14 weeks later and still no better. Any ideas?

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

I have had sinusitis since Christmas, tried antibiotics and a spray but still suffering. I am going back to my GP on Monday but I feel like they are running out of ideas. I have been run down since my second baby waas born a year ago, lots of bugs etc. Any thoughts??

Sorry - none, but I feel your pain. I had sinusitus for a few weeks a year ago - went on a plane it felt like my BRAIN was popping. Keep pushing with the doctor to make sure they treat it seriously.

Get everything else checked out too. Are you sure it's sinuses, not tension headache or that you need glasses? (Apols if you've already investigated these)

specialmagiclady many thanks for the reply. My nose and head are just AHHHHHHH!!! I can't lean forward or breathe. I have lost wait as it puts me off eating. It's hard to hear sometimes too. I don't think the antibiotics helped.....just gave me thrush too!!
The nasal spray is very good but I keep being told only to use it for 7 days, so time is up! :(

Can you ask to be referred to ENT? Four months is a long time.

sorry weight

If you're four months down the line with treatment for sinusitis with no clear improvement, then ask for an ENT referral.

Are you thinking surgery?? Eak!

No no, thinking diagnostics tbh. They need to look at what's going on in there.

Right, thank-you, I'll ask the GP on Monday. If one more person tells me to try marshmellow and garlic I'll scream!

Demand an ENT referral, your GP should of offered you one by now, 4 months is a long time -

also have they done a nasal swab to make sure they are giving you the right type of anti B's??? - the generic ones don't work for all infections & you might need more specific ones - they can do that in the surgery & send it of for lab results, should take a few days - a week, it might be as simple as that, but if not, ENT definitely

also have you tried doing a sinus douce?? - it can help a lot with keeping infections down, my own ENT specialist gave me a "neilmed" sinus rinse bottle, but you can buy them online www.neilmed.com/usa/adword_sr.php?gclid=CLL21PbYoagCFUEb4Qod1n7nHg its worth buying the powders too to start with, but once you are used to it, mix your own - its just bicarb & salt disolved in hot water & cooled to body temp

if you have been given the correct anti Bs then the ENT will be able to work out why the infection isn't clearing, it might be down to how your sinuses are draining & may need help - a scan will determine that

& just as a foot note - is there possibly a dental cause for the infection?? - I ask, because after 20+ years of recurring infections, diagnosed with chronic sinus disease, & in more recent years recurring neck lymph gland infection pressing on nerves & causing me hell - which my GP treat, but didn't seem interested in finding out WHY I kept getting what is meant to be a very rare infection -

I had a gland flare up when I had an ENT check up appointment, mentioned it to the ENT Dr, by way of excusing myself as I wasn't very together - he organised a scan - turns out I have what looks like a ball of infection left behind from a wisdom tooth extraction - my ENT Dr thinks this could actually be the real cause of all my years of recurring Sinus problems & probably my headaches too - being passed over to another dept, in hope of having it sorted out once & for all :)

Not saying that to scare you, but worth baring in mind if you have had any dental problems too

good luck

Goodness poor you rockinhippy Teeth fine I think. Thanks for the advice. A swab hasn't been taken, i'll ask about this. The antibiotics were just amoxocilin, so quite a general one. I did read that fungus causing bugs need different treatment so a swab sounds vital.

I am worried what to do about the nasal sprays whilst waiting for an ENT appointment. I have been given Otrivine twice daily alongside the amoxocilin but I worry about the rebound problem?? Trouble is I can't breathe and my head in pounding. Nothing seems to stop the constant drip from my nose though or the pressure. WWYD regarding the spray?

Yes Amoxicillin is a very general one & if they keep giving you the same but not strong enough dose to clear it properly, even the bugs it will work on will become resistant to it, so its never going to work

the NHS Drs don't recognise the fungal type sinus infections I'm afraid, I've asked already, as I have wondered if that could of been my problem & anti Bs making it worse - instead of better - so your probably best not mentioning that, GPs can get a bit funny at times -

there are other types of bacterial infections though, some quite rare, the one mine have sometimes turned out to be were & they do need specificl antibiotics.
Sorry, tired & not thinking too clearly - what exactly do you mean by "rebound problem"??

you sound as if you do have a very bad one still, so I wouldn't use the neti douche I mention above right now - they are great when sinuses aren't too stuffed up & swollen, as help wash the infection away - & a VERY mild solution of vinegar, few drops only can help then prevent infection - but it can hurt, but only temporary & as you've probably realised, you do get desperate & will try anything - but using a rinse when sore stuffy & swollen I've found can push the infection into your ear & make things worse - so hold off with that until later.

