Terrible Headaches w/ sinus cyst

[shaynandzeke]

I have been suffering w/ a terrible headache for three weeks.  I spent the last week in the hospital and doctors found all teswt (CT, MRA, MRI and bloodwork) to be normal.  I have neck pain, vision and hearing problems, dizziness, numbness and tigling in the left side.  I went to my PC and he said they did see a cyst in my sinus cavity.  I knew it was there because of prior scans, but was told it was not a big deal.  He said I sould see an ENT.  I did last year and was told to use nose sprays to dry it up which did not work.  Now the cyst is severe and takes up my entire left sinus cavity.  I want to take all my scans to my ENT (which I have an appt with next week) and say I am miserable and here is why when can you remove this?!  I feel it has been this sinus issue that has plagued me for years.  My question is am I over reacting?  Should I rush surgery or wait?  My headaches are still prestent and cannot be tollerated without barbituates or narcotics.  I don't want to take these foever.  Please help!!

[BondyinOz]

OMG - I have cysts in my maxillary sinus and have been quite unwell for 6 months. I have heaps of symptoms but they include the ones you've mentioned: neck pain, vision and hearing problems (although they're ok apparently), dizziness/vertigo, numbness and tingling in my fingers and toes (mostly on left side). I can't believe it's taking up the whole left sinus cavity!!! If it were me I'd have the surgery immediately - if I could get mine removed I would! I have yet to see an ENT (Dec) and am going to a Neuro next month for those and other symptoms.
Keep me informed!

[coco91932]

I can't believe that I was able to find this sight and your posts.  I am having all of the same symptoms that you mention, but my right side is numb instead of my left.  I also had an MRI and they found that I had sinusitis and a sinuscyst.  I was convinced I had had a stroke or M.S.  Is it possible that this cysts is really causing all of those problems?  I have to say that I truly hope so, and if so, I will gladly have it removed.  

[coco91932]

I notice that these were posted in Oct 2007.  Have you since had the cysts removed and what was the outcome of all of your tests?

[BondyinOz]

Hi there,

I'm glad you found the site too! I didn't get my cysts removed - I was told to 'blast it' with antibiotics and a steroid nasal spray (Nasonex - one of the best apparently), which I did and it seemed to work. However I was really ill for 9 months (April-Dec) and am still battling to get there some days. A lot of my symptoms have disappeared. I am still left with memory problems, fatigue (although not as bad) and hearing problems.

I never did get to that ENT - they cancelled my appointment and so I never made another one. I did go to the Neurologist and he was not impressed with me. He did send me for the MRI which came up clear for any bad stuff, which he figured it would.

I'm now having more problems with my Endometriosis and am having surgery for that in September.

Let me know how you go and what your doctors say. If your doctor says the cysts could be removed, defnitely do it! It'll save months of problems!

Mel :-)

[BnceAsh]

My daughter is 13 and for the past 2 1/2 weeks she's been having very bad migraines. It was on the top of her head and has since moved to the forehead. She's missed alot of school due to not being able to focus and getting nauseated. She had an xray on her head and it showed a cyst in her left sinus. We have an appointment at the ENT specialist for the cyst and her doctor is trying to get her in to the neurologist but he is out of town till monday. In the meantime, she is miserable. I don't know what else to do. I was going to try to take her to the ER in hopes of getting a CT scan. Any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much in advance.

[tomsant]

Lets get this aligned. She is 13 and has a headache (?"migraines") for two and half weeks. The headache started in the 'top' of the head and has moved to the forehead. Had some problem with vision (focusing), and had nausea and hence has missed school.

The headache has to be evaluated first by an Eye specialist.

A cyst (you said in the left sinus; may be maxillary sinus) is not an unusual finding in sinus X-rays and may not be responsible for the headache.

