Nasal Staph

I’ve suffered with nasal staph infections on and off for the last 10 years.  I moved from Tucson to San Diego about 4 years ago.  In Tucson, I was treated with IV antibiotics for the infection, which was very draining and usually a long process. Since I moved to San Diego, I have been Staph free for almost 3 years, until September of 06 when the staph returned. The Dr. whom I have been seeing keeps putting on short term oral antibiotics, which I know does not work,  I just finished 3-weeks of Cipro and 5 days later the infection was still noticeably there.  The Dr. did another biopsy and now he is waiting for the results and if it comes back as staph, which I’m sure it will, he wants to put me on 6 weeks of Cipro.  My question is there a better antibiotic out there, which can be taken orally?  Second question, the Dr. is talking about removing my front nasal cavity and say’s this will prevent the infections from returning, is this a good idea, I really rather not have this procedure done to me.

[friggy]

The Cipro doesn't work because there's not enough blood flow to the sinuses.  I've known that for 3 years, and in the Dec. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn., a study verifies that.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-sci-antibiotics5dec05,1,3603757.story?coll=la-news-a_section&ctrack=2&cset=true

After my failed 6 weeks of Cipro, I developed the Sinus Flush, which you can find by putting the cursor on the blue "friggy".  It has the risk from bending over in a shower, but weigh it against the risk of removing part of your sinus cavities.

What it will do is remove most or all of the infected pus.  This will give your white cells a chance to kill the staph, or to let what little Cipro that reaches your sinus do its work.  My journal discusses the Mayo Clinic research which explains why the Sinus Flush works so well.

The Flush would work without Cipro, but it's best to be safe and take Cipro to eliminate any chance of the infection spreading to any place else in your head.

After you are cured, get a Dr. Grossan Hydropulse or a neti pot to flush your sinuses any time you get a cold or congestion to keep the infection from coming back. These methods have less risk of getting dizzy and falling in a shower, when a person gets older.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Friggy is right about acute sinusitis which the 12/5/07 JAMA article showed that antibiotics and nasal steroids don't help acute sinusitis.  That article did not address more serious infections or chronic infections, which the editorial in JAMA of the same issue addressed, saying that an elevated CRP lab test can suggest a more serious infection where antibiotics may be indicated.

Saline nasal rinses are helpful, but you're at the point of needing long term antibiotics to clear this.  Rinses aren't enough.  Get another second opinion if you don't trust this doc.

[friggy]

Dr. Choi is absolutely correct--you should always follow the established medical model and use a full course of antibiotics against a sinus infection.  It would be out of bounds for me to suggest otherwise, and I will remove my Journal this weekend and re-edit it.  And never mind the neti pot or Hydropulse--a simple nasal rinse is a half-measure.  Thank you Dr. Choi.

What I have invented is a dramatically effective saline flush, that should be used by healthy young physically fit people--anyone who is not at risk of falling in a shower--as a means of avoiding a surgical procedure to remove a sinus infection.  This only applies to people with non-defective sinuses or septums, and no polyps.

The procedure has not been clinically tested, but I can offer my personal experience, backed up by all of the people who have given me feedback.  Before the technique, I spent seven years where I was almost always congested with a sinus infection, despite all standard treatments.  After the technique, I have had seven bouts of acute sinusitis (which usually would have gone chronic), and I have had hours of congestion at a time,but I've never had a whole day in three years when I could not breathe entirely through my nose.

Of course, all sinuses are unique, and results may vary.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

i love your technique, and any others that people find to rinse out their sinuses.  it's really, really helpful