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Sphenoid sinus infection, anyone heard of this?

I've been having occupital headaches and facial tingling.  My doc sent me in for a brain MRI.  Everything was normal, except the radiologist noted "EXTENSIVE sphenoid sinus thickening, lesser in frontal region.  Been taking 2000 mg amoxicillin fro 2 weeks, I still have large amounts of drainage.  I have been reading that these areas of thickening can cause very serious problems if not treated.  I'm a little scared, my next step is a ENT.  My question is Can this cause the problems that I am experiencing?  Should I maybe be on stronger antibiotics? Thank you very much.
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Avatar universal
I had a facial headache with tingling for over two years. It often radiated to my whole head, including my neck. All allergy tests came back negative. After going through MRI and CT of my brain and sinuses, they still didn’t find a problem. A few months later I had a root canal done in my “eye tooth” and I felt it drain. Within an hour the headache was gone. (Though I had also requested dental X-rays, nothing showed up because it was so high up.) So check with your dentist for TMJ and possible tooth problems!
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Avatar universal
Try alternative medicine NAET and/or BRT, body restoration technique with a chiropractor that does applied kenisology. AK,

Both NAET and/or BRT are NON invasive and a higher level of accupunture.  

Another technique is BAX 3000 and Bax AURA.  This harder to find, however; so worth it.it non invasive and a higher level of accupunture.  

I suffered so badly for years with sinus infections and was told I needed sinus surgery.

I am grateful I found these techniques.  I NEVER went on for sinus surgery and this is over 10 years ago that I was told I needed it.

If you are near the Houston Area, 281-444-1000 Durrett Chiropractic.  

Your quality of life will improve.  

Good luck
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Avatar universal
I have Sinus infection for the last 14 days. The symptoms include

- Headache on top of the head

- Ear fullness

- Ear Pain

- Tender scalp on top

- Stiff Neck

- Irritation and Confusion



There was no cold or cough, but there was mucus deep inside. I think I have a Sphenoid sinus infection.



What I believe has worked for me



- Steam : Deep inhale steam so that it reaches all the sinus spots, esp, the sphenoid sinuses which are deep inside. The goal of inhaling steam is to melt the mucus. Snort it out and spit it out with all force. You can also use cocunut oil mixed with water for steam. I used it once, and the good thing was the steam was very smooth to inhale

- Mucinex / Mucinac : These tablets can be taken 2-3 times a day. It melts all the mucus and provides relief in a day or two, depending upon how much needs to be cleared



https://www.amazon.com/Mucinex-Strength-Congestion-Expectorant-Tablets/dp/B0057UUGRU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501090870&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=Mucinex%C2%A0&psc=1





- I have read lot about "Flonase" nasal spray. People have shared their positive experience. This is expensive in India. My Brother in law is in US right now, he would be getting it back for me very soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Flonase-Fluticasone-Propionate-Allergy-Relief/dp/B00MXOVASC/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1501090414&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=flonase&psc=1

- Neti pot : Neti pot irrigates the nasal passage and clears all the mucus almost instantly. If this is done, twice or thrice a day, it can clear out the mucus from Sphenoid sinus as well. However, one should research enough and watch Youtube videos. Also, never use Tap water, that increases the chance of bacterial infection. People have died from brain infection. Research a lot. I did all my research, but still some water got in my ear canal, I had a tough time removing it. I read that, it is also possible that it is not water but the displaced mucus, which obstructs the ear canal. In such cases, 2-3 times Neti pot usage would be required with Salt mixed in the boiled water. Always remember to use filtered, distilled, and pre boiled water mixed with salt.  



https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Ceramic-Complete-Cleansing-Irrigation/dp/B01MQP5KC1/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1501090850&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=neti+pot&psc=1



