Sinusitis pain is driving me mad! Help!

[grumblinalong]

I'm 24 weeks with 3rd pg and have had severe ongoing hyperemesis resulting in being in hospital x4 so far. I have had sinusitis since Monday and it is driving me insane. My sickness has increased dramatically and the pain spreads from above my right eyebrow to the bottom of my jaw. Eating is so painful I'm not really bothering and the food just comes straight back up anyway. When I blow my nose disgusting yellow gunk comes from my right nostril.

I went to the GP yesterday, she said try steam & menthol inhalation (done that, doesn't touch the pain ) apparently antibiotics don't work for sinus infection and as I'm allergic to paracetemol there is no painkiller I can take. She was about as much use as a chocolate teapot. I have tried nasal irrigation in desperation at 2am this morning but it made me vomit violently. Anyone got any tips/experience as if I have to have another night of no sleep and constant pain I'm going to chop off my right side of my face! I can not look after a demanding three year old for another day feeling like this so ANY advice would be brilliant, at the end of my tether. Thanks!

what a load of crap- i had sinusitis last christmas and antibiotics helped it immediately. It's a shocking pain so i totally sympathise. Go back and demand some antibiotics!!!!

Oh dear. This sounds awful.

The inhalation thing does help, a little, for me. It might be with sticking with it just on the off chance it reduces the pain slightly. I agree it doesn't cure it though.

What I find helpful is sinus massage. I believe you can get this done professionally, but I just do it myself or get DH to do it. Gently tap along your eyebrows, on the bone under your eyes and in the puffy bit on the sides of your nose. Then basically rub, fairly hard, along these lines. It's a bit disgusting as you'll actually feel all the icky gunk in there.

Sadly, it's not a long term cure. But I've found when my sinuses are bad, DH giving me a massage like this helps me to sleep.

Also, surely as a once off the doctor could have given you some other kind of pain killer? In small doses just to help you through? Is it worth going back or trying to see someone else?

On the antibiotics thing - it depends if it's turned into a bacterial infection. As I understand it (after years of sinus problems), most original sinus pain is not bacterial. However, due ot the mucus lying around, it can lead to a secondary infection, which is bacterial, at which point a big fat dose of antibiotics will help.

In my years of sinus issues, that's only happened to me twice.

Oh dear, now I'm spamming you.

One more thing, thing about what you eat. You have probably already been told to stay off diary as much as possible? Also red wine (if you're drinking at all! ) A less well known one is to avoid any kind of berry fruit. I don't know why or how but I discovered this a few years ago and it really does make difference. So if you're a "porridge with blueberries" kind of person, change to porridge with bananas, made with water.

Sympathies. I have never had morning sickness so I don't know that particular suffering, but I did once have agonising sinusitis when pregnant so I know what that is like.

I am intrigued that you were told that ABs don't work on sinusitis. That is certainly not my experience! The very opposite in fact. They should bring you almost instantaneous relief.

The problem I had when I had sinusitis when pg was that you can only take certain ABs when you are pg. Unfortunately, I am allergic to penicillin which was the AB my GP wanted to give me. Nothing else was safe in pregnancy, so I was left with nothing but the steam inhalation you were recommended (and I agree, it does very little, doesn't it? with or without the added complication of hyperemesis.)

If I were you, I would see another GP as I know I was offered penicillin in pregnancy and the only reason I could not have it was my allergy.

Nasal irrigation is the way to go - how were you doing it?

When I have had sinusitis I used ephedrine nosedrops (which were recommended by my GP). They are available over the counter, and really help. I don't know whetehr you can take them when pregnant though.

I had the same thing 3 weeks ago, such agony so I completely sympathise with you. I went to the doctor who told me it was nothing, went to the dentist as I assumed it must be toothache then went back to the doctor after the dentist told me what it was! I was given antibiotics and it cleared up significantly the next day . . which was a good thing as sleeping sitting up was proving a bit tricky . Go back and demand antibiotics!

Some osteopaths do sinus drainage, although I've never tried it myself. Some say dairy produces mucous, don't know if that's true. I find keeping well hydrated seems to help as it seems to thin the mucous a bit. Also, facial massage can help a lot.
www.ehow.com/how_2053695_give-face-massage-relieve-sinus.html

www.essortment.com/drain-sinuses-26357.html

I really was when she said AB's don't work on sinus infection (she said it is because the sinus' are too deep!!!!) because I know when DH had headache/sinus issues last year the Dr said if he is blowing out green/yellow snot it means bacteria has got in and he needs AB's to clear it.

HOWEVER, I am allergic to penicillin too dumbledoresgirl. It makes me go into anaphylaxis so if GP read this on my notes might explain her hesitation to prescribe. However I was treated with cephradine in hospital in December for a UTI so I know I can have certain AB's.

Bling do you have any idea what other painkillers they could prescribe me though? I only know the paracetemol/codeine co-cocdamol camp V's the NSAID's (ibruporofen, asprin etc). If relief from AB's is immediate I'm going to ring up today and ask for them.

fatty sorry x-posted. I mixed 1/4 teaspoon salt with a bit of bicarb soda and warm water. I then (this is disgusting tmi alert) snorted it off a teaspoon 10-15 times, blocking the left nostril then kind of blew it out. I read about it on the internet, I was desperate and at 2 in the morning a little bit mad.

