This is a very brief description about my situation with sinus congestion. About 10 years ago I got a cold to which the congestion didn't leave. My throat remained hoarse as well. At this time being in school I had no idea even what a sinus was let alone why this was happening. I went to allergist but tested allergic to only dust and mold. I took a few shots but was unable to continue, in any case the guy didn't seem that bright and I doubt that was the problem. Since then, 99% of the time I have at least one side of the face blocked and i can feel that side swollen, the side of the nose tender, and the temple area slightly puffy as well. The congestion changes throughout the day. Usually at night it gets worse, sometimes clogging up both about 95%/80%. During the day it usually lessens. Every few hours it switches sides, its swollen on the right more than left. Some discharge is definately light green but mostly it is clear. During aerobic exercise, usually both sides clear up but there is usually clear
discharge.

In addition to difficulty breathing, I also have constant hoarseness of the throat and larynx, which also comes and goes. This is worse part since it is difficult to speak about a whisper. Although, sometimes my voice returns to normal for a few minutes on certain mornings.

Also, I get headaches, which I now obviously know to be sinus headaches, especially whenever sleep-deprived late at night, or sometimes waking up in the morning. Usually, they are on the side of the head that does not have the nasal congestion at the moment, but not always.

I went to a ENT specialist about the voice, since I didn't connect the sinus congestion with the voice troubles entirely, and he checked my voicebox and said it was fine. When I protested my throat was still sore, they nurse said to gargle with salt water and that would be good enough for me. So that was that. I also tried taking nasalcrom over the counter. I could spray it in the congested side of my face, and it would clear, but the congestion would simply switch sides, where another spray would be ineffective. Lately I bought a grosan nasal irrigator but got rid of it, since I didn't feel any positive effect. When I used it on the clear side, the water would go through without pollution, but on the congested side, I couldn't get the water to go through, it simply hurt, and at no time did I remove and impurites, so I got rid of that thing. I also tried an ear/bulb syringe filled with salt water, but again, the congested side wouldn't be effected by the saline, the water solution would just be suspended there and refuse to go through. It helped only in the most minor way, not enough to warrant its use.

Lately I went into a steam room, and to my suprise the nose cleared up almost instantly, although it was a bit runny with clear, and didn't last outside the place for long. Actually feeling what it is like to breath normally brought back memories and now I want more than anything to get rid of this sinus problem.  This congestion is year long and is not seasonal. So my question is, do I have a sinus infection? Or is it allergies? If so, why did the allergies start concurrently with the resperitory common cold?

Also, I should say also around 11 years ago, for the duration of around a year, I started taking antibotics to clear up the facial complexion, which were given to me by a dermatologist. As I child I didn't know what harm these could do. Sometime later, I think after the sinus thing started for all I know, my tongue started to be coated whiteish, and my breath began to be stale and fermented. I raised the issue with the dentist I had but they just mentioned brushing, but now I hear that antibiotics can cause bad bacteria to grow causing and infection which would cause this. Is this connected to the sinus problem? Is mold/fungi behind this all? Ive been seeing things here about candida and such, but I dont know where to begin. Ill try to see a specialist MD soon, but it will be a few weeks, and I want to start doing something about this now. Does anyone have a similar experience to mine? Anyone have advice? Thx