Yesterday was my 4th trip to the PC Clinic since Jan. 3rd. Had to wait 2 month for my 1st appointment, Aakk. In Nov 05 I picked up an ear and sinus infection and couldn't get an appointment until Jan... I couldn't stand the pain and the T3 I had didn't help enough, so I started taking a pseudoephedrine 12 hr decongestant. Yes I know, it is not recommended, but I thought it would be ok as long as I kept an eye on my BP.
The decongestant really does ease the excruciating head and ear pain quite a bit. I haven’t noticed a great increase in my BP but it does make my heart beat increase. Now when I’m speaking of a faster heartbeat I am talking maybe 70 or 80 beats per minute instead of my normal 60 to 65. To me that is very uncomfortable.
I am thinking that it’s the decongestant interfering with the flecainide I take (which work is supposed to not only help my rhythm but to keep my heartbeat under 60 as much as possible). Therefor my pacemaker is not keeping my heart chambers beating in synch, like it usually does. I have a pacemaker because of blackout spells and to help my heart chambers to beat in synch, (The Doctor had a long name for the problem but, as usual, I can’t remember). Problem is it only corrects it when my heart is beating under my pacemakers setting of 62.
So I said all that to say this; Because of the increase in my heart rate and subsequent unequal heartbeats in the upper and lower chambers happening more often than befor the decongestant, it is wearing me down.
Yes – I’ve told the Doctor, so, yesterday, after writing me a script for my 3rd round of antibiotics, he finally made me the appointment with my ENT (I hate mandatory referral junk). He said my faster heartbeat might be caused by the decongestant and I was to stop taking it. He said that he wished he could do more but that was the soonest appt…. He gave me no alternative relief except pain pills.
My problem is I’m looking at another 5 week wait just for that appointment because the antibiotics are only helping for a little while and the pain starts to come back within days after finishing. I could keep on and on explaining my heart conditions but I just want to ask a general question.
QUESTION:
How do heart patients find relief from ear and sinus pain if they are not able to take decongestants to relieve the pressure?
I need some suggestions here…
Please…
I shouldn’t have to choose between horrendous head pain or extra heart problems.
Enie

Note: In time past I’ve tried several alternatives that did not help me at all or even made things worse – corisidenD, flonaze, saline, antihistamines.

PS I’m allergic to penicillin and also I take a lot more meds than Flecainide.
I also take - Atenolol, Plendil, Celebrex, Plavix, