help for sinus problems

[Tiggeroo]

both I and one of my sons have been miserable with sinus problems for several months now. It started as a definite cold with cough and sinus. Now we are just dealing with the sinus congestion although it is making my asthma worst. So far we have tried nearly every over the counter med, Prescription allergy/sinus spray, vaporizer with vicks in it at night, nasacort... We'll get a little bit of relief sort of but not really. He wakes up with a puffy face from it and my left ear is always killing me. No fever so no infection. Been to the dr's twice and been on scripts that didn't really help. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

Have you tried a Neti pot? Everyone I know swears by them.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[golfgal]

I would take him to an ENT. Did they give him any antibiotics?

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I know ds19 had nasal surgery over the summer and something with the sinus too. He had to do a huge saline rinse once a day, not the little squirt bottle type but the huge spray bottle. It helps with the swelling. Hope you both feel better soon.

 

[Rafiki31]

I second the neti pot! It is weird at first, but really helps a LOT!

 

[wdwmom2]

No fever so no infection. Been to the dr's twice and been on scripts that didn't really help. Any ideas or suggestions?

You don't have to have a fever to have an infection. My on DD had to have 2 sinus surgeries 1 month apart due to recurrent sinus infections. Hasn't had one since, knock on wood!!!! Recently, my other DD had to go to the doc either 2 or 3 times, different antibiotics, to clear hers up.

I would call my doc again and see what they want to do. Another antibiotic maybe???? I would also discuss how long we are going to let this go on before being referred to an ENT. Persistent sinus infections are no fun.

 

[golfgal]

You don't have to have a fever to have an infection. My on DD had to have 2 sinus surgeries 1 month apart due to recurrent sinus infections. Hasn't had one since, knock on wood!!!! Recently, my other DD had to go to the doc either 2 or 3 times, different antibiotics, to clear hers up.

I would call my doc again and see what they want to do. Another antibiotic maybe???? I would also discuss how long we are going to let this go on before being referred to an ENT. Persistent sinus infections are no fun.

I agree, my kids never ran a fever with their ear infections but they sure had them. If your doctor is telling you that it is time to find a new doctor. Your son has the classic symptoms of sinus infections.

 

[Gary M]

I second the neti pot! It is weird at first, but really helps a LOT!

I started using a neti pot a couple of months ago and it has helped my sinus. A friend recommended it.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I use the Neil Med Sinus Rinse kit. Same maker as the Neti Pot, just in a bottle that uses light pressure as well as gravity.

In the past I have had numerous recurrent sinus infections. I am happy to say that in the almost year I have been using the sinus rinse that I have not had even 1 sinus infection! I rinse my nose daily - 2x/day when I feel like I am getting a cold - and it works great.

 

[dawson5]

My mother gets them really bad. She needs to go in and have surgery but keeps finding every excuse not to. When she gets a sinus infection she holds her head over boiling water/steam with a towel over her head for like 15 minutes. I think she does this as needed. She also is taking ephedra with guafenisin daily as a preventive measure, during winter months. If she doesn't keep it dry, she ends up with nasty infection that usually takes two courses of strong antibiotics, she has no luck with the claritin or OTC allergy or sinus meds for keeping it dry. I have luck with the advil sinus with psuedo-ephedrine, not the stuff they've started making it with now. I have to hand over my license to get it from the pharmacy counter. I second the ENT or different doctor. It would seem best to go to someone who specializes in this, especially as you aren't getting any relief going to your regular doctor.

 

[NikiM20]

I recently found advil allergy and sinus. I always took the cold and sinus , and it worked ok. The allergy and sinus really knocked it out, I think I had bad allergies that inflammed everything KWIM

good luck!!

 

[Tiggeroo]

I recently found advil allergy and sinus. I always took the cold and sinus , and it worked ok. The allergy and sinus really knocked it out, I think I had bad allergies that inflammed everything KWIM

good luck!!

At one point they talked about surgery for my son and referred him to an ent. He has a deviated septum and some snoring issues. He's done antibiotics with this even though they didn't think there was infection. I'll get him in on Monday and ask for another ent referral. He is a lifeguard on the beach in the summer and needs to deal with it now. I guess I minimize it because we are both suffering so I figured it was just winter problems. I don't wake up with such a puffy swollen looking face like he does though.

 

[tennvalgirl]

Neti pot.
Thank you Oprah

 

[ilovejack02]

Neti pot.
Thank you Oprah

Neti pot rocks !! I hate sinus meds, makes me feel spacey so I use this and in no time I am feeling better. Hubby loves it and so does my Dad.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

Love the neti pot...it's up there with the dvr in my book! Dh just had sinus surgery last week. For the past 3 years he'd have recurring sinus infections every 4-6 weeks during the winter time. I finally got him to go to an
ENT and when they did the ct scan they saw that his whole left side was blocked. It's been since wednesday that he's had the surgery but I've noticed that since he's gotten his packing out, he doesn't even snore anymore. He is loving the fact that he can actually get air through his left side of his nostril.