Chronic/Recurrent Sinusitis, or something else?

[lethargyqueen]

I have never had a history of allergies or notable sinus infections.  However, most likely since November of 2010, I have had issues with becoming ill every 2-8 weeks.  For a while I assumed I was just having a bad winter and getting lots of "colds."  All my episodes just felt like really bad colds, i.e. scratchy throat, developing into congestion, runny/stuffy nose, strong fatigue and mental fogginess, little bit of sneezing, etc.  Sometimes I had a low fever (100.1 degrees or so) but I didn't often check my temperature.  The progression of my symptoms was always cold-like, too - symptoms peaked on the 3rd and 4th days, started to feel better by day 6, stuck with a minor cough for another week, and then (seemingly) I would get "better."  2-8 weeks later, I would be sick again.  This not only caused me to miss some work, but getting a cold more often than my period was becoming mentally draining and didn't seem normal, so late April/early May 2011 I made an appointment with an ENT.  I had swollen lymph nodes, tonsil stones that he didn't seem too concerned about, and LOTS of pus that needed to be vacuumed out.  I was put on Augmentin for about 4 weeks (bad GI effects for me), nasal steroids, and I had been using a saline rinse on my own already, which I continued.  After I finished the antibiotics a CT scan was done.  Nothing hugely anatomically wrong was noted.  I do have a deviated septum, but the doc was not convinced this was the sole cause of my problems (and anyway, one side of my nose is never worse than the other).  But the pus was gone now and I looked okay, so he sent me on my way.  

But the pattern continued and within a month I was sick again, went to the doctor after it was over, found I had more pus and was put on Levaquin for 7 days.  Seemed like it got better, but about a week or two later after I finished the antibiotics I got sick again and got another (this time over the phone) prescription for more Levaquin.  Then I got double sick again WHILE STILL ON the Levaquin.  This meant another expensive doctor's appointment, confirmation that my lymph nodes are swollen, and more pus found in my nose.  Now I have just finished a round of oral steroids, am on more nasal steroids, and am on Biaxin for 14 days.  Between all this medication I have had some rough side effects - constant fatigue, mental sluggishness/fogginess (a constant "out of it" feeling), redness in my cheeks (along with a "hot flash" sort of feeling), weird taste in my mouth, SORENESS in my mouth, and what feels like the beginning of cold sores around my mouth (a common first sign of my next "cold" episode - which makes me worry all this isn't working).  Additionally, I am currently on Sprintec and for medical reasons have been on oral contraceptives since I was 15 (so about 11 years running).

The doctor offered that I could do an allergy test, although he saw no signs of allergic inflammation and I have no history of allergies.  Even when I have taken an antihistamine just to see what would happen, my symptoms were not improved.  I am not inclined to spend the money or endure multiple needle pricks for a test with a high likelihood of false positives.

As far as the color of my mucus (since I know this is relevant to this conversation) it is still frequently green or yellow (with occasional small spots of blood in it, these days).  To be honest, though (and very graphic), I have always had poor quality mucus - thick, glue-like, hard to "blow" out of my nose.  A green coloration has never been a rarity, either.  While I don't have a history of allergies, I do have a history of post nasal drip and a hard to clear throat.  I had always attributed this to living in a household with two parents who were heavy indoor chain smokers.

I don't use OTC nasal decongestants, and really never used cold medicines much at all until it became a monthly routine for me to get sick - and even then I barely used the Nyquil or the Sudafed, so I don't think this is a "rebound" effect.

As far as my own theories for my new problems, I got married, moved out, and got a new job all within a month of each other March-April 2010.  That means lots of stress (especially in the case of the new job, where I am under more constant duress than I've ever been in my life).  Also, I still visit my parents' house about twice a week, so possibly an over-reaction to the cigarette smoke since I am not constantly in that environment anymore?

Anyway, while my doctor and I are trying to do all this "diagnosis through exclusion" stuff, I am wasting both time and money and also my sanity each time I become incredibly sick again and again.  I have an (uneducated) guess that this is vasomotor rhinitis, which means only vague prescriptions can help... i.e. "less" stress.  But I wish the solution were something more concrete and less subjective (i.e. "100 mg" or "take out the tonsils") since the symptoms seem to be so concrete and frequent!  So, based on all this history, is there anything definitive I can do to stop this cycle of illness?  Any specific reasons that seem apparent for it?  Or is my theory of "vague" prescriptions of less stress the answer?

[meniere135]

I know in my family, after going on a gluten free diet for other reasons, several of us got relief from constant sinus congestion and its accompanying symptoms.  One person in the family needed gluten and dairy free diet to relieve sinus congestion.  Maybe your immune system is overwhelmed, maybe you have fungal overgrowth in the sinuses as well, which could be made worse with the frequent antibiotics.  There are many scenarios for these type problems.  But the diet took away our symptoms.  I saw your post and thought if you were desperate maybe you'd like to try these diets to see if you get permanent relief.  Just leave me a message if you would like to try the diet(s) if you need help with what to eat.

[tschock]

Have you tried a neti pot or other sinus cleanse product?
I have been suffering my entire life with sinus problems, and find that all the pills in the world can't stop it.
I started using sinucleanse and helps wonderfully.
I still get flare ups, but as soon as I do I "rinse" and I start to feel better.

As for the tonsils...try to gargle with salt water after meals...this will dislodge any food particles that may be getting trapped back there.

On a side note: just because you have no past issues of allergies doesn't mean that you haven't developed one or more.
Adults frequently start and stop with new allergies.