Sinus odour!

[RoyP1040]

I have a constant odour in my right-hand sinus with associated bad taste; my normal smell and taste of food etc is not effected.
It is a bitter taste/smell not very pleasant, although I’m getting used to it, but some days it seems worse than others.
It started over 18 months ago and my GP prescribed various antibiotics and nasal sprays all to no effect. I was then sent to the hospital and the consultant tried more powerful antibiotics, still with no positive results so I then had a CT scan, which showed an infection deep in the sinus near to the nerve from the eye.
Therefore surgery took place to open up the airways by removing some bone and they scraped away as much of the infection as possible, the idea being that the extra passage of air would heal the remaining infection.
Eight months later there has been no real improvement, I still have this odour and horrible taste, if I only breathe through the LH side there is no smell, so it definitely comes from the right sinus.
At my last visit to the hospital in February I was told that there was no more help that they could offer and that I would just have to live with it, which is a bit depressing.
Can anyone suggest any help for this condition?
I do take ‘Simvastatin’ and ‘Micardis Plus’ daily, but as far as I’m aware they are not the cause.

[National Jewish Health]

What you describe suggests that you continue to have chronic sinusitis, despite the surgery and antibiotics.  Fungal infection of the sinuses is common and the fungi, of which there are many, are unresponsive to conventional antibiotics.  Eye complications are uncommon but can be serious, especially with chronic infection of the sphenoid sinuses.

I suggest that you seek consultation with an infectious disease specialist regarding probable fungal sinusitis and the treatment of it.  If drainage of the infected sinus is still impaired, it may be necessary to have additional surgery to facilitate drainage.  This should also be discussed with the infectious disease (ID) specialist.  This is a serious, but treatable, condition and you should not “just have to live with it.”  Do not delay seeking consultation and do not be dissuaded from doing so by your current physician.

Good luck.

[RoyP1040]

A related discussion, Sinus Odour was started.

[RoyP1040]

Thanks for the information, I will be seeing the ENT specialist in a few weeks and will mention the theings you have told me, thanks again.