So I have a running/stopped up nose, swollen cheek, sore tooth, sore throat, sneezes...

What the heck is going on with me...

At first I thought I was just sick due to weather change, then my tooth started hurting, and now my cheek is a tad swollen. Could it be an abcess or something?

Is my cold affecting my tooth, or is my tooth giving me cold symptoms?

Chi, I am no doctor but sounds like a sinus infection that needs antibiotics to get rid of it. Hope you feel better soon!

I was kind of thinking that too... thanks for the insight!

... seems like the mumps. Have you had the mumps vaccine?

Not recently...

Educate me: What exactly is the mumps?

It's a virus infection.

Usually occurs through saliva... swells up the salivary glands... your cheeks swell up, teeth/gums are sore... you lose your appetite, fever, headache, etc.

Usually, the vaccine is given when you're a child... comes in a single shot: MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella)... I suggest you check with your gp to see if you've gotten this shot.

Oh I still have an appetite, eating right now, in fact! And no fever, or headache.

However, since you are having cold-like symptoms, it could just as well be a cold... flu... or just plain sick.

Rest up, get plenty of rest, food, and water... see if gets any better.

Indeed, this is the plan. Good thing I have tomorrow off!!

Oh, and of course, chocolate helps ;)

Not medically... of course.. . or maybe it does.. . homeopathically I guess.

ISF, are you going to bring me some chocolate??

I would! I have a feeling your boyfriend/fiance/husband (I have no idea which one you had) wouldn't appreciate it though!

LOL... Why not? He won't go get it!

Chi... FOR SHAME! Your bf/fiance/hubby won't get it so now you're getting other guys to do your bidding? FOR SHAME! :p

LMAO. Yup. You can just say boyfriend. LOL. I know I'm evil!

**UPDATE**

It's now almost 5am. I have not gone to sleep yet, I can't breate when lying down. So I stacked my pillows to elevate my head in almost a sitting position, my stomach apparently didn't like this because I ran to the bathroom and was hugging the toilet seat for an hour (fortunately I had just cleaned the potty :P).

Is this normal for just being sick? Should I go to the doctor? I really hate to go to the doctor for something like this. Especially since I'm struggling to catch up on bills, and do not have insurance yet.

Oh I feel so bad for you Chi!! I hope you are feeling better by now. My advice is always to check with your doctor if even just by a phone conversation. Many times, they will just call in a med (if you are an established patient).

One of the other gals on this site has had something similar and her children were throwing up. She couldn't breathe, coughing, sneezing, exhausted, went to the doctor yesterday. He put her on anti's, and I think a nose spray and one other med. Seems there is a lot of what you have going around but I would not begin to assume I am right! LOL As I say, best advice is always check with your doctor even if you just pop into a walk in clinic.

Maybe Sneezy and some others will pop on here and have more helpful ideas for you. Keep drinking lots of fluids!! Extremely important!!

I have no medical background, just a hurting heart for those who are ill. Feel better soon Chi.

I don't have a doctor. Or insurance. So I think I'll wait it out, and if it doesn't get better soon I'll go to the free clinic.

Although I always recommend for people to go see a doctor... I understand that maybe 10% of those will actually follow instructions... so I get where you're coming from.

The breathing part... may indicate... the same thing. The cold... flu... some bronchial/lung infection... etc. If it doesn't get better within a few days, chances are, you may have an infection and may need antibiotics...

Hope you feel better soon.

Ps - did the boyfriend get the chocolates or is he slacking once again?

No, he works two jobs so I don't see him on the weekends. I'm waiting for a friend to get online. So I can make them go get me some ;)

Oh, cm...

Godiva.com's having a 50% off sale today.

... apologize to your boyfriend for me ahead of time.

I just got back from the store... Got some cold medicine and ice cream!

Try some antihistamines to dry up the sinus and a decongestant to draw it down and out. Last Sept I caught something from a co worker that I still sort of have. It was wonderful. My face swelled up and it felt that my eyes were little slits and I had a horrible headache. I thought I would have to get a tooth tended to as my teeth hurt. I could not even lift my head off the pillow without my head giving me excruciating pain. Got the decongestant and that helped a heck of a lot. I alternated using the antihistamines and the decongestant throughout the day. Now how many months later I still have remants of this sinus stuff when I wake up in the morning. Did not go to the doctor. I only go if I'm dead (or almost dead). I did get some relief when I put Vicks Vapo Rub on the outside of my sinus on my nose and forehead though. Also got some relief when taking a hot shower inhaling the steam. Also got relief when I used a tea kettle with Vicks in the water and inhaled the steam for about 15 minutes. Sounds like what was going around Ohio last Fall. Don't despair, it's not going away in a few days or weeks, but you WILL get better, trust me. I'm almost cured.

