sinus hell

I had sinusitis on and off for years, from my teens into my thirties. I had numerous courses of antibiotics and it used to be so excruciatingly painful that I couldn't move my head.

In my thirties, on holiday in the Spain I had a go at snorkelling in the sea. The first time I got out of the water, stood up, and took off my mask, after snorkelling for a good half hour, it was as if someone had opened a tap in my head. Water, a lot, poured out of my nose.

That was about thirty years ago and I've never had sinusitis since although I have taken every opportunity to snorkel in the sea.

I imagine that your sinuses are small and trapping infection in them :
Two members of my family had / have this long term problem but it can be resolved:
Buy a Neti pot .
Boots sell them or you get one from Amazon .
Boil water for at least ten minutes . I boil mine for far longer.
Allow the water to cool to a pleasant temperature .
Never use it hot - you don't want to burn your skin especially inside your nose !
Pour it into your Neti pot with a little sea salt and allow to dissolve and wash out those sinuses as many times as is tolerable .
One side at a time !

Don't allow anyone else to use your Neti pot and sterilise it carefully after use with Milton .

Using the Neti pot would replicate sea bathing as described by Salti .
A nice holiday in the sun with plenty of swimming would be far more enjoyable !
Please try it , but do be careful as regards temperature and hygiene .
Good luck and get well soon .

Neti pots or sinu rinses do work quite well for post nasal drip, & sinusitis, but the downside for me is that an hour (or 3) afterwards when I'm going about my business, I suddenly get a gush of water down my nose - quite noticeable & too quick to grab a tissue - very embarrasing! So I don't often risk them. Don't know if it's just me?

I suffered for years and had various treatments until someone said to drink 2 litres of water a day, I used to drink more than 2 litres of tea and coffee a day and being such a simple solution doubted if it would make a difference, however it really worked for me, I have been fine since then with it only flaring up when I drink less water.

It’s worth a try, easy and free.

Some years ago, my left sinus was badly blocked. I couldn't breathe through that nostril and nothing seemed to shift it - not even six weeks of antibiotics. ENT consultant had a scan done and said I would get an urgent appointment for surgery. Eventually, they drained it and the cystology report revealed that it was a 'fungal ball' caused by aspergillus fungus. I now use a sinus spray to prevent any recurrence. I think it would be advisable for you to raise the question of fungal sinusitis with your GP and ENT consultant. It's not uncommon.

I meant to say 'steroid nasal spray'.

Is there never an end to this, 8 months of chronic sinusitis - it's the smelly variety, where all I can smell is what I'd describe as dead rat in my nostrils! Had steroid nasal sprays. antibiotics, inhalers, nothing's moving it. Been to hospital for an investigation of nose but my nasal passages are too narrow to get the tube through. So, back to the GP again, if I can get an appointment. It doesn't hurt but is a very miserable condition to live with (the headache never seems to go away) and I convince myself that the nostril smell is so strong, surely others can smell it, which friends re-assure me they can't. Will now try a Neti-pot

I have PM'd you, boheminan. Your symptoms are exactly what mine were.

glad its not just me, gp told me to chase up ent again tomorrow,i have a neighbour who is never ill,i could belt them i walk my dog and if i meet them they say are you ill again,like i get pleasure out of it, i actually said to them yesterday i would swop my nose for theirs and see how happy they were feeling so ill all the time,will buy a neti pot,thank you

Did you get any relief annodomini?
All the above symptoms sound like mine.
I've only found warm salt water to help. I use an empty eye dropper to administer the saline solution in my nose and ears before bed most nights.

Theexwife

I suffered for years and had various treatments until someone said to drink 2 litres of water a day, I used to drink more than 2 litres of tea and coffee a day and being such a simple solution doubted if it would make a difference, however it really worked for me, I have been fine since then with it only flaring up when I drink less water.

It’s worth a try, easy and free.

Have you given up tea and coffee then Threexwife?

Well I know many will disagree with me but if I have chronic pain or I’m worried about my health I pay to see a private consultant.
I worked hard for my money and will spend it trying to stop my pain
You can’t put a price on your health and the waiting lists are so long, it annoys me to have to do this but as a nurse of over 30 years ( now retired)I believe in the NHS and so hope it gets sorted once this government goes.

