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[Pembo]

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[disneydragon]

I don't have it, but I know someone who does. She sees an ear, nose, and throat specialist and has had surgery, which she said was very painful. She still struggles with it, though, so she questions having the surgery at all.

 

[jel0511]

I have it, and am currently trying to use Flonase daily to see if that helps. It seems for me, if I get any type of congestion, cold, allergies, anything, it turns into a full blown sinus infection. My primary care dr, recommended we try this before going to an ENT, and I agreed. I'm definately not for doing sinus surgery unless ABSOLUTELY necessary!!! So far, the Flonase has helped and I haven't had a sinus infection in almost 2 months!! A near record for me, especially during allergy season. We'll see how this works, and if it fails, then it's off to the ENT.

 

[kadaten]

Well, any 2-bit quack who can read could diagnose mine... I used to get it 4-6 times a year!! Basically any time the weather changed I would have a severe sinus infections. On antibiotics all the time... and frustrated that the docs would just write "chronic sinusitis" on my chart, put me on antibiotics, but offer no long-term help

One doc finally postulated that I get it due to changes in humidity. My body can't adapt quick enough, so my nasal passages dry out. When they dry out, they swell. When they swell, everything gets caught in the sinuses and from there infection develops. He put me on a corticosteroid inhaler (Nasacort AQ) that I use daily. It works 2 ways....the moisture keeps the nasal passages hydrated, and the steroids keep them from swelling. No swelling, no infection!! Since I've been on the inhalers, I've only gotten an infection when I didn't have any on had during a weather change. Now I keep a spare in the medicine cabinet instead of working just off the open one

The inhaler is expensive if you have to pay for it (about $80 and it lasts about 60 days on maintenance dosage) but it's covered by our insurance. For my money, though, it's better than surgery!! (Terribly afraid of needles, scalpels, and anything that cuts.....)

(FYI...I did try several other brands of inhalers when we changed insurance and this one wasn't covered. None of them worked for me...Flonase and Nasonex among them. I now have to pay a co-pay for the Nasacort AQ of $9 per inhaler....worth every penny!)

 

[swanmom]

I suffered for years. Not only the stuffiness but also constant low-grade headaches from the pressure. My doctor suggested surgery as he didn't see any other recourse (yet he was not certain how much the surgery would help.) I went for a second opinion prior to surgery. The second doctor suggested trying a nasal steriod which is administered via nasal spray (for me, he used Rhinocort. I know there are others) It took a while, maybe 6 - 8 weeks, but there was significant improvement and the headaches went away (WoooHooo!). I used it daily for almost a year. Now, I keep a supply at home and use it for 4-5 days when I feel the pressure and headaches start to return. It truly helped me resume a normal life ........... and no surgery!

 

[minniecarousel]

Apparantly I have a Sister-in-law who has this. Unfortunately, she smokes - A LOT - & I cannot help but think that she might have milder symptoms if she didn't smoke. Am I way off here?

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

I go to an ENT and suffered for years with chronic sinusitis. I had steriod shots to each nostril about every three months. Ouch! Finally, I had to have surgery (situation was critical) and haven't had a problem since.

I have allergy problems and suffer with the change of seasons but it is VERY manageable now. Gone are the days of sinus infections!!

 

[momof2OH]

My DS used to get them constantly. He'd get one and the allergist would give him antibiotic and it would go away. Within a week he'd have another one. We did this routine for a couple months. He was on so many antibiotics that he got C-Diff (short for something I can't think of right now) but bascily it is severe diarrhea, not good. The allergist finally sent him for blood work and checked his immune system. Low and behold we found the answer...he's got an immune disorder. His body doesn't produce enough of a certain antibody and this antibody is what helps fight these type of infections. He has to go every 4 weeks to have IV therapy. The give him the antibody that he's not producing enough through IV. He's been doing this for almost 3 years now and hasn't had 1 sinus infection at all!! Infact, he's only been sick 1 time (last month-had strep) in that 3 years. That was due to him missing 2 treatments. He doesn't like having to get the treatments, but he really likes the fact that he doesn't get the sinus infections anymore.

 

[Crankyshank]

I have it. my allergist refered me to the ENT Dr in his building (ironically he was the Dr that put tubes in my ears when I was little).
I take flonase and am on 2 different sinus pills and use an air purifier. I still get them, but the amount has been reduced since I was put on flonase.
I'm avoiding surgery at all costs

 

[Disfan1]

I used to -my Dr. put me on Rhinocort & I only have about 1 sinus infection a year now. (As opposed to 1 a month )

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
Apparantly I have a Sister-in-law who has this. Unfortunately, she smokes - A LOT - & I cannot help but think that she might have milder symptoms if she didn't smoke. Am I way off here?

YES! It doesn't have a thing to do with it although it does not help the situation. In fact as a suffer and former smoker I would get the "blow-off" from the doc's because of that.

Well one day my husbands insurance changed so I had to get a new ENT. She was my savior. She says you don't have an infection you have allergies. I say I have been tested already. She said not the right way. So she did her method of allergy testing (one hypodermic at a time) and low and behold I was allergic to most things, not severly or highly but mildly.
She explained that a ton of mild can be worse than a couple of severe.
That was 3+ years ago. I get a shot once a week. If I do not I am "sick". In fact this week I feel a little "sick" (trees are blooming like crazy) but I AM FUNCTIONAL!

All that "chronic sinus" stuff is GONE!