Sinusitis or sinus infection

[babymt]

Does anyone have experience of sinusitis or sinus infection in pregnancy? For a start I don't really understand what the difference is.

I've been trying to avoid taking antibiotics but I'm wondering if its possibly going to clear on its own and if I'm just delaying the inevitable?

Basically I got a cold a week before xmas and on xmas eve started getting really bad sinus pain (pain in face, nose, eyes and teeth) and have been maxed out on painkillers which don't always help. Now its what almost 3 weeks later? And I've had pus streaming out of my right sinus for about 2 weeks. I assume its pus and not snot because its only on one side, its yellow like pus, not snot like at all and tastes horrible. I spend most of the day spitting it out

Pain is worst late morning like NOW! I'm getting so fed up of it and its making me even more grumpy than I am anyway (25 weeks pregnant with 2 under 4's driving me nuts!). I've taken paracetamol and ibuprofen this morning and it still hurts. I've ended up with so many doses of antibiotics over the years that some don't even work anymore so I'd really like to avoid taking them if possible.

Tried steam. Tried acupressure. Use Otrivine sinusitis spray which helps a bit.

Help?

Hi babymt

I have so much sympathy.

I've had the same pattern as you (although a week later - my cold started on xmas day). I've just given in and seen the doctor and got some antib's.

Sinusitis is usually a self-limiting viral infection, but if it hasn't cleared by itself after a week or so, then it's probably bacterial. (This is what I gathered from my GP, I'm not a medical person myself!).

You'll probably clear it eventually if you leave it, but it could take a while.

I couldn't stand any more pain. In combination with morning sickness (I'm 12 weeks, but no sign of it letting up yet) I just felt so grim.

I'd recommend seeing the doctor. Explain your concerns about antib's, but don't feel bad about taking them if you need them.

Hope you feel better soon, whatever you decide!

footstep x

Hi

Sinusitis is just the name given to an extra bad sinus infection. It sometimes goes on its own, but when you are pregnant your hormones make you more prone to a stuffy nose anyway, so I would certainly recommend going to the docs. Inhaling with Olbas oil helps a bit and paracetamol relieves the pain.

I got it in Oct at 16 wks and went to the docs and got a course of antibiotics - it soon cleared up.

Hope you feel better soon

I get sinus infections allllllllllll the time as I've got a problem with the drainage in part of them. Luckily I've not had one whilst being pregnant yet tho (touch wood).
Have you seen a GP? Basically if you have an infection you need anti-biotics.
Ibuprofen and decongestants work well along side antibiotics but unfortunately you're not allowed to take either in pregnancy.
I went to see my GP the other day because my sinuses are bad at the mo, altho not actually infected, and he said all I can do is take paracetamol and codine or co-codamol and use steam and Olbas Oil to try and clear it.
But to treat the infection you will need antibiotics.

my doctor recommended snorting a saline solution (home made - hot water + salt + sugar). I think it helped. My sympathies, anyway - sinus pain is horrible.

Hi there Ive had this for two weeks now and was told by my gp that the antibiotic that is normally prescribed for this cant be given in pregnancy and as im allergic to penicillin and erythromycin tried to use old fashioned method of a few drops of eucolyptus oil in steaming hot water, drinking hot juice and plenty of hot baths or showers to open the airways and keep them moist. Also was told NOT to take ibuprofen but take cocodomol for the pain which I did religiously and I have to say all above really helped but as still no better have just started a course of antibiotics I am allowed to take and after just 2 days feel heaps better already, exhausted still oozing pus but loads better

Whats wrong with ibuprofen? My gp told me to take it a few weeks back when I had that norovirus/novovirus/whatever its called thing.

I was under the impression it was Neurofen your not allowed to take because its got aspirin in it?

Tried saline drops which did help with congestion but not pain.

Looks like I'm going to have to go to gp's. Am I the only who hates going to the dr's????

I've just found this on the internet...

Can I take ibuprofen if I?m pregnant?
Women who are pregnant should not take ibuprofen unless their doctor, after discussing the risks and benefits, recommends treatment. Ibuprofen should be avoided during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and it is contraindicated during the third trimester.