Oh no, what a nuisance that you are allergic to penicillin too. I know that was my downfall and there was nothing else I could take. The AB you had for a UTI, I don't know specifically, but maybe it is no use on nasal infections.

Looks like you are left with the steam inhalation then. Do check to see if there is any other painkiller you could have though. Poor you

I could be wrong, but I thought they could give you a limited amount of codeine, carefully controlled. It's possible I'm totally misinformed though.

I am a sufferer of sinus infections and had one 3 weeks ago following a virus (am 39 weeks now), I couldnt bear the pain anymore - even blinking hurt. I got prescibed fairly high mg amoxycillin, (I'm mildly allergic to some penicillin, eg cephalexin but amox is fine for me?) It didnt work immediately and the gp was toying with giving me a second batch but these combined with lots of paracetamaol, steamy showers and bed rest cleared it up after a fortnight. I was genuinely worried it wasnt going to clear up before i had bubba, I simply wouldnt have been able to push him/her out. I've always been under the impression that once sinus problems turn nasty (ie lots of pain and horrid coloured snot) you need ab's as it has become an entrenched infection? I was told codeine based painkillers were ok to take as a last resort but did avoid them though to be honest paracetamol did sweet fa.

Hi Grumblin, I had this a couple of weeks ago and it combined with HG is NO fun! Set me right back to the early vom days. What did the trick in the end for me was Beconase nasal spray, but it did make me gag and vomit so don't use it after you've just eaten. And acupuncture. I could breathe through my nose right after the treatment and the stabby pain was better right away. The sinusitis cleared up in a day or two. I don't know if it was the Beconase or the acupuncture or a combo but whatever, it worked.

I was given ABs too (amoxicyllin - sp?) but told not to take them unless I was getting a temperature as well. Hope you find something to help soon, it's pure misery.

Poor you. I've have sinustis in two of my pregnancies. The first time I tried to do everything to avoid antibiotics and nothing worked. Couldnt even move my head at the end as was in so much pain. Saw an ears, nose and throat specialist who put a camera into my nose (not pleasant but didn't hurt) and I had to take antibiotics but only low-dose ones approved by obstetrician.

Got sinusitis again this time and knew what it was and went straight to ears, nose etc doc again. Had to have low-dose antibiotics again (amoxillin) I think plus a spray for nose. And of course the horrible camera examination!!!

I hope you feel better soon!

I feel your pain! I've been suffering horribly from sinusitis this whole pregnancy. I'm now 25 weeks. I've had two rounds of antibiotics, which did help for a couple of weeks each. I'm also allergic to penicillin and was prescribed erythromycin both times.

I also use sinus irrigation twice per day (Neil med sinus rinse - it's fantastic.). But I was still suffering. My GP prescribed Nasonet, a locally acting steroid nasal spray. I just use it on the really awful days (1x every two weeks or so). It's been a godsend.

I think you should go to a different GP at your surgery. You need some sort of relief!!

For nasal irrigation try a netipot (you can but them on the internet for about £3). It makes it alot easier as you dont have to snort - you kind of pour it up - which may mean you dont feel so sick doing it. The netipot is like a mini watering can. It has worked for me in the past. Good luck

DH has used a neti pot and said it was just brilliant.

I've just had sinusitis and found through reading up that the steam thing you need to do 8 times a day for it to be effective. It doesn't help with the pain per se but releases the pressure/encourages a ridiculously leaky nose.

I was shocked at what came out of my nose in the end. It went from green, to greeny yellow to luminous tropical yellow. And by the bucketful seemingly.

It is so desperately painful. Just sitting up is hard work. There are other painkillers they can prescribe in pregnancy but only do so if needs must. And really, if you can't function at all, then you must go back and ask. My GP said he would prescribe ABs if the luminous yellow stuff wasn't the end of it (he suspected it was). Two days later I was significantly better. But a couple of weeks later, it's still draining a little bit each morning. Sinusitis is nasty.

With the netipot where does the liquid come out again?

The water with salt comes out of the mouth of spout of the neti pot and you pour it up your nose with your head up and slightly to the side. You then blow the water out of the other nostril and do it on each side until you've used all the water. I find my nose continues to stream for about 20 mins after (with mucous) so keep a tissue handy. Also top tip: dont put too much salt in or else it hurts. Just under a level teaspoon should be enough. Oh and the water should be luke warm.

I didn't realise you had to steam 8 times a day for it to be effective!? THAT'S why its never worked for me then.

If, god forbid, i get sinusitis again, i'll try that.

For me in the past loads of anadin + cocodamol + antibiotics did the trick. But that was pre-preg.

So i've not helped much - sorry.

showofhands My mucus has gone from green, to greeny yellow, to luminous yellow so hopefully I'm nearing the end.

GP prescribed me codeine this morning and a nasal spray but said if it hasn't lifted in 48 hours I've got to go back for AB's. I took a codeine at 1pm expecting miracles....and nothing. Still loads of eye,cheekbone and jaw pain. Thanks for the steaming advice I'll keep up with it to try force out the infection. Might retry the nasal irrigation again but scared because of the violent vomit reaction.

caramel early HG days revisit for sure! Gone back to the retching up minute amounts of phglem, blood and bile. Except its not trigger smells because I can't smell anything!

I found the mucus running down the back of your throat makes you gag. The sooner you can get rid of the nasty gloop, the better.