Best rgds,
Thomas Antony

[Dont_tick_me_off]

hey y'all... wow, very interesting. Making a long story short. It is believed that i was bitten by a tick 7 years ago. I have had sinus issues (infections, allergies, fatigue, ear problems, etc.) for the past couple of year. approx. 4 years. I have been going through test after test, CT scan, MRI's (of my head and spine) and many and i mean MANY blood tests. I have seen A Neurologist, Nerve Specialist, Lyme Literate MD and in two weeks a ENT (this will be my 2nd ENT that i will be seeing). Through my MRI they found both of my maxillary sinus' have cycts. My Lyme doctor believes alot of my head symptoms including, ear pain, head aches, jaw pain, red eyes, vision problems are due to these sinus cysts. He also believes the Lyme infection is the cause of these cysts.  Im not sure if they are going to want to remove them, but i have tried everything from nasonex to antibiotics for treatment. I want to hear if anyone has had them removed and if it has been sucessful for them.

[Xena777]

Wow I finaly found others that are having problems with cysts.  Listen to my story.  I have had sinus surgery 3 times now for rt side sinus cysts.  There were multiple cysts covering my entire cavity.  Excrutiating facial pain, headaches,nausea,ear pain only on R side of head.  They have returned every time I had surgery.  Now I know I have it again.  I am desperate and at my wits end.  I have spent thousands and my insurance won't cover it anymore!!  I have been treated with antibiotics, nasonex, sinus meds that wire you but do no good.  These doctors don't know nothing.  They don't know why I have them or why they keep coming back.  Recently I've been getting tingling in my fingers and toes.
  I am now seeing a Holistic Doctor.  He is trying to get to the bottom of it.  He feels it may be an immune system problem.   I am going through tests presently.  All I know is my hormones are out of whack.
I hope I can help someone else if I find out what is going on.
I also know these surgeons don't know anything.  The first surgeon I went to said alot of people are walking around with them, asymptomatic.  I don't believe it.  It all started with a terrible sinusitis, then the headaches. How could you not have symptoms!!!

[alicias01]

I'm so happy to have found this post...I was starting to think I was going crazy. I have been having bad headaches off and on all year, but for the past month they have been severe. They were starting in my eye/sinus area, and I would get pain in my neck, nauseous, dizzy to the point of fall down, and migraine symptoms (sensitive to light). I have been to the doctor so many times and no medications are working, they have tried every migraine medication they can think of, Tylenol 3, etc. nothing works to take away the pain. I just have to sleep so I don't feel it. I recently had a ct scan done and they said I have a sinus cyst, but its nothing to worry about. Is this what is causing all of the pain?! I cannot operator with this pain and I need to work and go about my normal routines. Has anyone found anything else out, as these doctors seem like they don't believe me and I know that I am still in a lot of pain.

[gmwaremu]

I cannot add much to the list of symptoms found here.  but i can confirm for many of you that these are real symptoms.  i started having ear pain and problems with my hearing almost 2 years ago.  Over time the symptoms have increased to include headaches, memory loss, loss of concentration, and most recently migraine like symptoms of dizziness and nausia.  i stumbled and fell recently and could not regain my balance so i finally put all these symptoms together for a trip to the doctor.  She did an eeg and a ct scan to check for epileptic seizures.  the results were startling to me.  I have not had any significant problems with sinus or allergy suffering.  however, she told me the tests showed significant thickening of my sinus walls as well as polyps and cysts.  I was suprised to find that all of these symptoms were the result of inflammation and infection in the sinuses.  i am starting antibiotics and nasal spray today and hope that over time I will have some relief from these symptoms.  if anyone has had a success story with treatment please leave a post.  i have read alot about the suffering and little about a cure or treatment.  thanks for reading    Good luck to all with your recovery.

[rossiefelicia]

Two weeks ago today, I awoke with a touch of nausea, then before I knew it I vomited just a sm amt (sorry 4 being graphic :) Immediately afterward, I had a sudden severe headPAIN that brought me to my knees. This con't the next 3 mornings minus the vomiting but with a little nausea, during this 30 mins-hour long period of agony, the pain is unbearable to the point where I CAN"T be still; tossing, turning, rocking back&forth, crying out, etc etc!!! Had a CT the MD said was neg, I have appt w/ MD this Friday. Any suggestions as to what i should ask the dr?                                                                                                                                                                                              

[Susant8]

I have a cyst in my left sinus, I have had this for 1 1/2 years I am surposed to have it removed in March. The surgery has already been cancelled once.  I was wondering if anyone has dry eyes or different eye problems?  My eyes have been very bad since I was found to have a cyst, I did not think that there was a connection.  I have also been very tired, forgetfull, I gained weight, I have numbness in my tonge and face, I find it hard to swollow and breathe at night.  I had my thyroid checked.  My doctor thought that these symptoms were not related to the cyst.  Has anyone had these symptoms, especially the dry eye?

