Also Suffering From Sinusitis?

[CeciliaCeliac]

Hello! I have been diagnosed with Celiac's, but I know there is more going on. I am looking for any link between sinuses and other autoimmune diseases or Celiac. I currently take prednisone and when I stop taking it, my sinuses swell so bad and I get the worst, well, you know, the-gross-green-colored stuff I blow out......endless amounts. Now the doctors tell me that if it was a sinus infection, that prednisone would make it worse...sounds logical, right? But it seems to work the opposite....now antibiotics might help temporarily, but it always comes back. So......why do the ENT's prescribe prednisone along with antibiotics when we get sinus infections...if it would just make the infection run rampant???? Does prednisone help anyone with Celiacs? Some doctors say yes...and some no....

[Roda]

I know that when my oldest son was having chronic sinus infections they would give him an oral 5 day steroid to take. They told me it helped with the inflamation. After a year of non stop sinusitis, I finally found out he has allergies and it was the trigger for the chronic infections. After getting treated for the chronic sinusitis (had changes on a ct sinus scan at 6 years old) by the ent (he was on Septra for 21 days), and starting allergy shots, he is much better. He went 2 years without getting a sinus infection until this year he has had three. However he had to be off all of his medications for two months for a methacholine challenge test. He is now back on all of his meds and is doing good. The last infection he developed from being off all of his meds. With my oldest son I am a little suspicious of him having a gluten problem, (he had negative ttg) but his dad and I have chose to wait until he is nine to recheck is blood work.(yes I am aware of the rate of false negatives in children). There are those who believe there is a connection to allergies, asthma and celiac. This is something that I will need to consider for my son also. Have you had a ct scan of your sinuses to see what is going on or tested for allergies? Also, my husband who is not celiac, for as long as we have been together, has had chronic sinus problems. Severe headaches and constant sinus infections. He finally decided to get it checked out by the ent and had alot of chronic changes and inflamation that pretty much prevented his sinuses from draining. He had surgery to open them up and is doing wonderful. Only one infection since surgery and it has been over a year. I do believe he has undiagnosed allergies for most of his life and that is what caused the damage. He still has some allergy symptoms, but he can pinpoint it to certain times of the year and manages it ok with otc antihistimines.

[Kim Hopkins]

I totally feel your pain!!! My story and what worked for me to kick the sinus infections for good:

All of my life, I have suffered from environmental allergies and asthma. At one point, I was prescribed two inhalers, two nasal sprays, two allergy pills, and three allergy shots per week! I can remember leaving school via ambulance several times because I could not breath. I had chronic sinus infections that would return as soon as my course of antibiotics was finished.

At my allergist's recommendation, I was subjected to immuno-replacement therapy because he said that I did not produce one class of immunoglobulins and that's why I get so sick. This treatment triggered anaphylaxis, and I could have died (my mom thanks the quick-thinking anesthetist that just happened to walk by me in short stay). They could not tell me what the ingredient was that was the culprit - that is scary!

In my early 20's, my nephew was diagnosed with autism and my sister made it her mission to understand the connection between food sensitives and autism. In addition to learning the foods that he needed to avoid, she learned that people with my symptoms should look into a connection to food allergies. She said, "start by giving up dairy and see how you feel." I told her that I would after I finished graduate school.

I did it. I gave up dairy, but I didn't experience much relief and sort of put it out of my mind. Then, as a way to continue battling my weight, I eliminated carbs from my diet for a couple of months. I felt great. I then went on vacation (you know what I mean - "I'm on vacation so it doesn't count") and had a veggie burger on a roll. I proceeded to get so sick ("fuzzy thinking" - the inability to make a decision, intense abdominal pain - the kind that makes you double over, extreme lethargy, a complete "lock down" of my digestive track) - it ruined my long weekend!

At the time, I had both a primary care doctor and an allergist. When I told them both what happened and that I was afraid to eat, they both said a version of "well, next time you need blood work done, we'll check for food allergies." Not good enough. Needless to say, that's the last time I saw both of them.

