Sinus Problems associated with HCV??? A forum survey question for all.

In one of the recent posts below, a number of our members discussed the possibility that HCV may cause or be associated with chronic Sinus problems (Sinusitis, Sinus Infections, Sinus headaches, etc.)  It was noted that several of us had a long history of Sinus problems over the years, that seem to have either faded away after tx, or moderated to a great extent.

The question I pose is this:

How many of our forum members have also had specific, chronic Sinus problems over the years, concurrent with their HCV infections???  Additional problems might also include throat and upper respiratory infections, and over production of mucous, chronically.  Also, eye and nasal passage chronic irritation problems, beyond the normal seasonal, or situational that might affect anyone from time to time.  

The major focus on this survey, is the Sinus issue.  It has been noted that there are some odd relationships between the Sinus issue and HCV infection among some of us.  Now we need to understand whether this is very common, or not common at all.  Many of us may have not made any connection to chronic sinus infections and the HCV infection...but there may indeed be a causative relationship.  

I know that I suffered years of sinusitis, red, inflamed sinus membranes, and a chronic nasal stuffiness, and excretion....for decades.  Now almost four years after SVR, the problems are minimal to non-existent.  Could the HCV virus INFECT the soft tissues of the nasal tract?  Could it be the overall cellular autoimmune response to the HCV in the blood that is carried throughout the nasal tract?

Let's hear some feedback.  Comments will be appreciated by all.  Maybe we will all find out something new about the extra-hepatic symptoms of the virus.

I am quite sure that many subtle symptoms of HCV are not noticed, nor correlated to the HCV by the medical experts.  It is all too subtle, and they are chiefly focused on the Liver related issues to spend much time on other systems that might be imaccted.

Thanks in advance for your input!

DoubleDose

[ShoshanaPNW]

My partner with Hep C has had chronic sinusitis at least in the 11 years we've known each other. This may be confounded a bit by her not-entirely-closed cleft palate (the childhood surgery for which is what seems to have given her the HCV).

[anise]

A great survey.  

I have had post nasal drip for a long time and a chronic repetitiive sneezing.  Come to think of it, I haven't had it for a while I am 1 year post treatment, so far SVR.

[DoubleDose]

Yes, the post-nasal drip, and constant throat clearing is a big part of the pattern from my own experience.  I think the whole nasal tract becomes involved, including post nasal excretions, throat irritations, and general nasal membrane inflammation.

Comments including post-nasal drip and throat clearing issues should also be included as a part of the pattern with sinus issues.

Let's all keep the ball rolling, and compare our experiences.  

[colts]

I have had serious sinus problems for 4 yrs.I had a broken septem that was repaired.This helped my breathing but still have constant infections.It is so bad that if I knew hepc was the reason then I woulkd treat with no liver damage just to get rid of this awful sinus ****.Glad this was brought up as I have been wondering the same thig.God bless

[tulips27]

Yes  the post nasal drip and the throat clearing....hm
had a small stone in the paratoid gland...tmj....
Interesting..and some heavy duty sneezing.
maybe 1 sinus infection every year....never connected that one to HCV. Its possible.
thanks for the post!

[DoubleDose]

So far we are running at about 100%.  Not one post from anyone who has not had chronic sinus / throat / post-nasal drip issues.  Interesting!!!

Keep 'em coming!

[susan400]

I've had allergies and sinus problems on and off for ever since I was a kid.  But, my sisters and my Dad have always been throat clearers, had allergy problems, too and none of them have HCV.  So, I don't know that I can relate it in my case to the HCV and all the treatments, I've had for it.  I haven't cleared the virus, so that's another thing.  Sorry, I guess I'm not a lot of help.

Susan

[jmjm530]

DD: Not one post from anyone who has not had chronic sinus / throat / post-nasal drip issues.
-----------------------
Ye, I've had the issues on and off since I contracted HCV around 40 years ago. But come to think of it, I had the same issues for the first 20 years of my life when I didn't have HCV. And so have my mother and brother, who never had HCV. And just about all my friends who also don't have HCV. I dare say it will be near possible to find a man, woman or child alive that hasn't had some sort of sinus/throat/ear/allergy reaction from time to time -- really, just ask anyone you know (who doesn't have HCV) and report back. It's just one of those things -- like fatigue -- that seems rampant in the population, for probably a combination of environmental, pysiological and perhaps even psychological reasons. As to "chronic sinusitis" -- that's a medical term for a clinician to tag someone with, and just because you have some of the symptons listed doesn't mean you have chronic sinuisitis, which btw happens to affect

but I do doubt that a professional clinician would lump them all as "chronic sinusitis", which btw probably affect about one out of seven Americans, regardless of HCV status.  In all due respect, I just don't see any foundation for calling sinusitis an extrahepatitic sympton. Like "fatigue", just too common in the general population to draw conclusions, but thanks for the discussion as always.  

