Sinusitis without congestion?

[dillydallydollydaydream7]

I suffer badly with sinus troubles and get really bad sinus headaches, even when I don't have a cold and aren't congested. My last course of antibiotics were in October and I was congested and everything on my face hurt. Since Sunday I've had the same horrible face pains - my cheeks, the bridge of my nose and between my eyes is so tender to touch and so painful, and I've had a sinus headache off and on. I've had paracetamol and ibuprofen which shifts it slightly but it comes back, and yesterday I bought a Beconaise nasal spray (I was prescribed one years ago and remember it really helping) and it does in a fashion, but the pain is still there.

I also suffer with health anxiety and had my Pfizer booster last Thursday, with a bit of a headache Thursday night, then it came back Friday morning, went away then this headache started Monday. For the record, this feels like EVERY sinus headache I get (and I get them about three times a month and have had them ongoing for around 15 years - had the camera up and no obvious blockages). But I still rang 111 after worrying because of the vaccine side effects leaflet, and the lady has booked a call in with a GP from my surgery sometime within the next 6 hours.

Anyone have any magic remedies? I've also tried steam inhalation

Did the steam not help? I find mine is worse in winter, mainly because central heating dries out the air, so I get sinus pain even without congestion. Wearing a face mask helps!

@Mundra

Did the steam not help? I find mine is worse in winter, mainly because central heating dries out the air, so I get sinus pain even without congestion. Wearing a face mask helps!

I didn't even link it to the central heating! The steam does help but then it's back again. My health anxiety is in overdrive I could cry. When I put pressure on my cheeks or nose, the pain eases so much. I'm wondering if my GP will give me antibiotics

When this happens to me it's usually because my sinuses are all dried out they need moisture to work properly. The proper saline rinses help a great deal not the ones that just puff some spray up there but the ones where you tilt your head and run the saline through.

When I lived in France I took this magic sinus medicine that was probiotics and grapefruit essence -- I can't get that specific medicine here, but I find if I take this one religiously, my sinuses never bother me:

www.cocooncenter.co.uk/nutrisante-extract-of-grapefruit-seeds-200ml-100ml-free/37902.html?kard=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuP-OBhDqARIsAD4XHpeGmRu4HJrTzHGRusVU8L4XeS4riyNOKqZ4CUsT65NnuJPk4hd8X60aAsa1EALw_wcB

(I don't normally believe in this kind of stuff but I can't deny that this stuff helps so just thought I'd mention)

@dreamingbohemian

When this happens to me it's usually because my sinuses are all dried out they need moisture to work properly. The proper saline rinses help a great deal not the ones that just puff some spray up there but the ones where you tilt your head and run the saline through.

When I lived in France I took this magic sinus medicine that was probiotics and grapefruit essence -- I can't get that specific medicine here, but I find if I take this one religiously, my sinuses never bother me:

www.cocooncenter.co.uk/nutrisante-extract-of-grapefruit-seeds-200ml-100ml-free/37902.html?kard=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuP-OBhDqARIsAD4XHpeGmRu4HJrTzHGRusVU8L4XeS4riyNOKqZ4CUsT65NnuJPk4hd8X60aAsa1EALw_wcB

(I don't normally believe in this kind of stuff but I can't deny that this stuff helps so just thought I'd mention)

Thank you for this, I've never flushed them out before. How do you do it if you don't mind me asking?

I find that steam doesn't get deep enough. My sinuses swell up rather than get congested - if I get an infection it's really hard to shift. I had an operation to straighten my septum, because it was twisted so I want getting enough oxygen in. That's helped. Sterimar is also useful, it's a sterile saline solution that you spray up into one nostril at a time, and let it drain out of the other. Soothes, and washes out allergens.
Lastly, look up sinus pressure points - specific areas around your face that you press or massage until it triggers the sinus to drain. It feels really unpleasant but it works. ( Oh and I use beconase daily and take an antihistamine daily - but I have to give the beconase a rest every so often)

I think you can get a neti pot on Amazon. I haven't used one myself though.
A cloth face mask will keep the air coming into your nose moister, so it's worth trying that as relief for now. I do think you may get antibiotics, assuming you can get hold of a GP.
Commiserations- I know it's just the worst pain

So you need to get something like this:

www.boots.com/sterimar-isotonic-nasal-hygiene-spray-100ml-10028386?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs--Health_Pharmacy-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Health_Pharmacy_Google&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuP-OBhDqARIsAD4XHpdSvkzmVb5RS-syn_DOTZVW3DiZeP58JIBQFwy9zPA0qbzVH3koLFcaAuyDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

You tilt your head to the side and put the nozzle in the nostril that's on top, then hold the nozzle down so a good amount of saline goes into the nose and sinuses. The saline will then run out the other nostril so have a tissue handy. Blow your nose gently. You can do it several times a day, it might not feel hugely different at first but after a while it will really help.

This video is really cheesy but shows it well:

The sterimar spray is easy to use, full instructions on the bottle. It's a pump spray with a nozzle. Tilt head to one side, spray into upper nostril, let solution run out of lower nostril ( stand by a basin when you do this!)

I've suffered from sinusitis induced migraines for years, the saline spray Sterimar is a amazing and has knocked my daily intake of paracetamol plus/ibruprofen down considerably.

Neilmed is your friend. Buy the rinsing bottle and powders on Amazon. Knocks socks off Sinutab, Sterimar and anything else I've tried. I also think a daily antihistamine helps me.

Get nAcetyl Cysteine. It's sold as mucomyst in France. It's mucolytic, so thins the mucous, letting it drain. Thé dose is 200mcg. I get a bottle of 600mcg capsules and when thé air pressure changes take 2 a day. Keeps me free of antibiotics. Have had a ventilation and unfortunately I live in an area that's sometimes continental sometimes Atlantic weather and it's quite often changeable.

Steam every day for 6 weeks. It really works, you just need to do it for a long time. People do it for a week and give up.

I get these types of headaches and for me it is linked to a histamine intolerance, do you have any other symptoms? Gut issues, skin issues, hives etc?

You are all wonderful and full of ideas, thank you! I do suffer with eczema on my hands @Birthdayhat which has been very bad this winter.

In the meantime I had a panic attack at work after worrying. The nurse rang me who happens to be the lead nurse on Covid for my town and she was lovely. Went through everything with me and explained why in her opinion it's not linked to my booster, it's sinusitis. She's sent a prescription over to my pharmacy.

I'm definitely going to look into all of your suggestions tonight though, I'm hoping that if I find something that works for me and I keep on top of it, I won't be in this position again.

Sinus pain really is one of the worst things, surprising how many of us suffer with it