Sinusitis??

[lucius]

I was wondering if anyone could help in awaitening of the results of the CT of my sinuses. My main symptoms are a "drogued" feeling, some pressure above my eyes, a very bad smell from my nice, lots of plegm in my throat after I eat or drink something. Also, daily around 10am after I drank something I feel like something is stuck in my throat/nose area. After a few attempts of throat clearing I spit up a small package of yellow/brown mucus. Size depends from day to day but it is always very sticky and has an awful smell. Sometimes, mostly when its colder or when I have been in a plane the other day it will have blood in it and will be very hard, something like plastic. Its accompanied with a sore throat which is located just behind my uvula. If I touch it, it kind a burns.
My GP says that I need to stop with throat-clearing. I must admit I do it probably 100 times a day. He says my throat is just very dry. I must admit that drinking or eating something brings relief, but on the other hand it provides more mucus which make me clear my throat again.
If anyone can help. Does this sound like a sinus problem?

[National Jewish]

Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities.  This can block sinus drainage and cause increased phlegm production.  Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a stuffy nose, achy teeth, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, constant low fever, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage.

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 a bacterial infection is the cause you may need to take an antibiotic for at least 3 weeks.  Even after the 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.

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 is an allergic reaction to inhaling something.  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.  Postnasal drip can cause a burning sore throat as a result of irritation of the throat.  The blood could also be from this irritation.  You may experience the postnasal drip as a constant feeling of phlegm at the back of your throat.  Clearing your throat can irritate your throat and vocal cords.  When you feel the need to clear your throat sip some water to clear the phlegm.  Instead of clearing your throat, wait until the phlegm rises and then cough it out.  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.  This will thin the phlegm so that it moves more easily.  When the phlegm "sits" there, it can darken in color and smell bad.  A nasal wash helps remove phlegm from the nose and sinuses.  This can temporarily reduce the postnasal drip and sore throat.  A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases nasal swelling and phlegm production.  This may prevent the postnasal drip and sore throat.  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.