Suffering with sinuses - any ideas greatly appeciated

[sinusnightmare]

I have name changed for this as it could be outing for me!

At the moment I have had an infection in my sinuses for the last 9 months. ENT have been very thorough, have seen me 2/3 times a month, loads of different types of AB's plus 3 operations. When I see them they suction nose. But unfortunately for me the infection keeps on reoccurring. I've really had enough! Each time I go swabs are sent off and it comes back still showing signs of infection.

I use neilmed twice a day

I have a specific antibody deficiency resulting in me getting a fair few sinus infections. I have known about this for approx 10 years, it has never been this bad! Due to this infection I have been started on IgG therapy, so far I have had 2 sessions (I am going to have it weekly).

I am seeing ENT this week and really need some ideas on what can be done next. It's a strange infection - thankfully no fever but I do suffer from blocked/runny nose/face pain and at times the most awful smell. I did ask a couple of months ago if they would give me IV ABs but was refused due to no fever. I do understand this but needless to say I feel very frustrated at not clearing the infection. The infection almost cleared when I was taking Linezolid but I was only allowed to take it for 3 weeks. As soon as I stopped taking them within 2 weeks infection was back.

Has anyone got any ideas on what I could ask for?

Thanks in advance

Try steaming with a good few drops of tea tree essential oil in the water - natural antibiotic so should at least help a little.

Anti bacterial even !!

Could it be exacerbated by your diet?

Will try the steaming.

As far as I am aware my diet is fine. I have had allergy tests done in the past and all came back clear. I am aware that dairy can cause problems.

Are you keeping a good diary?

FOOD diary!

I know one woman who did this and realised it was bread, and another friend found red wine to be the cause.

I hope it’s neither of those things and is lentils or cabbage causing it for you.

Lol, I don't drink red wine and over the summer not eaten much bread been more into salad. If its was lentils I would happily not eat them but I am rather partial to cabbage!

I cut out dairy and my sinus infections stopped, I used to get them all the time. It might be worth trying for a couple of weeks. Mine cleared within 2/3 days.
Good luck, sinus infections are bloody awful.

I had sinus surgery on 2012, a balloon plastic. Total game changer and I've never had problems since.

My sinus issues have improved since taking a probiotic with L-Sakei in it. Also, whenever I get a cold I take NAC, which thins the mucous and helps the sinuses drain. I have found these two things more effective than anything else in my decade of treating my sinus problems.

Dairy definitely makes mine worse, so try cutting back on that.
I also find Sterimar spray really good. Neilmed nasal rinse once a day will help get the crap out.

Hi - there was a very interesting study, maybe more than one I can't remember now, that found that humming can help with sinus problems... and it worked for me after all else failed!

More info. here but lots of info. if you google 'sinus' and 'humming':

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12119224

I told my GP about it and they were amazed that it actually worked.

You need to hum very loudly and try different notes (going up and down the scale) until you can actually feel the ones that actually work....

Amoxiclav (the clav bit is crucial) was the only antibiotic that worked for me - reserved for deep infection like dog bites and sinusitis that's resistant to other antibiotics and much stronger - might be worth a go?

That’s amazing!!!!

Another sinus sufferer here. I came down with many sinus infections in the past. I used to get 2/3 a year. They were so bad, there would be fullness behind my ears and my hearing was rubbish.

I learned over time sinus infections came on with a cold for me. Or after a cold. To say the least, I would suffer for months.

I was coming home in a taxi one day and I wasn't feeling well with sinus and people heard it in my voice. The taxi driver said he never remembered his mother ever being sick. She lived into her 90s. Her trick - she used to take a clove of garlic a day. She chopped the clove into pieces and swallowed like a tablet. I vaguely remember the taxi driver saying something about an onion too. Maybe she ate an onion a day. Vaguely remember that.

The next time I felt a cold come on, I went to the shop and I bought garlic and some lemons and honey. I was desperate. It was either that or I suffer and I didn't have time to be sick. I had the usual over the counter medicines and vitamin c. I took garlic. I juiced lemons and made my own hot lemons from lemon juice, hot water from the kettle and honey. Something worked because it didn't develop into a sinus infection.

This summer was the first summer in years that I suffered with sinus but it's more hay fever related this time around.

I don't know if garlic and lemons will clear an infection. It definitely stopped things in it's tracks before developing into something more serious for me. Maybe it might be worth a try for you?

I've suffered with mine for a while now, tried everything and obviously can't keep going on antibiotics, so I take Nelson remedies called kali birch. It really help the pain and clears my sinuses.

Hi cardinal, what probiotic is this i would love to give it a try for myself

Have you got,any problems with gastric reflux.? I get it and it goes up,into my sinuses and causes pain etc. just a thought

I was recommended on MN a brand called Sinulan. It’s a herbal remedy that helps with the respiratory system. I’ve been taking Sinulan Forte, one per day, for the last month to help ward off any sinus issues. My sinuses have been grumbling but nothing serious. They definitely help and I feel much clearer and not stuffy. The tablets are about £18 from overseas pharmacies but I honestly do think they work. From a fellow long time sinus sufferer