.

I think the rule of thumb is 2 weeks with just "yucky symptoms".

I go to the doc earlier if I think I have pneumonia, high fever, or I am couging/blowing out green stuff all the time.

 

[ADisneygirl]

I believe if you get a fever, then it is more than a cold. Also, terrible coughing sends me to the doctor fever or not. Go see a Dr. and get some relief. I know how terrible those stuffy noses can be. To me I'd rather my nose run nonstop than for it to be stuffy.

Hope you feel better soon.

 

[Kath2003]

Generally speaking, your average cold lasts 7 days with a mild fever, chills, tiredness, headache, sore throat, sinus pain, and lots of delightful mucus. You can have any, all or some of these symptoms and you will most likely feel like pooh.

I would go and see my doctor if I had a lot of pain in my ears, throat or sinuses. Otherwise I would wait it out for at least a fortnight.

If you have infected sinuses it's likely that they will hurt a LOT when you lean your head forward (look at your shoes). If you don't have major pain in a particular area, it's probably just a rotton virus.

Sadly, nothing can be done about a virus and you just need to rest, drink plenty of fluids and wait it out. There are some absolutely awful cold-type viruses going around at my University at the minute which leave people looking awful.

To relieve the symptoms, try Tylenol and a decongestant spray.

Last semester I had a cold for three and a half weeks. It was horrible, but it was just a bad cold virus.

 

[mommasita]

Thanks everyone. I think I just feel the need to be babied tonight. I have worked all through it (including today/tonight), and had a SUPERLONG boring wedding shower last night after work..Tomorrow I am off

 

[Christine]

My doctor won't treat any "cold-like" illnesses under 2 weeks unless there is an ongoing fever.

I often get a low-grade fever with my colds. There have been times that I had awful symptoms for 2 weeks and have it take up to 3 weeks to clear and it has never been anything more than a cold. But when you have it, it seems like an eternity.