-- Jim

[DoubleDose]

With all due respect for your logic, I have to say that I, for one, definitely had chronic sinus problems for almost two decades, and was treated regularly for the same.  Never got much relief from either the antibiotic route, or the steroid / allergy related treatments.  I did get relief after tx!

I am only addressing those who feel they have had regular, out of the ordinary, chronic sinus problems, for many years, with little or no relief from medications.  I do not believe that 100 % of the general population has this sort of 'chronic, highly problematic' sinus condition, nor anything remotely close to 100%.  

I also know lots of people without HCV who have allergies, seasonal sinus issues, frequent sinus pain and headaches....but I am talking about something very different.  Long term, regular, chronic sinus problems, prompting doctor visits, attempts at medicating, etc.

Let me clarify to the forum members:  If this profile fits your past history, let us know.  If you think you have only had the typical cyclical, sporadic sinus infection or allergy, than please state that as well.

Jim, I really think we are talking about two very different things.

And, also, if our survey turns up an extremely high percentage of respondants who feel they fit the 'chronic sinusitis' profile, then I think we are on to something anyway, by any definition.  I would hate to think that close to 100% of the population complains of chronic sinusitis.  Although I am sure that the otolaryngologists and ENT's of the world would be tickled pink!

[jmjm530]

DD: Let me clarify to the forum members:  If this profile fits your past history, let us know.  If you think you have only had the typical cyclical, sporadic sinus infection or allergy, than please state that as well.
---------------------------------------------------
Fair enough. Then I've only had "the typical cyclical, sporadic sinus infection, or allergy", both before, during and after treatment, so count me out of the HCV population who complains of chronic sinusitis. I'll also throw another thing out -- is it possible that the disappearance of your sinusitis could have been caused by the interferon treatment as opposed to viral eradication? Many here have reported fewer colds, for example, both during and after SOC, but the implication has always been that it's the interferon that caused fewer colds (immune reaction) as opposed to for example viral eradication. Since colds and sinus conditions are somewhat related, thought I'd throw that one out to you.

-- Jim

[DoubleDose]

I also think that the assertion that 'fatigue' is rampant in the general population overstates the reality.  I know plenty of people in corporate settings, (hundreds in fact) who are energetic and bubbly all day and late into the evening, coming in early and leaving late every day, and then going home and doing more work and hobbies.  For myself, especially during the worst of my HCV days, my fatigue was very pronounced, debilitating, and prevented me from doing anything remotely like a normal week of work, much less outside activities.  

Also, many if not most people with HCV tend to complain of profound fatigue during their illness, and this is borne out in various HCV medical research studies and surveys.  If the same percentage of the general population suffered from this degree of fatigue, our country would cease operating, and go on the respirator!  You must be missing the people that I see everyday out there in America, working ridiculous hours, and maintaining a handful of outside interests, etc.  I would give every penny that I have to suffer from their variety of fatigue!

Sure, fatigue can be a common symptom, but let's not get carried away with its real prevalence.  I really do not buy into the typical doctor's line that we have the same symptoms as everybody else.  Not by a longshot!  If that were true, then the HCV infected out there would be having a glorious time living and working just like everybody else!  Or am I missing something?

DoubleDose

[jmjm530]

DD:  I really do not buy into the typical doctor's line that we have the same symptoms as everybody else.  Not by a longshot!  If that were true, then the HCV infected out there would be having a glorious time living and working just like everybody else!  Or am I missing something?
---------------------------------
Anecdotally, many here have reported that they felt just fine in spite of the virus. And anecdotally, most seem to report feeling no better after treatment (I've posted a long list of threads before on this before) and in fact many report they feel worse, probabaly due to the tx drugs and hopefully temporarily.

Here's an interesting article on fatigue and HCV that suggests much of it may be psychological:
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/hauser-1.html  

I will also suggest that the HCV population (many current or former IV drug users and alchoholics) have abused their body more than the general population, which also may account for fatigue and other ailments.

