Feeling terrible: fatigue, sore throat, headache, ear pressure, bloody phlegm, and trouble swallowin

So, I've been sick since Wednesday—about three days now. At first, it was just a really bad sore throat and feeling totally wiped out. I had this weird pressure in my head and ears for a bit, but then it went away. I went to see my doctor, and he prescribed some pills, which I started taking. But then things just took a turn for the worse overnight. My throat was killing me, my ears started aching, and I ran a fever. So, I went back to the doctor, and he gave me Augmentin and some Probiotics so I wouldn't get diarrhea from the antibiotics. He also gave me some ear drops, nasal spray, and told me to take something for the pain, like Tylenol. Honestly, though, I felt even worse that night. It felt like mucus was building up in my nose, and when I tried to blow it the next day, I ended up coughing up blood. I was spitting up blood all night. My ears still hurt like crazy, too. The only thing is, my throat feels slightly better, but now swallowing is getting difficult. For the pain, I tried Advil, but it doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to. I tried Neofen, but that messes with my stomach, so now I'm just taking some clear stuff, but I still have to deal with ear pain all day until I can take something at night just to try and sleep. I guess... has anyone else dealt with symptoms like this? If so, what did you do?

I forgot to mention, during the day I'm also coughing up mucus with a little bit of blood in it.

Gerald Scott5 said:So, I've been sick since Wednesday—three days now. It started with a really nasty sore throat and this massive fatigue. I had this weird pressure sensation in my head and ears for a bit, but that passed. I went to the doctor, he prescribed some pills, and I started taking them. But by nighttime, things just spiraled. My throat was killing me, then my ears started aching, then my head, and the fever hit. I went back to the doctor, and he put me on Augmentin and some probiotics so the antibiotics wouldn't wreck my stomach, plus some ear drops, nasal spray, and told me to take something for the pain—Tylenol, apparently. But honestly, it got worse throughout the night. It felt like mucus was just building up in my nose, and when I tried to blow it out the next day, I ended up coughing up blood. I was spitting blood all night long. My ears are still throbbing like crazy too. The only thing is the throat feels slightly better—not as sharp—but now I’m having trouble swallowing. For the pain, I tried Advil, but it doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore. Then I took Neofen, but that absolutely wrecks my stomach, so now I'm switching to these clear ones, but I still have to endure the ear pain all day just so I can hopefully get some sleep once the meds kick in tonight. Has anyone dealt with anything similar? What did you do?

I forgot to mention, during the day I'm also coughing up phlegm with bits of blood in it.

You've got a sinus infection. Lock yourself in the bathroom, crank the hot shower to full blast, sit there in the steam, and just breathe it in. You can grab some inhalation drops at a pharmacy if you want. Also, grab some sea salt, throw a handful in a pot, and heat it on the stove until it starts popping, then pour hot water over it. Once the steam kicks up, inhale it through a towel draped over the pot. Do this several times a day. For your nose, besides standard sprays like Afrin or Flonase, try getting some marshmallow root. Soak a spoonful in a little bit of cold saline solution—about the size of a small espresso cup. After an hour or two, you can use a syringe to spray it up your nose, but lie on the edge of your bed with your head hanging down. Let it sit for a minute or two, then try to blow. Repeat this throughout the day. This is my personal go-to remedy; my grandmother used to treat me with these exact methods every spring, and it worked wonders.

When you blow your nose, make sure you always block one nostril! Your sinuses are connected to your ear canals, which is exactly why you're feeling that pressure in your ears. I'm surprised Neofen is bothering you; it's usually the best bet for this kind of pain. Just pick up some Ranitidine or Pepcid for your stomach, and it should help ease the irritation. Honestly, that mucus is going to irritate you way more than the Neofen will.