This has to be more than an Upper Respiratory Infection..... Please help?

No, it sounds pretty much like an upper respiratory infection, which is just a fancy way of saying you've got a really nasty cold. Colds are caused by members of a very large virus family- one with hundreds of members that cause all the symptoms you describe. They cause inflammation and swelling of the nasal pages and throat, and all the excess mucus will often block the eustachian tubes which link your inner ears with the back of the throat. Those tubes let you equalize pressure between the inner ear and the air around you- and are the reason you feel your ears "pop" on takeoff. When a tube is blocked partially or fully, you'll get a full feeling in the ear, and it can be painful. The gunk running down your throat and the stuffed up nose will cause you to open your mouth to breath when you sleep- sometimes even when you are awake, without you noticing. That will dry out tissues of the throat, and make it sore. Your head hurts most likely because of all the stuffiness, and viral infections do often just cause headaches. You're dizzy because your ears are blocked, which messes with your balance mechanisms. So yes, it's all nasty, and all part of a bad cold. You've evidently been pretty fortunate with colds in the past, and not gotten one so nasty, which is why this one seems so much worse. The Sudafed would actually be a great remedy for you, and you shouldn't discount it just because you don't need a prescription for it. It will help drain your nose, dry up the excess mucus, and let you breathe a bit easier. Draining the fluid will help open your eustachian tubes so the ears clear as well. And yes, the Vicks can give you a funky menthol taste in your mouth. Small amounts of it will melt into your mouth and onto your lips, getting into your mouth, It won't hurt you, it's just not very pleasant. To help you feel a bit better, I really suggest you get and take a cold remedy like the Sudafed or a generic version. Drink plenty of fluids, and given your sore throat, cold stuff will feel best most likely. The more moisture you get into your throat, the less it will hurt. Stay away from dairy products though. They won't hurt anything, but they make the throat feel coated and you want to clear it to rid the sensation. It will make you gag and make the throat hurt more. Get the room you are in cooler, which will help make breathing easier. You can sit in a steamy shower if you'd like some relief of the stuffy head, until your medicine can kick in. Sleep propped up, so your nose drains easier as well, and you are less likely to mouth breath. And hang in there. A respiratory infection is generally worse on days 3-5, and gradually eases off as the days p after that. Since it's a virus, a prescription medication isn't going to help, neither do antibiotics. Your body is the only thing that can deal with it. So rest, plenty of fluid, and nutritious foods are the order of the day. You can take Motrin or Tylenol (or generic versions) for the aches, pains, and headaches. Take the Sudafed or other cold remedy for help with that- just take care if it contains aspirin or Tylenol not to take it with more. I don't know why your friends have prescriptions, other than some doctors will give a script if you make enough fuss- and it's not good for you. Your doctors, while not necessarily having a good bedside manner, are at least treating you correctly and sensibly. That's better for you in the long run. Hope you get to feeling better in the coming days, dear. I really suggest some tissues with lotion for the poor nose, some cold medicine- like the Sudafed, a cold drink, some hot soup, comfy jammies, propped up in a chair with your favorite movie, and simply rest. And you will feel better in a few days.