[Lobanclan]

My problems started about two years ago with a heavy feeling in my right ear, followed my a feeling of blockage and eventually definite hearing loss. Went to the Doc, they cleaned my ear, no actual blockage so this did not help, after 3 visits they refered me to an ENT. the ENT gave me some test, physical, then went to blood work and a CT scan all of which were considerd normal, they followed up with a hearing test which showed a significant difference inbetween ears for ability, IE not my imagination. He told me he did not know why and said it was maybe Menieres Disease but I wasn't suffering from Verdigo, He recommended a water pill and low salt diet. I went to see an Allergist who told me to try Alegra and Flonase, I have been on this concoction for about 9 months now and is does help is I use the max on the flownase and take two Alegra a day, so both twice a day. Recently I started haveing dizzy spells, figured I was fatigued, then sinus head aches, last week at work I got Verdigo so bad I could barely walk causing me to get dizzier and eventually get sick. They rushed me to the ER I thought I was having a stroke because my left hand got numb. I was confused and very frightened, EKG and another CT two pints of fluid, they release with with no explanation, I was feeling much better. A follow up with my GP he tells me I have what you all have , some sort of Sinus Cyst, so here I am taking Meclizine (Dramamine) for dizzy spells, pounding the Allergy meds and Steroids, waiting for an ENT visit to discuss what to do next. I will be back to post later, thanks for listening. Ken

[Susant8]

Did your doctor tell you that the dizzy spells and the numbness were caused by the cyst?

[DKrayzie]

I'm glad to find some other people dealing with some of the same things i have been dealing with. For the last 7 months I have not felt well at all. It all started with a very excruciating eye pain above and behind my left eye while driving through the mountains, ears where popping due to the altitude change. After the pain went away I had a diffuse headache that would not go away, 1st doctor i saw thought it was inflammation and put me on predneson and that did not do anything. 2nd doctor did sinus x-rays and saw fluid in my right maxillary sinus and put me on Flonase, still had the headache and starting having vision problems with both eyes. I saw my optometrist and he found nothing wrong but increased the prescription of my contacts for my right eye, and he referred me to a general physican since i did not have one yet. So i saw this doctor who also thought it was sinus related and put me on Lexapro for anxiety, Nasacort nasal spray and Augmentin (amoxicillin), well the augmentin caused an intestinal infection and colitis which i still have trouble with and the headache was still there.

I also started having tingling in my arms and legs and they would fall asleep very easily at night and would have other weird sensations, a pain in the back of me left leg, chest pains, ringing in my ears, more vision problems. I saw a cardiologist and they did an ultrasound and a bunch of other tests, a neurologist ran a nerve conduction test, and MRI and tons of blood work and did not find anything. 7 months later and a number of visits to my general physician and headache still has not gone away and now i am having numbness on the left side of my forehead the neurologist has referred me to a Rheumatologists in two days, so i picked up my records to bring to that doctor and it was the first time i was able to actually rad everything myself and saw on the MRI report that I have a 1.4cm retention cyst in my left maxillary sinus. No one has mentioned that to me before, and to me that seems like something that would cause some problems. I was terrified i had an aneurysm or MS both were negative in the MRI.  I wonder if this cyst is the source of all my problems, maybe with a little anxiety adding to the problem making everything feel worse.

[CattSmiles]

Please check out NRT and Elderberry extract.....It works!!  I just got out of "Hell"-10 years, (my entire 20's), and now Im well and kicking and most of all happy, so much so I am training, while I teach HS, to be a NRT Specialist on the side.  Good Luck!!-(Elderberry shrinks tumors, cysts and polyps!)My ENT could not wrap his head around it...it totally cleared, a surgery bound sinus, up...totally clear.
Catherine

[GigiShy]

What is NRT? I tried looking up NRT and elderberry, but I'm coming up empty.

