Sinus Infection - Agggh!

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I had chronic sinus disease, over 18 months of antibiotics and steroids before I finally got a CT. It showed that I have developed sinus poylps. I'm now permanently on Nasonex to control the polyps and use the neilmed sinus rinse system everyday in the shower with 2 salt packs. I also take sudafed and advil if I'm feeling particularily stuffy. Since my nose is usually pretty dry from the meds I also use an old fashioned boiling humidifier in winter-the cool most ones are no good for sinus sufferers. I have not had a sinus infection since I started this program over 8 months ago. Get a CT scan so you know what you're dealing with.

I use tap water for my neilmed but I really should use boiled water and I do sterilize the bottle in the microwave. Sinus problems suck, good luck!

Asscherhalo_lover - Yikes! Sorry to hear you went through so much before the diagnosis. May I ask - did they ever talk about surgically removing the polyps? The ENT discussed this possibility at our first visit. He also prescribed prednisone at that time, hoping that would help shrink polyps if there were any. I asked about it at my last visit, and he said he didn't see any polyps. He did talk abut a CT scan at the first visit, so not sure why he was satisfied that there were no polyps with just a visual exam. But, I am not a doctor. Basically, this is all only on the left side, and sometimes it feels clear, sometimes it feel blocked. I'm totally thinking it could still be polyps. ENT never called me back, so I'm going to schedule another visit so I can sit in his waiting room for 2 hrs again. Are all specialists this way?

Thanks everyone for advice on neti pot.

Surgical removal and having my septum fixed (it's been deviated from the polyps!) is always an option for me. The only thing is that they can grow back, the surgery is not a cure-all. Since staying medicated I have not had any flair ups but I do want to have my nose fixed so I will probably have it all done in one shot. I'm currently looking for a new ENT who is very experienced in sinus surgery, I don't want just anyone drilling into my head

And yes, get the CT!

 

[EricaR]

That is the exact sinus surgery I had - fix the septum, remove polyps, roto-rooter the sinus cavities. Being able to take a deep breath through my nose is AMAZING!!!!!

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

That is the exact sinus surgery I had - fix the septum, remove polyps, roto-rooter the sinus cavities. Being able to take a deep breath through my nose is AMAZING!!!!!

I look forward to it! Have you had any problems with your polyps coming back? Have you stayed on a prescription nasal spray?

 

[EricaR]

No on the polyps coming back, but unfortunately I have had to stay on the sprays. Any little bit of post nasal drip gets my asthma going, so I have to stay on top of it.

 

[Loves Vintage]

I left another message yesterday. No call back. They gave me his secretary's number today so I just left a detailed message. I am just asking for a CT scan at this point. I don't want to deal with another office visit. Time to move this along!

Do all of the nasal sprays do the same thing? I've used nasonex and then last tried Qnasl. I think there was another one, but don't recall. Any preferences for one over the other, or is it basically different for everyone?

 

[EricaR]

There are different types. Right now I use two.
1. Nasal atrovent, decongestant spray. This one tells the cells to quit producing as much snot
2. Nasonex, steroid spray. This one reduces inflammation in the sinus cavities

The steroid sprays all basically work the same way, but you may react to them differently. Some are wet sprays, some drier. My ENT gave me samples of three or four and I picked the one I liked best and that was cheapest through my insurance.

 

[EricaR]

Specifics on the steroid spray - Veramyst is my favorite, but it runs $40/month co-pay. Flonase is my second fav and it is $10/month. Omnaris (sp?) burns like you would not believe, but my mom loves it.

 

[PintoBean]

Awww... Loves Vintage. There was no intent to make you feel like you had to defend yourself for the use of antibiotics. It was just a general rail against "quick-fix" docs who are too drug-prescribing happy.

I hope you start feeling better soon. I hate the feeling of sinus pressure - like I'm a big balloon head that's ready to burst!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Awww... Loves Vintage. There was no intent to make you feel like you had to defend yourself for the use of antibiotics. It was just a general rail against "quick-fix" docs who are too drug-prescribing happy.

