Chronic Sinus Trouble

[lleeder]

I have really bad sinus problems. It makes my ears eally crackily and gives me bad headaches. I feel at times like I might just pass out or drive off the road. I never do but I don't know if its physical or my mind is fucking with me. It only feels ok if I constantly blow my nose. I don't know what to take cause everything has side effects that are almost as bad as the dizziness. Ive gone to the doctor and they always give me a prescription that never seems to work.

[Gvac]

I have really bad sinus problems. It makes my ears eally crackily and gives me bad headaches. I feel at times like I might just pass out or drive off the road. I never do but I don't know if its physical or my mind is fucking with me. It only feels ok if I constantly blow my nose. I don't know what to take cause everything has side effects that are almost as bad as the dizziness. Ive gone to the doctor and they always give me a prescription that never seems to work.

Please don't bother Dr. Steve with easily solved problems.

http://paxarcana.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/neti_pot.jpg

[boosterp]

Please don't bother Dr. Steve with easily solved problems.

http://paxarcana.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/neti_pot.jpg

I am going to buy one of these and film me melting it over a fire just for Gvac.

[Dr Steve]

I have really bad sinus problems. It makes my ears eally crackily and gives me bad headaches. I feel at times like I might just pass out or drive off the road. I never do but I don't know if its physical or my mind is fucking with me. It only feels ok if I constantly blow my nose. I don't know what to take cause everything has side effects that are almost as bad as the dizziness. Ive gone to the doctor and they always give me a prescription that never seems to work.

lleeder:

I'd really like to know what they've given you, specifically. Chronic sinus problems is a common and lifestyle-changing issue. The good news is that you don't have to live with it...there's usually an answer out there.

Some things I've used in really hard to treat cases include:

1) Saline lavage: the good ol' neti pot. As GVAC implied above, just cleaning the crap out of your nose once a day can be really helpful

http://www.westom.com/coolsite/nose_neti_pot_treatment_feeling_awful.jpg

2) Singulair: this is an antiinflammatory agent that works on a different mechanism than steroids do. if it works, it generally works like magic. if your problem is not allergic and inflammatory, though, it won't help


3) Atrovent nasal spray: this is a unique nasal spray that is non-addictive and helps to dry up mucus in the airways. a lot of docs aren't familiar with it and don't prescribe it.


Let me know what you've tried, and if you've ever seen an allergist or an ear-nose-and-throat doctor and we'll proceed.


your friend,



steve


PS: if I miss your reply, feel free to PM me. I'm a dolt about checking follow up questions in this forum.

[TheMojoPin]

Like the doc said, go see a specialist about it ASAP before proceeding. I was in the same boat as you until I want to the ENT specialist and they figured I've got a gross retaining cyst in my right cheek sinus. Once they figured that out, it was much easier to zero in on treatments that have made a huge difference. Before that, it was like trying to put a Band-Aid on a gaping bullet hole.

[Dr Steve]

Like the doc said, go see a specialist about it ASAP before proceeding. I was in the same boat as you until I want to the ENT specialist and they figured I've got a gross retaining cyst in my right cheek sinus. Once they figured that out, it was much easier to zero in on treatments that have made a huge difference. Before that, it was like trying to put a Band-Aid on a gaping bullet hole.

good point, sinus congestion isn't always just allergies. My wife had this fucked up thing called a "concha bullosa"...when I saw the MRI the ENT did, I couldn't understand how she could even breathe through her nose.

http://imaging.birjournals.org/content/vol19/issue1/images/large/39fig4.jpeg

Getting it fixed was the best thing she ever did for herself (well, besides marrying me and having kids and stuff...).

[TheMojoPin]

Speaking of my cyst...Dr. Steve, the doctor that diagnosed it said that surgery was an option, but said there was also around a 50-50 chance the thing would eventually just grow back. Does this sound right?