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Helena - 04 Nov 2003 12:11 GMT

Hi, I've been suffering with my sinuses for years, but this last year
has been the worst. At the moment I'm recovering from my worst bout of
sinusitis yet - pain in face, aches, severe fatigue, fever, runny
eyes/nose etc etc. I thought it was flu (stupid me!) and my dh dragged
me to the doctor's yesterday. She prescribed antibiotics and within
hours I was 100x better! I honestly didn't realise the fever/tiredness
was due to infection, and I can't describe how bad I felt (though I'm
sure you all know from experience).

This was my 4th occurence of infected sinuses this year alone.
Strangely enough my nasal secretions were clear this time. I was
wondering if you have any tips for avoiding further bouts - I've read
the FAQ's and will try putting a few things into practice. Should I
ask for allergy testing? I've always had rhinitis. Does the sinus
problem explain the constant throat clearing that I have to do? I've
developed a cough over the last 6 months that just doesn't go -and
suffered with heartburn too - could this all be connected? The doctor
suggested echinacea to boost the immune system - has anyone had
success with this? I really, really, really don't want to feel this
ill again.

Thanks for reading this, and sorry to ask so much! I'm just happy to
have found the group!

Helena :-)

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Steven D. Litvintchouk - 04 Nov 2003 19:12 GMT

> Hi, I've been suffering with my sinuses for years, but this last year
> has been the worst. At the moment I'm recovering from my worst bout of
> sinusitis yet - pain in face, aches, severe fatigue, fever, runny
> eyes/nose etc etc. I thought it was flu (stupid me!) and my dh dragged
> me to the doctor's yesterday. She prescribed antibiotics and within
> hours I was 100x better!

Within hours? How odd. I didn't think antibiotics could start working
that quickly on any infection, least of all sinus infections. What
antibiotic did you take?

> This was my 4th occurence of infected sinuses this year alone.
> Strangely enough my nasal secretions were clear this time. I was
> wondering if you have any tips for avoiding further bouts - I've read
> the FAQ's and will try putting a few things into practice. Should I
> ask for allergy testing? I've always had rhinitis.

You could, but there are so many potential allergens out there that the
tests might miss something. (And things like air pollution can cause
rhinitis even though it's not a true allergy and won't be detected by
any tests.) A simpler solution is to just ask for a prescription for a
topical corticosteroid nasal spray (e.g., Flonase), and see if it helps.

> Does the sinus
> problem explain the constant throat clearing that I have to do? I've
> developed a cough over the last 6 months that just doesn't go -and
> suffered with heartburn too - could this all be connected?

I've heard a lot of stuff about how gastroesophageal reflux can irritate
the larynx and cause "reflux laryngitis". (You can search the Internet
for info.) But I happen to believe in Occam's Razor too--the simplest
explanation is the first choice. If you have chronic rhinitis, and
repeated sinusitis attacks with discolored secretions, then your chronic
cough might be caused by those conditions. This needs to be checked out
ASAP because it suggests that your sinusitis is becoming chronic.
Chronic sinusitis is incurable and you want to prevent it if you can.

One way to check, is to take some Robitussin expectorant, and then try
to take a long hot bath and inhale enough steam so that you loosen up
the secretions in your airway and you can cough them up. If the phlegm
you cough up is discolored, that's a sure sign of infected post nasal
drip from the sinuses getting down into your airway and making you
cough. Nasal irrigation with the Grossan apparatus is a great way to
wash the gunk out of your sinuses before it has a chance to drip down
into your airway. Whenever I used to get a cold, I would get a terrible
cough from the post nasal drip. Thanx to Grossan, this never happens
anymore.

> The doctor
> suggested echinacea to boost the immune system - has anyone had
> success with this?

I wouldn't go to any doctor who suggests echinacea to "boost the immune
system." Because there really is no such thing as "boosting the immune
system"--it's a buzzword that sounds plausible but has no basis in
medical science.

Why don't you ask your doctor exactly what components of your immune
system are affected by echinacea--killer T cells, B cells, complement,
IgE, etc. See what she says.

If you have an immunodeficiency (rare), that needs to be treated by a
competent immunologist, not by OTC herbs.

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Helena - 05 Nov 2003 08:53 GMT

> Within hours? How odd. I didn't think antibiotics could start working
> that quickly on any infection, least of all sinus infections. What
> antibiotic did you take?

I'm taking penicillin (amoxicillin, 500mg 3x a day). The major effect
from the initial dose was the reduction in body temperature, which
made me feel so much better just a few hours into the course. I still
have the post-nasal drip, some coughing and stuffiness, but I only
started the course 2 days ago.

On the topic of antibiotics working quickly, my husband suffers
recurrent skin infections due to eczema, and has visible flare-ups on
his face. The redness is reduced within hours of his first dose of
penicillin.

> You could, but there are so many potential allergens out there that the
> tests might miss something. (And things like air pollution can cause
> rhinitis even though it's not a true allergy and won't be detected by
> any tests.) A simpler solution is to just ask for a prescription for a
> topical corticosteroid nasal spray (e.g., Flonase), and see if it helps.

My rhinitis started when I lived in central London and was caused by
the pollution....moving away was the best thing I ever did.

> I've heard a lot of stuff about how gastroesophageal reflux can irritate
> the larynx and cause "reflux laryngitis". (You can search the Internet
> for info.)

I've searched the internet for reflux, sinusitis etc but it's not easy
to get a clear answer!