I hope you start feeling better soon. I hate the feeling of sinus pressure - like I'm a big balloon head that's ready to burst!

Aww, PintoBean, thanks for the note. I wasn't specifically directing that comment to you, or anyone, really! I guess I am just a little sensitive on this issue! I am not used to being sick, and I guess it makes me feel better to talk about it too. Fortunately, I haven't been feeling so much pressure in these past few months, just a lot of congestion at times, so I really shouldn't even be all that complain-y about it, but I'm started to get the feeling that this is just not going to resolve itself, at least not easily.

EricaR - thanks for answering about the sprays. I think I much preferred nasonex, given what I've tried so far.

 

[purplesparklies]

Wanted to add another thing that has helped me immensely in avoiding sinus infections.Massage. Seriously. I started getting regular massages and it cut the frequency my sinus issues tremendously!

 

[Starzin]

I'm so sorry to hear so many of you suffer from sinus issues and wondered if anyone had tried apple cider vinegar http://www.christinas-home-remedies.com/sinus-infection-home-remedies.html. The site is run by a woman who is an MD, homeopath and naturopath and what I like about anything she suggests is that she tells you how much, how long and when to stop.

I'm about to start a thread asking if anyone has tried oil pulling (same site) so you might like to have a look at that too.

 

[Autumnovember]

ugh...I am the QUEEN of sinus problems. I have had two sinus surgeries and it was amazing how awesome I could breathe after! The second time around I had polyps so they were removed. That was in 2007. Just about two weeks ago my sinus problems have started again and I'm thinking it's time to get back to my ENT ....I have a strong feeling surgery #3 is coming very soon. I don't mind because it's not a painful surgery and hell, if I breathe well for 5 years I'll do it. Also, I should mention that after each surgery I left my sinuses alone. No sprays, no nothing and maybe thats why it is becoming recurrent. I'll try doing sprays or something if I have to have a third surgery. The constant sneezing and watery eyes is getting old and its only been two weeks!

P.S. I don't think antibiotics are gonna do much. When this all first started with me, my doctor decided I had an upper respiratory infection and gave me antibiotics. That didn't do anything. When I finally demanded it wasn't a respiratory infection he gave in and sent me off to the ENT and then a cat scan. What do you know...it was a sinus issue. No amount of antibiotics was gonna fix this, only surgery, and honestly I really do believe that if I didn't spend so much time messing around with the antibiotics my chronic sinusitis could have been prevented or at least not have gotten as out of hand as it did.

 

[Loves Vintage]

AN - sorry to hear that you suffer from sinus issues too! When you had the polyps removed, was it outpatient?

I'm having a CT scan tomorrow, so hope to have a better idea of what is going on soon! Oh, and I feel exhausted all the time when I am really congested. Not sure if that's the congestion or other issues, like not enough sleep, lol. It does tend to feel worse, the tiredness, when I am congested.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

I have used flonase and now nasonex. I have been pretty dry and have constant slight nose bleeding but it was much worse with the flonase than the nasonex. Every few weeks I take a week off from the sprays to give my sinuses a chance to not be so dried out and it has helped keep my nose bleeding at bay. The sinus rinse and a humidifier also help a lot, especially in the winter. Best of luck!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Help!! Ok, this is going to be long, but to the extent that some of you have been through similar stuff, maybe you will find it interesting. If you think it's annoying that I am going into so much detail on a forum, then don't read it! Thanks!!

Had the CT scan yesterday, spoke with ENT today. He said he could see my sinuses were really blocked and that there are probably polyps there. Uhm, ok, thought they'd be able to see polyps if there were any, but I guess not always? He said that if I wanted to do the surgery that I need to have special scan done. I was like "special scan?" Basically, for this first scan, he told me that I could get the scan done wherever I wanted, Hosp A, Hosp B, Xray place A. I said, Xray place A. Med Asst calls back a while later, telling me she set the apptmt at Hosp C. Ohhhhhh-kay. I went to Hosp C. Now, DR says he only does surgeries at Hosp A or B, so I need to get the same exact scan done again. Hosp A or B will not use scan from Hosp C. This is very ANNOYING to me because the first scan was basically wasted exposure to radiation. I asked him about it, and he was like, oh, it's really not that much.

