How long does 'normal' sinusitis last

[Katy4321]

I developed a cough near two weeks ago and a couple of days later started producing the lots of green/yellow snot. This got slowly worse over a few days and has stayed continuous for the last week. Went to GP as was worried about the cough being on my chest (have had walking pneumonia before and the cough became agonising). She said chest clear and likely sinus gunk dropping down and making me cough. Also said probably viral - which I'm questioning a bit. Worried it may be bacterial and that's why not showing improvement.

Just want to get an idea of what other people's experiences are of this and when they started feeling better?
Feel it may be worth a go at antibiotics just in case. I prefer not to take them, but read somewhere not treating bacterial sinusitis can lead to chronic sinusitis.

I'm drinking a lot and trying to rest, but hard with a toddler, who is currently on antibiotics for a bacterial infection.

Any advice appreciated.

Bump

I have been over 2 weeka feeling awful.

Hello, I had bacterial sinusitis a couple of years ago. I had it for 3 weeks before the GP would give me antibiotics. It was very painful, and I was blowing out what felt like litres of bright green gunk all day long. Absolutely vile. Even with antibiotics it took another couple of weeks to completely clear. They can last ages!

I would say unless you're in a lot of pain it's probably viral? The GP did say to me it's rare that sinusitis needs antibiotics.

I was in hospital for something else recently and had a CT scan on my head. I’ve had sinusitis for about a month, I’m prone to it and have had prior surgery on my sinuses.

ENT were called in because they could see the heavy congestion on the head scan. They recommended Neilmed sinus rinse in the first instance -disgusting to do but it is helping.

My sympathy- it is rubbish. Hope you feel better soon

Thanks for replying. Yes the huge amount of green gunk is vile. Now have really sore throat, I guess that is irritated now from all the gunk.

I've had sinusitis for two weeks now following covid, I've been taking sudafed and it didn't work. I bought some sinutab yesterday after a friend recommended it and it's finally clearing. Boots would only sell one packet at a time though (15 tablets), so I guess it's quite strong. I can actually breathe through my nose tonight for the first time in weeks.

I had sinusitis for about 5 weeks this autumn.
Exactly the same, coughing up endless funk but clear chest. Ice pick headaches too. Was absolutely wiped out. Really garlicky, organic homemade bone broth with chilli was the first thing that really made me turn a corner but was still tired and a bit funky for a couple more weeks. Hope you feel better soon

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try and get some. I have covod too, but at the beginning of November, and have been well since, so probably not related in my case. Hope you continue to feel better

That sounds good and I guess some spice can get to mucus moving. Thankfully I've only had mild pain - those heads sound awful.

I'm prone to sinusitis, I get a bout most years. Recovery in under 2 weeks is a win. About 3 weeks probably typical. But 5-6 weeks not unheard of. Antibiotics are probably not worth pursuing, it is almost always viral. It's just time and rest I'm afraid. Fwiw I find snot a good sign. It's when I have sinus pain and blockage but only clear/minimal snot that I know it will take ages to clear.

I used to suffer with this a lot. It's really nasty and 2/3 weeks is about right. Try not to blow your nose too hard or too much as it just makes your sinuses swell and dry out even more.

I used ibuprofen for the pain and improvised a water bottle with a sports cap as a neti pot filled with tepid water with a little salt dissolved in it. Lean forward and flush out your sinuses. Much less harsh than blowing your nose and the salt can kill the bacteria. Not too much salt though!

Sinusitis is awful, I've had it in the past and was in a lot of pain as well as not being able to breathe.

On recommendation I bought this simple steam inhalator from Boots, unlike a towel over the head it doesn't get in your eyes. You put hot water in with Olbas oil or similar and breathe it in.

You might want to try using it with a few drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is naturally antiviral, antibacterial and liquifies the mucus. It really does help, do it as often as you can.

I use a sinus syringe, it’s a game changer. Had terrible pain for weeks but this cuts it off at the pass early days

I am recovering from sinusitis had it really badly for a week, I can almost taste food and actually breathe today. I find sinusitis makes me feel very low. I have steamed and also done a sinus rinse, you can buy small bottles for about a fiver just squirt a bit up each nostril it’s a saline mix , that really helped.

Sinusitis can take AGES to clear up as the holes to your sinuses are really small so take ages to drain

My best tips would be to try to keep your nose clear. Sinus rinse (available from pharmacy), lots of steam and hot drinks to try to keep the mucus flowing. I also found sitting in a hot bath helpful.

oh yes and hot wet flannel over the bridge of your nose and over your cheeks at all times, or as much as you can be bothered!

I’ve had bacterial sinusitis before. Did all the rinsing of sinuses etc.

Took 2 lots of antibiotics and was sick for about 2 weeks.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. Quite rapidly the huge amount of green/yellow snot has stopped, after 12 constant days of it. Nose feels pretty clear and just a bit of clear mucus.
Had a horribly sore throat for a day after that, but that has calmed (gargling warm salty water once a day)

Now just left with a horrible cough, rather than a chest infection.. Hoping this is 'just' nasal drip left over from sinusitis irritating my chest ans will start getting better soon. Haven't had any antibiotics and didn't manage to get anything else from pharmacy, so have just had a bit of paracetamol and occasional ibuprofen.

Hope anyone else with this is better soon. x