Bad Sinus-need Advice

[Guest adamssa]

Hi~

I've had really bad sinus problems for about 6 months, but I didn't get it taken care until now because I was just wanting to take care of some other things...like being able to eat for example. And now I sometimes can! Yay.

But, lately the pain has gotten really severe and is always there. It's the right side of my nostril and it's just blocked and it hurts. A LOT. I've noticed there's a direct correlation between how blocked it is and how much brain fog I get. Something to do with the lack of oxygen to the brain which really scares me. I went to ent and he gave me a prescription for an antiobiotic, vibramycin. But, I am afraid of antiobiotics because I used to have a candida issue. But I don't know what else to do. I got some temporary relief from a natural sinus spray, bromelein and querticien, and berberine, as well as neti, but I don't know anythinge lese to try and those don't help much anymore. the ent suspects it is an infection on the structure of the nose.

i really don't want to get candida again now that i can finally eat some carbs and chocloate again. but the thing with the reoccurence of brain fog really frightens me. now i have it all the time again, but it begins to subside if i take a shower and then rinse out my nose about four times. i just got through some pretty long end of the year papers that were pretty hellish because my brain is just not there right now. ah my conclusion about marixism versus neo liberalism, therefore, we can see that...wow that guy over there is just beautiful what was that again?

sorry for the long post! i feel that letting this infectin go on for so long has been a big mistake and comprismised my immune system further. but i have been trying i saw accupuncturists and naturpathics and a gp, nothing they gave me helped. it's amazing what a person can get used to isn't it? I woudn't mind the pain even, if i could only think...

Thanks a lot.

Sara

[trents]

Did your ENT do any radiology workup? Xrays, CT scan? Perhaps you have a deviated septum that inhibits drainage of your sinus cavities. Perhaps you have turbinate hypertrophy that needs to be corrected surgically so your sinuses can drain. The turbinates are the fleshy organs that line the nasal passages. They serve to warm and humidify the air we breathe in. When we have nasasl congestion the trubinates are responsible for the difficulty we experience in breathing through the nose because they swell, usually in response to a cold virus or an allegen. People with a lot of allergies experience chronic nasal congestion and their sinuses don't drain well, thus they are subject to sinus infection. Two days ago I had turbinate reduction done. It was an in office procedure with an electric cauterizing tool. This procedure actually kills a certain percentage of the turbinate tissue so there is less of it to swell. Don't worry, they numb the tissue so it isn't painful.

Steve

[Helena]

I have sinus trouble too. Does anyone know if a deviated septum will show up on a CT scan?

Just asking because after examining my sinuses, my allergist mumbled something about my septum looking weird and sending me for a CT scan and perhaps to an ENT. I think he *entirely* forgot about this appointment. I reminded him months later of his comments---and he sent me for a CT scan which was normal aside from inflammation (we already know about the chronic nasal rhinitis). When I retrieved my medical notes recently, however, I see that after the first appointment he wrote that I have a deviated septum.

I'm left wondering if I need to ask him again about the comments he made in my medical notes----is a "deviated septum" something that an ENT doctor should look at? Or since the CT scan basically came back normal is it not something I need to be concerned with.

[Ksmith]

I know someone who had chronic sinus infections...her doctor suggested that she go to an allergist. She did. The allergist said that he wants to test her for food allergies...she was allergic to all sorts of things, including wheat...but also apples. potatoes, pepper...etc. Once she cut those out of her diet, her sinus infections stopped. Have you been checked for any other food allergies?

[CarlaB]

Many people find that dairy thickens mucus and causes sinus trouble. You can also try salt water -- either snort it up your nose, or irrigate your nose with it (you can probably Google for directions on that).

I'd be sure there is nothing else going on, you don't want to leave it like it is and end up finding out later it's something serious.

[jerseyangel]

Hi Sara,

The problem with antibiotics for sinus infections is that the medicine had a hard time actually getting into the area of the sinuses.

Something you could try on your own is to irrigate your sinuses. I can let you know how to do this if you want. It really works--and can help get rid of that foggy feeling.

Another medicine you could ask your doctor about is a Corto-steroid nasal spray like Flonase. Using a spray, and then using irrigation I've found is effective.

A CT scan is a good idea if you can't get it under control. The doctor can see if there are any structural problems or infection still occuring.

I'm glad you're being careful about taking lots of antibiotics for this--I did that for years, to no avail.

[trents]

I have sinus trouble too. Does anyone know if a deviated septum will show up on a CT scan?

Just asking because after examining my sinuses, my allergist mumbled something about my septum looking weird and sending me for a CT scan and perhaps to an ENT. I think he *entirely* forgot about this appointment. I reminded him months later of his comments---and he sent me for a CT scan which was normal aside from inflammation (we already know about the chronic nasal rhinitis). When I retrieved my medical notes recently, however, I see that after the first appointment he wrote that I have a deviated septum.

I'm left wondering if I need to ask him again about the comments he made in my medical notes----is a "deviated septum" something that an ENT doctor should look at? Or since the CT scan basically came back normal is it not something I need to be concerned with.

Yes, a CT scan will show the outline of the septum.

Steve

[Guest adamssa]

Hi Everyone,

I have tried the salt water thing, but it's gotten so bad that I need to do it like 4 or 5 times after taking a hot steamy shower for it to make a difference....Also have been tested for other food allergies too and none really, just kind of sensitive to broccoli and a few other random foods. That's what makes this so difficult. The ENT wants a scan, but I've been thinking I may wait till after trying the antibiotic.