Sigh. Then he went on for a while about how I won't have a good outcome because I have pets. At my first apptmt, he asked if I had allergies. Well, I did go to an allergist once, and she did the skin prick test (or whatever it's called), and she said my back lit up like a Christmas tree! Apparently, I am allergic to cats, dogs, and just about every tree out there. Well, I have cats and dogs and live in the woods. So, I told him this, and he brought it up today and said that he thinks I get congested from the pet allergies (didn't mention the trees!) and that causes the sinus infections. I told him that I have a baby in daycare, and I've never been so sick in my whole life. I also had strep throat earlier this year. He said he thinks it's more likely that my "allergies" are the cause. Based on what??? I've had cats and dogs my whole life and have never been sick like this. Doesn't it stand to reason that a kid in daycare is more likely the cause?

He also said that he thinks the meds were working because he saw polyps at my first apptmt. He NEVER saw polyps. He wrote polyps possible in his notes based on the symptoms I reported to him. And, then he wrote that he did not see polyps at second apptmt. Again, that was only because I asked him about it!

I feel like we are ships passing in the night, and we are clearly not communicating. I have no idea what sinus surgery entails, but I don't think I want him to do it!!! Am I too harsh? How does one find a good ENT? Is it possible to be generally bad at communicating, but still be a safe surgeon?? It's outpatient surgery. Does that mean it's less of a big deal? General anesthesia.

I bought a neti pot on my way home after speaking with him!!! Will it help if I am "all blocked"? I guess not if there are polyps, but it sounds like we still aren't sure on that! I had set an apptmt with another ENT for tomorrow, but canceled it this morning, figuring I would just go with this guy (he is is with a very large practice, works at the best hosp., no reason to think not a great doc, other than communication issues) since he finally called me back to schedule the scan last week. I am going to try to go there for another opinion tomorrow! Sigh.

Again, sorry for all of the details, but this is all so overwhelming.

 

[erinl]

I have been to an ENT for two separate issue. One was my sinuses, the second was for a salivary stone (I know, gross). On both occasions I was sent to a hospital for an MRI. While it might not be "expensive" it still was a couple hundred for me to do this, and it was generally a PITA to schedule, do it, etc. After my MRI for sinuses, I was told to use nasal steroids, which could have been deduced from the nasal exam he gave me in the office. For the salivary stone, he said, yep there it is, maybe it will pass on its own, and if not, maybe someday you can go have surgery. That was all he offered. Still have the salivary stone 3 years later, and it flares up from time to time, so that whole exercise was a waste of time and energy. I knew I had a salivary stone before I went into his office, where it was located, etc.

 

[Autumnovember]

Help!! Ok, this is going to be long, but to the extent that some of you have been through similar stuff, maybe you will find it interesting. If you think it's annoying that I am going into so much detail on a forum, then don't read it! Thanks!!

Had the CT scan yesterday, spoke with ENT today. He said he could see my sinuses were really blocked and that there are probably polyps there. Uhm, ok, thought they'd be able to see polyps if there were any, but I guess not always? He said that if I wanted to do the surgery that I need to have special scan done. I was like "special scan?" Basically, for this first scan, he told me that I could get the scan done wherever I wanted, Hosp A, Hosp B, Xray place A. I said, Xray place A. Med Asst calls back a while later, telling me she set the apptmt at Hosp C. Ohhhhhh-kay. I went to Hosp C. Now, DR says he only does surgeries at Hosp A or B, so I need to get the same exact scan done again. Hosp A or B will not use scan from Hosp C. This is very ANNOYING to me because the first scan was basically wasted exposure to radiation. I asked him about it, and he was like, oh, it's really not that much.

