Do you agree with this diagnosis?

[Daisycow667]

My DM has been to doctors today about pressure in her face, swollen glands, ear pain and pressure in her head as well as pain. She said she had a strange smell in her nose too. On top of this she's recently been given medication for vertigo because she keeps losing her balance and feeling "swishy". They have told her it's chronic sinusitis. I'm not sure and I feel worried for her. She's very anxious about it all too.

Just to add... To me, it doesn't sound like the medication is helping with vertigo.

What do you think it is?

I don't know to be honest

Why would we know better than the actually medically qualified doctor who has physically seen her?

What is your reason for disbelieving them?

Well it definitely sounds like a sinus issue.

On the face of it, it sounds like chronic sinusitis and I can relate to all of those symptoms having suffered badly over the years, but it sounds like you think that it’s something more serious? What are your concerns OP?

It does sound like chronic sinusitis. I had it earlier in the year, felt really unwell and ended up having a CT head scan. It can make you feel awful.

Dr's don't always get it right, but it's not usually for want of trying. Diagnosis isn't a perfect science after all. They also try and start at the bottom of the ladder for treatments.

The only thing your dm can do is try the medication and if it's not working, keep going back. Or get a second opinion.

Hope she feels better soon.

Thank you to all that replied with helpful comments. I just wanted to see if anyone had experienced it before. I don't have a good track record myself of things being misdiagnosed so I guess it just causes some anxiety and I always think things may be worse than they are. Thank you for the advice. She is going to try the medication for longer and see if anything changes.

The symptoms sound similar to when I had a sinus infection and it was horrible. It took a long while for the medication to help clear the blockage and I always had a metallic/burning smell in my most affected nostril.

The vertigo was the last to improve, my infection travelled from the sinuses in my nose, making my head feel like it was full of fluid especially around the eyes. The pain was horrible and my head felt like I had a constant horrible headache. It then travelled through to my throat and eustacian tubes (tubes that connect the inner ear to the throat) - that was the worst as they blocked completely and when my eustacian tubes were blocked it affected the inner ear significantly causing dizziness and vertigo.

If your DM has just started the meds in the last week or so, i’d say she should keep going with them and hopefully she will improve over time. If you or she feels that the symptoms are worsening or new symptoms appear, back to the GP

Apart from the strange smell, the symptoms sounds very similar to what I've just had but my diagnosis was infected lymph glands. I also strongly suspect my symptoms may have been Covid-19 related as there have been a few posts on MN and the press that suspect some neurological symptoms are all part of the same virus.

Sinusitis is a bugger! That's what it sounds like to me. It takes ages to get rid of the vertigo though.

Quick google:

Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

Nasal inflammation
Thick, discolored discharge from the nose
Drainage down the back of the throat (postnasal drainage)
Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose
Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead
Reduced sense of smell and taste
Other signs and symptoms can include:

Ear pain
Aching in your upper jaw and teeth
Cough or throat clearing
Sore throat
Bad breath
Fatigue

I often get this and her symptoms sound like mine.

@NaviSprite oh gosh that sounds awful!

Thank you all so much, I do feel much better about it now

I have chronic sinisitus and that sounds just like me.

Steroid nasal spray and antibiotics as treatment for bad flare ups.