Sinusitis

[sunny688]

I have had sinusitis for one month (out of work) and have been on antibiotics, netipot, steroid spray  from ENT which did not help at all..
. Last week, through a throat culture from my G.P., I came up positive for strep. I am currently taking sulfamthoxazole-tmp (am allergic to penicillan) for ten days and seem to be doing better. My post nasal drip no longer has a "taste" of mucos and my "severe head cold" feels better although I do still have a sinus headache (as well as in the back of my head which doc. says should not be from sinus. I had an MRI - -normal and my Sinus CT scan showed a deviated septum and a fistula. (I had implants last month which could be the cause of the fistula.
I really pushed my ENT to do the operation because I felt so miserable - am scheduled for this Tuesday.
My question is - I really dread going through the operation - FESS, but I am so desperate to get back to work, but now that I am feeling better (but still not better enough to go to work), should I postpone the surgery for at least another week.. MY ENT says I can cancel if I feel better. Although I always have trouble breathing on my left nostril, this is my first sinus infection - or at least the first one I know of that didn't resolve) I am 63 and in otherwise good health. Also the pressure in my head comes in spasms - one minute or hour
really bad, next few minutes or hours, tolerable. MY ENT did not know the reason for this spasm like pressure/pain.
If a sinus infection is getting better, does that usually mean it will eventually resolve on its own or could it stay "better" but remain not totally gone? I know you don't have a crystal ball - but in your experience do you think this will continue to get better?

[sunny688]

Yes, I believe my problem did start with the implants. I had an internal sinus lift to prevent this, but after eight days I was so miserable I asked them to remove the implants - which they did although they claimed this wasn't from the implants. . My sinus CT Scan showed a fistula that the docs. said could have been caused by the implants although the three (!) ENT docs I saw didn't mention that bacteria//food could enter it and didn't give  me any advice on how to fix this!  I consulted another dentist and he said to just leave it alone since you don't want to aggravate your sinus further, but now I am not so sure how to proceed.  Do you know anything further about how to fix this? Imagine - I can't even depend upon all the medical professionals I have seen to help me!  I am 60% better, but after six weeks I would think I should be all better unless you are correct and the hole is allowing the bacteria to enter the sinus cavities. Thank you so much for all your thoughtful responses.

[tschock]

In MY personal experience there are two types of people...those who have never had a sinus infection ( or have only had one or two episodes ) and those of us that suffer our entire lives with this.
If you are 63 and this is your first ( remembered one ) then you should probably have no further problems.

You say you had implants...as in teeth?
If this is the case, then the sinus infection could have been caused by them...and it may not be a simple sinus infection.
The implants may have penetrated into the sinus cavity.
I was supposed to get implants last September, but had to settle with dentures because my sinuses sit too low...and I always have problems with them anyway.
My sinuses became totally infected after the teeth were removed and I lived on antibiotics for 3 months.
I am not saying that this is your problem, but you stated above that the sinus infection started a month ago, and you stated that you had implants done a month ago...
Ask your dentist or doctor about the possibility of having a problem with the implants. There could be a small hole that is allowing food/bacteria to enter into the sinus cavities.