Sinus infection won’t clear up!

[Elle18]

Hi everyone, I have a sinus infection (definitely bacterial) that I’m now on my third lot of antibiotics to clear. It’s better but not completely gone and I’m worried that once I stop the antibiotics it will come straight back. It’s making me quite anxious now!
I’ve seen an ENT who did a CT scan and confirmed the problem is structural as I have a deviated septum and sinuses aren’t draining properly so has advised surgery.
I will go ahead with this but in the meantime could anyone kindly share any similar experiences please to talk me down!

Just to add I’ve had issues with my sinuses for years and end up on antibiotics 2 times a year because of these infections but they have always cleared up in the past with one round.

Steam your head. Lots.

Look at sinus rinsing with the Neilmed kits. How desperate you are will determine whether you try it. It’s no where near as bad as it seems like it’s going to be.

Try XLear nasal spray on Amazon. It contains xylitol which is anti bacterial. I have a deviated septum due to a structural abnormality so run the risk of sinus infection and use this daily, it’s brilliant. There’s various studies on the effectiveness of xylitol nasal rinses if you’re interested. Xylitol makes things slippier so bacteria can’t cling to the tissue.

@ScaryM0nster thank you for your reply. I probably should have said that I use the Neilmed 3-4 times a day! It’s great but as it’s bacterial only antibiotics can totally rid me of it unfortunately.
I remember being so scared to do the rinse the first time but I quite enjoy them now!
Ive also used steroid spray, cut dairy and tried Acupncture but as its structural rather than allergies it’s not helped much.

I suffer so much with mine but as yet I haven’t approached a GP for a long term solution.I’ve tried saline sprays, a pharmacist prescribed me a steroid spray and I try to keep my nose blew but it doesn’t seem to make much difference. I also get a terrible sinus toothache as my dentist says they are right by the roots of my teeth.

I have also seen there is sinus massages you can do to your face help clear it out. There will be videos on YouTube showing you how.

@applegingermintThanks for your reply and glad to hear your issue is under control. I think this infection is past all the rinses now unfortunately. I’ve been using the Xylitol, it’s great and I prefer it to the salt ones. They seem more moisturising.

@CandyCaneKisses sorry to hear you’ve been suffering too. It’s bloody miserable. In my own experience the GPs don’t know much about it. See if you can get referred to an ENT for a proper investigation.
I’d been going to the GP at least twice a year with infections that needed antibiotics for years and it’s only after having a CT ordered by the ENT that the structural issue was found. Goodluck x

I once had a sinus infection that dragged on and didn’t seem to respond to antibiotics, it was driving me demented. The one side was just constantly irritated.

One day I pressed on the opposite nostril and did a massive forceful blow - what came out was grim. It was like a big lump of grey jelly that had obviously been trapped in there and as soon as that was out I was sorted.

I gave up gluten for other reasons and found that my sinusitis disappeared. And I had regularly been on antibiotics every winter for years. It was like magic.

The steaming can help, as can shifting the sludge.

Yes, need to kill of the bacteria - but also more can do that reduces the habitat from them to thrive and grow in the better. The steam and heat helps make the gunk runnier and get more shifted past the problematic structure. Same as easier to get warm honey out of a stupid shaped jar than it is cold.

Acupuncture helped me. You have to pay it it works right away.

@ScaryM0nster that actually makes perfect sense! I’ll start on the steaming again and hope it kills the bloody bacteria along with the antibiotics. It’s driving me nuts, I just want to feel well again.

As I've said on another thread I've found a nebuliser very helpful

@Maryberrysbouffant i can imagine the relief! So satisfying and Halle to hear it sorted it for you.

@TalulahJP i had really high hopes as I’ve used acupuncture to help me with all sorts of things over the years and had great success. I went numerous times between infections and I think it kept it at bay for bit but didn’t quite do the trick unfortunately. Glad it worked for you.

I recommend a good podcast. Make the steaming podcast time rather than a chore.

(still a chore, but head over a bowel and towel overhead is less bad with good listening).