This doesn't mean I'm convinced there isn't a connection between HCV and fatigue, but I'm also not convinced there is to the extent you think it is.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Just to clarify the above statment re: "former IV drug users, etc" -- I am referring to the HCV population as a whole versus the general population, and certainly not to any particular individual here or elsewhere who has HCV and may feel fatigued. There are many causes of fatigue.

[copyman]

add me to the list, i have had sinus & throat problems for the last several years and i know there is a connection with the HCV. my theory is that your immune sys is weak from the constant ongoing battle with HCV, this leaves your body open for other infections.

[meki]

<---- not a massive drug user (LOL - you'd have to know what I do to understand) and also am pretty level headed, logical. I have ADHD - but a great sense of humour... For me to be fatigued - I have to have been hit with a dump truck - 3 days of insomnia - and a 3 day marathon of the Young and the Restless.

For the last 4-5 years I've felt exactly like that oh- ok - well - just "slowing down"... but on TX - was horribly, terribly fatigued. Like ZOMBIE.... like walking dead... like where's the couch and why isn't it following me around?

But last week - I'm back to zooming around. Don't know if it's temporary - or not. But I'm gonna take advantage of it while I can.

So I don't exactly fit into the used body category - nor the drug category --- and tested out fairly mentally balanced - so the hypochondria or hysteria category kind of eludes me too. LOL!

I guess I'm just a weirdo with bad sinuses then. Sigh... I knew it would have to come out one day... Sniffle.

(Ps. I like your posts - btw - you're very informative, thought provoking and well versed.)

[meki]

I'm right there with copy...

I've had serious sinus infections and new allergies in the last 10 years - plus a plethora of asthma issues.

I'm still having allergy and asthma - but I haven't had a sinus infection since begining of TX last year --- and for 10 years - they were happening almost monthly.

I think you have a point.

Meki

[jmjm530]

Meki,

Not sure if I'm following correctly, but you seem to be saying that you were energetic while infected with HCV, fatigued during tx and after, but recently are regaining some of your previous energy? If so, then you don't fit into the category of someone who is fatigued from HCV, but perhaps someone who became fatigued from the treatment, which seems to be very common. Hopefully, your newfound energy will continue and thanks for the nice words.

Copy, I have no idea of what you say is true -- the constant battle thing -- but it certainly makes a lot of sense, although I still think there's a *possiblity* that the ramped up immune system (from the interferon) also may play a part in sinus/cold issues. But assuming your theory is true -- and my doctor mentioned something similar btw but not in terms of sinus (can't remember what) -- but your theory is quite different from one of the theories that DD puts forth, i.e. "Could the HCV virus INFECT the soft tissues of the nasal tract? ".

DD, As always an interesting discussion, whether I agree or not.


-- Jim

[CockSparrow]

If you were to ask me a year ago whether I’d had any symptoms of HepC I would have said no.
Now when I look back I did have quite a few that I ignored. Did alcohol play a part? More than likely.
I think many who say they have no symptoms actually do but like me manage to put them down to other things, such as work, stress etc.
I definitely had fatigue, but would never have put it down to HCV, now I do. Since my failed Tx both during and after no fatigue at all. No alcohol either so that probably helped.

Thought I say that no symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean no symptoms.
Just none you took any notice of at the time.

Cant say I have had any sinus issues, ever.
CS

[TnHepGuy_]

My case is slightly different from your original question, but I'll pose my current situation here:

Since childhood, I've had outdoor allergies to a mild/moderate extent. This status was unchanged by my (self) acquisition of Hep C. Moving from New Jersey to this particular region of the South (known for it's very high levels of allergens)  has certainly exacerbated the condition - to the point where I have now been receiving injections for a little over a year.

But the current problem I have is a chronic sinus drip/discharge that began while I was on interferon/tx and has remained unabated, in spite of the injections. I'm of the opinion that my immune system has changed dramatically (and not for the better) as a result of being hyper-stimulated by the interferon, and that this 'overmodulation' condition continues, to one extent or another, to this day - 2.5 years post-tx. And my biggest concern long-term with the chronic over-stimulation are the possibilities of auto-immune occurrences - and the major negative consequences therein.


TnHepGuy

[mremeet]

Just to add my $0.02, as stated previously I have suffered from a stuffy nose and the throat clearing stuff pretty much my entire adult life. I did not ever have a sinus infection that I know of, but a chronically stuffy nose and throat clearing - yes. Unfortunately I don't recall with real clarity if I was like that before I was infected wityh HCV (at 17), but I'm pretty sure I didn't have those problems.

