Chronic Sinusitis

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

[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 (symptoms) 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

[k_karthus]

Hello:

I suffer from recurring sinus symptoms as well. I've had chronic sinusitis for nearly 15 years. I also have a Deviated nasal septum. I have my sinus CT scans with me. I've tried the full dose of antibiotims a couple of times to no avail. I have constant mucus discharge frequent sore throat issues. Fortunately there's o headache or eye pain. I go through 50 tissues a day. The scan taken as of Feb 2008 showed that I have ethmoid sinusitis and that my turbinates (both middle and inferior) are inflamed restricting the flow of air into the ethmoid sinuses. I find the constant need to snort.

I'm considering getting another sinus CT scan now and seeing where I stand. I've certainly worsened over the past two years.

I'd like to see what the current state of the folk on this forum is. Any experiences that they'd like to share. I'm trying my level best to chase down every single alternative before I consider surgery (which from the multitude of experiences I've heard may not help).

Thanks

[OurHopeEndures]

I've had chronic sinus infections my whole life...so 17 years. However they started to get worse about 4 years ago. My allergy doctor told me I have a deviated septum obstructing my left nasal passage and a nasal spur obstructing my right nasal passage which is why I can't ever breathe properly. I'm allergic to almost every antibiotic which is why I can't take those so I'm stuck using nasal sprays and sinus rinses which help temporarily but are not practical when it comes to long term use. I'm considering surgery since this clearly is not going to just go away after 17 years. However I've heard some not so great things about the surgery from some people and some amazing miraculous things from others...so I'm a bit torn.