Sinus Infection/Headache Labor any minute!

[anudi01]

Hi. I have posted about my current sinus infection. I am 40 weeks exactly and feel like baby is trying to come, but is holding on for me to get better. However, I don't know how long baby is going to wait! I have had this sinus infection over a week now, and it just keeps on moving from my nose, under eyes, tooth and jaw pain, and now it is just sitting on my temples causing me an UNBEARABLE headache. I know what I'm supposed to do to get rid of the darn thing (and believe me I've done it all).
My question is:

What will happen if I go into labor like this? Any chance the labor will override the illness and I'll be able to get through it? Normally I have a fairly easy time getting through my labors. Breathing and vocalization are key for me. Both of which are compromise right now. I am not breathing well, and it actually hurts my head to vocalize. I am so worried about this. If absolutely necessary would a headache medicine even relieve the pain of a headache during labor. Is it safe? If there are some, which ones? I never take OTC meds during nursing or pregnancy and RARELY otherwise.

[Jane]

If you're sure it's a sinus infection - any really bad headache in a pregnant woman makes me worry about pre-e - neti pot or other saline 4-6 times per day. Every two hours if you can stand it. Tylenol or caffiene might help your headache.

Most times I've seen labor wait until you're feeling a little better.

[Etay005]

Haven't read your past posts about your sinus infection, but was wondering if you ruled out a dental issue. I was having terrible sinus headaches at the end of my last pregnancy and it ended up being a bad tooth. The day I had the root canal the headaches were gone. I didn't have pain in my mouth until far into the infection. I had sinus problems in the past so I just assumed it was sinus. Good luck regardless of the source of your pain-it must be driving you nuts at this point.

[mwherbs]

try using ocean- or a homemade saline solution to rinse out your sinuses-- it will help some-- you could try to emerse yourself in water and let the water cover your face with just your nose sticking out sometimes that will help with the pressure and changing it- mint tea will help to shrink tissues- you can also get one of those nasal inhailers (vicks or olbas) and the menthol in them help to shrink the tissues and can help increase drainage-- do you have a humidifyer in your house? if not put a big kettle of water on to get some humidity into your house air- also when I lived in cold climates I found that I had to cover my nose with a scarf when ever I was out doors and it cut down on my sinus infections-
I have also massaged my soft palate to help drain the sinus
tapping of your cheek bones can help too
I also take emergen-c one or 2 every couple hrs-- some echnicea as well

how is your BP?
and as others have said is it dental?

[lirpasirhc]

I treat sinus infections with mwherbs' suggestions. I also do the following:
Boil vinegar and breath the fumes.
Sip about 1 cup hot tomato juice mixed with 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper. I think cayenne can thin the blood, so you might not want to do this if you think labor is coming soon.
Get a 1-hour full-body massage. Usually I feel a popping sensation in my sinuses and my nose starts to run. For a bad infection, I might get 2 massages over 2 days. There is an affordable massage college near my apt. You might look for massage colleges near you.
When I started taking probiotics, I got fewer infections.

I'm so sorry that you are so sick.

[anudi01]

Hi all...

Thank you for all the responses. I had a MW appt. today. Blood pressure was up to 126/74, that's up for me, because last week it was like 115/68, and previously it hangs out aroung 105/62 or so. Is that trend something to be concerned about? Really doubt it's a dental issue, but hey, who knows. I think no though, b/c the tooth pressure comes and goes with the congestion. Like at first when I neti or breath in the vinegar fumes, the pressure clears for a while, and the teeth stop hurting. I had some cranial work done today, and my chiro doesn't feel it's an infection. He says my body has produced an allergy response to something. His muscle testing does not indicate infection. Well, whatever it is....it is horrendous. MW said if I have to I can take Sudafed and Tylenol for pain. Of course that is after trying all the other stuff. Well, now, my body has just started to fever (ever so slightly), so I definately don't want to reduce the fever with a Tylenol. I am so anti-meds. Eww. But at this point, I have to feel better. What I can't figure out is why I'm so headachey in my temples? Usually (when I've ever had a sinus headache, which is rarely), I have felt it in my frontal lobe??? Please send healing prayers/vibes my way. I need them like the WORST!

[Jane]

My advice stays the same - keep watching the BP, as anyone in their 3rd trimester needs to do (today's numbers are not worrysome), and use a neti pot at least 4 times per day, or every 2 hours if you can stand it.
I don't care that there's no infection now, according to your chiropractor's "muscle testing", I think the environment is just right to get one if you don't have one already.

[stik]

When I get sick when I am pregnant, it is much worse than when I get sick while I am not pregnant. And I also had a hideous sinus infection at the end of my last pregnancy. Sudafed helped a lot. A Z-pack helped too. I see that you are anti-tylenol, so I can understand if you'd rather not do antibiotics, but they helped me feel better very quickly (which was good, because I couldn't breathe and I went into labor two days later), and as no one else had mentioned the possibility, I thought I should throw the idea on the table.

[Mamabeakley]

I've not had bad sinus problems BUT with mild problems, I have found vocalizing can help clear things out, though it doesn't feel good while doing it. Try focusing your voice to make the sinus chambers vibrate, while imagining drainage happening.

Also, I do know people whose cold, virus, whatever, seemed to retreat during labor - but came back afterwards.