AIBU to tell my sinuses to fuck right off?

[Helplessfeeling]

They have been blocked for days. Medication does not even come close. Vicks/Olbas/steam gives short term relief but then the damn things block up again. If I could remove them from my head I would. Little Bastards!

You poor thing. It’s hell. Have you ever tried a salt cave?

YANBU sinus problems are horrendous. The last time I had a proper headcold and had full sinuses that wouldn't shift, I had a hot curry. I was very snotty afterwards but it cleared them!

Ephedrine nasal drops

Will have to get from an independent chemist as Boots won't stock it (as it's essentially liquid speed)

But chemist can sell otc if you ask for it, may need to order it in - goes like shit off a shovel but it's magic in sorting out the kind of sinus pain where you would happily decapitate yourself to make the pain stop

Tip from a GP mate - chemist will never tell you it exists unless you ask for it, but it's unbelievably effective

Fully blocked sinuses are also bugger because you can't sleep properly or put your head down. And the pain- nothing touches it.

@bananafish81 thank you for that tip!

Yanbu. I am very susceptible to sinusitis, everytime I get a cold I get nervous. This spray is good tho: www.boots.com/otrivine-adult-sinusitis-spray-10ml-10021919

Have you tried a nasal rinse and beconase allergy spray? Every cold I get ends up with sinusitis these days, but twice a day with saline rinse (I use neilmed bottles but make my own salt/bicarbonate mix) followed by beconase eventually shifts it.

Can you tell mine to fuck off while you're on - I'm on my first of many annual bouts of sinus problems.

Neti pot is your friend

If you go to the GP and ask to be referred to ENT, you can have an op to drill them.

I will not lie. It's a horrible operation. For about two weeks afterwards, you feel like you've been repeatedly smacked in the face with a frying pan and you won't believe the size of the chunks of mucus that come out of your nose. Once you get past that though, it's truly amazing being pain free and able to smell and taste again!

Had persistent blocked sinuses for years before I got mine done about six years ago. I've hardly had any trouble with them since.

YANBU. (inhale the steam, just on the off chance?)

sudafed.

Following. My sinuses are horrendous every winter. I'm sick of waking up and having vile chunks of mank dripping down my throat. Ugh.

The nasal drops are a last resort assuming all else has failed

I'm assuming OP has tried nasal sprays, neti pot, Sudafed (both the ones containing phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine) and every other measure as she said medication won't touch it - so don't go for the ephedrine nasal drops until you've tried everything else.

It is the nuclear option - but it really, really works.

I dont get colds as such but my bloody sinuses do play up. I've had two meals this week I just couldn't taste.

Sinuses can be affected by enviromental stuff (smoke is my trigger) and hormones so not neccasarily gunked up

I (like my DM and DB) get regular bouts of sinusitis so you have my sympathies. I borrow the vicks coolmist steam machine we bought for the DC to help me sleep at night, along with melting vicks vaporub in hot water and inhaling the steam. I sometimes use sterimar but it can add to the problem if they're really blocked.

Wow, thanks for all your responses! Loads of things I have never heard of being suggested. I am going to google a salt cave. Also, those Ephidrine drops sound good. I am at the stage where I would decapitate myself if I could!

Hanging onto this post! Mine have been awful on and off for 2 years.

Garlic and horseradish tabs. Shedloads. Please note that this is not medical advice but it worked for me.

Also, I gave up gluten and the side effect of no more sinusitis was/is bloody marvellous.

Try an antihistamine every day. Made my winters much easier.

Another post-op like YorkshirePudding here - I had a horrendous sinus infection this time last year that took three months of antibiotics to shift, and then had messed up my cheekbone sinuses enough that I needed surgery to open them up. Got about a third of each turbinate removed and other flappy bits trimmed out as well at the same time.

The difference is absolutely night and day. I've had an actual cold the last couple of weeks and hardly noticed, just paracetamol and a tissue. Previously that would have had me on the sofa under a duvet for a week and stumbling around like a zombie.

I'm also unrelatedly taking vitamin D tablets since summer when I did a commercial blood test thing that showed me low on D straight after a Mediterranean beach holiday! (DM me if anyone wants a linky for a half-price Thriva test) They seem to be helping in general.

I used to have sinus infections one after the other.

I was referred to ENT & they found my septum was partially blocking the opening to my sinus on the right side. Had an op & clear out of the sinuses & ive only had two infections in the past 20 years.