But I happen to believe in Occam's Razor too--the simplest

> explanation is the first choice. If you have chronic rhinitis, and
> repeated sinusitis attacks with discolored secretions, then your chronic
> cough might be caused by those conditions. This needs to be checked out
> ASAP because it suggests that your sinusitis is becoming chronic.
> Chronic sinusitis is incurable and you want to prevent it if you can.

Thanks - you confirmed my suspiscions.

> One way to check, is to take some Robitussin expectorant, and then try
> to take a long hot bath and inhale enough steam so that you loosen up
> the secretions in your airway and you can cough them up. If the phlegm
> you cough up is discolored, that's a sure sign of infected post nasal
> drip from the sinuses getting down into your airway and making you
> cough.

I'll definitely be trying this.

> I wouldn't go to any doctor who suggests echinacea to "boost the immune
> system." Because there really is no such thing as "boosting the immune
> system"--it's a buzzword that sounds plausible but has no basis in
> medical science.

You know, I don't think the doctor I saw even realised I had
sinusitis. She thought I was still trying to fight a cold (this
started with a cold 3-4 weeks ago which I cleared quite easily within
3 or 4 days, apart from the sinus trouble of course). Despite numerous
trips to my GP's surgery and seeing several different doctors I've yet
to hear one of them comment on my cough (which I keep telling them
about), or the number of times I've taken antibiotics recently for
infected sinuses. I need to be more persistant - hopefully I'll get a
referral (to a specialist).

Thanks for your help,
Helena

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Steven D. Litvintchouk - 07 Nov 2003 18:47 GMT

>>You could, but there are so many potential allergens out there that the
>>tests might miss something. (And things like air pollution can cause
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> My rhinitis started when I lived in central London and was caused by
> the pollution....moving away was the best thing I ever did.

That sounds like "non-allergic rhinitis," an inflammation from irritants
in the environment that are not true allergic reactions. In that case,
steroid nasal sprays may still work even though antihistamines won't.
It may help prevent your sinus ducts from swelling shut due to
inflammation and leading to another infection from bacteria multiplying
in the stagnant mucus.

> You know, I don't think the doctor I saw even realised I had
> sinusitis. She thought I was still trying to fight a cold (this
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> infected sinuses. I need to be more persistant - hopefully I'll get a
> referral (to a specialist).

One of the most common mistakes in treating sinusitis is to UNDERTREAT
it with too short a course of antibiotics. Sinus infections are
stubborn, and even if you feel better quickly, it can take 2-3 weeks
worth of antibiotic to completely clear the infection. Otherwise it
flares up again, with bacteria that survived the antibiotic attack and
are now more resistant to it the second time around.

All too often, patients are prescribed only 5 days worth, 7 days worth,
or 10 days worth and then the infection starts up all over again.

Another common mistake is to keep trying the same antibiotic over and
over. The bacteria in your sinuses may have survived 4 courses of
amoxicillin so far (for your past sinus infections), and these survivors
are now likely resistant to amoxicillin. Try switching to a different
antibiotic--Cipro, Levaquin, Biaxin are good.

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blader - 08 Nov 2003 02:28 GMT

Stephen, for what it's worth, a fellow who worked for me years ago had a
nine year old that never felt good. After many attempts to find the
cause, he found a physician who diagnosed sinusitis. There were
(believe it or not) either 3 or 6 months of antibiotics before it
cleared. When finally free of the infection, the child was once again a
normal rambunctious kid.

Bruce

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Helena - 13 Nov 2003 19:13 GMT

> Stephen, for what it's worth, a fellow who worked for me years ago had a
> nine year old that never felt good. After many attempts to find the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Bruce

Well, I think I'm going back to the GP's tomorrow. My course of
antibiotics was only a week long and I'm sure it hasn't cleared the
infection. Tonight, 3 days after taking my last antibiotic tablet, I
have a sore throat and yellow nasal secretions. I also have earache.
It might be another cold coming on but I don't think so.

Thanks for everyone's comments :)

Helena

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Don Brady - 04 Nov 2003 19:14 GMT

>Hi, I've been suffering with my sinuses for years, but this last year
>has been the worst. At the moment I'm recovering from my worst bout of
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>was due to infection, and I can't describe how bad I felt (though I'm
>sure you all know from experience).

>This was my 4th occurence of infected sinuses this year alone.
>Strangely enough my nasal secretions were clear this time. I was
>wondering if you have any tips for avoiding further bouts - I've read
>the FAQ's and will try putting a few things into practice. Should I
>ask for allergy testing?

Yes absolutely - but see an ENT to start with. A General Practitioner is not
going to do a good job......

>I've always had rhinitis. Does the sinus
>problem explain the constant throat clearing that I have to do? I've
>developed a cough over the last 6 months that just doesn't go -and
>suffered with heartburn too - could this all be connected?

Gastro Esophegeal Refkux Disease (GERD) can cause sinusitis and a cough and
needs to be ruled out. You need to see an ENT if not already seen.

> The doctor
>suggested echinacea to boost the immune system - has anyone had
>success with this?

It's nonsence. See a (real) ENT.

> I really, really, really don't want to feel this
>ill again.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Helena :-)

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Helena - 05 Nov 2003 09:00 GMT

> Yes absolutely - but see an ENT to start with. A General Practitioner is not
> going to do a good job......

Thanks - this is the conclusion I'm quickly coming to. But you think
they'd realise a potential long-term problem and refer me. Oh well.

Helena

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