Sinusitis - feel so sick

[Perid0t]

Heeeeeellllp.

Thanks to the lovely MN ladies, I think I have sinusitis.

Symptoms:

Upper cheek ache
Nose ache
Forehead ache
Throbbing temples
Burning in forehead
Post nasal drip On and off
Ears feel blocked on and off
Dizziness and nausea
No appetite
I was extremely fatigued but that’s improved, I now have insomnia (likely due to the meds?)

Anadin extra is the only thing helping with the lain and I’m in Sudafed. But my god I cannot cope with this nausea. It’s hideous.

Does anyone have any tips? I’ve never had this before. Saw GP on Friday who couldn’t diagnose and nurse this morning who said ears were clear. She offered antibiotics but I declined due to no fever. Wish I’d tried them anyway now!

OMG! I have just slept for 1 and a half hours! First time in 6 days that I feel I’ve had a normal sleep. Thank the Lord. I felt all sweaty today like my body was getting rid of something nasty.

I hope you feel better soon. I had another crash at lunchtime. Feel ok again at the moment. My head position depends on where is hurting!

I’m sure the ABs will help you. I’m so glad I took the GP’s offer on the ABs. I hadn’t had any for about ten years but I think this needed it. I’ve had this sinusitis for over a month now because I had green catarrh but I ignored it because there were no other symptoms at all apart from a slight toothache and blowing green snot for a week. I felt wiped out the week after but I thought it was the end of it. Little did I know that it would still be going on 6 weeks later and be so severe.

Perid0t I still think it might be linked to the Parathyroid issue from the other thread - mine cleared up after surgery.

I remember being driven up the wall by it - tried netipots and Beconase and steaming etc to no avail.

However, I did find that avoiding dairy, specifically milk, helped enormously.

@bestiswest oh I do hope you’re wrong. I have my endo app next week for hopefully a final diagnosis but surgery is a long way off. Not sure I could cope with this until then!! X

Oh it's the absolute pits.
I've only had it once but had it really bad and have my sympathy.

I was three months pregnant, had awful sinusitis coupled with bronchitis and was on holiday in Portugal in mid summer.

It was hideous. Antibiotics, steam, Keep your head forward and down ( that's what I was advised ) and pillows upright when sleeping, rather than lying completely flat.

Unmumsnetty hugs. It's vile.

@perid0t good luck with the appointment. Hope the sinusitis clears up.

I just came on the health board to maybe post myself and saw this. I suspect I have it. Had three different viruses since about October. Constantly ill. I ws hoping Xmas break would let me rest and be better but I'm back to work Monday and still feeling awful.

I don't have pain just feels swollen in nose and around eyes. I seem to be shivery for the last two days and have a low temperature.

I haven't gone to doctors cos I can't imagine they'll give me antibiotics. They hate giving them out.

Is it worth doing or just soldiering on?

I've just had two weeks of antibiotics for this, I'd had it for a month and was feeling so rough. Starting to feel half human again but it's been awful and you have my complete sympathies.

Thanks for advise we Sudafed. I’ve stopped taking them and just switched to ibuprofen and feel a bit better. The dizziness has eased a bit and the neck pain not so bad.
If I still feel bad Monday I’m going back to doctors again.

Had bugs more or less since October, like @Mumteedum. Steamed yesterday, went to bed really early last night and used saline spray (knocked myself out with Phenergan) and slept propped up. Ears feel blocked today but I also feel a bit more with it and have an appetite for the first time in about 2 weeks. Fingers crossed this is this one on the way out! I am keen to avoid antibiotics if not essential as don’t want my gut knocked out

I've had extreme pain with my sinuses and had doxycycline for a week which helped but didn't completely cure it.
When I went back I was given a steroid inhaler spray which has helped even more.

How are you doing @Perid0t?

@Mumteedum I was like you I put off going to GP for weeks as my symptoms weren’t that bad, but when I did go she didn’t hesitate to give me penicillin.
One look at my pale skin and dark circles was enough for her I think.
For me the ABs worked almost instantly, and today I can honestly say that... I LIKE LIFE!
I feel like Scrooge on Christmas Day!

I’m sleeping again (although I now probably have a major sleep debt) and I’m sweating like a pig right now! I’m getting rid of this nasty thing!

I am going to be vigilant though and really look after myself from now on, ie eat the right things, supplement, exercise and try to not stress about stuff as I think stress lowered my immune system big time (house move, school move for DS, stress at work, it all happened in the space of 6 weeks).

I suffered for many years - been to ENT etc. You have all my sympathy. this is what works for me:

In the short term Boots Sinus tablets with decongestant are the best - you have to ask pharmacist for them. Normal painkillers don't touch the sides.

get and use a NETTI POT - this is a good one and comes with premixes sachets of the required salts. Once I started using this regularly I stopped having sinus issues. I wish I knew about them 20 years ago. It might seem strange at first but it's easy, painless and IT WORKS. I can't recommend them enough.

Also if you get a cold use the Netti Pot - the only time I get sinus issues now is post cold if for some strange reason I didn't use netti pot (like I was on holiday & didn't have it with me).

Gosh there is lots of this doing the rounds! I almost feel like it’s a special virus in itself rather than a complication of another if that makes sense!

My nose is really hurting today, like if I rub the end of my nose because it’s itchy, it really hurts higher up across the bridge.

Ears aren’t feeling blocked but I am getting the odd stabbing pain off and on and the dizziness is still off and on today. But my appetite is still there so I feel like I’ve turned a corner in the last couple of days and it’s hopefully on it’s way to going. It’ll be 2 weeks on Monday and apparently 2-3 weeks is normal.

Still on painkillers and antibiotics. I’ve had some snot actually coming out (not much) so hopefully it’s clearing. This literally affected my entire face! Ears, cheeks, nose, and forehead.

Hope everyone else is feeling better and thanks to those who shared their tips xx

@TheTinselrati do you use the neti pot every day as a prevention now? Or just when you have a cold?
If I’d known about neti pots before I would have used it back in October when I got my first cold.

I did for a while but now I don't need too. Now I only use if I have a cold or feeling a bit stuffy. It really has changed my life.

When I was having very sever attacks I used to empty a probiotics capsule into the solution. Can't say if that is medically recommend but it worked for me when previously only a course of antibiotics would fix things.

Hi OP, I hope you are feeling better? I'm really interested in this thread as my mum has almost the same symptoms as you have described. Did the antibiotics work?