SINUS ODOR

[SUGE]

SINCE 1999, I'VE HAD THIS TERRIBLE ODOR COMING FROM MY SINUS....AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD BREATH (IT IS ALSO), BUT THE SOURCE MUST BE FROM MY SINUS. I'VE HAD EVERY DENTAL PROCEDURE DONE TO CURE BAD BREATH, I'VE HAD THE NASAL SURGERY ALSO. I JUST RECENTLY HAD A CT ON MY HEAD AND IT SHOWED THAT I HAVE SINUSITIS IN MY RIGHT SINUS. LAST YEAR I TOOK MEDICATION FOR 1 MONTH TO CURE THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL THERE. THE PROBLEM IS IT'S GETTING WORSE. IT'S ALREADY EFFECTED MY SELF ESTEEM, NOW IT'S EFFECTING MY JOB AND HOME LIFE. I TAUGHT I WAS A STRONG INDIVIDUAL, BUT THIS HAS BROKEN ME AND MY MADE ME VERY HUMBLE. I NEED SOME HELP...ANY ADVICE. MY PAST IS THAT I'M VERY ATHLETIC AND DRANK VERY LITTLE WATER IN THE PAST. I DRANK MORE BEER THAN WATER. ALSO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I RAN IN TO A FENCE(THE BAR ON THE  TOP) STRIKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY NOSE. I DIDN'T GET MEDICAL ATTENTION BUT I HAD A VERY LARGE BUMP ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE.THE SMELL IS SO BAD, WHEN I GO TO THE MOVIES EVERYONE IS COUGHING.....6 ROWS DOWN.....I'VE LOST ALL MY FRIENDS AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE AROUND ME.

[National Jewish]

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities.  Inflammation of the sinuses could be due to an allergy, an infection, or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke.  Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, an odor coming from the nose, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, lightheadedness, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage.  The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, like you’ve had done.  A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked.  If this terrible odor is due to sinusitis, it will last as long as the inflammation continues.  Here are some ways to clear up the inflammation.  Please check with your doctor to see which of these will work best for you.

The most common cause of sinusitis is an infection, especially when the mucus is green.  Sinus infections can be difficult to treat since they respond slowly.  When any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked it will take longer to clear a sinus infection.  If a viral infection is the cause it’s a matter of time until the sinusitis clears on its own.  When a bacterial infection is the cause you may need to take an antibiotic for at least 3 weeks.  Last year when you took the medication for 1 month it should have taken care of the sinusitis.  However, the best way to know for sure that the sinusitis has completely cleared is to have the sinus CT scan repeated after the antibiotic has had a chance to work.  Even after an antibiotic clears the infection, it is possible for the inflammation to linger.  However, inflammation of the sinuses could also be due to an allergy or ongoing exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke.

This inflammation can block sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production.  The mucus may “sit” there, especially when it is thick, and cause a terrible odor.  As the sinus infection clears, this mucus drains from the nose and sinuses down the back of the throat causing a constant or intermittent postnasal drip that can be irritating to the throat.  This mucus can fester sinusitis.

The fat content in dairy products can thicken mucus.  Generally eating dairy products with less fat content is helpful.  Drinking plenty of water will help to thin the mucus so that it moves more easily.  As long as you are not on a fluid restriction you should be drinking 6 to 8 8-ounce glasses of non-caffeine non-alcoholic fluid daily.

An antihistamine can dry up the postnasal drip.  However, it may make the mucus thicker and more difficult to move.  Often a prescription antihistamine is taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad.  It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine on a regular basis.  A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can thin the postnasal drip and relieve your blocked sinuses by decreasing the swelling so they drain better.  Often a prescription antihistamine and decongestant are taken only when the postnasal drip gets bad.  It may be more helpful to take the antihistamine and decongestant on a regular basis.  Check with your doctor to see if either of these would help you more.

A nasal wash can remove mucus and germs from the nose and sinuses.  This can temporarily decrease the postnasal drip and help your sinuses to drain better.  You may have relief from the terrible odor, but it may return again because the blockage is not completely cleared.  Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique.  Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.

If the terrible odor continues, your doctor may recommend a prescription nasal steroid spray.  This can decrease mucus production and improve sinus drainage by decreasing the inflammation in the nose and openings that drain the sinuses.  This generally provides a more lasting decrease in sinus pressure and improves sinus drainage.  This may lead to relief from the terrible odor.  To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash.  A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may take several weeks of routine use to become effective.  Sometimes it takes the antihistamine, the decongestant, and the nasal wash followed by the nasal steroid spray ALL used routinely to keep the terrible odor from bothering you.

You will need to see your doctor to learn why this terrible odor is continuing.  Only then can the most helpful treatment be determined.  Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information.  If you are not helped by these treatments an ENT would be the type of specialist to identify if sinusitis is causing this terrible odor to continue and the best treatment.

[danny_boy]

Hi SUGE,

I suspect that I am having the same problem as you. I have been having this bad odor from nose problem for a fews years now. It has really changed my life  a lot. I limit myself from going to any public places cos i know that the smell from my nose really offends people. I can tell that people are affected by the smell when i hear them coughing or see them covering their noses.

I have been seeing an ENT and he prescribed some nasal sprays and antibiotics for me but the problem is still there. I will be getting a CT scan soon to find out more about the problem. I have post nasal drip and there is always a constant flow of very thick clear mucous flowing from the back of my nose. When i sleep on my back, i will wake up the next day with a sorethroat. Also, when i was younger, i used to rub my nose a lot when it felt itchy. I think i also rubbed it quite hard and that could have affected my nose structure permanently.

Would you like to get in contact with me so that we can update each other on the current situation of our problems? I hope that eventually one of us will come out with a solution to this problem and can share it.

you can reach me at ***@****

danny

[Smelly Sneeze]

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[morgie845]

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[xoxojujuxo]

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