I get sinusitis on a regular basis but I also have perennial rhinitis, 12 months non stop allergies. I live on allergy tablets and nasal sprays, I have pain in my cheeks and headaches. I also have Sjogren's syndrome which is a lack of water in the body causing multiple side effects in the body two of which are dry eyes and mouth which results in corneal ulcers and mouth ulcers. I am under a specialist for the problems Sjogren's has caused. My mum had the same problem and my eldest son also has it. I think it is genetic.

I cannot walk past shop that sells those fancy bath bombs as it triggers off sneezing and I used to dread going into Debenhams when they were open as there was always an assistant spraying darned perfume in my face when I walked in.

namsnanny, I have PM'd you.

Namsnanny, I still drink tea and coffee, I dont have the water to sip as you would other drinks, I fill a 2litre filter jug with water and drink glasses straight down throughout the day.

Thank you Theexwife I shall definitely try this 😊

annodomini Thank you 👍

You could visit a homeopath.

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I have had sinusitis on & off for decades. Just over a year ago I had a cold and my sinuses didn’t clear, for me it was only one side in particular. I had 3 short courses of antibiotics, did nothing. Followed GP advice with trying antihistamines, did nothing. Was advised to use a spray which also had no effect. Eventually after 6 months was referred to ENT. Had the endoscopic camera examination and referred for CT scan, given 1 month of a different antibiotic, a steroid nose spray and told to use the nasal rinse, that’s something I have been told I will have to do for the rest of my life. After the CT scan, I had an appointment with an ENT surgeon who booked me for a Functional Endoscopic Sinus surgery (wash out). I had it done 3 weeks ago, no problems at all, it took around 2 hours from going in to the theatre to waking up in recovery. I was amazed to find that I could breathe through my nose, no bruising, as it’s done via the camera, no bleeding and day surgery. The follow up appointment is 4 weeks after surgery. I was asked to resume the nasal rinse 3 days after the surgery and to add a steroid to the rinse. So far so good. I’m breathing better than I was pre surgery and it’s the best it’s been in over a year. I can live with the nasal rinse, I don’t find it uncomfortable and I’ve got used to the routine. All this was done on the NHS & I can’t fault the hospital, staff or the actual surgery. I think it’s definitely worth talking to an ENT surgeon to see what treatment you can have.

A grain of Celtic sea salt taken before every glass of water will greatly help absorption

My son had a congested nose for years he was always sniffing. Not just a gentle normal sniff but a huge trumpet sniff. He can’t blow his nose (he’s autistic) because he’s afraid of his ears popping. I bought him all manner of sprays, he takes antihistamines daily but still the trumpet kept playing. It drove me insane. Then I came across a device that uses infrared light. They’re freely available online, just search for infrared nose therapy. Cheap too you can buy one for under a tenner. It’s amazing, it really stops the nose congestion.

Just to add we did the nasal rinse thing and it did help a bit but he doesn’t need to do that anymore.

I used one of these. Then made my own solution as mentioned earlier by Esmay.

www.weldricks.co.uk/products/neilmed-adult-nasal-irrigation-sinus-rinse-kit?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShop&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZoyRGOMa0PvdYdrfqkDnQYOrwVIB-fcEcej05cx2IF4Z7VCokWv7EhoC7IUQAvD_BwE

Also are you having any problems with your back teeth?

The largest sinuses are a pair above the back teeth of your upper jaw. The roots of the upper teeth are very near or may even extend into the sinus cavity. Consequently, inflammation in the sinuses might cause pain in nearby teeth. Similarly, damage to or infection in a tooth may lead to persistent (chronic) sinusitis.

Buttonjugs - can you advise on brand please - so many being marketed, would prefer recommendation.
I got Covid last August, not too bad but was left with nasal drip. Used steroid nasal spray from Dr and better but still wake up every morning (and sometimes at night) with a completely blocked nostril.
(didn't pm you as feel others will want to see reply too)