As far as HCV related fatigue - there is absolutely, positively no doubt whatsoever in my mind that HCV causes chronic fatigue (often severe) in my case. The fatigue could be effectively managed with healthy living (good diet, lots of exercise and no smoking/drugs), but if I lived like the average american (i.e. wolfing down hot dogs and hamburgers, no exercise etc) I'd be a blob of gelatinous goo on the couch all day. On the other hand, I have spoken to several HCV+ people over the last 10 years that have described themselves as asymptomatic. And I've specifically queried several of these same people about fatigue, and they just shrug their shoulders and say "nah, I feel ok, it doesn't really bother me". So I've come to believe that HCV can in fact cause serious fatigue in some, but others maybe not so much. The only caveat I would add to that, is that recently I've been talking with people who have just gotten their SVR's who didn't really think of themselves as fatigued prior to treatment. One person says she's feeling much better post-tx then pre-tx. She said she didn't really realize how much it was dragging her down until after successfully clearing the virus. I know of another person who's spouse recently SVR'ed, and she said that her husband is noticeably much more physically active and seems to have more stamina now than he had pre-tx. Many (if not most) ordinary people aren't terribly aware of what's happening with their bodies and overall health. The slowly grinding effects of a low level HCV infection lasting many, many years could fall under the radar in a large percentage of people. You slowly adapt to it over the decades and it becomes "normal". You've had it so long, that you simply assume that's how you are - you don't know any other experience, or that's how everyone feels, or it's caused by the normal effects of aging etc etc. I remember when I entered the adult working world at 18 (infected just a year prior), and I clearly recall being just exhausted both before and after work, way moreso than one would expect for an 18 year old. At the time I just didn't get it, but eventually I simply assumed that this must be how everyone felt, especially when we hear people talk of the "daily grind" and the usual complaints about work and exhaustion. And since my infection coincided perfectly with my segue into adulthood (I was infected only 4 weeks after graduating highschool), I never knew what it was like to function as a working adult without HCV in my blood. I think variations in this phenomena are experienced by many who have (or had) HCV.

[MrsOckert]

Beginning the year I was 20 I began having allergy problems.  As the years past they became more severe.  Two years ago, a few months before I was dx, I developed severe throat infection due to mucous/blood drippage into throat.  During TX all sinus problems cleared up.

After TX I've had no allergy problems this past spring or summer and usually this is the miserable time of year for me.

[DoubleDose]

Good to hear from you and I hope all is well!  I think your interferon related issues could in a way relate to some of the pre-tx issues many of us had with HCV, and in this case, with our sinuses.

  Maybe my second theory fits better, that is: The HCV stimulates autoimmune responses in some or many of us, wherever the blood irrigates susceptible tissues.  In this case, soft, allergy prone sinus tissues.  We may have had ongoing immune system responses from our sinus tissues, in the same way that the Sjogren's Syndrome might also work in the salivary tissues.

Many other people seem to have ongoing gastric issues, sort of like IBS, as a consequence of their HCV.  ChevyGal was a perfect example.  Her gastric and digestive issues resolved after SVR.  I also, unfortunately, had the gastric stuff as well over the years with HCV, and most of those symptoms have cleared as well.  

In your case, maybe the interferon is doing the same thing, causing a longer term autoimmune response in your sinuses.  One very bright doctor that I spoke to at a major teaching hospital, who had done a number of post-tx interferon studies seemed to feel that interferon often changes the behavior of cells in the body, and affects many subsequent generations of these cells, long after discontinuation of the drugs.  So in his estimation, many people end up feeling much like they did on interferon, for a long time after therapy.  He said that it varied a lot from individual to individual, but overall these cellular changes were easy to identify, and have been well documented by researchers.  He thought that the general HCV practitioner might not be too aware of some of these studies, and that this cellular reaction is well know to doctors using interferon for cancer treatment.

I must say that I really can look back and see a time when the whole array of HCV extrahepatic symptoms started affecting me.  I had no idea that I had anything, so the sx could not have been psychological.  Fatigue, balance problems, constant sinus issues, gastric and digestive problems, and dry eyes (all of which I never had up until my late 20's).  I also seemed to develop more anxiety and vertigo issues, concurrent with the rest of the sx.  Interestingly, this was right at the time that doctors noticed a 'slight elevation' in my LFT's.  Hey, now isn't that a coincidence!