All the best and speedy recovery. Eventually, you will make it.
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2 Comments
Thankyou very very much for this helpful post. I knew I had a recurring sinus infection but could not connect that to my neck problems.. seems I didnt realise about the diffrent types of sinus infections especially Sphenoid so will speak to my doctor asap as I only have 3 days supply left of a 7 day prescription & I feel worse not better but doctor didnt even mention a type of sinus infection called Sphenoid which is quite some infection... so thank you this post could get me the right treatment & change my life seriously.. so sick of re-curring sinus infections making my life unecessary miserable
Thankyou very very much for this helpful post. I knew I had a recurring sinus infection but could not connect that to my neck problems.. seems I didnt realise about the diffrent types of sinus infections especially Sphenoid so will speak to my doctor asap as I only have 3 days supply left of a 7 day prescription & I feel worse not better but doctor didnt even mention a type of sinus infection called Sphenoid which is quite some infection... so thank you this post could get me the right treatment & change my life seriously.. so sick of re-curring sinus infections making my life unecessary miserable
Avatar universal
Surgery will not stop headache ....My doctor suggest me to take one spray name" Momeflo nasal spray".....Lifelong I need to spray ..
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Avatar universal
Has he been checked for cerebrospinal fluid leak?


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Avatar universal
Mayo indicates that most sinus infections are fungal bases

This is list of things  outside the usual tests,

Go on the food elimination diet stop eating gluten, dairy, sugar soy all processed food and all grains . Read a case where it took 6 months of being off of gluten to see results.  Even little bits of food your allergic too can make you dizzy and sick. Stop all supplements my friend was sick for months she was allergic to vitamin she was taking vitamin  D
Check for hidden mold , radon level or carbon dioxide leaks poisoning
Get Lyme check through igenex,
Change all detergents shampoos etc...
Check around the house for plants.  And remove the plants in your house to the deck for a few weeks
Many people are finding that electro magnetic frequency makes them dizzy sick, sinus issues , seizures etc.  stay away from wifi, lab tops smart meters  l cell phone and the cell phone towers look up EMS . In our houses    we have computers an corded phones
Get an MRI
Also my doctor told me some his sensitive patient could not live in the city due to allergies, asthma and sinus issue flare ups, take a vacation to small town in the tropics and see how you feel !
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Avatar universal
Where in Texas were you operated on?  I am seeing an ENT about my sphenoid sinus cyst this week.  I live in TX also.
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1 Comments
I know this is old but did you get the surgery done and how did it go?
Avatar universal
What do I do ?
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed of sphenoid sinusitis early this year. It has become so chronic bcos of the fowl ordor from my mouth and nose trill
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Avatar universal
I am researching information about my earache and neck and sinus problems.  Found your post.  I realize it is an old post, but was wondering if you found a cure?
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Avatar universal
Ask his Dr to order a BAER test to check for an Acoustic Neuroma. It's a small tumor of the 8th cranial nerve. Here's a link;
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/tumors/acoustic_neuroma.htm
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Avatar universal
I had daily migraines that were triggered by a spenoid sinus infection. The doctors wanted to use surgery to get a culture from the cyst in the spenoid sinus but i eventually tried azithromycin (z pak) and the headaches went away. Did not need surgery!  Try staying on azithromycin for  as long as you can before getting surgery on cyst or polyps. Surgery will not stop the headaches!