The Sprays are different though, & they CAN help quite a bit, so DO try it - but not everyone gets on with them, I couldn't handle the Otrivine at all, but do find I can cope with Nasonex - might be worth you asking for that, as it is a newer one & I find much better -

& if your GP hasn't already told you - several didn't explain to me its also important that when you use the spray, you hang your head upside down & pump the spray right into the back of your nostrils as far as you can go - & hold there for a few minutes to allow the Nasonex/Otrivine to seep right into the sinus cavities & do its job - which will be to reduce inflammation, & some are a bit antibacterial, so will help kill the bugs too - they back up the antiBs:)

Are you also taking Ibruprofen??? - if not you should, its the best pain killer for sinuses & reduces swelling, so relieves headaches & allows infection to drain away - the spray helps the draining too, which is very important to help clear the infection completely:)

Also you might want to try a few acupressure massage techniques, they can really help open up your sinuses & help you breathe again -

in this link - the guy in the video shows a few points around your nose, I've found all 3 of these very useful for instant temporary relief www.ehow.com/video_4983669_use-acupressure-points-sinus-relief.html

& this one is also great- 1. Nose Rub : Rub your hands together to warm them up. Use the palm of one hand to rub the tip of your nose in a circular motion, 15-20 times, then another 15-20 times in the opposite direction. Do this several times a day for sinus problems, nasal congestion and stuffy nose, and regularly as a preventative.

theres plenty more if you google, but these are the ones I personally find most effective - these & direct pressure in circular motion over each of your 4 Sinus cavities

I hope you find some of this gets you some relief, you sound in a bad way, & I know from experience its awful :(

good luck

Oh, forgot to add - I thought my teeth were fine too - but turns out my teeth are fine, so dental x-rays have always come up okay - its in my jaw bone, ENT Dr thinks a left over bit of root from a wisdom tooth I had removed years ago - with hindsight about a year before I was diagnosed with the ongoing sinus problems, so does make some sense now

rockinhippy thanks again so much. By rebound I mean the sinus almost becomes addicted to the spray so some people end up with spraysall their lives :( I'll let you know what the GP says tomorrow xx

I had bad sinus infection at Christmas and was given a week course of Amoxocilin.It helped a bit but then felt it coming back just as bad. In Jan had worsened to ear infection and swollen neck glands as well as sinus hell. GP prescribed 8 amoxocilin a day for a week (double dose). Well still didn't clear this was with steam inhalations as well. Bought a neti pot (which helped a lot) to rinse nasal passages.
Went back to GP and had completely different antibiotic, sorry can't remember the name, but only 1 a day for a week. Cleared it by day 5. Had to insist they try something else though!

Oh fab news nanatothree so glad it worked. Did you have a spray too? I wonder what the antibiotic was??

Nano just mentioned it, but try a neti pot to help flush out.

Good luck tomorrow - I've not had that problem with the sprays at all, I take them only to help with clearing an infection though, not daily as they prescribe them, because I generally don't get on that well with them & they taste foul, I use Ibruprofen more often for general swelling etc & find that better

I've had Clarythrimicin (or something sounding similar to that ) a few times for acute infections, thats a 1 a day tablet, so I'm wondering if that was yours toonana ?? - & yes it worked where the amoxicilin hadn't, but I think thats because the course wasn't long enough of strong enough, so the bug became amoxicilin resistant - another 1 they use is doxicycline(or similar name) -

like I said theres been a couple of times though, that the infection was a rarer 1, that just couldn't be treated with standard anti B's - so it might be well worth you asking for a different anti B, along with a swab test to make sure it is the right drug for the bacteria causing your problem - that way you cover all bases :)

Hello all.

GP has refered me to ENT - thank goodness! She also gave me Nasonex and more Otrivine although I really worry about getting addicted to it. GP felt I should take it to keep me going until I see the consultant.

She said I had had a very high dose of antibiotics and so wouldn't give anymore as the side effects were worse than the problem?? I have had thrush and upset tummy but I can cope with that!

Fingers crossed for the referal to be speedy. Thanks so much for your help and advice all. xx