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Original poster

Blocked sinus...so miserable

63 replies

Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 18:37

Anyone sympathise?

I used to get chronic sinusitis and pressure headaches but take daily steroid nasal spray which has mostly helped.

However, as soon as I get some minor congestion it goes straight to my sinuses for long periods of time. I feel heavy, tired, sore and loose all sense of taste.

I currently haven't been able to taste for 6 weeks. I thought I was getting better as I could slightly taste 2 days ago and my smell came back 2 weeks ago. However I feel worse today; more congested, sore, tired, no smell or taste at all. I'm utterly depressed.

So far I've tried nasal washes, daily steroid spray, cold and flu meds, sinus massage, drinking plenty of fluids, steak inhalation. I don't think there's much else that can be done? The last time I had this I went to the GP. I got an appointment with the nurse who said "what do you want me to do?". The Dr sent a referral to ENT but because it's so long, they gave me new steroid nasal drops. Once the last illness past, these seemed to help day to day but again, any minor cold and I'm ill for weeks/months.

So far this year I've spent 4 months out of the 10 with no taste and pain/pressure. However, is there any point in going to the GP again? Or nothing they can do? I feel I've exhausted all treatment options and they won't consider me bad enough for intervention.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 18:44

For some reason I can't edit. That meant to say steam inhalation. Not steak! I'm not actually inhaling my food and wondering why I can't taste 😂

OP posts:
AmusedRoseCrow · 12/10/2025 18:54

Didn’t wanna read and run but the only relief I ever got with similar issues was FESS surgery. I had a large polyp preventing draining - constantly congestion similar to how you are. I also got sinusitis with every single cold - it was miserable. Maybe worth a trip to Gp? I used my works health insurance to have a private appointment eventually and MRI showed my right sinus was completely blocked and full of mucus and swollen tissue:(

MrsPatrickDempsey · 12/10/2025 18:56

Oh I can so relate to this and have first hand of how horrible it is and miserable it makes you feel. I had polyps and chronic blocked sinuses. Pain; congestion no smell or taste which is utterly grim. Prednisone tablets helped but the gp would never prescribe more than a weeks worth. I eventually had surgery to remove the polyps and clear the sinuses. Pain improved but I had intermittent loss of taste/smell. Never identified the trigger.
Regular betnesol drops or oral steroids were the only things that helped. Tried all other drops. I paid for a private ENT consultation when symptoms persisted after surgery and he prescribed 8 weeks of oral steroids. Magic! Have you had these? May be worth discussing with your GP. Have a google - there is a small evidence base supporting this for chronic sinusitis.
Strangely my symptoms are greatly improved now so I wonder if it was a peri/menopause thing.
The oxymetazaline sprays can be good to relieve the pain of congestion.

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Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 19:01

AmusedRoseCrow · 12/10/2025 18:54

Didn’t wanna read and run but the only relief I ever got with similar issues was FESS surgery. I had a large polyp preventing draining - constantly congestion similar to how you are. I also got sinusitis with every single cold - it was miserable. Maybe worth a trip to Gp? I used my works health insurance to have a private appointment eventually and MRI showed my right sinus was completely blocked and full of mucus and swollen tissue:(

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad you managed to get surgery to get it sorted! Unfortunately I have no private health insurance and there's a huge wait for ENT. I got referred the last time I had a flare up but they wrote back and recommended I try some different drops as the wait is so long. I just don't know if the GP can do anything. Although I may say that the drops aren't completely working and ask them to continue with the referral. Looks like it'll be years though!

OP posts:
BlueScrunchies · 12/10/2025 19:10

I really feel for you OP, I went through all this myself, minimal smell for nearly a decade, endless useless nasal drops (with occasional short courses of oral steroid which helped albeit temporarily) and being fobbed off by ENT and told surgery wasn’t an option.

i eventually bit the bullet and went private, it wasn’t as much as I thought it would be and now im
Symptom free, using OTC nasal spray for maintenance.

