I've had a sinus infection type thing for about three weeks now. Is there anything I can do other than a course of anti-biotics?

[Spidermama]

Bad headache, daily. Pressure.
(!!TMI WARNING!!) Bright coloured snot.

It's pissing me off.

I don't want to take ABs but what else can I do?

saline nasal wash?

Saline solution squirted up each nostril, into the sinuses, 3 times a day. Works a treat.

I've never heard of it. I'll give it a go.

Will it help the headache too? It's doing my head in. Quite literally.

Sudafed dries the snot out.

I had this earlier this year. After 5 weeks though, I gave up and went to the doctors as I was due to go on holiday and didn't want to still be ill. And guess what? yep - antibiotics. Tbh I was just grateful to get rid of the infection, which went within a few days of starting the treatment, so it was worth it. I would suggest you do the same if yours continues for much longer. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

It hurts when you snort it up (dc hate it, scream their heads off, not that I blame them) but trust me, it really works. you feel much better after the stinging goes away. But you have to do it at least 3 times a day, for about 5 days. Go on, down to the chemist & try some!

You can try steaming and add something mentholy to the water?

No, that won't get into the sinuses & clear them out. Haven't you ever noticed how much more quickly cuts, scrapes, spots, etc clear up at the beach? the seawater disinfects. now get snorting!

Been down this road myself recently. Left it so long that I was blowing blood. Yummm! Eventually needed top wack of antibiotics (tetracyclines) which made me feel really sick.

If it was me again I'd go to docs soonest and try and get away with regular ABs.

Sorry.

My doctor recommended inhaling over a bowl of hot water with a teabag in it - natural decongestent apparently. You have my sympathies, I had this at the beginning of the year and it SUCKS

Thanks. It's good to know I'm not the only one in a sick sort of way.

I'll try the salt water and tea bag approach first because I'm a bit of a hippy, then if it fails I'll pull out the big guns and get down the doctor tomorrow. I think it's actually getting worse not better.

God things like this used to clear up in a matter of days. I can't believe how long my illnesses last these days. My immune system must be shot to pieces.

Olbas oil on boiling water, towel over your head and inhale. Not pleasant and you have to do it a few times a day for a few days, but effective...

Do these inhaling procedures actually clear the infection or just relieve the symptoms?

The mentholy solution helped clear my head (I was pregnant at the time and relunctant to take a/bs) but had to get the drugs in the end.

They will clear the blockage and relieve the pain by easing the pressure in your sinuses. They don't cure the infection, but infections will usually clear up by themselves, they just take time. I had a middle-ear infection when in very early pg and didn't want to take anti-biotics. I took 1g paracetamol for the pain, then did the inhalations over a weekend (3-4 a day) and that cleared the passages so the middle-ear could drain. The infection then cleared up by itself.