Oh yes, warm compresses on your face helped also.

Put that ice cream down... and smush it into the computer screen at me... I'm on a diet as I happily gained all the weight I lost last summer back over the winter with this danged sinus stuff feeling sorry for myself and indulging.

Feel better CM!!

WHERE'S my ice cream?? Hmmmmm... I've licked the screen here at my end and it doesn't taste anything like ice cream... Wahhhhhhh.

Let me know how's the sinus thingy is going...

Ugh, I get irritable when sick. My boyfriend got mad that I wouldn't turn the TV down from 13 (not very loud at all) to 2. So he could nap before his next shift. So, he went home. Then calls me and is mad at me that he can't sleep there either cause his mom is vaccuuming. MEN ARE SELFISH!

Tsk tsk. Doesn't bring chocolate... complains that the TV is too loud... tsk tsk.

I know... he's a natural born complainer.

Get used to it CM, they don't change. :)

I'm the one with the lung infection, and I waited two weeks before I went to the doctor. I know that you're in the US and have to pay to visit the doc, but if it's the same thing I have you better go. Sweetie I'm miserable, haven't slept in two weeks, nip it in the bud now. :)

I can't afford a doctor. And the free clinic is closed and they still charge for medicine and tests. I can't afford my car insurance right now so I'm walking to work... Not an easy time for me right now.

And I'm pretty used to him now.

Aw sweetie, I'm sorry. I hope you feel better. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, including orange juice, use a humidifier (if you have one) and vicks vapo rub.

As for the boyfriend, I know what you mean. I met my hubby when we were both 19, he's still a little bugger but I wouldn't trade him for anything. Wait, maybe for Vin Diesel. :);)

Yup, he's turd, but I love my bratty Bosnian!! The only thing I would trade him for is another chihuahua!!

You'd trade him for a dog? Hmmm, interesting. You know, I could get you another chihuahua, I could pull a few strings. I get you the dog, and I take your Bosnian. Does he clean? Does he mow the lawn? How about dog poo pickup and childcare? ;);)

LOL... Nah, I wouldn't trade him for a dog, but I definitely wouldn't mind another chi.

He does clean, but only when asked, or sometimes TOLD. We have no lawn, so he doesn't mow, he does his parent's though. He cleans dog poo, and as far as kids, I don't know I've never seen him with children. And he's probably never been around a child that was less than 15.

Want my chi?

I thought we already went through this! I DO! Lily is precious!

CM, want to borrow my kids, test out your boyfriend? They're 9 and 5, boy and girl, Jared and Sydney. Let me know, I'll ship them express. ;);)

Haha, Maybe in five or so years...

But, but, they'll be 14 and 10 then. You sure?

LOL... that's around the time that we are planning kids. I still have three years before I can get my state license for work. And he has two before he gets his Computer Science Degree... Don't want kids with stupid parents!

Although I don't know how much smarter my license will make me :P... You know, I can't get much smarter!!

... hm.. . my lily can be a kid.

...hm. ...my lily can be a kid.

Lily is just too cute!

Ah, she's adorable... but... she's a handful.

Very much like a clingy girlfriend.

If I'm on the phone, she'll start whining... even if I'm petting her. If a girl comes over, and we're on the couch watching a movie... she'll pounce on the girl. We even tested it out. Had 3 girls and 2 guys come over. Girl sat next to me, pounced. Guy sat next to me, she didn't care.

If I'm 10 minutes late coming home to walk/feed/play with her... she'll refuse to walk/eat/play. She'll just get her rub, then go back into her crate.. . pissy creature.

Oh, and she whinnnnnesssss if I don't give her attention for... 3 minutes.

Oh whiny? Never mind, you keep her:P LOL. I taught Susan right off the bat that whining is bad.

Yeah, I did too... and like a girlfriend, she told me that I just had to deal with it.

LOL... Yeah, Susan never whines, and only barks when I leave, or I'm about to come home. She knows the sounds of mine and the bf's cars...

yeah, I did too...and like a girlfriend, she told me that I just had to deal with it.

Lily is good practice for a wife. :);)