Sinus infections - ideas? I'm SO tired of this!!

[MB MinnieGirl]

I'm NOT looking for a cure here on the Dis. I have been to my Dr., so please no flames. I'm looking for opinions and suggestions.

I have always had allergies (dust/mold) and sinus problems in the spring and fall, but last year, and already this year have been brutal.

Last year I was sick more than well with a sinus infection from November to late Feb. This year, I started with a kick butt sinus infection two weeks ago and it's not completely over yet. Ears still killing me, sore throat, stuffy tight head...the works.

I've been on strong antibiotics and had a steroid shot over a week ago but I don't like to do either very often as it decreases the effectiveness. I usually take Sudafed and have also take Mucenex for Sinus as well, but now neither are helping. My Dr. did prescribe a new decongestant (I'm so tired I can't recall name right now) but it hasn't helped either.

What I'm trying to ask is opinions from those who have suffered with bad sinus infections and allergies. What have you tried? What works best? I'm open to about anything at this point. I have another appointment with my Dr next week and I would love to find a miracle cure.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!!

Kelly

 

[annegal]

My son suffers from this too & nothing seems to help.
He got a "Z pack" (I think it was called)...which was a 5 day regime & helped a little

 

[birdiesunshine]

I used to get sinus infections ALL the time. My doctor prescribed Nasonex for me and it works wonders. As soon as I feel like I'm getting a sinus infection I spray a couple times for a day or two and the infection usually goes away. They don't like to prescribe it all the time since it's a steroid but it's worth checking into. Good luck.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

My son suffers from this too & nothing seems to help.
He got a "Z pack" (I think it was called)...which was a 5 day regime & helped a little

Bless his heart! I can't imagine a little guy feeling like this for very long. I'm an adult and starting to loose my mind!

A Z-Pack is exactly what it's called. That was my second round of antibiotics this time...I finished it yesterday and I've still got the dumb thing.



birdiesunshine - Naosonex! I'm going to ask about this next week, if I don't call sooner. I don't like steroids either, but at this point I would eat my own foot it I thought it would help!

THANK YOU!!!

Kelly

 

[CEDmom]

I used to get sinus infections a lot but then my dr gave me Flonase and it's made such a difference. I don't use it everyday but when I start feeling something coming on I start that and it really knocks it out. Also having a humidifier on the furnace and staying very hydrated really helps.

 

[ElizK]

I'm feeling your pain, girlfriend.

I was like that every year up until year before last. The only thing I do different now is the allergy nasal spray. I'm on Flonaise right now. (reminds me I need to go take it....)

Ok, some things that helped me:

take really hot, steamy showers. Let the hot water hit your forehead (I usually covered my nose and mouth with my hands so i could breathe). Hopefully this should get things loosened up enough to start blowing your nose. (gross, I know. But there it is) Blow as much as you can out.

Mentholatum rubbed on your nose helps with the chapped nose and helps open up your nasal passages.

Hot tea is soothing to a sore throat.

Have you seen an allergist? I took allergy shots for a couple of years. It really helped for quite a long time after I quit taking them.... I'm talking 10yrs later! Definitely worth looking into.

Oh, and Nyquil at night to help you sleep.

I hope you feel better fast! I had to have a CT of my sinuses to make sure there wasn't a blockage or growth. Nope, nothing like that. Just allergies. Miserable! Hang in there!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

DFIL uses a nasal rinse of salt and water with the water being boiled in a teapot and then cooled.and swears by it. Sinus surgery didn't help but the Nasal rinse does.

DB uses a nasal rinse with a special mucus solvent kept behind the pharmacy counter called Alkalol. Sinus surgery didn't help him either but this does.

DH uses a nasal rinse with a salt packet added to water, it is made by neilMEd. He picked it up at the Chiropractors office. Since he started the nasal rinsing 3 years ago he has only had i sinus infection instead of 3-5 per year.

I use Nasonex and a Neti pot for nasal rinsing with the salt packet solutions and no longer get sinus infections.

Good luck. I really hate deliberately getting water up my nose but hate sinus infections more.

 

[monarchsfan16]

The Z-pack did nothing for me when I had a sinus infection a couple years ago. Not strong enough. Took a month and 2 different antibiotics for me to kick that sucker.
The thing that works best for me is to just stand in a hot shower, as hot as possible. Or close the bathroom door and run the shower wicked hot, so the bathroom gets steamy. Steam is the only thing that really helps my congestion (and I have MAJOR allergies, so congestion is a way of life). Decongestants work to an extent, but it's so much of a nuisance to get them now (that PE stuff doesn't cut it). My roommate last year swore by saline nasal spray. Just pick it up at the local Target/Walmart or drugstore. I've never tried it, but I know it worked for my mom in the past as well.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

o man..i had horrible sinus infections last winter...It was almost like one after another..My ENT recomended nasonex, which did help..

he said i could get some type of surgery...but i couldnt do it, due to my college classes..and ive heard it doesnt help everyone..
good luck and let me know if you find the miracle cure!