Sigh. Then he went on for a while about how I won't have a good outcome because I have pets. At my first apptmt, he asked if I had allergies. Well, I did go to an allergist once, and she did the skin prick test (or whatever it's called), and she said my back lit up like a Christmas tree! Apparently, I am allergic to cats, dogs, and just about every tree out there. Well, I have cats and dogs and live in the woods. So, I told him this, and he brought it up today and said that he thinks I get congested from the pet allergies (didn't mention the trees!) and that causes the sinus infections. I told him that I have a baby in daycare, and I've never been so sick in my whole life. I also had strep throat earlier this year. He said he thinks it's more likely that my "allergies" are the cause. Based on what??? I've had cats and dogs my whole life and have never been sick like this. Doesn't it stand to reason that a kid in daycare is more likely the cause?

He also said that he thinks the meds were working because he saw polyps at my first apptmt. He NEVER saw polyps. He wrote polyps possible in his notes based on the symptoms I reported to him. And, then he wrote that he did not see polyps at second apptmt. Again, that was only because I asked him about it!

I feel like we are ships passing in the night, and we are clearly not communicating. I have no idea what sinus surgery entails, but I don't think I want him to do it!!! Am I too harsh? How does one find a good ENT? Is it possible to be generally bad at communicating, but still be a safe surgeon?? It's outpatient surgery. Does that mean it's less of a big deal? General anesthesia.

I bought a neti pot on my way home after speaking with him!!! Will it help if I am "all blocked"? I guess not if there are polyps, but it sounds like we still aren't sure on that! I had set an apptmt with another ENT for tomorrow, but canceled it this morning, figuring I would just go with this guy (he is is with a very large practice, works at the best hosp., no reason to think not a great doc, other than communication issues) since he finally called me back to schedule the scan last week. I am going to try to go there for another opinion tomorrow! Sigh.

Again, sorry for all of the details, but this is all so overwhelming.

I read your whole post...do yourself a huge favor and find a new doctor. He really doesn't sound like he knows what he is talking about. Apparrently I am allergic to dogs too yet after my surgeries I never ever had ANY issues around them. I didn't come up for any other allergies yet when seasons change, I'm a mess. My surgery was done outpatient too, general anesthesia. It is NOT bad, I promise. Even recovery isn't painful. During clinicals I got to watch a sinus surgery be performed and it was pretty cool! Also, I have not heard of this "special" scan that he told you to get and personally, I find it a bit negligent on his part that he is now sending you for another and telling you not to worry about the radiation. It IS a lot of radiation!!!

 

[Loves Vintage]

ErinL - Did the sinus issues resolve? That's interesting that they ordered MRIs for each, and so odd that they did one for the salivary stone without seeming to have a reason for doing one.

AN - Thanks for your response! I should have added, in fairness to the dr, that he suggested I think about it and make an appointment to discuss further with him. Perhaps I expect too much in a phone call?

I have no idea about the special scan. Maybe there is a way out of this requirement. I will certainly ask!

Oh, and re: the allergies, I think he is stuck on that because I basically told him that I was diagnosed with these allergies (like 7 or 8 years ago), but did nothing about it. I may have some mild allergies, but nothing that I've ever needed treatment for. Strange about your seasonal allergies. Maybe those tests aren't all that accurate.

In any event, I will try to get an apptmt with this other group and take it from there.

Thanks again for you comments. I am feeling a little less crazy about this all now.

 

[texaskj]

LV, I'm with Autumn. Try another doctor. I've never felt it was my job to pay for their next Mercedes or trip to Bora Bora and I hate it when I'm treated as such.
And I think you're onto something with the kid in daycare. Children are walking petri dishes. They bring home every germ they come in contact with at school and daycare.
Do you still have your tonsils?

 

[Begonia]

LV - you have my very deepest sympathies with this!

'm a big believer in nasal syringing (ie neti pot or the Neilmed). Won't solve the problem, but may help. My Mum used to do it twice a day regardless of how she felt to keep ahead of the problem.

Couldn't hurt...

 

[Begonia]

double post

 

[EricaR]

Find another doctor!!! I interviewed three before I found one I felt comfortable with. He was going to be messing around less than an inch from my brain - I wanted to make sure I felt comfortable with whoever I was paying $$big bucks$$ to be in there.

