Machaon

Sounds like your turbinates are swollen. When the turbinates are swollen, if you lie on your right side, your left middle turbinate will flatten out somewhat, and open up the left side, while your right middle turbinate will close up the right side, and vica versa.

If I had to start someplace, I would treat the sinus problem as if it was a reaction to food allergies. Reactions to foods that you are allergic to, take around three days to get out of your system. So even if you cut out milk, or beef, or corn, or wheat, or beer, or vegetable gums, or tomatoes, etc, for only one day to two, you might not see an improvement in your symptoms.

It might sound extreme, but if that was me, I would try a very simple diet for three days, all the while taking some kind of decongestant. If that worked, then I would start putting things back into my diet, one at a time, until the stuffiness returned, to find out those foods that play havoc with the sinuses.

If you are allergic to multiple foods, which is normally the case, trying to find out exactly what foods, in combination, might be causing your problems is very difficult.

To me, this is a sign of damaged mucus membranes, with or without an infection. The problem with damaged membranes is that, sooner or later they will become infected. Once they become damaged, it causes a vicious cycle of infections.

There may be other allergies involved, besides foods, caused by allergens that either touch your skin somewhere, or that you breath.

Best of luck and health for 1995!