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 19:41

MrsPatrickDempsey · 12/10/2025 18:56

Oh I can so relate to this and have first hand of how horrible it is and miserable it makes you feel. I had polyps and chronic blocked sinuses. Pain; congestion no smell or taste which is utterly grim. Prednisone tablets helped but the gp would never prescribe more than a weeks worth. I eventually had surgery to remove the polyps and clear the sinuses. Pain improved but I had intermittent loss of taste/smell. Never identified the trigger.
Regular betnesol drops or oral steroids were the only things that helped. Tried all other drops. I paid for a private ENT consultation when symptoms persisted after surgery and he prescribed 8 weeks of oral steroids. Magic! Have you had these? May be worth discussing with your GP. Have a google - there is a small evidence base supporting this for chronic sinusitis.
Strangely my symptoms are greatly improved now so I wonder if it was a peri/menopause thing.
The oxymetazaline sprays can be good to relieve the pain of congestion.

I'm so pleased to hear your symptoms have improved as it is truly miserable. I think I'm going to do an online e consult tomorrow morning and ask for Prednisone or oral steroids. Did the weeks course of prednisone help your taste return? I'm going to make a huge fuss of how miserable and in pain I am and hopefully they will give me something!

OP posts:
Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 19:44

BlueScrunchies · 12/10/2025 19:10

I really feel for you OP, I went through all this myself, minimal smell for nearly a decade, endless useless nasal drops (with occasional short courses of oral steroid which helped albeit temporarily) and being fobbed off by ENT and told surgery wasn’t an option.

i eventually bit the bullet and went private, it wasn’t as much as I thought it would be and now im
Symptom free, using OTC nasal spray for maintenance.

I'm pleased to hear you're finally symptom free. It's a miserable way to live. What did they find the issue was for you when you went private?
I'm definitely asking for oral steroids.
The last time they booked me in for a fave to face appointment with the nurse. No idea why face to face as they never exam you and she just said she couldn't do anything. I'm going to do the e consult first thing tomorrow as I didn't know there were potentially oral steroids options.

OP posts:
Shedmistress · 12/10/2025 19:44

Have you tried Sudafed and/or antihistamines?

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 19:57

Shedmistress · 12/10/2025 19:44

Have you tried Sudafed and/or antihistamines?

Edited

Yep. I take daily fexofenadine and use sudafed which temporarily provides some relief. However I believe it makes things worse in the long run.
I have literally tried everything and last time decided nothing works and it just takes time. However this time I'm getting worse, not better.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 20:04

For those of you who have been prescribed oral steroids/prednisolone (finally realised prednisolone IS an oral steroids) did you have to battle with your GP to get it?

OP posts:
Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 20:15

So, how would I know if I have a polyp? Have any of you had your nose examined by a GP? Despite having chronic sinusitis, being on steroids spray long term and being referred to ENT; I've never had my nose examined.

OP posts:
rainbowsandraspberrygin · 12/10/2025 20:55

Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 18:44

For some reason I can't edit. That meant to say steam inhalation. Not steak! I'm not actually inhaling my food and wondering why I can't taste 😂

Made me smile OP!! What a way to eat steak! 🥩 😂😂

AphroditesSeashell · 12/10/2025 21:03

Apologies if this is being considered by your GP but I thought it was inadvisable to use daily nasal sprays as they are almost addictive aka withdrawal can be awful? Is it possible that your problems are cyclical and caused by the nasal sprays?

Googled to see if my thoughts were based on reality and got this info:

"Daily use of certain nasal sprays, especially decongestants, can lead to rebound congestion, a cycle where your nasal passages become more swollen and congested when you stop using the spray. Overuse can also cause other issues like nosebleeds, dependence, and, in some cases, damage to the nose, while prolonged use of steroid nasal sprays may be linked to more serious side effects like eye pressure problems or adrenal insufficiency."

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:09

AphroditesSeashell · 12/10/2025 21:03

Apologies if this is being considered by your GP but I thought it was inadvisable to use daily nasal sprays as they are almost addictive aka withdrawal can be awful? Is it possible that your problems are cyclical and caused by the nasal sprays?

Googled to see if my thoughts were based on reality and got this info:

"Daily use of certain nasal sprays, especially decongestants, can lead to rebound congestion, a cycle where your nasal passages become more swollen and congested when you stop using the spray. Overuse can also cause other issues like nosebleeds, dependence, and, in some cases, damage to the nose, while prolonged use of steroid nasal sprays may be linked to more serious side effects like eye pressure problems or adrenal insufficiency."