[meddude]

I have had headaches on my right side for 2 years, swelling and pressure in my head and especially on the right side of the forehead.  I've had swelling in my throat at the top soft area up behind my hard pallette.  I get dizzy, tired, nausiated, and it gets worse when I eat products with soy, including soybean oil and lethicin, which is not even considered an "allergy" because an allergy can only be to a "protein" not to an oil.  When I take Ibuprophen or other anti-inflamatories like salmon oil capsules I felt a lot better for 5 hours.  After many doctors thinking I was just looking for drugs, or I was imagining it, I was enough of a thorn on the doctor's side to eventually be referred to a neurologist who did a brain CT scan and found nothing, because the scan stopped at the top of the maxillary sinus!  Since I've had sinus septum surgery before, he gave me a regular X-ray of the sinuses, which showed that all sinuses were black (normal empty) except my right maxillary sinus was cloudy like the bone areas, showing possible fluid or infection.  But, he said it's probably nothing and will go away by itself.  I said my pain is on the right side, this problem is on the right side, Bingo!  I want to pursue it more!  I then got a full head MRI which showed the 2.5 cm cyst in the right maxillary.  Because my main complaint was about my headache in my forehead, and because I've always had allergies, they didn't look at my lower sinuses at first, and when they did, I got the same story about this type of issue isn't usually a problem.  I was referred to an ENT who said that 70 to 80% of people with maxillary sinus cysts don't have symptoms.  I asked what are the symptoms for those people who do have symptoms?  The only symptom is headaches!  I have undiagnosed headaches, the only thing found wrong with me is a maxillary cyst which only causes headaches, I want it removed!  Here's my thinking, if 25 out of 100 people with this cyst have headaches from it, then that means 100% of those 25 people have headaches caused by this cyst.  Since I have Both the headache and the cyst, my chances of being in that 25 are probably 90+%.  I am scheduled for surgery on March 25, 09.  Until then, I am avoiding all soy, which is a phyto-estrogen which is thought by some to cause cysts (that's why women going through menapause are no longer given hormone replacement surgery, because extra estrogen was found to cause growths in some people).

[Susant8]

I am scheduled for surgery to remove my sinus cyst on March 11.  I find it funny that all these people have similar symptoms and all have a sinus cyst but most doctors say that the symptoms are not from the cyst.  I have discovered this cyst 2 years ago with an x-ray after a very bad sinus infection.  At the same time I had many health problems; tired, brain fog, headaches, trouble swollowing, pressure around my nose and eyes, eye problems(inflamation, dry eyes, intolerance to contacts, change in vision), dizziness, numbness in my face and tongue, weight gain.  Every doctor I went to said that the cyst was not the cause.  I had my throid checked I even had Lasik surgery on my eyes which made things worse, I had a test for reflux. I finally gave up and just waited, I figured if they were all symptoms of a bigger problem they would just keep getting worse until the big problem was exposed, I am still waiting.  I really hope that the cyst is the big problem and all these things will improve after surgery, I am hopeful.  I will let you know cross your fingers.

Susan

[Lobanclan]

I'm back from more blood work, all seems to check out fine, no the Doctors had not even told me I had the Cyst, the ENT said that the Cyst is too small to even operate on. I am scheduled for another CTSCAN to determine if it is growing, since it wasn't there last year at all. The Verdigo I was speaking of is now being diagnosed as supposedly from Calcium deposits in the Blood Vesels of the Inner ear, I am to see a Vertigo specialist in Santa Rosa to get the second opinion and to prescribe some sort of head exercise to dislodge the particals. I will keep you all posted.
Tx again for listening, Ken
PS. Good Luck, Susan.

[SinusSuff09]

Glad I found this site! I agree and sympathize with everyone here. My story started just before Christmas '08, came down with a very bad chest cold. From past experiences, since I was about 8-9 years old, these colds often lead to sinus infections. This one was different, I didn't get better, February 09 finally rolled around, went to the hospital, had High BP 170/100, complete weakness, dizziness (like I was gonna collapse, or faint), breathing problems, headache, diarrehia, nausea, high fever. The doctor on call ordered a Sinus X-ray right away, left side sinusitis, but there was something different the doctor couldn't explain the dark clouding of the lower sinus. Left ER with antibiotics and pain medicine.