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Avatar universal
I am having polyps and cysts found out after going to ENT last month, where they sent a tube in mouth and noticed drainage at the back as well as and doing a scan, I also have asthma, and hayfever, my ears  and pallet itch sometimes eyes mainly during the 2-4 am sometimes but rarely during the day, and used to sneeze a lot. not much since taking the meds In the last week or so get these funny pricking pain on and off, not a muscle pain between upper part of  left breast and bottom part of neck area, slightly towards left, also get a tickle in my throat dry cought sometimes phlemmy. I feel like I am full of mucas always trying to blow nose or suck it out to get rid of it.Some times both nostrils are stufeed other times only one and other time both clear
Also feel like there is tightining near neck area  othertimes on left and rightside alternating.
Dr did a gastrocopoy, checked HUT in september 2011,tube send down  for ENT check up doctor, said that my glands are swollen, wanted him to do a scan or xray just to make sure but he didn't show much interest in this he did a normal blood test said that it was clear but ESR in mid 40's said they worry only if it is 3 times higher than normal but did not ask me to get another one.
Have been on two sets of antibiotics Clamoxil, for 3 days 850 mg, but was having itching so put me on clarc and then on Doxy, Which seemed to help, put me on Adrovil for 3 days , nasonex made me feel stuffier and after an hr gave me relief for a coupl of hours, then back to same did it for about 5 days. then dr put me on Azep which helps me on an off, 1spray each nose, use it when I feel it really stuffy as I feel my nose is dry, used Nasal flo saline solution comes from one not the other helps when really clggged for a few mts, as the bone on the middle of my nose is crooked. Also asked to take paloromine, which helps me sleep  as I feel jumpy and wake up every time my body relaxes noticed it more when I was on all the meds at once, Doxy, Nasonex, then went a bit ok when on Azep and the polarmine with sleep. I have had the vapouriser, to help me breath easier a couple of times when I felt I could not breath properly due to stuffed nose,and help me sleep. Asked the doctor to do a blood /urine test to check if the gland are  producing too much of adrenalin as I read that some people had this jumpy feeling every time their body relaxed and they can't sleep due to this, as the glands had some problem that can only be detected by this test. That too wasn't taken seriously .
Azep was finished, went to different chemist and mentioned about polyps/cysts, they said I should be on rhinacort as it helps to shrink it, and not Azep and that with Azep I should take it three days on three days off nothing of this was mentioned by the pharmasist that I first went to. I take it only if I have tried doing all the methods like steam inhalation, as I find my nose quite dry when I take the medication and as well as my mouth goes so dry as I breath a lot from my mouth at sleep time tried the 2 sprays each nostil with rhinecoat got a light headache not sure if the rhinacoat did this, fell asleep at 11:00pm was awake at 4:00, tried steam inhalation, was tired and sleepy but started t feel jumpy and have been awake its 9:21am
Feeling a bit wheezy need to take puffer , one nostril is clear other blcoked, Get funny taste in mouth, not sure if rhinacoat, azep etc does this, even though its been about 10 hrs since I toolk it.
Want to know what cultures do you need to do to see if it is fungal if the MRI scan said ?POLYPS/CYSTS, CAN THE FEELING OF HEAVYNESS AND TIGHTNESS BE DUE TO THE GLANDS, WHY IS THERE THIS JUMPY FEELING AS SOON AS I TRY TO SLEEP, WHICH COULD KEEP ME AWAKE ALL NIGHT COULD IT BE DUE TO THE GLANDS ARE THERE ANY TESTS I COULD ASK MY DOCTOR TO DO.  DO I NEED TO CONTINUE TAKING AZEP, RHINACOART IF MY NOSE IS NOT TOO BAD OR CAN I JUST DO STEAM INHALATIONS AND TAKE IT ONLY WHEN IT IS REALLY BAD, I FOUND IT EASY TO OPEN THE LID OF THE KETTLE AND CONTINUE TO BOIL THE WATER WHILE FANNING THE STEAM ONTO YOUR FACE AS I FELT THAT I WAS FEELING SUFFOCATED WHEN I PUT A TOWEL AND TRIED TO INHALE IT, DO IT TILL YOU FEEL SOME RELIEF, CAN YOU USE A VAPORISER EVERYDAY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ASTHMA.