Anyway, I would expect that you are right about the autoimmune effect from the interferon.  I can't tell you how many autoimmune problems have cropped up for me since finishing tx.  In many ways I feel much better, then in many new ways I can often feel much worse.  Nerve pain, numbness, constant mouth sores that never left after ending tx, strange bouts of fatigue, along with periods of high energy, sun reactions, skin eruptions, and sometimes motivation and mood issues.

Thanks for your input.  What is your current status by the way.  Did you end up fully SVR?  Any other symptoms after tx that are noteworthy?


DoubleDose

[DoubleDose]

Thanks very much for the input from both of you.  I honestly think we are onto something regarding these sinus issues, and HCV.  Too many people surfacing with the same history, and the same clearing effect after tx.

Mremeet, I could not agree with you more!!!!  I have had this at least since my mid-late twenties, and worked most of my adult life with it.  You try to overcome the fatigue, live healthy, work out, stop drinking, eat good foods, sleep well, and you can barely get back to a baseline of feeling almost normal.  Any out of line behaviors and the fatigue would just put me right out of commission.  

Doctors underestimate the fatigue issue because it is so hard to get an objective handle on.  But anyone who has felt 'normal' before acquiring HCV, and then felt the consequences of HCV fatigue and other related HCV sx, really understands what it is like to feel 'abnormal' ,and to truly be fatigued!
I previously felt 'light as a feather' and worked effortlessly, enjoyed life, and had tremendous energy, until this hit!  Then it was entirely the opposite.  Hence my disdain when a doctor implies that HCV has no real extra-hepatic sx, or that they are psychological.   Hey, I had no idea I had anything for decades, other than the SX themselves!

Doctors can't feel what we do, and hence ascribe alot of our sx to the normal population's typical fatigue from day to day life.  Very different thing here!

Let's keep the comments coming in!  This thread is shedding some light on new issues, and providing a good cross section of experiences by our members.

DD

[jmjm530]

Sorry about your chronic sinus/discharge issue.

I assume you had a sinus CT scan to explore the possiblity of surgery, which is now fairly non-evasive and can do wonders for the right candidates.  All I can add is that on a purely symptomatic level, I had some success with a product called "Simply Saline". My ENT instructed me first to blow my nose, then spray into each nostril and let it start running down the throat, and then sort of "cough" it out. (This was followed with a nasal steroid inhaler but not necessary to do so.) Some others have had success with a Neti Pot. Certainly not a cure, but might provide some more relief.

On a personal note, I had lots of sinus problems on treatment which are now much better. But because of my LPR GERD, the symptons often became mixed up, and some of my swallowing and post nasal drip issues might have been GERD related. This can be picked up quite easily by an ENT when they insert a lighted scope up your nose to check your throat and vocal chords. If they haven't done this, or you experience any voice strain and/or hoarseness, you might ask for the office procedure at your next ENT visit as I feel the two issues -- sinus and LPR play off one anjother,l although my ENT doesn't necessarily agree.  Hopefully, time will take care of your post tx symptons, as well as all of our post tx symptons.

All the best,

-- Jim

[grammajen]

I also have chronic allergies (since childhood), post nasal drip and throat clearing.  7 years ago my boss who worked across the hall from me said, "go see the doctor and find out why you are constantly clearing your throat."  I was told it was due to my allergies.  Post nasal drip and throat clearing continued throughout treatment and beyond.

Fatigue has been with me since my early twenties.  A couple of weeks near the end of treatment my energy level picked up and I no longer needed 2 naps a day.  Post treatment, my energy level continues to be high.

FYI - My profile has details of my genotype and treatment.

[grammajen]

I saw a nasal flushing thingy (I can't remember what it was called) being promoted my a doctor on a tv show (maybe Oprah).  This link shows something similar. http://safetyis.us/Allergy.htm

People who used it said it cleared up their allergy and sinus problems.  I haven't tried it yet but think it is a good idea.

[DoubleDose]

Thanks for your comments.  Just curious, but do you know exactly when and how you contracted HCV?  Could you have had it during childhood, or was there a definite 'incident' that most likely was the cause of your having the virus?

DD

[grammajen]

I don't know how long I have had HCV nor was there a specific incident.  I had operations in 1966, another in 1972, and another in 1980.  All before blood products were screened for Hep C. I don't know if I received blood during those operations.  I engaged in high risk activities in my early teens, and most recently worked over the past 11 years as a health care professional with people engaged in high risk activities.  The liver specialist said diagnostically there is no evidence of liver damage but a liver biopsy was not done.