I educated myself and did an elimination diet on my own, and found that foods containing gluten were the culprit. This was later confirmed by a conclusive blood test: Celiac Disease. My lonely adventure of figuring what this is and how to live with it began. Boy do I wish I had help! It would have been a lot easier! Once my body began to recover, I no longer needed the inhalers, nasal sprays, allergy shots - I was just using one allergy medication.

Flash forward a few years - I was managing the gluten issue beautifully but began experiencing unpleasant symptoms (skin irritation and itchiness, chronic vaginitis - sorry for the detail, but I believe this needs to be talked about! -, sinusitis, fatigue, digestive issues, unexplained aches and pains, moodiness...). My holistic doctor made many suggestions, including switching to green cleaning products, using all natural laundry detergent w/o dies/perfumes, changing birth control... When nothing improved, she said, "do some research."

...and off I went, feeling alone yet again, but determined to get well. I discovered information about Candida and the work of Dr. Crook. I literally cried when I read his book because I knew I had found answers - finally! I embarked on another elimination diet and found that I needed to add sugar, cherries, peanuts, and tree nuts to the list of things to avoid. I am susceptible to Candida. Soon after these discoveries, I kicked my one allergy medication to the curb - 15 years of taking something to help with allergy symptoms and now I needed nothing! It was quite liberating! This began a new chapter of getting educated and adjusting - I have a sneaking suspicion that it won't be my last...

Incidentally, repeated courses of antibiotics kill the GOOD bacteria in your gut, making you more susceptible to leaky gut syndrome, candida, and other flora dysbiosis...which then leads to more unpleasant symptoms.

Good luck!

Kim, The Food Allergy Coach

[burdee]

Hello! I have been diagnosed with Celiac's, but I know there is more going on. I am looking for any link between sinuses and other autoimmune diseases or Celiac. I currently take prednisone and when I stop taking it, my sinuses swell so bad and I get the worst, well, you know, the-gross-green-colored stuff I blow out......endless amounts. Now the doctors tell me that if it was a sinus infection, that prednisone would make it worse...sounds logical, right? But it seems to work the opposite....now antibiotics might help temporarily, but it always comes back. So......why do the ENT's prescribe prednisone along with antibiotics when we get sinus infections...if it would just make the infection run rampant???? Does prednisone help anyone with Celiacs? Some doctors say yes...and some no....

I had chronic sinusitis for years. Every cold would turn into a sinus infection with that thick, yellow and even bloody mucous. When I didn't have a sinus infection, I constantly was congested, had postnasal drip and had to blow my nose often just to breathe. I could barely smell anything. Then I took a casein intolerance (allergy) test as part of my Enterolab stool test for gluten antibodies. Previously I suspected I had 'lactose' intolerance, because I got cramping gut pain and gas after consuming dairy products. So I completely abstained from dairy after I got the casein allergy diagnosis.

Within a few days I could smell and breathe without constant congestion. I have not had one sinus infection or bad cold since I abstained from dairy (for the past 5 years). If I react to pollen, I get a slight runny nose, but I can still breathe and smell. If I accidentally consume any dairy I get waves of cramping pain for about 10 days plus nasal congestion.

Have you tested for food allergies? With a blood test like ELISA, rather than skin tests which don't measure delayed reaction (IgA or IgE) allergies? Dairy allergy is often implicated in respiratory problems.

EMTs and docs give drugs for symptoms, because that's what they are trained to do .... suppress the symptoms with drugs. Drug companies influence medical schools perspective on treatment. Lack of time to look for causes of symptoms also motivates medical personnel to just treat the symptoms. You need to be your own advocate and insist on tests to determine the CAUSE of your sinusitis. Don't settle for a 'sinusitis' (inflammation of the sinuses) label. That's just a symptom of your condition, not a disease. Good luck!

SUE

[Gemini]

Hello! I have been diagnosed with Celiac's, but I know there is more going on. I am looking for any link between sinuses and other autoimmune diseases or Celiac. I currently take prednisone and when I stop taking it, my sinuses swell so bad and I get the worst, well, you know, the-gross-green-colored stuff I blow out......endless amounts. Now the doctors tell me that if it was a sinus infection, that prednisone would make it worse...sounds logical, right? But it seems to work the opposite....now antibiotics might help temporarily, but it always comes back. So......why do the ENT's prescribe prednisone along with antibiotics when we get sinus infections...if it would just make the infection run rampant???? Does prednisone help anyone with Celiacs? Some doctors say yes...and some no....

