Sinusitis/Allergies/Asthma

[rosiebell]

My husband got asthma as an adult at age of 29 (now 46). In and out of hospital it was so bad. Always having a sinus infection. Put on Singulair when it came out and asthma has been controlled. Still gets severe sinus infections. About 5 yrs ago he started having headaches. Some so bad we go to the hospital. He has had 4 sinus surgerys to remove polyps but still having headaches. On one surgery the infection was so deep they had to scrape the lining of his sinus cavity. The headaches are a daily never ending pain. I saw the posting about the Churg-Strauss syndrome and that opened up possibilities. Monday he starts seeing an allergist. We will request they do the blood test for CSS. He has seen a headache dr. and ruled out migraines. The past couple of months he has started getting an ear infection. It constatly drains a clear fluid. Antibiotics for both sinus and ear hardly touch it. Infections just come back. He is on so many meds: Diovan, Lexapro, Nexium, Lipitor, Singulair(stopped this), Seroquel, Rhinocort, Ciprodex(for ear). Any suggestions as to what else can be checked out? Thanks

[National Jewish]

Obviously this is a very difficult and frustrating problem for your husband and for you.  To be able to get the maximum benefit, you may need to have a coordinated team effort including:
· an ENT;
· an infectious disease specialist, since this may be a fungal or other type of infection; and
· a pulmonologist or allergist to work with the asthma.

To get this approach, it may be necessary to work with an academic medical center, which has all these specialists in the same facility.  If there isn’t an academic medical center in your area, one last option to consider is to come to National Jewish Medial and Research Center for this type of evaluation.

[anth]

As someone who suffers very much like your husband I understand your frustration.  I have had similar problems for the last 27 years.  I have recently read that there are some fungus infections that most antibiotics cannot kill.  There is something that may help if it is an infection.  I have read that you can buy grapefruit seed extract in liquid form from any Natural health store.  This is known to kill the fungi that antibiotics will not.  I have read that it should be diluted.  I have has asmtha for 20 years, 3 nasal polyp surguries, have tried every drug on the market and have no sense of smell.  Like your husband I am at my wits end and will try almost anything any everything.  Please do investigate this.  I have not tried it myself only because I have just recently found out about it.  Good luck.

[rosiebell]

Thanks for the grapefruit seed extract tip. I will stop on my way home and get some.

[ARM123]

I have very similar problems with my sinuses.  Surgery is not an option b/c I do not have polyps and fungal tests to date have been negative.  But I have sinus infections just about every month.  I wound up in the emergency room in June b/c Zithromax no longer works and the infection compromised my lungs.  Quinolone antibiotics work well for me at the moment.  I'm positive, though, that I must have a locus of infection somewhere that never goes away.  If not that, then my sinuses have just become hypersensitive.  Or both. I have started regular nasal irrigation in an attempt to try to reduce the chronic inflammation regardless of the level of infection.  Most days you can just look at my face and see the swelling.  I will try grapefruit extract also.  I usually make my own saline rinse and add either baking soda or a little vinegar.  I think the vinegar really helps with cleansing.

I started Xolair last week.  I am hopeful it will make me less sensitive to allergen exposure but I am realistic that both my sinuses and my lungs have probably experienced a fair amount of airway remodeling over the last 30 years and that Xolair may improve the situation only so far.

Good luck to you all and thanks for posting.  Sometimes I think I'm the only one!

[marina*]

Howdy,

How long is your husband put on antibotics each time he has an infection.I know i ussually require them for a least three weeks. Some people have to take them longer in order to completely clear up the infection.

You might try using a saline rinse. The stuff I use is called sinus rinse, it's a combination of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. You mix it with distilled water. Works great,clears all the drainge out of the nose and back of throat. I have lived with sinus problems all my life,I know just how he feels.

If you would like the number for the sinus rinse let me know,I will post it.

marina*

[ozark]

has your husband had an immunology work up?

[Concerned lady]

You said that "he is on so many meds", and allergic/auto-immune reactions to meds can be one cause of Churg-Strauss Syndrome.

You can look up possible adverse (bad) side effects of all the meds he is on. Then, you could work with his docs to find out if he can safely wean off some of these meds, using nutritional & other non-drug therapies, instead, if his docs say it's safe for him.

Try looking up side effects of all his meds at <a href=http://www.rxlist.com>http://www.rxlist.com</a>

I wish you the best.

Concerned lady
<a href=http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com>http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com</a>