POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: CalvinC on April 13, 2009, 09:45:54 am
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Hi all
Having recently gone through a very stressful period, my lower back went out (an occasional ailment) and I got a very very low grade sinus-type cold: just dry nose, some sniffling. The back is getting better but the cold, such as it is, is not.
I know this is really small potatoes, but it concerns me as I never get colds. This one is so minor I hardly notice it, but it persists: not painful, but not getting better, and not getting worse. I've tried natural remedies and so on. My numbers are excellent and I'm not on Haart.
Has anyone experienced anything similar? I am avoiding going to my GP over something that appears minor, but that I wonder might be an indicator of something "larger."
Many thanks,
Cal
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Cal,
How long has this been going on? If it's lasted more than a couple weeks, I wouldn't necessarily call that minor. If it's only been a week, give it a couple more days.
The best rule of thumb is "when in doubt call the doctor". Sometimes you can actually speak to the doctor or nurse-practitioner who can "triage" you over the phone and decide if they think an appointment is appropriate, and/or suggest OTC remedies for you to try.
Good luck, hope you feel better soon.
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Cal, I don't know what the barometric pressure is like where you are, but where I am in northcentral Indiana, it goes up and down. As a result, I've had sinus issues for a couple months. Not to be graphic, but if the snot has no color, it doesn't require antibiotics. That's a rule of thumb I learned from working for an allergist. Of course, I'm no doctor either. I suppose you know your limits.
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Thanks Ann and BT65.
This has been going on for about four weeks, and there is some blood in the "expectorate."
Perhaps it is a minor sinus infection. I should just get up and go see the GP. Sigh. I was just there to see him, to get my numbers, so I feel stupid for not having brought this up.
Cal