I believe that decongestants cause these issues. I haven't been prescribed a nasal decongestant (sudafed etc) just used a few times with flare up and then stopped. It is the steroid sprays that I use daily, they are on repeat prescription and ent advised to use them daily. So hopefully it's not making me worse (although symptoms were bad before I began them).

OP posts:
H202too · 12/10/2025 21:21

I have had this on and off for 5 years. I hate not being able to taste for weeks on end! I got upset and asked for predisnone. They said it would do more harm than good if needed long term.

What were the oral steroids called?

Anyway I took mometasone and desoloratadine , apparently it's the best antihistamine for nasal stuff. After 3 months of taking it. My taste came back. Just at the point I had a camera in my nose from a ENT appointment. Which was all clear!!! Pity I didn't have it when I was taste and smell less.
I live in fear of it coming back but have monetasone and desoloratadine on prescription.

Portakalkedi · 12/10/2025 21:22

I find using the nasal rinse every single day does make a difference.

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:30

So I've been on mometasone for several years. I got referred to ENT who wrote back to my GP and said the waiting list is so long and for me to try Flutiscanone drops, which I've been on for about 8 months. It doesn't seem to make a huge difference. I also do daily nasal rinses!

OP posts:
H202too · 12/10/2025 21:33

Oh thats not good. I had to ask directly for a referral as they kept fobbing me off. It was 3 months for an appointment and was in for about 4 minutes!

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:44

I've been told it's a several year wait! I'm not sure I'm even still ok the list as they advised I take the drops. So who knows, I'll ask tomorrow. I'm getting headaches again now, so I'm extra miserable.

OP posts:
MrsPatrickDempsey · 12/10/2025 21:46

Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 20:15

So, how would I know if I have a polyp? Have any of you had your nose examined by a GP? Despite having chronic sinusitis, being on steroids spray long term and being referred to ENT; I've never had my nose examined.

The GP looked up and saw my polyp.
The GPs are reluctant to prescribe prednisone but I have been honest with the impact the symptoms are having (ie I missed the smell of burning in the kitchen once) and they will do a short course.

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:50

MrsPatrickDempsey · 12/10/2025 21:46

The GP looked up and saw my polyp.
The GPs are reluctant to prescribe prednisone but I have been honest with the impact the symptoms are having (ie I missed the smell of burning in the kitchen once) and they will do a short course.

Show quote history

Maybe I'll tell them my house was on fire at the weekend but I didn't know because I can't smell 😂
In all seriousness though, what you say does make sense.

OP posts:
Arthurnewyorkcity · 12/10/2025 21:50

Ent have the worst waits country wide. I'm in a similar boat and am awaiting surgery as turns out I have a sharp septal spur which is preventing drainage. My hospital ent department are booking week 57-60 for routines. So over a year wait but hopefully worth it!

Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:52

Arthurnewyorkcity · 12/10/2025 21:50

Ent have the worst waits country wide. I'm in a similar boat and am awaiting surgery as turns out I have a sharp septal spur which is preventing drainage. My hospital ent department are booking week 57-60 for routines. So over a year wait but hopefully worth it!

It's a nightmare! However I do appreciate that there is so much worse than people are waiting to be seen for. However as this is a chronic issue, I'm best being on the list. It's just disheartening when symptoms are acute and you want quicker relief. I'm just getting frustrated because the symptoms seems to be easing but are now getting worse again and I feel it's also affecting my frontal sinuses now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miserable1 · 12/10/2025 21:53

Arthurnewyorkcity · 12/10/2025 21:50

Ent have the worst waits country wide. I'm in a similar boat and am awaiting surgery as turns out I have a sharp septal spur which is preventing drainage. My hospital ent department are booking week 57-60 for routines. So over a year wait but hopefully worth it!

How long until your surgery? Have they given any indication?

OP posts:
soundsofthevalley · 12/10/2025 22:04

I had all this too, the only thing that helped was surgery to enlarge my very small nasal passages. I have been fine ever since. Go back to the GP and ask for a surgical referral. Good luck!