Since 80% of your immune system function happens in the intestinal tract (it's where IgA is produced), anytime there is continual allergy related problems or infection that just won't go away like sinusitis, look to the intestinal tract. Trust me, most of the body's imbalances can be traced back to the GI tract and what people eat. Sinusitis is a common problem with Celiacs and those with systemic candida overgrowth/leaky gut syndrome.

How long have you been gluten-free? I would just make sure that you follow a strict gluten-free diet and, over time, the sinus problems may clear up on their own. Mine did.

As for taking steroids, that's protocol today with the AMA...they put young children on steroids routinely these days! If you do get an infection, antibiotics are pretty much needed but ditch the steroids. Once you bring infection down, the inflammation will go away so the steroid crap is rarely needed anyway. I would also take a good, gluten-free probiotic (the ones that need refrigeration and can be found in the fridge at most health food stores) to replenish the good bacteria in your gut.

It will take awhile for this problem to resolve but a healthy gut means little to no sinus problems.

[Amber52377]

I'm jumping in a bit late here... in my quest to find out what's wrong w/my 16mo son, I've come across this.

CVID- common variable immune deficiency.

I speculate my son has this. He has low IgA & IgG serum levels (3 wks after receiving vax & being sick w/an ear infection), chronic diarrhea, chronic runny nose (sinusitis) & has been treated for several ear infections. I originally took him to a Pedi GI b/c of the 6+ mos of diarrhea in addition to my history of autoimmune issues (have psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis & most likely "asymptomatic" celiac). I speculated celiac disease. All of his celiac testing came back fine other than his immunoglobulins. Thankfully our GI knows the tests have a high false negative rate & is holding off on dismissing celiac until after we meet w/the Immunologist tomorrow. She also knows that if he does have an immunodeficiency, it can skew the celiac panel results. We are tentatively talking about doing endoscopy w/biopsy next month depending on the Immunologist.

I urge you to look at CVID. It's entirely possible that you have celiac & another autoimmune disorder b/c having one, predisposes you to developing another.

Good luck!

[neylanagrace]

Hello! I have been diagnosed with Celiac's, but I know there is more going on. I am looking for any link between sinuses and other autoimmune diseases or Celiac. I currently take prednisone and when I stop taking it, my sinuses swell so bad and I get the worst, well, you know, the-gross-green-colored stuff I blow out......endless amounts. Now the doctors tell me that if it was a sinus infection, that prednisone would make it worse...sounds logical, right? But it seems to work the opposite....now antibiotics might help temporarily, but it always comes back. So......why do the ENT's prescribe prednisone along with antibiotics when we get sinus infections...if it would just make the infection run rampant???? Does prednisone help anyone with Celiacs? Some doctors say yes...and some no....

[neylanagrace]

Hi. For almost 2 months I had been throwing up mucus from sinus infection. Ended up in ER nearly passing out for just trying to hold my head up. My hands cramped up from lack of sodium, and I'm b12 and vit d deficient. Potassium dangeriously low. Now they say I might have celiacs (Allergy doc told me 20 yrs ago I was allergic to wheat. nothing else was said)Over the years, I knew if my sinuses were acting up, not to eat bread like products. Never completely cut out gluten. I broke out in hives, but benadryl usually took care of it. This time it didn't. I get tested next week. It is weird how one disease can affect everything else. When my sinuses were good, I could eat it all I wanted. Doesn't make since.

[Li'l Buck]

I've had terrible sinusitus many times - even post diagnosis and on a gluten-free diet. The last time, it affected all my sinuses on my left side. I was also treated with prednisone to reduce the inflamation so the sinuses could clear. If you are severely blocked, I was told the antibiotics may not be able to permeate all the infected areas, causing a recurrance. I don't know if it worked, but I have been breathing clearly since. I have also discovered that using a Netty Pot at the first sign of stuffiness usually stops the infection in its path. Good luck!