 

[janette]

What are you taking for the allergies? I do pretty well as long as I stay on allergy medications and rarely get a sinus infection. The medications you listed treat the congestion but won't prevent it.

 

[MCourtney]

Same here, except mine was repetitive bronchitis... and i just had another round last week due to the start of the fall allergy season. Did the heavy does of antibiotics, etc... and after going to an ENT and having a CT scan of my sinuses he prescribed Flonase (1 dose per day) and an allergy med called Allerex (1 dose 2x day). It has helped tremendously. I can go down to 1x day of the Allerex over the summer, but fall and spring I need the full dose. I really don't get sick anymore (exception of last week)...which is great, since I was getting bad bronchitis every 3-4 weeks. Additionally, a great side effect of Allerex is that it kills your appetite....as a result I have also lost about 10 lbs.

 

[clutter]

Do you get allergy shots? What about surgery, have you been to an ENT for a CAT scan? Also, I'm way too lazy to deal with mixing up a sinus rinse every day, so my dr prescribes pre-mixed sterile saline, and I use a baby squirter thingie in the shower. That helps a lot, too. I hate when the water drips down my throat, so my doc told me to make a continuous "k" sound when doing it, it shuts off the throat.

 

[debm]

This sounds crazy but the best thing I ever did was get the "chemicals" out of my home. My husband insisted we start using safer cleaning products, even our shampoos, soaps, etc.---we switched from the grocery store brands. I am now thouroughly convinced. With 4 young children we have not had one visit to the doctor in over THREE years! Sure we've had a few MINOR colds--but they last a day or two and don't slow them down. No fevers, ear infections, throwups, nothing. And my allergies have also been much better. I also started going to a chiropractor which was a huge step for me because when I was raised I was told never to go. I was just telling my husband yesterday that she stimulates the nerves in my sinuses and I have noticed that helping even more. Good luck with finding something!

 

[Poppinsme]

Hi there,
Im a Respiratory Therapist who also has chronic bronchitis. I have had sinus problems since March including pneumonia (bacterial). Is your mucus green or yellow? If so then you need more antibiotics. I take Astelin nasal spray and it works great. I have been on 6 antibiotics and nothing is breaking it up. Do you smoke? DONT!!! Worst thing in the world to do is smoke. And no I dont smoke. I have had a CAT scan that came up negative. I really think I have MRSA which is so hard to get rid of. Its a ***** isnt it. But some things just take awhile to go. Thank god we have antibiotics or I would have died long ago. Im off to ENT next week and maybe can get a confirmed answer. It doesnt help to work in a hospital either. Keep useing saline it is just salt water and benedryl works great to. Doxycycline seems to work the best for bacterial sinusitis. Biaxin and Ketek also are very good and new antibiotics.
I use Spiriva, Duo-Neb and steroids when I need them. Good luck.

 

[disneymama73]

The only thing that I've found to help at all is steroids. And I so hate taking them. They give me terrible insomnia and make me gain weight like crazy.

I am about to start allergy shots. I am really hoping it will help.

 

[nightowlky]

Strattera


It's an ADHD medication but it apparently is a miracle drug to stop allergies. Worked for me like a charm. Might make you lethargic for a few days until you adjust to it, though.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

they diagnosed me with chronic sinusitis when i was really young. i would get a sinus infection once a month, once every other month at least. it was bad. nothing ever worked.

my doctor ended up sending me to an orthodontist(i know.....i thought it was weird too) and they ended up doing some work on my teeth. apparently my jaw was set the wrong way, and it was pressing on my sinuses a lot and giving me a lot of pressure. so we fixed it and i get sick now maybe twice a year.

i know it might not be what you're looking for, but it helped me.

 

[rie'smom]

Buy powdered vitamin c from GNC and take 1/8-1/4 tsp in a glass of water about 3 times a day. This really helps my DH who really suffers with his sinuses.

 

[miss missy]

check out http://www.healthline.cc/ you can listen online.

 

[ppppiglett]

I haven't had a sinus problem or a cold since I started getting regular chiropractic care (from a good chiropractor). That's been 5 years! I started going for my back problems, but got the added benefit of good health too!

And being a sufferer of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, I will agree with the other poster that said get rid of the chemicals. Formaldehyde is in everything, and causes sinus symptoms. (it is often called quaternium in products)

Good health to you!