HAS ANYONE GOT THEIR POLYPS, CYSTS AND NOSE JOINT CORRECTED AS I AM WAITING TO SEE THE SPECIALIST AND HAVE YOU FOUND RELIEF AFTER THIS SURGERY, AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL .
WORRIED
PS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE WRITTEN BAOUT YOUR PROBLEMS CAN YOU KEEPS US POSTED OF YOUR OUTCOMES OR IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING FOR  ANSWERS.
TANKS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL  
  
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Avatar universal
I too am suffering with stephenoid have always used holistic approach but I let this get out of hand after 5 months finally when to doctor gave me 10 day supply of antibiotics which helped but has not cleared it up entirely.  I haven't had antibiotics in over 30 years and I really don't want to take another round. Looks like stephenoid issues can be from bacteria or fungus. Have you had any success yet?



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Avatar universal
I too am suffering with stephenoid have always used holistic approach but I let this get out of hand after 5 months finally when to doctor gave me 10 day supply of antibiotics which helped but has not cleared it up entirely.  I haven't had antibiotics in over 30 years and I really don't want to take another round. Looks like stephenoid issues can be from bacteria or fungus. Has anyone had any success yet or recommendations?



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Avatar universal
Was having seizure and flu like symptoms. Went for an MRI and it showed Chronic Sphenoid and Maxillary Sinus disease. Antibiotics did nothing after 3 days and then my doctor recommend Fluconazole if it was fungal. Within 15 minutes of taking the medication it felt like my face was caving in near the nose and eyes and the sinuses started opening up. After taking Fluconazole for 3 weeks I have not had my sinus infection come back. A recent MRI showed that the sinuses have improved significantly leading me to believe that fungus needs to be looked at for sinus infections not just bacteria.

Fluconazole can be hard on the liver so make sure to get liver function tests done before and during treatment.

