Sinus

[India4]

does Anyone have any advice for alleviating Sinusitis? Have used Anti Biotics but sadly were not effective. Any advice greatly appreciated.

I am very prone to sinus issues. This is what helps me:

Steam steam steam. Steamy showers, steam inhalation, even just a warm flannel over my face. So soothing.

I also do saline rinses, but honestly find steam more effective. Worth a try though.

Facial and scalp massage - I find this helps when they are clogged and need to clear. Tapping forehead and nose, massaging under earlobes, pulling ears out and wiggling jaw (this helps open Eustachian tubes which are often blocked).

Humming - loudly. Try a few notes to see which you can feel resonating in your sinuses. It creates vibration which again helps them drain. Best done in shower, partly for the steam, partly because it's less embarrassing somehow.

I avoid decongestants unless truly desperate, I find ibuprofen the most helpful. I see a previous poster said the opposite though, so I guess see what works for you. Antihistamine can also be helpful.

And yes, if you were prescribed antibiotics for an infection and it hasn't cleared, you need to go back to the prescriber.

Thankyou for your welcome comments, will try them all.

@Crwysmam I also hang over the side of the bed! The neti pot stuff and steaming doesn't really touch the sides... which makes me think my bone spurs are back again - deep joy! But I do get a bit of relief on steroids and sleeping (or trying to sleep) like a bat!

Thanks for this, I use steroids which help a lot…sadly, it returns after a cold or something.

Saline nasal washes work for me, you can use salted boiled cooled water and a squeezy bottle, just shove up your nostril and flush.

Many thanks

@RetiredGranny was the endoscopic sinus surgery painful? What was the recovery like?
I’ve suffered with sinus issues for years and years and ENT are now suggesting this surgery for me.
Actually, they are suggesting I try nasal cryotherapy first (where they freeze the nerves at the back of the nose) and then if that doesn’t work I’ll have the surgery.
I’m a bit scared if I’m honest!

No, the surgery wasn't painful. I think I only took painkillers on the day of the op which was under general anaesthesia. I only had one side done and in the days after the op, I was prone to nose bleeds. Had to rinse with sterimar for 2 weeks afterwards. They also took off a septal spur at the same time as draining sinus. Since the op, I have been able to breathe through my nose properly.

Thanks - that’s good to know

I'm only allowed low level steroids thanks to a heart condition and not all the time. They work when I can have them - but the rest of the time it's like having a permanent cold. It sucks and I sympathise so much - the primary care pathway to secondary care has taken me almost three months now, just to get the referral. Not because my GP is bad, because they're lovely and so helpful, it's just the backlog for the final test before I can get the referral because without it the hospital will reject it. I have jumped through four of five hoops! We'll get there though - we just need to advocate hard for ourselves.

Thankyou

Mometasone spray, and clariton antihistamine tablets, and sinutab for drying up the mucous.

I use a nasal rinse and I’ve found taking a antihistamine spray also helps (prevent not cure) During flair ups I take Sudafed