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When does sinusitis need antibiotics in your experience?

21 replies

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 25/06/2021 06:22

I've had it before, never needed medication for it beyond pain relief.

It started 8 days ago, the usual horrible headache behind the eyes, under the eyes, across the eyebrows and intense pressure and generally feeling unwell/virus like, the whole family had it.

It started to clear up around day 5, yesterday symptoms started creeping back and this morning the pain under my left eye is suspicious. It's a pain more intense than before, almost throbbing. It's very painful to touch and I feel like it might be warm and a bit swollen but not sure if I'm imagining it.

Any experiences?

OP posts:
Inthesameboatatmo · 25/06/2021 06:25

Call the gp

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 25/06/2021 06:32

They aren't open yet.
I intend to.

But in the mean time I was asking for experiences. Confused

OP posts:
prettyvisitor · 25/06/2021 06:39

I've had antibiotics for it a couple of times and both times it was because I was expelling bright yellow mucus...

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Inthesameboatatmo · 25/06/2021 06:40

Ok sorry I'm half asleep still.
I've have had antibiotics numerous times for it over the years.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 25/06/2021 06:42

Thanks.
My actual nose isn't blocked (now I've got out of bed) but the pain and pressure remains.
Would I have a blocked nose if it was sinusitis?
Logic is saying no necessarily?

OP posts:
anyon · 25/06/2021 06:46

When it was gushing yellow stuff all day and night. Worst thing I've ever experienced, I literally did not sleep for five days because it wouldn't stop leaking, I was hallucinating. NightNurse was a saviour and I always keep some since then just in case!

Inthesameboatatmo · 25/06/2021 06:55

The worst thing for me is the throbbing in my front teeth and the disgusting smell up my nose ,that how I know I need antibiotics but everyone is different.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 25/06/2021 06:56

Ok, I don't have those things so perhaps mine is just the lingering virus.

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:
Tatapie · 25/06/2021 06:59

Try a warm compress on the swollen bit. Again I had bright green mucus which was unrelenting! My head throbbed if I put it downwards.
I think if you've had it 8 days though and its getting worse then it might be better to get antibiotics today rather than wait til you're in agony over the weekend !

Tatapie · 25/06/2021 07:00

Ps my nose was blocked constantly, it's just when I blew fairly hard that I got the awful stuff out Envy

Seasidemumma77 · 25/06/2021 07:04

ENT consultant told me to steam with eucalyptus oil. Tried it and not needed antibiotics since for sinusitis.

bunburyscucumbersandwich · 25/06/2021 07:10

I usually get sinus infections all the time. Only get antibiotics when the snot is lurid yellow though.

DoraChance · 25/06/2021 07:11

I've had some horrible bouts of this, and did get antibiotics once. But the best thing I've found is head over a bowl of steaming water. Try it on and off every hour or so. Hope you feel better soon.

SuperCaliFragalistic · 25/06/2021 07:12

My DD needed antibiotics when the oxygen levels in her blood were too low. Tested at GP eith one of those little finger clip things. I had no experience of sinusitis so didn't know what was wrong with her. Since then we've always managed it with steaming before it's got to that stage.

Yayalala · 25/06/2021 07:20

Try this: NeilMed Sinus Rinse. It really helps to clear the congestion, my hospital prescribed it for me and it is so soothing.

www.superdrug.com/Health/Cough,-Cold-%26-Flu/Cold-Remedies/Neilmed-Sinus-Rinse-Kit/p/645755?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2tCGBhCLARIsABJGmZ4N5imPxduBy3Wg5wN3vCH3xnai97KQ-U7xswQla6MLO42PhrGekygaAsoIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 25/06/2021 08:09

Thanks all.
The pain has improved with ibuprofen.
There is no yellow grimness, just a deep green 🤢🤢🤢
I'm sitting on it and hoping it's still viral for now.