I am so tired of doctors and tests though. I am going to have my thyroid checked too since I think that's the root of my hypoglycemia. I feel sometimes that family and friends think am a hypochondriac and want to be sick though nothing is further from the truth. I was so sick by the time was finally diagnosed that to me it seems logical that this takes time to sort out but nothing is one stop with medicine. one doctor agrees to give you a test and then you go somewhere to have it done and then you check back. and if you need more than one test that really only means they want to rule more things out but for all the time it takes makes you feel guilty... just complaining i suppose.

Sara

[Helena]

Yes, a CT scan will show the outline of the septum.

Steve

Thanks, Steve! I'm glad I won't need to bring this one up again . . . and that I don't have any structural sinus problems.

[sunshinen]

sinus infections were the bane of my pre-gluten-free days. since going gluten free i have yet to have one that required antibiotics. but yours may be firmly seated, and it may require the extreme measures of antibiotics. but here are some things to try first.

i take lots of olive leaf extract, vitamin C, and probiotics when i feel one coming on. if that doesn't work add some oral bromelain and goldenseal. you can also add goldenseal tincture to the neti pot. or some biotics brand chlorocaps (one cap) and liquid iodine (50 drops) to the neti pot saline mixture. just make sure you are not allergic to goldenseal, it is related to ragweed (a common airborne allergy) so I cannot use that anymore.

you can also add eucalyptus, lavendar, and peppermint drops to the steam inhalations or to a warm wash cloth held over the sinuses under a heating pad. (use cotton balls to cover your eyes as the eucalyptus burns) this helps with drainage and inflammation.

Here is a great resource for other herbal remedies: Open Original Shared Link

Good Luck!

[angst2amity]

Hi Sara,

I have had the worst 6 months of my life due to my sinuses. My primary doctor put me on antibiotic after antibiotic and I didn't get better, I took myselft to an ENT and he found the problem right away on the CT scan and cleaned out my right sphenoid sinus (scope surgery)- it is right directly behind my nose/right eye. Of course he left something in there when he was done and I just had the surgery again with a better doctor to remove it and the bacteria clinging to it (it is thought to be some biodegradable packing material).

I haven't had an allergy in my life. Now since I have had these infections, I can't eat gluten, corn, sugar.... My immune system is messed up. After this second surgery they had me go buy this Open Original Shared Link and use it daily. I think it may help you flush your sinuses if nothing is blocked by polyps or cysts, which form just from there being a lot of inflammation. And then those things block drainage. I have tried just about all of the above wholistic type supplements for help - but I continue to have allergic reactions to everything.

I am tired of the medical drama too.

Good Luck

[sunshinen]

I'm getting the feeling that most people don't know what the neti pot that Sara said she uses is (because people keep suggesting irrigation stuff).

So for everyone else, if you have any reason to irrigate your nose, I HIGHLY recommend trying a neti pot. It makes getting more liquid through your nose fairly easy and it makes the process much, much, much less unpleasant than any other form of nasal irrigation I have tried (sprays, spray bottles, cups, sinus bulbs, etc.). Just google "neti pot" and you will see what it is.

[hannahsue01]

I am sorry to hear that you are having sinus problems. It can be very irritating and painfull. I have had sinus problems most of my life. I had sinus surgry done back in 8th grade to clear out a year long infections and they scrape some bone away to help it drain better but I still have major problems. One thing that Mayo clinic perscribed me was life the nasal wash but it was an antibiotic one that way the antibiotics go right were you need them. Usually oral antibiotics do nothing for me with my sinus infections. I have usually been on I think flonase but one that is a nose inhaler rather than a misted spray. I agree that a humidifier can help. Sometimes a hot wash cloth can help sooth the pain a little. This past winter I had what I thought was the worst infection I had ever had but came to find it was pain from my teeth. The pain subsided after having my wisdom teeth taken out.

[Guest adamssa]

thanks everyone.

i started taking the antibiotic. now it is not painful but is just numb and sometimes still throbbing. still having a hard time breathing through it, but at least it's not like a nail through the right side of my face. i really hope this will take care of it, but i also had a ct scan done and some blood tests to rule out other things. sunshinen, i have some goldenseal, so i will try adding that to my neti pot, though i did used to be on olvie leaf, probiotics, and vitamin c too, and peppermint is great for pain i know. i'm wondering if something won't show up on the ct scan, since i seem to have tried so many things.

oh hey, i read somewhere that a low thyroid can give you very bad sinus problems...anyone out there w/bad sinus problems previous to having their thyroid dxd? i am really wondering about mine.

thanks all!

Sara

[zansu]

Sara -- take some pro-biotics while you take your anti-biotics. That will help with the candida. I used to have frequesnt sinus trouble before my sinus surgery and before going gluten-free. I NEVER take antibiotics without also tacking acidopholus to keep the good intestinal stuff going while we kill off the evil biotics .

[Budew]

Oh yes sinus misery. Trips tothe dentist, root canals. ENT did scans. Antibiotics did not work, neither did cutting out dairy. The I cut the salicylates and no more sinus stuff, even the cough I'd had for 5 years went away. What a relief.

[RiceGuy]

For me it was certain varieties of corn that gave me sinus problems. It all started when GMO corn "accidentally" got mixed in to the corn designated for human consumption rather than being used exclusively for animal feed. The ones labeled "extra sweet" seem to be the worst, while others are no problem, such as a number of ones labeled as organic. I do know also that the symptoms are much worse if I am having digestive difficulties at the same time. I figure it's probably because the troublesome substances stay in the system longer, thus more of them get absorbed.