sinusitis

[southeastastra]

i seem to have a case of this after a tooth abscess, i was prescribed penicillin and have just taken a week's worth. really though, i don't think they have made any difference and i'm still suffering.

is it worth visiting the doc again or are anti-biocs just not effective with this?

oh thanks i'll get on to the dr again. really thought it would be gone by now

i wish they'd have given me that in the first place, it smells and tastes so horrible (sorry tmi!) and isn't shifting at all, seems to be behind my eye too.

yes i've been squirting salt water up my nose works for the short term, but always seems worse at night.

SEastra - learned this technique from aromatherapy masseur to release congestion in the sinuses:
Make a steeple over your nose with your hands, thumbs down below your chin (they're not required), and nestle the side of your index finger knuckles in to either side of your nostrils - your fingertips should be together at about eyebrow height. Press the sides of the index finger knuckles back into your face and pull them out towards your cheeks at the same time and you should find that they nestle into a hollow below the edge of your cheekbones - this may pull the outer fingertips (pinky etc) away from each other so they flair out - that's OK. Keeping a very firm pressure with the side of the knuckles back in to these hollows, breath in through your nose as hard as you can whilst pulling the hands down and out to the sides in a sweeping motion so that the edges of your index fingers follow down to the hollows and then outwards under the line of your cheekbones towards your ears, maintaining hard pressure. Repeat twice more in quick succession, then wait 10-15 seconds or so and you should feel a release and your sinuses should drain a bit.
This works by causing a difference in pressure between the upper and lower parts of your sinuses, like releasing an air lock (this is why both sinusitis and abcesses can be worse at night - when you lie down the pressure changes). So it doesn't matter if your nose is totally blocked and you can't actually breathe in at all - you just want to build up the pressure. You might want to do this in private tho cos if it works you will probably make the most revolting grunty-snorty noises - like a manky bloke working up a really nasty gob!
You could also follow up by pressing the pads of your thumbs into the slight hollows either side of the bridge of your nose with thumbs pointing down, right next to the inside corners of your eyes, and stroking firmly up and out along the underside of your brow bones, then stroke firmly with your middle and index pads horizontally outwards just above your eyebrows.
Unlike nasal sprays etc, this will not irritate the linings of your nose and sinuses and risk aggravating the problem and obviously it's a lot better for you than antibiotics - won't treat the infection, but it might clear up more quickly if they can drain properly.
I suffered with sinus problems for several years so you have my sympathy and I hope this helps. Moominmum.

ooh thanks moominmum, i'll try that, been given more abs, nasal spray and cream. it's so awful

Yeah - people just think 'a blocked nose - how bad can that be?' but I think it's the most relentlessly miserable condition I've ever had! Have you been warned to stay off dairy btw? It stimulates the production of mucus so best avoided - not sure if that's just cow dairy or all dairy - I always felt natural yoghurt was OK but I'm sure there are other mnetters who would know. Oh, and you could try sleeping propped up a bit - might help. Chin up! It won't last forever, it just feels like it! Moominmum.

relentless is the right word. it just goes on and on.

i only found out about the milk thing a couple of days ago and have been living off hot milk cereal because of tooth extraction. so have done myself no favours.

thanks moominmum

my nose is so sore

my eyes hurt

i want
it
to go
away

aaaww babe, get rid of it quick, want to see you on sat!

i stink with it too

not much use to you at the moment. but iused to suffer from really bad sinuss all year round. i found wearing a hat, i kid you not, what ever the weather really prevents them from happening. as long as my forehead iscovered, im ok.
also, lots ofvitamins and fresh fruit.
if you have access to a steam room, go sit in one. whatever it might cost, it shouild relieve some of th emisery, so will be wellworth it.
it didnt know about milk