Chronic sinus infection recurred post-op

[joyfulpacific]

I have had a sinus infection since June 1. Had deviated septum surgery one month ago.  CT scan is clear.  I still have the sinus infection.  I'm now finishing up my fifth round of antibiotics and third round of steroids.  Also, I'm using Nasonex and AllegraD.  I'm also doing nasal irrigation twice a day with Alcalol.  ENT saying he may need to go back in because left side is very tight.  He also said it is very inflammed and has lots of mucus.  I'm doing ok on right side. I'm very tired and worn out.  I made an appointment with an infectious disease specialist for next week.  Any other suggestions?  Also, should I being taking certain vitamins to counteract the impact of all the antibiotics and steroids and to help regain my energy?  By the way, I've never smoked.

[sheera01]

A related discussion, Following up w/ an immunologist was started.

[greg90]

A related discussion, Sinus Pressure was started.

[lisamariekitzman]

A related discussion, help was started.

[mimo28]

A related discussion, avalox was started.

[nisha lana]

im having sinus plus cheast flam.what i was told from the doctor is that my sinus that coz my flam,im coughing of and on,the cough is hard some times.what should i do to stop this.im scared that ill get broncitis.and thd flu also.the color is yellowish green sometimes.and sometimes white.will this lead to pnuemonia????????im afraid.is ther ct scan for broncitis/?what should i do.i confused and lost now.i dont want to fall sick in bed.please reply

[yooperusa]

Everything I've read here sound so much like my experience. I had surgery for a deviated Septum & a radio frequency turbination 06/02. I took antibiotic 3 weeks following surgery as routine & at 4 week checkup was diagnosed with a staph infection & here I am still with the infection. I have had one antibiotic after another. The only one that will even touch my symptoms is Levaquin but that only lasts 2 weeks after discontinuong it. I don't have an undue amount of congestion -symptoms are constant bad odor & when infection builds up, some shakiness, fuzzy-head, & mild nausea. I gave up on my ENT last month because he didn't seem to be trying to treat this agressively  or understand my frustration. Since then I've just got RX from my GP but will see another ENT & my Reg Dr is getting me an appointment with someone in infectious disease.

[jojo4]

Experiencing bad nasal odor for five years now. Anyone has a solution.

[sc1230]

Your symptoms sound very similar to mine.  In '99 I had surgery to correct a deviated septum, open sinuses and remove polyps. In'04 I had surgery again to remove polyps and open sinuses again.  After the surgery in '04 I was on antibiotics for an entire year and sufferend one infection after another (strep, brochitis, pneumonia, staph, etc.)  I am a 26 year old female who has always been pretty healthy except for allergies/asthma/sinusitis.  I completely understand what you mean about feeling worn out.  It is scary and depressing to be continually ill.  After consulting several ENT's as well as my allergist, I finally had another surgery this past September to remove more polyps and remove copious amounts of mucus.  I was diagnosed with Allergic Fungal Sinusitis and have started on an irrigation of Amphoteracin B (an anti-fungal) I also use a saline irrigation (Sinucleanse) available at Walgreens on a daily basis.  I finally feel a major difference and am hoping to get through this year in much better shape than I did last year.  I don't know if allergic fungal sinusitis is what you are suffering from, but it might be worth mentioning to your Dr.  Good luck and don't give up!  At times I felt like my Dr.'s were about to give up on me, but my persistance paid off as I am finally starting to feel like myself again!

[Elaine7853]

Hi, I have had sinus trouble for a few years now. 2 years ago, it was so bad that I was bleading out my mouth and nose, got to my doctors office, he cortrised my nose, I lives 6 miles form his office and before I could get back home, it had broke aloose and I was gushing blood from my mouth and nose. Got to the hospital 35 miles away, it stoped before they let me see a doctor, then doctor said he couldn't tell anything for it was not bleeding now. Cost me a bill at the hospital and no treatmet was given or med's. I still have it bad, I have the headaches form it almost every night, and can't sleep. Doctor has never sent me to a nose doctor or anywhere else for this trouble. I am COPD and Asthma along with all the other things that has happen, I am now on oxygen. So far nothing the doctor has given me works, and he says he is limited on what he can give me for I am on Medicaid and it want pay for some med's that may work.
   So I have to live with the headaches almost every night.
Thanks for any help you all can give me.

[National Jewish]

This is obviously a very frustrating problem for you.  These same stories do obviously occur unfortunately.  There are times when it takes surgical drainage and irrigation to clear the sinus infection.  Some examples are when the material in the sinuses is just too thick and the openings of the sinuses are too small.

[Ptstvsnd]

My diagnosis was chronic sinusitus and I had a slight deviated septum.  I had my first sinus infection 2 years ago and it never left.  I had sinus surgery July 27th.  After going off the post op antibiotic, the infection returned. I have been on my new antibiotic for 3 days and I don't feel like I am getting better.  I am very concerned and I just wonder if my bacteria is resistant to antibiotics.  I use my sinus pot twice a day and mostly have drainage, not much nasal congestion.  I can feel my chest getting tight and I have a feeling I will get pneumonia again  which happened last time my sinusitus flared up more than usual.    I react to avalox which was one antibiotic that made me feel better during the course of trying to cure the infection before surgery.  Wish I could take that again and not get hives. My new ENT does not put me on steroids with the antibiotic treatment.  Not sure why. I tried lots of holistic therapies.  For a good book on the subject pick up "Sinus Survival".  It is by a physician who specializes in sinusitus.  Unfortunately, I tried the suggested supplements and the sinusitus never went away.  I can't say honestly whether it made me feel better or if it improved my immune system, but everyone is different.  There are testimonials from folks for whom it did work.  Good luck.  I am at wits end.

[Sisters]

I've had 4 sinus surgeries in the last 5 years.  The last one was actually for a deviated septum.  I have been on prednisone and various antibiotics for the past 5 years also.  My ENT doctor says I have "allergic chronic sinusitus".  I have gradually been gaining weight...almost 10 pounds per year, have night sweats a lot, have a moon face and a steroid hump, my vision is getting worse each year, my body aches, and I have trouble breathing if I lower my predinsone below 7.5 mg. a day.  My sinsues totally close up and I have to breath out of my mouth.  I've been to a few other specialists (allergy, orthopedic, pulmonary, etc.) and most recently it was suggested that maybe I should start getting 80 mg of Kenalog injections...NOT!  I just want to get off of the steroids and have my life back.  I am currently experimenting with some herbs from a naturopath to try and get my adrendal function working on it's own again. If anyone has been successful in getting off of steroids after long-term use, I would be interested in knowing how.  Thank you.