chronic sinus infection

[marissposa]

Hi there I have had chronic sinus infections most of my life.  The first was diagnosed when I was still a toddler.  At 15 a catscan revealed 'the worst' sinuses my dr at seen.  I had surgery then and again at 18. At 25 they said I needed one again and would about every 9 years for the rest of my life.  I decided that was BS,  surgery shouldn't be maintenance and I have been treating with netti pot, nasal spary, sudafed, and antibiotics (at least 4 x a year) since.  I am 29 now and just had a round of antibiotics about 6 weeks ago and am feeling like I need to go back in again, because it is back  (or never really got better).  I'm just wondering  what the risks of sustaining this sort of chronic infection are?  Can it lead to other problems?  I still think that surgery every 9 years seems ridiculous, but I am fed up with being sick all the time!  and worry that it could lead to other  more serious problems.
Thanks =)

[JR953]

Hi everybody. Just a quick update as I have been doing some research on the balloon sinuplasty deal. Found some great YouTube video (but umm, don't watch right before or after eating ....), as well as some interesting news reports and such.
Very encouraging. Could be the right move for her, I dunno.
Good night.

[JR953]

Hi. My sister suffered for years and also had some successes w/ rinses. She had a doctor that she really liked and was told a CT Scan was next if rinses didn't work. Then the part that made her nervous was a Surgery decision. She was also told that after the Scan the other option is a new treatment called Balloon Sinuplasty as an alternative to surgery.

She is doing ok w/ Rinses but has been doing research on surgery vs. Balloon thing.

Best of luck to you, be well.

***+++***
JR

[marissposa]

wow :)  that's a lot of info.  Thanks Friggy!

[friggy]

You can go on with the same old stuff and have a sinus infection for the rest of your life.  Sinus infections have a way of lodging in the upper sinuses, where antibiotics, nasal sprays and irrigations, or other drugs don't reach because of minimal blood circulation.

The only thing that does work against chronic sinusitis that resists medical treatment from the finest doctors (note: many doctors, even ENTs, have chronic sinusitis) is a FlipTurn Sinus Flush

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.

Regular sinus rinses don't work in the upper sinuses, because gravity is more powerful than the force you can safely use to squirt it up to your upper sinuses.  By now, the bacteria are close to being drug-resistant.

Good luck, friggy