I was finally convinced to have an CT scan done, so I contacted my GP, who agreed, middle of Feb came around, CT was done. Got the results back @ the end of Feb, 50% of right side filled with polyps/cysts, 25% on left side. I did not have this before, they developed pretty quickly, the cold from december must of caused it.

Well anyway, during this horrible period Dec08-March09:
I seen one ER doctor 3 times who said to drink chicken soup LOL, and made me feel like I was nuts, gave me some anxiety pills on last visit. A quack indeed.

I seen another one just once, did ok but gave me an out of sorts antibiotic that did absolutely nothing.

I guess it goes to show, doctors do not know everything (an old aboriginal saying "Walk in a mile in his shoes"), but there are some out there who know what they are doing, like my GP ,who I should of stuck with, and he actually went through the CT scan results with me and referred me to an ENT, he actually did believe my secondary symptoms are caused by these sinus cysts.

But anyway, I am now having the Cysts/Polyps removed through Endo, with an ENT specialist.

The symptoms you all described are real!!!  The sinus cavities effect inner ear (euschasian tube, dizziness, vertigo), throat (mucus draining into throat/burning sensation), asthma, bronchitis, headaches, neck, stomach, heart rate (blood being pumped to sinuses), teeth pain, the list can go on. SO IF ANY DOCTOR SEES THIS, UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEMS ,DO NOT BE SO QUICK TO DISMISS SECONDARY SYMPTOMS, IF THEY ARE NOT IN YOUR SO CALLED MEDICAL JOURNALS!!!!!!!!!

[SinusSuff09]

Also, all my blood work came back excellent, low cholesterol, excellent kidney, liver, heart, no diabetes etc., including stool (some mucus, which explains the cramping, nausea, diarrhea), urin (so no I am not a frickin drug/alcohol/smoker, tired of being asked by ER physicians about that LOL). Had EKG, meng, chest X-ray, neck X-ray,all done my GP came back excellent.

I did develop asthma (noticeable wheezing), and bronchitis once. On other sinus occasions led to same probs, but twice pneumonia. Also problems bending forward, and fatigue. Present include the above post, dizziness and etc.

Prescribed: Nasonex, Livostin for the eyes, saline for the nose, Alvesco, Ventolin Inhalers, anxiety pills for the dizziness/vertigo/panic attacks from this, Ear drops. All helped to control the problems, but I have serious allergy probs so some of this I been on since I was a kid.

Seen ER docs, GP, ENT, Allergist, Neurologist, Dental Surgeon.

[Susant8]

What is wrong with your eyes?
When are you having them removed, I am having surgery wednesday.

Susan

[Susant8]

I mean your cysts not your eyes,

[nicolesmithinga]

Hello,
I hope all is well. I am currently on day 4 of a 10-day recovery from the removal of a sinus polyp the size of a LEMON.  The polyp has been growing for years and during the entire timeI was suffering.  I have read all of the post and I experienced the same symptoms.  I was suffering so bad that I couldn't walk a flight of stairs without feeling like I was going to pass out.  About a month ago over a business lunch, I felt like I was about to fall onto the floor and my heart rate increased.  I had the restaurant manager call the ambulance, so I could  go to the closest hospital.  The emergency room doctor sent me for a CT scan and found out I had a chronic sinus blockage.  I went to the ENT specialist and he confirmed that I had a polyp.  He put me on steroids for 12 days to try and decrease the size, but it was too large.  Therefore, he removed the polyp and my breathing is 100% better on the 4th day after surgery.

My advice to anyone is to see a specialist for whatever ailment you may have.  For example, see an ENT for ANY/ALL problems related to the ear, nose, or throat.  Do not visit a primary care physician, when you can skip that step and see a specialist.  I wasted 5 years of sinus infection treatments prescribed by a primary care physician, when I should have seen an ENT even to diagnose me with a sinus infection.  I would rather for my ENT to tell me that I have a sinus infection, than my primary care physician.

The sinus problems we are experiencing is CRITICAL to our overall health.  DO NOT ignore the signs.  See a specialist immediately, so you can be on your road to recovery.

God bless you all,
Nicole

[tlucken]

How are doing since the removal of a cyst in the sinus cavity?