Does anyone else suffer from chronic sinusitis or have recurring sinusitis?

[foxinsocks]

My sinuses are going again . I broke my nose in '95 (think it was that year!) - the bone was smashed to pieces. Had reconstructive surgery that wasn't 100% successful (largely due to me bleeding excessively in surgery and having a reaction to the GA).

Get lots of sinusitis now because my nose is not aligned properly. Have been told they can repeat the op but there's no guarantee it would be successful and they are not sure whether the benefits outweigh the risks of surgery.

Was signed off from the ENT in 2001 and haven't seen one since then as there appears there's nothing more that can be done.

Except I'm left with getting 1 or 2 DREADFUL sinus headaches every month or so. Terrible pain (even without congestion), puffy face and tbh, I'm really fed up. Use a steroid spray but even that doesn't seem to be holding it at bay.

What does everyone do if they suffer from this?

Poor you - I do get sinusitus and have always been a very snotty person (!!), but I don't think I am suffering like you.

I get blocked nose and blocked ears and sometimes feel as if I can't speak because of an underlying snottiness - it gets in the way of my vocal chords I think. It sounds terrible, but I have had it since I was a small child and am used to it. I have been using Beconase for years and years. ALthough I wonder if it helps, I think it wouldn't be a good thing to stop.

Hope you feel better soon - may be you should go back to the doctors - 2001 was a long time ago. Having said that - I never go to see the doctor either. I just put up with it. Inhaling a tiny tiny amount of menthol crystals is good too, in a bowl with boiling water and a towel and a hot bath.

do you take the Beconase every day? I'm wondering if I should go back to it (I'm on something else).

Sounds exactly like my mother, she had a (naturally) deviated and suffered sinus problems and major headaches. She had the septum realigned and uses a steroid spray daily and it is 80-90 % better.

mm that's interesting cov. It's encouraging to see that others are on long term steroid sprays because I've been bulking a bit at using them so often. Maybe I should try and get another ENT referral through.

Have you tried reducing dairy products?
Also, I find that making fresh ginger tea can help. Buy some fresh root ginger, peel and chop about a tablespoonful and put it in a mug and pour on boiling water. Let it steep for a few minutes while inhaling the steam (through your nose). Add some honey and drink it slowly. You can have it 3 or 4 times a day. It is good for chesty coughs too. Aromatherapy with frankincense can help. Sinutab is quite good for the headaches - it is a combination of paracetamol and a decongestant. HTH

grr have just read this back and realised I put bulking instead of baulking (think my brain cells must be draining out my nose along with all the other crap )

mm I love ginger but have not tried ginger tea and have some stem ginger so I'll try that

Sinutabs are great but my nose isn't always blocked - the pain, I imagine, is from the inflammation - if my nose is blocked it does make it worse and I do/will take decongestants then.

I love inhaling steam but I find the benefits are pretty short lived and unfortunately, if the sinus pain is bad, inhaling steam feels like my face is getting stabbed with a thousand daggers.

thanks for your help

Oh foxy, poor you. Usually it's me on here!
I find if I don't drink enough water it sets off the sinus pain. I suffer this especially on waking in the morning. Try to limit your alcohol intake. It has a diuretic effect and can make you more dehydrated than you think.

I know just how you feel. i smashed my cheekbone as a teenager and have had recurrent sinus problems ever since that are getting worse with age. I take steroids for asthma, have tried sprays but the only thing that ever helps is a course of antibiotics which usually give me a couple of months relief. GP not really interested so I just put up with it

I was wondering how you were jalopy!

yes, elastamum, that's where I am really as well. Poor you, I do sympathise. It's crap isn't it!

I agree dehydration does make it worse doesn't it? I don't do caffeine anymore and I do drink but hardly anything compared to my alcohol intake pre kids so I think that's prob ok. I do have to remind myself to drink enough fluids during the day though. It's actually hurting me now when I breathe in and out through my nose. I feel like I need a clothes peg stuck permanently on the end of my nose and all my breathing routed through my mouth to feel better!