 

[zoebartlett]

Sorry the appt. didn't go well, LV. I'd try the neti pot and saline sprays until you find a doc you like. It can't hurt.

I've been told I need to have the surgery due to a deviated septum and constant sinus issues, but honestly, I'm too scared about the process involved and the recovery. I'm a baby though and don't deal well with pain at all. I know others who have sworn it was the best thing they've done, so I may be missing out.

EricaR reached out to me on FB I think (?) when I was thinking of having it done, and she's a wealth of knowledge!

 

[purplesparklies]

New Dr. needed. This one does not sound motivated to truly help you resolve your issues. Sorry to hear it didn't go well but hopefully you find a Dr. who is the right fit. Good luck!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Thanks for all the feedback ladies! I have an apptmt with the new dr today! Gosh, you really have to call around. First they said no to today, then I called another one of their offices to see if I could get in sooner, then they called the first office and got me back in. Yay!

Zoe - Does a deviated septum require more invasive surgery, I'm guessing?

 

[zoebartlett]

LV, hmmm, I suppose it does but I've never thought about it actually. I guess I just thought that all sinus surgeries were the same, but that wouldn't make sense, now that I think about it. I was told years ago that because I have a deviated septum, things don't drain properly and that's why my voice gets hoarse so easily and I always have post-nasal drip that just sits there. Unpleasant thought! Anyway, since that's not what you're dealing with, it doesn't sound like our surgeries, if we have them, would be the same.

 

[Autumnovember]

Thanks for all the feedback ladies! I have an apptmt with the new dr today! Gosh, you really have to call around. First they said no to today, then I called another one of their offices to see if I could get in sooner, then they called the first office and got me back in. Yay!

Zoe - Does a deviated septum require more invasive surgery, I'm guessing?

the surgery for sinus issues are similar however, with a deviated septum it is more invasive and the recovery time is longer. I have a deviated septum too and I could fix it but my doc said it wasnt gonna change anything in my case.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Aaaaaaaaaand, I have a new doctor! She was great. Thinks that allergies are the cause. Prescribed two allergy meds and a longer (2 wks) dose of steroids. She used a scope with light at the end to look up my nose. Both sides are very swollen, and she also saw polyps. She says the antibiotics were never going to help me (Hi TexasKJ ), in my case, because they are being caused by allergies. I asked the first drs office to fax the scan results to her office. She went over the report with me. It clearly states polyps are there. First dr said it wasn't clear if there were polyps.

She also said I have a deviated septum! Huh. And she wants me to bring her the scan itself so she can interpret on her own.

She also did a culture, which will be sent out for bacterial and fungal analysis, though she does not suspect either. She said that if I had an infection, I would be in a long more pain. Instead, I have very swollen passageways, that are not allowing things to drain, causing the congestion issues.

She was all for a neti pot, but told me not to use until I finish the prednisone. It may not be able to drain out!

I go back in two weeks. She wants to see how I respond to the meds. Maybe I won't need surgery. Maybe I will. She also referred me to an allergist. So glad I pushed my way in to be seen today.

Her office was great. There were only a few people in the waiting room at a time. I suspect my first doctor may just have too many patients and is not able to spend as much time with each of his patients. His waiting room was always packed with very unhappy looking patients.

Oh, and here's a funny thing. A few minutes ago, a woman just called from the first dr's office to schedule my surgery. She said the dr said I was ready for surgery, so she was calling to set everything up! Crazy. I never said yes. He told me to to think about it and come in to see him to discuss questions.

 

[zoebartlett]

I'm glad you like your new doctor, LV! How weird the first office called you, ready to schedule surgery. I hope you begin feeling better soon!

 

[Loves Vintage]

I'm glad you like your new doctor, LV! How weird the first office called you, ready to schedule surgery. I hope you begin feeling better soon!

Thanks, Zoe. I've felt a little crazed about the whole thing lately, which is probably why I keep posting about it here! I hope you don't have any issues this winter. I'm sure it must be hard not to get sick working with the little ones like you do. What grade do you teach again?