Summary: Sinus infection symptoms are usually pretty classic.  You should always consult with your doctor though to make sure.  Antibiotics are generally effective short-term but of little help in preventing chronic sinus infections.

Dear Curtis: I’m wondering if these are sinus infection symptoms: I have pain above my eyes with a clear nasal discharge.  I have had a cold for about a week and while the cough is getting better the headache remains.  and it’s BAD.  It’s hard to even go to work.

First of all let me say…I’m sorry!

Having a sinus infection is a miserable experience.  particularly one you’ve had for any length of time.  and I know from personal experience.

I had never had a sinus infection before so when I finally got one it took me by surprise.  It went on for weeks.  I had extreme head pain.  was sensitive to light and if I blew my nose just perfectly I could hear (and feel) a little ‘release’ in my nose.  It almost sounded like a slow, high pitched tire leak.

That would give me a little bit of relief but then it would build back up and I was to square one.

Eventually, with the help of a same day care doctor I discovered that I did indeed have a “raging” sinus infection (in his words).  but, enough about me.

With what you are telling me it’s frankly, hard to say if it is a sinus infection.  but, with the general symptoms you are listing there is a good chance it’s a sinus infection.  also, because you said you had a cold it makes me think it’s a sinus infection as they often follow a cold or a flu infection.

But, to help you (and your doctor) let’s ask a few more questions and look at a true sinus infection in a little more detail.

Acute vs. Chronic Symptoms

From what you’re describing you appear to be in the acute phase since it has been occurring less than 4 weeks.  A chronic sinus infection would run out past eight weeks.

Sinus Location

Also, you have more than just one ‘sinus’ – as the name confusingly implies.  the area that you are describing, above your eyes, is very commonly affected.  but, without getting into too many specifics lets just focus on some of the more common symptoms that you might experience with a sinus infection and that way it will give you a better idea of your next course of action.

Common General Symptoms

While the following tend to be seen in most sinus infections they may not all be present at the same time.

• Nasal discharge:  Because sinus infections often follow colds or flu’s nasal discharge can be common and actually thicken and become worse over time.
• Chronic Dry Cough
• Pressure in the face
• Teeth pressure (particularly as you bend over)
• Pain around the eyes (especially if a child has a sinus infection)
• Bad breath
• Post nasal drip (where nose discharge literally drips back into your throat causing you to clear your throat constantly)
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Lack of response to antihistamines or decongestants

Sinus Infection Treatment

I’m pretty confident that your doctor will likely conclude that you do have a sinus infection and will likely prescribe you some antibiotics to treat it like Amoxicillin.

Now, while antibiotics will likely bring you relief in my experience they aren’t a long term solution because they aren’t fixing the actual cause.

Without getting into too much detail your sinuses are basically air filled pockets in your skull.  and, as you learned above, with the right conditions (say a cold or a flu) they can become inhabited with bacteria, fungus or viruses.  They set up camp in your sinuses and make you miserable.

So, while treating the actual bug that is causing the sinus infection is helpful, unless you control your overall health and keep the sinuses clear you may likely have a reinfection with your next cold.  That’s why the most helpful thing for me to prevent (and even treat a mild sinus infection) has been sinus irrigation.

It keeps your sinuses flushed out and makes it difficult for bacteria or other bugs to call it home.  plus, it’s extremely safe and approved by a lot of ear, nose and throat doctors.  but, just to make sure, discuss it with your doctor.

I’m a big fan because it helped me when prescription medications couldn’t.  That’s why when I feel a cold coming on now I immediately start irrigating my sinuses.

If you have a toothache in your upper jaw it’s possible that you don’t have a dental issue or an infected tooth at all but instead it may be sinusitis or a maxillary sinus infection instead. and the reverse can be true also. One may think they have a sinus infection but actually have a toothache.

Next to find out more about how I cured myself of chronic sinus infections naturally forever go to my nurse’s website SinusCureReport.com for tips, treatments, natural treatments, causes and remedies and info on symptoms, surgery, nasal irrigation, sinus headaches and more!

If you have a toothache in your upper jaw it’s possible that you don’t have a dental issue or an infected tooth at all but instead it may be sinusitis or a maxillary sinus infection instead. and the reverse can be true also. One may think they have a sinus infection but actually have a toothache.

This is a much more common occurrence than one might think. In fact dentists have actually extracted teeth or done root canals on teeth that didn’t need it. You may have other symptoms that indicate that you have a sinus infection or a sinus inflammation starting up.

The maxillary sinuses lie close to the jaw where your upper teeth are located. The maxillary sinuses are only one of four sets of sinuses we have. if you have an infection in the root of a tooth it can cause pain that radiates to the cheek and mimics sinusitis or a sinus problem. as a side note you can also get pain from your jaw joint by your ear- the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), and make you think you have sinusitis or a sinus problem also.

On occasion over the years when dental patients have had a tooth pulled in the upper jaw it has caused a sinus infection because the infected roots are so close to the sinuses.

You want to make sure you understand where the source of your pain or discomfort is coming from so that you don’t pull teeth or get a root canal or visit your arthritis doctor for your temporomandibular joint when it’s not the source of your pain and suffering.

Make sure to review possible sinus infection symptoms first. You don’t have to have all the symptoms to determine whether you have an infection or not. You may be in the early stages also with irritated sinuses and in both cases you want to use natural treatment at home to get rid of it. these symptoms include slight sore throat, coughing, sneezing, lump in your throat, yellow or green mucus, but especially yellow mucus, which can almost always indicate a sinus infection, loss of smell, loss of taste, bad breath, ear fullness, sometimes fever and fatigue. Many people don’t connect their fatigue or just plain tired feeling with their sinuses. Sinus infections are systemic, which means they affect your whole body.

So finally you want to determine whether you have a simple toothache, a TMJ problem or a sinus infection. Checking this out first can save you a lot of agony, time and money. You don’t want to assume it’s a toothache when it’s actually your TMJ or your sinuses bothering you.

• Sinus Problems – Do I Have Sinus Infection Symptoms Or Acid Reflux (GERD) Or Both? Nurse’s Guide
• List of Sinus Infection Symptoms – Nurse’s Guide
• Can a Sinus Infection Make a Person Dizzy or Feel Fuzzy? – Nurse’s Guide
• What Causes a Chronic Sinus Infection? Nurse’s Guide
• 5 Sinus Infection Symptoms You Should Know About – Nurse’s Secrets

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