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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / March 2004what's wrong with me?
The doctor doesn't seem to know... All my life I have had recurring problems with congestion, where I won't be able to breathe well through my nose for weeks or months at a time. It was never so bad as it's been lately. A few months ago I developed a cold. After the cold mostly went away, I was left with really severe congestion that I couldn't do anything about except use nasal spray (Afrin) or Sudafed, but that Sudafed barely helped. I'm trimming out some un-necessary details from the story so to shorten it a bit. I went to the doctor for this and another remnant of my cold and he prescribed me Flonase. I went on it for about a month, during which time my breathing did improve enough that I could sleep and didn't require OTC nasal sprays. Even so I didn't really want to be on Flonase for the rest of my life or anything, and it never fulled cleared up, so I decided to quit using it and see what happens. Well I quit Flonase a month ago and things have just gotten worse and worse since then. I'm back where I can barely sleep at night because I can't breathe. I had to use Afrin the other day and I'm starting up with Flonase again. I have been blowing my nose like non-stop and not to gross anyone out but there's a lot coming out. There is often blood in there partially because of the dry cold weather around here. I just feel like, maybe there were some after effects of using Flonase that caused a 'rebound' effect, but it's been a month. I don't know what to do. I'd like a night where I could sleep on my side again without one side getting too congested to breathe through. While not as serious as some things I have heard described, I don't think this is normal? Any help or advice would be appreciated. It's driving me crazy... vale Vale, if all normal treatments (including nasal irrigation) don't work, contact a rheumatologist to get screened for autoimmune vasculitides that show up often in sinuses, such as Churg-Strauss syndrome or Wegener's granulomatosis. Those are both rare diseases, and it is unlikely that you have either one. You can ask about anti-PR3 and anti-MPO tests, though those are not 100% accurate in determining whether CSS or WG is actually present. Good luck.. >The doctor doesn't seem to know... >All my life I have had recurring problems with congestion, where I won't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >was left with really severe congestion that I couldn't do anything about >except use nasal spray (Afrin) You cannot take that for more than 3 days or it is addictive. >or Sudafed, but that Sudafed barely >helped. I'm trimming out some un-necessary details from the story so to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >didn't require OTC nasal sprays. Even so I didn't really want to be on >Flonase for the rest of my life It is essenially harmless (apart from very minor steroid absorption). You can try it at a lower dose if you want - it may work just as well. >or anything, and it never fulled cleared >up, so I decided to quit using it and see what happens. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >feel like, maybe there were some after effects of using Flonase that >caused a 'rebound' effect, but it's been a month. No there are no such effects. > I don't know what to >do. I'd like a night where I could sleep on my side again without one >side getting too congested to breathe through. One side is ok. > While not as serious as >some things I have heard described, I don't think this is normal? > >Any help or advice would be appreciated. It's driving me crazy... > >vale Try cold water evaporative humidifier while you sleep! S² This may have nothing to do with your condition, but with my own nasal/sinus/allergy issues, I've often been helped by getting the ducts professionally cleaned where I live. In a new home, there can be tons of drywall and construction debris in the ducts. In other homes that haven't had their ducts cleaned in 3-5 years, mold, dust, and all sorts of things can build up in your ducts. Of course, this presumes that you allergically react to those things -- the advice you've gotten earlier about seeing an allergist seems to make sense to me. In general, I'd look at environment controls where you are as something that might help a little... Steve > Try cold water evaporative humidifier while you sleep! > > S You might want to try the "clear" Breathe Right strips (I suggest the clear vs. the opaque strips). Also, in the discipline of Yoga, there are nasal breathing exercises that help to keep the nasal passage open. While these suggestions aren't cures, they are helpful. Now, if I can only figure out what ingredient(s) is in those darn Breathe Right strips! Understand the inventor had unrelenting nasal problems and used some common product that is found in most homes ... he eventually went on to market the strips and they are somewhat costly........but for right now they do help immensely. Maybe it's just something like Vicks!!! > The doctor doesn't seem to know... > All my life I have had recurring problems with congestion, where I won't [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > vale > You might want to try the "clear" Breathe Right strips (I suggest the > clear vs. the opaque strips). [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > costly........but for right now they do help immensely. Maybe it's > just something like Vicks!!! Did you read the included pamphlet? Apparently there is something about the shape that pulls open the nasal passages without the need for medicine. They also sell a kind that has menthol on the strips. I'm doing a bit better since going on the Flonase. Is it possible for a problem like this to worsen with time? Even though it always seemed like I was congested to some degree, I never really had to use OTC products for longer than a few days. Now I have no alternative but to use a prescription drug and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. > The doctor doesn't seem to know... > All my life I have had recurring problems with congestion, where I won't > be able to breathe well through my nose for weeks or months at a time. > It was never so bad as it's been lately. See an ENT. He can do a CT scan which will reveal any anatomical blockages like a deviated septum. -- Steven L. |
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