Sinusitis for 3 months - what else can I try

[Faceisaching]

Sorry its quite long...

I've had chronic sinusitis for 3 months now, I had it the same time last year and it did improve but never fully cleared.

I'm on my 4th course of antibiotics, been on steroids for the past 3 weeks and another 2 weeks course and onto my 3rd week of carbocisteine tablets. I'm taking pankillers daily and using menthol crystals, sea water nasal spray, 1000mg vitamin C drinks per day, drinking Yakult and eating plenty of veg.

What the hell else can I do to get rid of this?? I'm at my wits ends, zero energy, wheezing and a sharp chest pain doing anything that takes any effort such as walking up the stairs, shopping for essentials.

During this time I've had two chest infections and shingles. My chest is clear now.

Last year I was sent to ENT where they had a look with a camera but didn't see anything, however an mri two weeks later for migraines showed sinusitis.

You mention sea water nasal spray but is this just saline spray? If so ive never found it actually goes where you need it. A neti pot/ Neil med type.device might be worth trying?

If you are getting repeatedly ill in midwinter have you had your vit d levels checked? Blood sugars? Thyroid? Iron levels?

Mine is better when I cut out milk.

Is there much stress in your life at the moment?

Course of sessions at the Salt Cave / reflexologist / acupuncture are things I find helpful. We have an enormous salt lamp in our living room and a smaller one in our bedroom. If the bulb goes in either of the lamps my symptoms of sinusitis begin to return.

Long shot but I had this last year and it turned out to be due to an infected upper molar. I'd had minor discomfort with this tooth but was waiting until my six monthly check up to mention it.

It was irritating the sinuses which produced mucus which dripped down into the the throat and chest causing constant coughing.

Stopped immediately I got the tooth sorted.

Ragusa it must be saline spray, I seen those kettle shaped things but I wrongly assumed they were the same thing. I'll try that.

Notsuch - yes lots, that is the underlying reason for poor immune system at the moment.

Fuzzyfozzy - yes, I don't drink much milk but found out the hard way after a bowl of porridge. Gross.

AbbieLexie - salt lamps sound interesting, how do these work? Did acupuncture etc clear it for you?

Chinkchink - need my check up anyway. Worth a try!

Ok do you have a temperature? And yellow discharge?

You mentioned a MRI for migraine last year. But migraine doesn't show on MRI all it would show is no other problems. Sinusitis is hard to diagnose without actual infection most nasal pain is migraine. I'd asked for another refural to try and get to the bottom of it. Migraine pain will improve with steroids and you do get nasal discharge which is why it can be so confusing.

Most neurologists in this area agree sinusitis is an active infection. Thus you would have a temperature, therefore without it it's migraine. They believe 9 out of 10 people diagnose with sinusitis actually have migraine.

Try a neti pot. It has saved me from needing antibiotics in the past. You make a saline solution and then use it in the neti pot to flush out your sinuses. It's made a huge difference to me and I really recommend it.

Fenugreek. I had sinusitis for years and years and got so fed up of using medication constantly, that i tried it. It worked by clearing the sinuses, and eventually the sinuses were able to heal and i could stop taking them. I still take it if i get colds or before i fly to make sure i get no ear pain.

Just to add I used a neti pot and it gave temporary relief but it wasn't until the root cause was found that I was 'cured'.

Migril - I'm not sure what it was then possibly cat scan, I was taken into hospital with possible stroke symptoms last year which turned out to be hemeplegic migraines and the a&e doc said no signs of stroke and that the only thing that was showing was sinusitis under my right eye. It's a mix of clear and yellow, sometimes it streams out like water, sometimes small lumps and sometimes completely blocked.

Netipot and fenugreek - noted. Thanks.

Chinkchink - definitely keen to find the root cause and cure it!

Get your teeth checked - especially your root canals. DH spent nearly two years getting his nose treated, even had an operation to drain sinuses and straighten a bit inside his nose. Numerous courses of antibiotics, saline sprays etc. Changed dentists, got his root canals sorted and Bingo! That was the cause all along!

I have the bug that is going about and it has caused my sinuses to flare up. My sinusitis is described as chronic now and the treatment should be different. The courses of antibiotics I was taking really concerned me. Daughter gifted me 2 sessions at the Salt Cave. The 1st session was a very pleasant way to pass an hour but I didn't notice any benefit and I wouldn't have returned. 2nd session really noticed an improvement in my symptoms. Continued with a course of sessions and sinusitis disappeared (as did my exzema on my legs, feet & elbows). Lamp in bedroom was to help with sleep. Lamp in living room was to help my partner who was struggling with chest infections which weren't responding to antibiotics. If you google salt lamps - there is a lot of information - change the ion charges in the air. Lots of discussion about if they are effective - we feel they are. Dramatic improvement after a session of reflexology or acupuncture. If you can afford any of these please try them.

Will be calling for a dental check up next week! Praying I don't need root canal treatment .

I looked up the salt caves, it does look fab but sadly too far to travel to at the moment and nothing similar local. I seen salt pipes online at Holland and Barratts, might give this a try.

I don't suppose you have a link to salt lamps, theres so many to choose from I'm not confident at knowing which are the real deal?

I SUFFERed terribly and tried it all.
Saw ENT and had FESS procedure in 2014....not had an episode since, it’s been magical

I think I need to push for ENT appointment. Will try dentist first. What is FESS?

Sorry I did a NC to faceisaching choccogoingcuckoo

Faceisaching looked like faeces everytime I seen it

Following as I think I have sinusitis too but due to work pattern and time of year I've not been at GPS recently. Last time I went they prescribed a nasal spray as they said I couldn't use over the counter decongestants with the anti-anxiety & anti-depressants I'm on. Since then I've had the flu, more colds and my mental health feels worse.

Hope some of the suggestions above help you OP and interacting how many people have said to try a dentist too.

Its awful, poor you. Hopefully yoi get to the gp soon. It is interesting, I know sinusitis can make you feel like your teeth are rattling but I wasn't aware of tooth probs causing sinus pain.

I saw my dentist for similar and he saw nothing wrong - back again a few more months later and this time got an X-ray, root canal infection. The relief when it was released was enormous (I was getting a lot of jaw pain which both dentist and GP thought was caused by sinuses).

Oh no was it lower jaw pain?

No, upper. Where sinuses would put pressure I suppose? Made me cry every night! to everyone suffering.