Sinusitis or allergy?

[young10]

Hi, I was wondering whether you could help me. For the past 4 months, I have had a post nasal drip and general stuffiness causing pressure which can lead to my ears feeling strained. The stuffiness isn't so bad that I cannot breath through my nose. My eyelids are swollen. I also feel lethargic, unwell,and have slight dizziness. Decongestants provide temporary relief and increase the post nasal drip significantly. Little mucus passes through the nose. I do not have sinus pain or a fever and my symptoms did not follow a cold.
My GP, intitially diagnosed sinusitis and suggested a decongestant along with a weeks course of antibiotics. After the anbiotics I felt much better although not fully cured. The condition worsened again and my GP tried a two week course of antibiotics and i had a sinus x-ray and blood test. Again my condition improved on antibiotics, but this was only temporary. The results of my x-rays showed no abnormalities with my sinuses nor were they inflammed. My blood test result showed no sign of infection, as my white blood cell count had not increased.As a result of these tests, my GP has ruled out a sinus infection.
Instead, she believes I have an airborne allergy and for the past 2 weeks I have been using a steroid nasal spray but no real improvement to date.
Is it likely that I have an allergy or should a sinus infection still be considered? Would an allergy make you feel lethargic,dizzy and unwell?is there anyway I can relieve the dizziness and post nasal drip?

Thank you

[National Jewish]

An allergy can make you feel miserable as you described.  Postnasal drip is drainage from the nose and sinuses dripping down the back of the throat.  There could be several reasons for this drainage.  One reason is an allergy.  A second reason is a non-allergic, non-infectious inflammation in the sinuses that can linger after a cold.  A third reason is chronic sinusitis.  A nasal wash helps remove mucus from the nose and sinuses.  A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases nasal swelling and mucus production.  This may also help relieve your dizziness.  To get the most out of a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash.  A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms.  It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective.  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.
Please talk with your doctor about getting a CT scan of the sinuses.  This is the best way to identify a sinus infection.  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.
Since you are continuing to have symptoms, I would recommend seeing a board certified allergist to try to determine the actual cause of these symptoms.

[jonny27]

I think I'm also experiencing this same problem.  To add to the symptoms I also have anxioty and shakyness.  I can't seem to calm myself.  I'm currently taking antibiotics, it seems to help a little bit because these episodes occour less often and seem to be less severe.  Some days I feel really good... but than an episode will occour for a couple hours and I feel horrible.

[jonny27]

I went to the hospital tonight because I was having one of these episodes.  The docter there thinks that I am having Anxiety.  I didn't know that it could give you so many physical symptoms.