[TnHepGuy_]

DD - thanks for your input. Very interesting to read what the doc told you re permanent (or semi-permanent) generational changes on the cellular level as a result of interferon. Makes me wonder how much of a role the peg interferon plays in this - since I experienced much less of this when I did alpha interferon way back when - (though I did have a hearing 'episode' within a couple of years afterwards that was eventually termed "Miniere's-like" (which in reality was just another non-diagnosis - more along the lines of "let's-just-put-a-name-on-something-here"). And now for the past two months I've been having more hearing concerns, quite possibly permanent at this stage. As far as what else I have that started during tx and that I still have post-tx: both red and white cell counts that remain at-or-below normal range (and well below per-tx levels), chronic hip pain, chronic (near constant) skin outbreaks around the end of the nose, chronic eyelid outbreaks (though I did have these prior, they are just more more frequent since tx - in fact, near constant), both times I was on interferon I noticed that my eyesight worsened (permanently) as a result. Oh, and each tx most certainly flew the hair off the top of my skull at a greatly accelerated rate....hahahahaha.

I'm 2 years SVR (just had my most recent PCR last week and see the GI for results this Friday). After talking with HR, he mentioned a test (cytokine panel) that, though incomplete in terms of not testing all possible cytokines, can possibly show the cellular change you refer to. So, I'm going to discuss this with the GI and push for this test. A positive result from it could indeed show that the interferon has done some damage. But, the practical result is that little-to-nothing could be done as a result to do any kind of 'treating' of the issue. Immunologists work with heavy-hitters such as steroids, etc - and I'm in no hurry to go that route based upon incomplete information. So if I do get the test, any results are purely academic and to be tucked away for future reference.

Hope all is well with you these days.


Jim - thanks for your input, too. I did have a CT which showed an 'all-clear' (and a wonderfully deviated septum, too!). I've since tired every nasal spray and steroid available - all to no avail. So, I'm stuck with the drip. Thankfully, it's relatively mild at this point and there are days when - even though it's still there - I forget that I have it. Hmmmmmmmmm, could be the getting-old/memory-thing on that one, though. (note to self: possible benefit of early dementia). I've had GERD for years now, too. Was on Protonix for the longest time, switched to Aciphex last year after an unexplained  chronic episode took place over a matter of weeks (blame interferon here, too??? ..... hmmmmmmmmmm, could be my catch-all for anything from ingrown toenails to hair-on-the-palms to excessive drooling. Yeah, that's the ticket!).

Hope you are doing well, too, Jim.


TnHepGuy

[mustangshelly]

I thought I posted earlier on this but didn;t show up....I have had sinus problems long time...while txing have had pnuemonia (pneumonia) twice,double ear infection and sinus infection. I was dx with asthma 10 years or so ago. I really have a hard time with that...some input  wishes :)shelly

[nygirl7]

To be honest back in 'the day' I had such a habit I couldn't have possibly known if it was the HCV or not that caused the sinus problems.

Once that stopped...so

I do have chronic allergies though but I think that's just pretty common and would love to blame it on the hep...but since that is long gone and I'm stuck with the allergies.....I guess I'm stuck with them for good ;)

[VXman]

Previous chronic sinusitis finally resolved by the progressive invasive masures:
Deviated septum Operation
Nasal Antral Window Operation (1)
Nasal Antral Window Operation (2)
Caldwell-Luc Procedure (Operation) This did the trick about 10-tears ago. No more left maxillary sinus infections.

Did have allergies and asthma as child: however, didn't develop sinus infections until after HCV infection! Still clear the throat alot, but nothing compared to the pain of the previous infections.

[orphanedhawk]

One side of my family has a history of minor sinus problems. However, as long as I'm where there isn't a lot of pollution, they don't bother me. In fact, now if I go to a dirty city, they only bother me for a short time and then I adjust.
   I wonder how many with sinus problems have had their tonsils removed?

[mustangshelly]

intersting twist.. tonsels and adniods removed at age 7? They removed part of my throat to so I have a nerve exposed..the guy butchered me..I was also born on a military base and often wonder if I am some type of experiment, microchiped and infected??? lol ..on a seriuos note how many were vaccinated for smallpox? polio? and how many times have you received your childhood immunizations? :)shelly

[DoubleDose]

Thanks to everyone for the frank and detailed descriptions of your related sinus and allergy histories.  Little bits of information all add up to more knowledge and insights.  So far its interesting to me just how many of us have had a prior history of allergies, asthma, sinusitis and post nasal drip.  Judging from our board you would think the whole world should be on Claritin, and Steroid spray.

