Neti Pot and nasal irrigation

[matilda09]

When I try to use a neti pot my head hurts so much I have to stop. Its like a bad headache. A CT scan years ago showed my sinuses were blocked. So is Nasal Irrigation not suitable for blocked sinuses?

[matilda09]

1. Took scan to GP and he said its normal. I forgot to tell him about the straight septum so went to the radiologist. Honestly I think this is beyone my usual GP to figure out

2. Yes pain accross top of eyes

Yes coffee headache in same place but only had it the other day. I can drink coffee but doesnt give a ice cream feeling headache since a few days ago


3 Worked it out Sinus headahe? and pain in cheeks started about 22nd Feb
Sometimes pain in bone where ear is but mostly accross eyes and cheeks
Slight nasal congestion but not very  much. No runny nose

4. Sorry not so sure what you mean. No pain inside nose

5 If I had my mouth open water came out of nostril I poured water in. Not out of other nostril. Water sometimes went in my mouth but I am certain water has never come out of the nostril opposite to the one I poured water in

6 No but do what to see one now

7 Yes localised pain have had it before

8 No problems with neck at all except OA xray showed in C Spine but I have no problems

9 Amoxycillin given by GP. I thought about it later and sure I had a reash with penicillin before but forgot about it. Im sure the allergy is to the penicillin. Stopped taking it rash went.
Was prescribed Doxycycline hyd instead. Headache not as severe all the time comes and goes but is there every day

10 Pic posted

[matilda09]

Hello Dr Antony
I feel as though you are helping me more than my GP ! I havent seen a ENT specialist as I was waiting to find out about the recent scan

In 1998 the reson I didnt have surgery was  because I dont like surgery ! and the ENT specialist told me I had to sign a form saying therre is a possibility my eyesight could be damaged by the surgery so I declined. He said my sinuses couldnt be more blocked

Here is my scan from 1998. I dont know why I didnt think of it earlier to post the scans

I just took a digital photo of the scan so not too good

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/kjl07/Osteoarthritis/IMG_2724.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff168/kjl07/Osteoarthritis/IMG_2725.jpg

The scan from Feb 2009 they are still at the radiologist for a second opinion. They have had the scans for a week so not sure why they are taking so long to get back to me

I will answer your questions above
Regards
Matilda

[tomsant]

Since I am unable to examine you (if you have your own plane in your backyard, fly in; you're welcome!;-) I have to build up on guesswork.

1. Deviated Septum. 10 yr back you were advised septoplasty for deviated nasal septum. Probably you had symptoms due to the DNS; like recurrent sinusitis, or headache, or nasal obstruction..? Only very few of us has carpenter-straight septum. Anyway you didn't consent for the surgery. (Since most ENT problems don't have pain - like an appendicitis - quite a few avoid/procrastinate the same.)

But now your septum is straight in CT scan. How does it appear to the ENT when he looks into your nose ? Did he comment?

2. The Headache: (a)The pain is across the top of your eyes, meaning it is felt on both sides. (b) A cup of (Probably hot) coffee gave you an 'ice cream headache'  Was this headache in the same location or in a different part? Sudden cooling of the throat in some, can give a headache, usually seen while taking ice-cream, hence the terminology. We can name it coffee headache, at least it describes your (this) headache, assuming you took hot coffee.

3. Pain in the cheeks can come if some areas inside the nose are irritated / stimulated. Maybe there may be some areas of inflammation there. I wonder if the hot coffee vapour did irritate that area :-) Or even your nethi pot experiment.

4.There are no 'touch sensors' inside the nose like you may have on skin. Only 'pain sensors'. So touching inside the nose will give pain. This pain is referred to different areas of head/face. (like a pain in the heart getting referred to hand or jaw)

5. Water didn't come out of the other nostril when you used the nethi pot. It would have gone somewhere else. Did it go down the throat? If the water manages to go to the back of the nose, it can go down the throat or come out through the other nostril.

6. A normal CT scan of nose and sinuses doesn't mean your headaches are not from nose and sinuses. CT can show only variations in the structure; and to be visible in CT, it has to have a thickness exceeding that of the normal structures inside the nose/sinuses. Whether the variations found can cause your type of headache is for the specialist to conclude. Has an ENT specialist examined you for the present headache?

7. You didn't give your reason to suspect the sinuses. Is it just because the pain is felt in the forehead and cheeks?

8. How about your neck? Do you have any problem there. Some problems in the cervical vertebrae can throw a pain in the head and face.

9. Why was Amox+Clav prescribed? Yeah, allergy to Clav is unusual and that to penicillin group is common. But we have to be open to 'news'.

10. Do you think you can post digital photos of your CT scans on the web? I could take a peek.

Hope this helps. Don't loose heart.

Best,
Dr.Thomas Antony

[matilda09]

I just cant win
I was given amoxycillin yesterday which had Clavulanic acid but I had a reaction.
The Dr said I cant take Penicillian again but my chemist said he believes I am allergic to Clavulanic acid

My sinuses are still causing me a problem !

[matilda09]

Hello Dr Antony
In 1998 a ENT specialist told me I had a deviated septum and had to have a septoplasty ( is that the correct term?)

I didnt have the surgery.

The pain is accross the top of my eyes and is very localised not speading. Today I had a cup of coffee and thought it felt like I was having an ice cream headache. I thought that cant be right as I was having hot coffee. I have a little bit of pain in my cheeks.

I dont have a runny nose at all.

I tried the neti pot again out of curiousity.
Water did not come out of the other nostril and it caused a headache again.
Its got me curious.

I thought when my GP got back a normal scan he just figured everything was ok but it oviously isnt as I have a ache acrss the top of my eyes every day. Have had my eyes tested and my glasses have had to be upgraded. I am very long sighted and had a lazy eye as a child
Regards
Matilda

[tomsant]

Deviated septum in 1998 and straight in 2009 is no big deal. That too in the black and white images of CT scan films.

And sometimes we see this happening over a few days. The mucous membrane of the nose is 'cavernous' and can engorge or shrink (normal 4 hr cycles as well as for many other reasons) and can take the cartilaginous part of septum with it, and appear deviated.

And nobody has written the final book on human physiology. Many things are being discovered :-)

What makes you think/believe your headache/ pain face is from sinus?

New chapters on pain/ headache etc are being written world over, don't be surprised if they rechristen many headaches;-)

Best,

Dr.Thomas Antony