Chronic Sinusitis

[luv2sew]

My 19 year old daughter has been suffering from allergies all her life.  The only time she had any relief was when she had Thyroiditis from Jan-June 06 & didn’t have ONE sinus infection during this time & then was diagnosed with Hashimotos Disease. Plus during this time she cut back on her diet soda because of the Thyroid Uptake Test, (she averages about 6 cans a day).  Now her sinus infections are back with a vengeance, she’s been on antibiotics since Oct. & just finished another Zpack.  She’s done the allergy shots, & just recently went for skin testing again, but we don’t see the allergy doctor till the end of this month. He then subscribed another nasal spray, which made her nose bleed!  She has been on nasal sprays, allergy drops, allergy shots & holistic medicine.  She’s now in college & is missing another day of school & work. Her stomach is upset, I think because of all the phlegm going down her throat.  I’ve already started to tear my hair out!  She does have a air purifier & we even got her a water bed thinking that would cut down on the dust mites & it’s easy to clean.  What can we do for her?  Oh, one doctor told her that she could die from her sinus infection…..which scarred the heck out of her.   Oh, she was also told that she could take Zyrtec & Singulair at the same time because they work in different ways.  She is also moderately hearing impaired, so even with her (new) hearing aids things are still muffled, I think because of the fluid in her ears. Yes, she’s seen ENT & they put her on steroids which seem to help. How can she stay healthy???  Do we need to load her up on vitamins?  How do we find an allergy doctor that is pro-active to keeping her well?

[alchris]

Just a note is Zpack zytrhomax.... i heard this does not work well at all for sinus infections especially on going ones.  try and see if she can get a different antibitic (antibiotic).  For the nasal sprays if it were me I would  switch to an all saline nasal spray.  Non habit forming and definetly will not cause any sinus / nasal harm.  It can be used everyday with no harm.  Drug stores will sell them.  

[PlateletGal]

Like your daughter, I've had many of the same problems with allergies. I also have some chemical sensitivities as well. Has your daughter ever had BioMeridan testing or muscle testing done to find out what she is allergic to ? If so, has she tried homeopathy ?

[Tyffni]

I have frequent sinus infections myself.  Nasal sprays like Flonase really do work, especially when taken with Zyrtec.  Personally, I take Zyrtec-D instead and prefer it.  I also gargle with Listerine because I can get throat infections too.  I never drive with my windows down because I can get an ear infection too!  When I go on roller coasters or on a boat, I put cotton balls in my ear to stop allergens from entering in that way.  I run a dehumidifier in my classroom and 2 air purifiers in my home.  I change my air filters frequently.  I definitely do not use down in my bedroom.  I vacuum my floor regularly.  Basically, I practice cleanliness.  There's a nasal contraption where you basically wash out your sinuses which my doctor recommended, but I just haven't forced myself to use yet.  I hopet his helps!

[Caligirl327]

I too have had alot of sinus infections over the last 5 years. I usaually get 3-4 infections a year which last 1-2 months.  I've taken all kinds of antibiotics/allergy medications for which nothing seems to help.  Over a year and a half ago I even had sinus surgery for which they defined my sinus openings and found polips and removed them. My symtoms seem to be allergy related all year long but nothing seems to work and with my infections I usually get an ear ache in my right ear only.  I've done alot of the same things as others but am now at my wits end.  I've been hearing for a while that dairy products may be a cause of my problems and of course I'm an avid dairy consumer.  Also, can my adenoids (adenoids) be striggering all of this?  My blood pressure is up and from what I hear this can also be a side affect from all my sinus problems.  Please help!!

[Tyffni]

My doctor said that dairy can agrivate allergies.  Not sure if I noticed a difference when I stopped consuming it and switched to soy (which I hate in coffee!).  Mutliple people have told me that the deviated septum surgeries did not help them.  

The infection in your right ear makes me think that maybe you are driving with your window down??? You sleep on that side?  Something is directing the allergens into that ear.

Gargling with listerine may help...perhaps there is backup in your throat that is effecting your ear?

Do you use a lot of candles?

Have you went through the allergy testing?

[rpb161]

has she has a CT scan done to determine if she has a deviated septum or enlarged and/or blocked sinuses?  has your ENT discussed possible surgeries with you?  Theres a multitude of them that may benefit your daugher: sinuplasty, balloon sinuplasty, submucousal resection, etc?

best of luck