I guess we can't yet be certain if there is a definite association between HCV and these problems, but there sure seems to be some odd correlations showing up here.

TnHep:  Sorry you are having similar post-tx issues, but very happy to hear about the long term SVR for you.  It certainly helps mitigate some of the post-tx issues that plague many of us.  I really hope they start looking at treatment approaches for those with specific post-tx patterns, and also that they begin to understand what physical changes are brought about by doing the tx, in many of us.  Maybe they will come up with a cure for the cure!

Best wishes to you, and the rest of the forum members!

DoubleDose

[willing]

thanks for starting an interesting thread. If you can find any cites on long-term ifn effects please post them. The bit of research I did in this area seemed to suggest we knew very little about more than a couple of  the 100+ genes upregulated by ifn, let alone long-lived effects on immunity. It would  be interesting to learn more.

[orphanedhawk]

The potential connections seem endless. Tonsils are supposed to help fight infection. I was 4 and they thought I was too thin!!!  
    As far as being born on a military base, geez, I'm sorry. My husband had those horrible air gun inoculations in boot camp. They went from one guy to the next w/o cleaning the 'gun' inbetween, many whose arms were bleeding.  Then they placed the blame of the number of Vietnam vets who have HCV on the guys themselves using drugs overseas. Anyway the guys were shipped out early from this boot camp because of a meningitis outbreak. Not the place I'd want infants exposed to.

[VXman]

Sounds like Fort Ord in Monterey, CA

[honey11]

It is amazing to see so many infected that have nasal,,,allergy problems!   Before I was diagnosed with hep,,,,,,I had no problems and in fact was much a surprise  that I tested positive.  Now that I look back,,,,maybe fatigue played a very small part but nothing like I needed naps daily,,,,just a feeling of being tired at end of day and probably not as much energy as a person my age.  I also had feet problems,,,,they were beginning to hurt alot when I walked but that has now cleared!

Hi Tnhep!  I keep hoping since you and me are neck and neck here with 2 year SVR that your issues would clear up or go away!!   During my tx,,,I developed some nasal problems,,,stuffiness and couldn't breathe good at night and of course the tx did lots of damage to my skin.  But now I'm having some outbreaks on my skin after 2 years,,,,a little itchiness,,,,nothing major but a few outbreaks.  My eyes are not the same,,,I have been to eye dr twice and everything seems to be ok but my eyes are dry alot and my eyelids itch quite a bit,,,,kinda like after all these years,,,,I now have allergies, imagine that!  Seems pretty odd that I finish tx and acquire this extra add on baggage!   Do I feel bad?  No,,,not at all,,,,just little minor things,,,I notice that isn't quite right!  My husband,,,,never had any problems before finding out he had hep.  During tx,,,,he started developing nose,,,throat problems and that has stayed.  Now,,,he is stuck with the constant clearing of the throat and seems to be really bad after he eats????   We are both SVR's so I'm very thankful for that,,,,,but all I can hope is nothing gets worse as years go by,,,,ya know?

[rosebud57]

very chronic sinus problems got worse the more sick i got, with whatever. as i didn't know anything was going on.  then became "asthmatic" and i am really don't have that condition but was given prednesone, 5x in increasing doses back to back and sent home from ER w/nebulizer (all one year before discovery of hep c and subsequent tx. during this episode when i blew my nose these hard red pellets came out with all the other mucus, i had never experienced anything like it. it was after the crisis and with further tests that i was told that i don't have asthma after all, perhaps its gerd.  i took a few of their pills prilosec or something, but later tried gotta say it teaspoon of vinegar in water drink several times daily, works wonders for  the gerd. the prednesone inflammed my whole body and i gained 20+ lbs in a matter of days, didn't lose the weight til during tx.

later after hep c found. sinuses drained like crazy thought i was going to choke on the noxious stuff that was coming out. i remember reading (i wasn't posting yet) that others were writting about sinus drainage and different ways to keep sinus moist. even still later... found out prednesone is the worst thing a hepper can be given as it can cause the virus to replicate.. (i don't know where i read that so can't substantiate it) i will never take prednesone again...  when i have occassional sinus thing i like to try the vinegar thing...it really helps.

