nasal discharge

[jenb121962]

I have had a foul smelling nasal discharge for over a month. I constantaly blow my nose and it is a greenish color. The odor is so bad that it makes me feel sick to my stomach. I cough up chunks of greenish mucus. It leaves such a bad taste in my mouth. When I blow my nose the odor is so bad. I had a tooth pulled back in December, and since then my sinusus have not been right. I was put on an antibiotic for dry socket. Three weeks after that I went to a medical doctor who put me on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. It has not gotten any better. I do not have medical insurance, therefore, I can not afford to go back to the doctor. Please, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Ellen

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It looks like post nasal drip. Post-nasal drip (PND) occurs when excessive mucus is produced by the sinuses. The excess mucus accumulates in the throat or back of the nose. It can be caused by rhinitis, sinusitis, or laryngopharyngeal acid reflux. It can be enhanced or sometimes even caused by allergies.

Please check out with an ENT specialist if you are having chronic rhinitis or sinusitis. If you have chronic sinusitis then it can lead to continuous production of mucus and less drainage leading to post nasal drip. Transillumination test and X-Ray or CT sinuses can help in diagnosing it. If allergic rhinitis is the cause of PND then it can be diagnosed by skin ***** tests or blood tests like RAST.

Till the time you consult a doctor it is advisable to inhale plenty of steam.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. Treatment can be started only when the diagnosis is confirmed. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[friggy]

Sometimes a tooth problem will cause a sinus infection in the maxillary sinuses, which your doctor seems to have diagnosed.  Antibiotics don't always work.  I'd recommend going to a Walgreens or CVS and getting a Neilmed Sinus Rinse, as they work in the maxillaries, but if that doesn't work, a Sinus Flush usually does

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/2322

The Flip-Turn Sinus Flush is mildly risky, because you have to bend over to do it, preferably in a shower, but you can also do it outside on soft ground, or you can kneel down and lean over a bathtub, or perhaps a plastic basin or tub, with the shower running for steam.