OP posts:
anyon · 25/06/2021 08:34

I also used the NHS home made saline solution - mix a teaspoon of salt and teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into boiled water and let it cool, then use a syringe or just sort of sniff into one nostril at a time.

MistySkiesAfterRain · 25/06/2021 08:35

The only drug I find works is Sudafed. Diet seems to help, eating loads of veg.

FluffytheGoldfish · 25/06/2021 09:21

I’m not an expert but only times I have had antibiotics was when it was green rather than yellow, having already gone through a yellow stage. Deep green does not sound good.

Northernsoullover · 25/06/2021 09:22

Guess what my friends sinusitis turned out to be? Bloody covid.

newtb · 25/06/2021 10:00

I have had a ventilation operation having had to endure months of beconase allergic rhinitis shite before I got near an ent surgeon.

I still suffer 25 years later.

It used to get into my ears and I'd feel as if I was about to fall off my chair. Only then would the GP give me antibiotics - 1994/5.

The is a treatment that means you avoid antibiotics, sudafed causes rebound congestion but only if you aren't on medication for hypertension AFAIK.

It's n-acetyl cysteine - sold otc in France 200mg sachets 1-2 up to 2-3 times a day. I used to go into a pharmacie at the end of my holiday and buy 10 boxes - dd suffered with glue ear.

I've just suffered for 10 days had antibiotics 'in stock' from 2019 still in date. My GP gave me a prescription for new ones 2 x 2 per day, told me verbally to take the old ones 3 x 2 per day, I had tramadol for the pain and, as I've got a thyroid problem gave me a pre-emptive strike of an anti-thrush pessary jyst in case.

I buy a flat bottle of n-acetyl cysteine on amazon. In 600mg capsules. When the weather is unsettled north/south and continental/Atlantic systems I take 2 x 600mg every morning until it clears and don't stop until the weather settles. They also give prednisone tablets which stops the swelling in the nose.

Inhaling menthol crystals in boiling water with a towel over your head might help. I have very sensitive skin and would rather pour acid on my face - I've had skin turn black and drop off from conc sulphuric acid burns.
Inhaling olbas oil in the same way can help as will Olbas oil pastilles.

If it's something you get after a cold put a few drops on your back and front to help prevent it while you sleep.

When the borders open you can buy an otc remedy called Euvanol makes me want to heave, but it does work. It contains the oil from generanium leaves, depends how you feel about that - for me it's not a plant smell but an obnoxious odour, prefer pig slurry personally. It comes in one of those bottles like beconase etc stick the nozzle up your nose, with your fingers on the little flaps and give 2 good squirts. (shudders)

Mine is above my eyes - I don't get toothache as you do with the cheek sinuses. Pressing and massaging as hard as you can bear with the heel of your hand on the 'top' corner of the eye socket rub in little circles.

Joy of joys I'm free of the sinusitis problem but am still taking tramadol some randy sod out on unknown roads having made a rdv on a hookup site cruised passed me driving in the middle of the road - we give them the 180 ° death stare - anyway he was trundling down the hill - I live at 400m - passed the name with a line through it I kept a safe distance. Suddenly without any warning, no indicators, hazards nothing he stops in the middle of nowhere to look at his mobile phone on the seat next to him. I stopped in time everything fell into the footwell but I didn't hit him. I have arthritis in my neck due to broken spines, my neck is rigid out to the point of my shoulder over the 'hook' on my shoulder and all the muscles between my ribs were in spasm later that evening

If, when borders are open, please get someone going to France on holiday to get you some Euvanol. It might might just be sold on Amazon.fr

Sinusitis is a bitch, I prefer childbirth personally, but that's just my experience. In France it's 4 days before they treat you. I have been known to lie about the time when I know I need the steroids - it's the only way to get past the receptionist to get an appointment. Especially before the weekend/Monday morning.
In your place if you've tried everything else I'd be tempted to have a memory lapse and make the start date 3 days earlier.

Best of luck

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