Nasal Steroids - Allergies Message Board

Icky_Metal · 02-23-2006, 09:26 AM

My allergist INSISTS that steroids should work for my allergies and that if I still have symptoms, it is because I have some other issue (i.e. non-allergic rhinitis). He also doesn't believe in food allergies causing sinus inflammation.

Anyone with allergic rhinitis taking steroids and getting little to no benefit? For me, they help, but only modestly.

sneezydiva · 02-23-2006, 11:45 AM

If they are working only modestly than it could be that you have so much congestion that the spray is simply coating the mucus rather than reaching your nasal tissue. My allergist describes it as putting oil on water. I used to think they didn't work the greatest too until my allergist instructed me to irrigate immediately before using it. Now I can't live without my nasal steroids.

My allergist also instructed me to wait about 5 minutes between my first spray and my 2nd spray. This allows the first spray to start to open you up, and helps the 2nd spray reach deeper into the nose.

Have you had a CT scan? it's also possible you have polyps. My friend had horrible ones that only prednisone could shrink. But eventually she had surgery to remove them.

osmonxp · 02-23-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icky_Metal

Anyone with allergic rhinitis taking steroids and getting little to no benefit? For me, they help, but only modestly.

Keep in mind that sometimes you need to find the right steroid spray for you, I have used Flonase, Rhinocort and Nasonex but I got little to none benefit from them until 2 years later when my ENT doctor switched me over to Nasacort which started working right-away.

Halls · 02-23-2006, 08:33 PM

I hate nasal steriods!! Theya re so bad for you and after long term use they can make you worse which is what they did to me!! I ended up with severe pain in my sinuses because of NasacortAQ and I couldn't figure out why. Finally my ENT looked up into my sinuses and they were so badly inflammed. Seems the spray was causing it at that point. I immediately stopped taking the spray and started to feel better. Unfortunately I still have discomfort now and than in my sinus and I feel it is from the sprays!

MandyPandy · 02-23-2006, 09:05 PM

I never had much luck with the nasal sprays. I think it was because I was allergic to so many things (20 out of 20 I was tested for). I also do not beleive that food allergies cannot cause congestion. It is even known that migraines can cause congestion so I don't know how food allergies could not. Maybe you need to find a different allergist. I also agree that there are many steroid nasal sprays and it might take finding the correct one.

good luck!
Amanda