I did go off the medication after 3 weeks because I was having some major effects with my digestive system, probably due to more fungal issues.
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Avatar universal
My dad was recently diagnosed with Steno and with CT Scans done recently it showed it has spread into his brain. His was found after sinus surgery and has been on 3 different oral antibiotics. He goes this week for IV treatment in hopes it will help. My dad has lost his sense of taste,smell and lost some vision in his right eye. Not sure if its from a botched surgery or from Steno. We are worried as we don't know what the chances are for him as it is now in the brain. Do you have any insight to this?
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Avatar universal
Great input here...tx so much!!. After a yr of strange pressure pains in rt temple/top/back of head, twice accompanied by external ear infections, am finally seeing ENT. Brain MRI of 10/10 stated "some mucosal thickening and/or small air fluid level in the posterior right ethmoid air cell and/or adjacent portion of the rt sphenoid sinus." ENT says my ESR & CRP blood levels (inflammatory markers) are fine, so isn't overly concerned. He can't explain pain and speculated about Temporal Arteritis though blood doesn't corroborate. Have been on CPAP w/water for 3 yrs now.....have had sporadic clear nasal drip....wondering if CPAP could be causing infection of Spenoid?  Advised ENT I was seeing holistic dentist for CT scan of jaw to rule out dental sources of bacteria, ie. root canal etc which can invade other areas in body.  He asked me to have dentist include my sinuses in scan if possible. If not, will ask ENT for CT scan of sinuses. I'm fairly holistic in approach to health, so idea of IV antibiotics scares me (have friend whose kidney was destroyed that way). Am presently using Chinese herbs for inflammation and about to try using Grapefruit Seed extract in Netti pot to induce drainage.....just trying to keep it under control pending diagnosis as I fear serious consequences if undiagnosed too long. Has anyone else had Sphenoid issues while using CPAP?    
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your post.... I had scans yesterday at UTMB  because of sputum with black threads (since 05) and migraines.  I won't have results until some time next week, as they are also doing a sputum culture.  As my dad's main caregiver, I was exposed to high levels of black toxic mold (aspergillus/penicillium) at his house.  We weren't aware his house had mold until we moved him into a home.  He is diabetic (poorly controlled) and has dementia now. When he was in the hospital, I saw his sputum and it also had black threads.  After that, Dad and I went  to an ENT doctor in Houston, but they only did one scan and found nothing.  A nurse told me the only allergy doctors that check for aspergillus are Texas Childrens and UTMB.   If  they find something hopefully, the "power trippers" in my family will allow Dad to go. From doing research, I've found that fungus can get into the brain through the sphenoid sinus and cause dementia. Will Amphotercin B cross the blood brain barrier?  Has dementia ever been reversed after amphotercin B?    
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your post.  I finally feel like I've been given both professional and personal information.  I only had my cat scan a few hours ago.  I've been in severe pain for six days now.  I felt like i was beaten with a bat at the base of my skull!  During the night I have to move my head with my hands.  I couldn't move!  I had to drink from a straw and the pain of swallowing was unbearable.  I have awful body aches.  So here I am today hearing my doctor tell me about the sphenoid.  He prescribed actiq but insurance wants precert of some kind so I just took a dilaudid (rx said 1or2) and it didn't help so I took the second and it took the edge off the pain.  I've never had any kind of sinus/nasal issue ever and I'm 53.  I personally think looking back now this has been coming on for about a month or two.  I'd been waking up unable to breath from my mouth or nose and had to "clear my throat" so to speak.  Then 2 days before the sudden "hit with a baseball bat" issue I was to an ENT and diagnosed with Labrythinitis.  This is just awful and wants to be debillitating!  Stress or just a fluke of things going on?!  I thought for sure they were going to throw me the old garbage pail diagnosis ... Fibromyalgia!  I don't know where this is going but I suppose I will visit here for more input.  I hope everyone gets the relief they are looking for ...   :)
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Avatar universal
Unfortunately, many ENTs want to do surgery first.  I do not know if this is because they get more money for the surgery than for ordering IV antibiotics that cross the blood brain barrier or what.  Did you receive any IV therapy?  If your ENT did not give you antibiotic or anti fungal therapy (did they do cultures to see what was causing your infection?), then the infection can come back even after an extended period of time.  See my previous post.  Many times the infection spreads to other important area of the brain so just "draining" the sphenoid sinus, especially in a case as serious as yours, will not take care of all the infection.
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Avatar universal
I am a PhD microbiologist researcher and have been suffering from sphenoid sinus disease from an injury for one year.  It is VERY difficult to find even an ears nost and throat specialist who has expertise in this area.  The peer reviewed medical literature (to which most people do not have access) indicate that it is very important to have intraveinous (IV) antibiotics for 14 days not just two.  In addition, they need to be the type of antibiotic that crosses the blood brain barrier.  Infection of the sphenoid sinus can spread to the brain including the hypothalamus and pituitary, optic nerve, etc.  There are 13 critical structures immediately adjacent to the sphnoid sinuses.  Fungus can also infect the sphenoid sinus and the IV drug needs to be specific for this as well.  You are correct that this is a very serious infection and it is only made worse by the lack of expertise by our physicians.
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Avatar universal
I was disagnosed with a sphenoid infection 5 years ago.  I've had to undergo 4 surgeries to finally get the infection fully drained; the last surgery was a year and a half ago.  The last surgery was quite a scare, the sphenoid cavity was bulging and about to burst.  Because of this bulge, there has been a tremendous amount of nerve damage around the sphenoid area.  I still suffer with headaches, the nerves tingle out of control and then eventually pain sets in where the nerves were excited and tingling.  I am on various medications and the latest diagnosis was it may or may not repair itself.  It seems here lately the symptoms have gotten worse, my eye twitches uncontrollably, the feet tingle, weather patterns wreck havoc on my head and my memory seems to be slipping every now and then.  i'm 29 years old.  I'm just curious if anyone is familiar with any of these side effects and knowing my history, if I should be concerned that there isn't anything else happening in my neuro system besides nerve damage.
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Avatar universal
I have always gotten nasty chronic sinus infections.  In September 2009, I started having problems with swallowing food (the reflex would stop working mid swallow and I would choke), migraines started happening frequently, my blood pressure would sky rocket upwards of 190/130 (normally 110/72), symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome and I was lethargic and sick.  I was treated for bacterial sinus infection and bacterial kidney infection.  After being rushed to the emergency room with a migraine that felt like an aneurysm my doctor ordered an MRI on my brain and they found that I had a sphenoid sinus infection.  I was immediately sent to an ENT for evaluation.  Upon the consultation with one of the best ENT's in the country located in Texas (******.net is their website and any of these doctors are fantastic!!! They come highly recommended by everyone in the metroplex). It was found that I had serious sphenoid sinus infection that has probably been there for years but was kept at bay due to treatment of my chronic regular sinus infections.  Due to the new affects I was having I was scheduled for an emergency sinus surgery (sphenoid and frontal sinuses).  While he was in there he widen the passages of all the other sinus if he felt it was needed to avoid further surgeries in the future.  Since this surgery (after about 2 months of healing completely) all the symptoms described previously have disappeared and I have never felt better.  Even when the weather changes my sinuses do not swell to the point of irritation to cause an infection.  I have had one sinus infection which was very mild considering what I am use to.  I highly recommend having surgery if it is recommended to avoid unnecessary suffering and pain.  And if you are ever in TEXAS I highly recommend any of the from the ******.net.  
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1 Comments
Where in texas
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