If ibuprofen is taken during the last trimester, particularly during the last few days before birth, there is a risk that labour may be prolonged. If ibuprofen is used close to the time of delivery, there is also the possibility that it may cause closure of the ductus arteriosus in the unborn child prior to birth and this may result in cardiovascular defects. Other potential problems for the newborn child include kidney problems and a reduced ability of the blood to clot.

I was told by my GP and a Pharmacist that I shouldn't take ibuprofen, I'm also suffering with a bad back following an RTA so should be taking it (if not pregnant) to reduce the inflimation but now I've been told not to.

I know from being a blood donor that it affects the plateletts in your blood so I assumed that it was something to do with that but not sure.

Ok slightly freaked out that my gp told me to take ibuprofen after reading that!

I know it can negatively affect you if you have asthma as well as other conditions and it totally makes sense re labour prolonging because isn't it a muscle relaxant type thing?

Back to boring old paracetamol then Will be going down dr's now because don't think I'll be able to cope without ibuprofen.

Hope you are ok after accident. Not fun

I've got my 16 week appointment with my midwife tomorrow so I'll ask her and let u know what she says.
It's maybe one of those things where they do a study and say it's fine and then do another study and say that it's not. We'll add it to the long list of conflicting advice that us pregnant women are given lol.
Yeah I'll be fine after the accident thanks, just missing my ibuprofen and GP told me to just expect my back to get worse through my pregnancy I'm sure it'll all be worth it when I meet my LO tho

What a nice helpful thing for your gp to say! NOT!

It is all worth it though...I've come back for thirds so it must be!

Ha ha yeah that's what I thought, I knew it was the case but I thought ''oh thanks for that!'' lol.

Going to try accupunture so hopefully that will help.

I've got sinusitis too, I have a constant pain in my eye and my head and it's restricting me from so much because it's soooooo painful. The worst is at night, when I lay down I feel like i'm being stabbed in the head!! I know I need to go to the dr's and will as soon as I can get the time off work, but I've only just gone back after 7 weeks as I'm suffering with Hyperemesis as well!! Bloody pregnancy, can't wait til it's all over!!

Ok I checked with my midwife re ibuprofen and she said that u can take it if you're in a lot of pain and really need it but to try to avoid taking it too much.

Thank you for asking for me! I keep getting conflicting advice. I'm glad she said it was ok-ish. I'm thinking I've taken so much that a bit more can't hurt. I won't take it past 34 weeks though.

hayleybootes - sorry to here you are having a rough time of it. Can't help puking your guts out too

re severe pain. Cocodamol which is codeine and paracetamol combined is ok to take and seems much more effective. Im feeling loads better now Im half way through my course of antibiotics. My gp told me ibuprofen can lead to bleeds and miscarriage and as I have had 2 previous miscarriages didnt want to risk it. Hope everyone feeling better. Really try the eucolyptus drops in hot water steaming inhalation method very good indeed

I had sinusitis for over two weeks and I went to see a doctor in the labour ward (GP couldn't/wouldn't see me on short notice and the pain was unbearable). She gave me Amoxicillin which is an antibiotic that can be used during pregnancy. You'll need a prescription. Also in the US, the FDA (food and drug administration categorizes all forms of drugs from A to X) so that pregnancy women know what they are taking is "safe" or "safe-ish". Amoxicillin is category B. I found this website of commonly used antibotics in pregnancy. Have a look: www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5314,00.html
Good luck!

This website may help too: www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/27000500/

Pregnancy and Medication
"Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine and xylometazoline are best avoided in the early stages of pregnancy. However, they are unlikely to be harmful if used just 'now and then'."

Ask your GP to contact the National Teratology Information Service. They did for me, as hives can be dangerous when very severe and sometimes I get severe hives. GPs aren't generally experts in drug safety in preg. - my own tend to just grab the BNF - but this agency is expert, and it's what they're there for. They said Sudafed was okay - never tested, because you can't test on pregnant women, but in decades of use no ill effects had ever been suspected. So I could take it - and presumably so can sinusitis sufferers.

My GP & midwives said no to ibuprofen. If I'd really needed it, I'd have asked them to call the NTIS to check, because I do think they all -rightly - err on the side of caution. I've never heard of anyone else whose GP bothered to call this agency before banning something.