Sinusitis...I want to rip my own head off

[closetotheaction]

Ok maybe that's an exaggeration but fucking hell, this is truly hideous. I've never had it before.

I'm on Sudafed tablets and nurofen plus. I also have a squirty nasal spray thing. They're not really touching the sides when it comes to pain. I swear my head is about to explode. The stuff that is appearing on my tissues is like something out of ghostbusters.

Does anyone have any miracle remedies, PLEASE?!

I suffer with recurrent sinusitis.
The biggest game changer for me was a a steroid nasal spray ( beconase) and when really bad v strong antibiotics

You have my sympathy, it's not nice at all. I'm a month in on and off, it's not leaving at all. Thank you the the pp who posted the massage, it feels lovely on one side now.

Interesting people say dairy affects them as I have been wondering if the excess cheese and chocolate over Christmas has made this worse.

I get sinus problems a lot after dairy. I have started taking antihistamines daily and my sinus problems have improved 95%.

As others have said sinutab is great. Also holding an ice cube to the roof of my mouth gives me instant but short lived relief.

I find the Neilmed saline spray helps. Be careful with otrivine spray. It causes rebound congestion and can be addictive.

Also, put some Olbas oil in hot water and steam your nose.

You have my sympathy. It’s horrendous and in my experience often hangs around for ages.

Which Sudafed are you using?

The ones you get on the shelf with paracetamol in don't bother with. I think they have about 12mg of the decongestant ingredient. If you ask the pharmacist they will get you a stronger decongestant from begins the counter, I think around 60mg. Doesn't contain any paracetamol but you can take it alongside. Worked miracles for me a few weeks ago.

Ok I have real problems with sinuses and THE BEST thing you can do is lots of steam (the facial streamers are amazing and you don't burn yourself - argos sell them) and nasal rinses.

Honestly the nasal rinse feels so weird to begin with but what you do is rinse out anything bunging up your sinuses to help them drain. Don't worry, you won't spread infection. Use them twice a day - buy the neilmar squirty bottles with sachets. Much more effective than netipots. The most horrific stuff will come out but that's a really good sign.

Sudafed is apparently bad as it dries things up so infection lingers but most importantly don't use otrivine for more than a few days or you will get rebound effect (google it).

Make sure you get fresh air every day - a stuffy heated dry environment is a disaster. Walk for 30 mins in the fresh air every day. I have often found going to the seaside and going for daily walks is sometimes the only thing that cures sinusitis but how many of us can do that...anyway fresh air when you can. Sleep slightly raised if you can to let your sinuses drain (2 pillows)

Lots of fluids and hot water. Sorry no booze as that dries things up. Not even whisky.

And you have my sympathy because sinus pain IS HELL

The seaside bit is the easy part, I'm going to try all the things I haven't done already tomorrow, I've been using sudafed but it's short term relief, I didn't know otrivine made it worse, that also explains things a bit. Op, hope you find relief quickly.

I had this very badly a couple of months ago. I bought a netipot and did sinus rinses a few times a day and it cleared up much faster than before - and its strangely satisfying seeing the disgusting stuff that comes out? Sort of validates how rotten you feel.

I would also take long steamy showers and then lay on my back with my tongue to the roof of my mouth for several minutes - I read online that this opens your sinuses and I could literally feel the stuff leaking down my throat when I did it. This was only effective after a couple of days of rinsing my sinuses to clear the clogs out. Good luck and get well soon.

Thanks again to everyone for taking the time to reply with advice and / or sympathy - I do appreciate it!

The Sudafed I'm using is and OTC one, I've chucked the box away so not sure how much of the good stuff it contains.

I've just woken up and (dare I say it...) feel slightly better at the moment.

+1 for the Neal’s Yard Sinus Rinse.

Sympathies OP. I had chronic sinusitis for years and it sucks. Antibiotics helped in the short term but it was eliminating dairy (particularly chocolate, yogurt and cheese) which cured it.

I'm suffering too! Never had it before, but it started the day before NYE, and the weekend was hell! Hope you're feeling better soon

My sympathies OP, it’s the worst. I used to get it quite frequently and as lots of people have said, steam steam and more steam.

I also find an antihistamine helpful (was given that tip by a nurse) and eating raw celery and drinking peppermint tea helps. Stay hydrated whatever you do, Sudafed etc in my experience helps a bit but tends to dry things out which is not what you want. And also agree that dairy makes things worse.

Hope you feel better soon!

Otrivine does nothing, it's s total waste of money. Sudafed nose spray is the one you need.

I suffer from this lots and all sorts of sinus issues, my go to is lots of steam, sometimes a netti pot and the game changer for me, I read it on a thread on mumsnet a couple of years ago, I use vibrator like along my cheeks to my nose, steam, vibrate then steam again helps get stuff moving and give some relief from the pressure.

@Crocwearer An actual vibrator?

Try not to blow your nose, blow as little as possible, as gently as possible, blowing too much too hard makes it worse and more likely to get it again in future flowers

Did not know this! Would explain why mine went on forever
Sympathies OP. I found the steam from a hot bath helped a bit, hot flannel on face at same time.

@Crocwearer An actual vibrator?
yes I bought one just for this purpose! An electric toothbrush would probably work well too

@crocwearer is my actual hero

Those nasal syringe rinsers are good. I know the pain of sinus problems. Cold weather don't help.

Neti pot?

I have an electric vibrating facial cleanser thing (a cheap knock off of a foreo one) - it works well and no risk of someone catching you rubbing a vibrator on your face ;)

Friars balsam - in bowl with hot water and towel over head.