[pigeonca]

I had asthma as a child, but it seemed to diminish in my 20's and only bothered me when I spent too much time with cats.  Never had sinus problems until one day about 15 years ago, when I suffered the most amazing headache and was told that it was a sinus headache.  That was the only time, but then about 8 or nine years ago the post-nasal drip began, along with a resumption of the asthma.  Lots of mucus too.  It never occured to me that it might be the hcv, 'cause I didn't know i had hcv until last year.

Re. fatigue, this is something that came on gradually in recent years, and I attributed it to age.  I used to be the ultimate high energy person, could do all-nighters without blinking an eyelash, but that went by the wayside oh, about six or seven years ago.  Then the autoimmune skin problems started around three years ago.  I really believe this isn't a coincidence.  Maybe that sinus headache was my acute stage of hcv??

[Lindaz]

I have occassionally suffered from minor sinus during the years but I do suffer from constant throat clearing.

[DoubleDose]

The constant throat clearing and post nasal drip also is a part of the 'sinus' issue, and I suffered from an embarrassing throat clearing problem during the last 15 years that I had chronic HCV before SVR.  The throat clearing is virtually absent since SVR!!!  Interesting stuff!!!

DoubleDose

[mustangshelly]

Yes, I was born at pawtauxent river naval base in Md. I was vaccinated there and had all kinds of paperwork etc. really weird, my Dad just retired a few years ago , he was naval then went to army and fought in 2 wars, viet,desert storm, he works still for dept of defense...I was reading an intersting article on connection of smallpox vaccine and posible hiv infections in congo ...interseting but scary stuff..I know that when I go to the dr's for the first time they look at my records and say,hmmm..you were vaccinated for small pox and polio??which was a sugar cube at that time and the smallpox leaves a scar on your arm which I still see
..I know that all those freakin shots my dad got were crazy!!!  .. to this day gets sick every July with shingles of all things!!! hugs :)shelly

[orphanedhawk]

   Did you see the movie Jacob's Ladder? Depressing and surreal but believable.  I sometimes wonder it the military isn't partly responsible for keeping HCV  the 'silent' epidemic. I was in San Francisco when AIDS first started raising its ugly head. I remember lots of conspiracy theories.  I also wonder about this guy with the weird TB which his father-in-law researches. That side of the news, sure disappeared quickly.
     Good luck,                OH
btw: whenever I see your user name I hear that song, Mustang Sally. Makes me smile.

[mustangshelly]

yes, I did see that movie and it was just as you said...yes I wonder also...it would certainly explain a few things  lol  population control??? keeping the big pharms in buisness??? Yes that story with the TB did get pushed out of the news rather quickly..hmmm..I know when I worked a the Hosp there were alot of weird things going around..lots of people talking about sides of all the injections before off to war...next thing you know men in black knocking on my door ;)  shelly

[GrandmaA]

Sorry, I have no allergies or sinus problem due to HCV or it's treatment.  

[meki]

OK - Jim - first --- 4-5 years before I got dx with hcv I started slowing down --- fatiguing..



Part of the reason I kept going to the docs... (The I feel awful but don't know why symptoms... LOL!)


All -  (Because this IS an interesting thread)

OK - here's an odd theory.

It sounds like a LOT of us are having (maybe - theory here... ) reactions to the changing environment.

Perhaps Pollution?

So maybe pollution causes allergies, sinus issues and allows the HCV to become more rampant?

(Did ya follow that lopsided train of logic? LOL!)

Meki

[bernietg]

I can certainly acknowledge chronic sinus that began 10 years after hcv infection after an accident that crushed my nose, left cheek and left eye socket. I had constant pain and swelling in my left sinus after the surgery to repair my face that I needed constant attention to reduce the swelling in this area. My doctors failed to diagnose the cause of this swelling for another 10 year's. At year 8 I began hcv tx and noticed an improvement of this condition temporarily until 6 mo. Into tx when the virus returned and overcame the tx. I was determined to be a no responder and the swelling came back in full. 2 years later I began triple tx and 2 months into treatment all swelling has completely gone away and not returned. I am currently at week 18 of treatment and my viral load is less than 43. I have had no swelling for 10 weeks now and for the first time in10 years experiencing no pain related to this sinus. I'm a 1a genotype so will need the 44 weeks tx and praying for svr. But I can affirm the sinus problem being associated to hcv.

[orphanedhawk]

This post is from 2007.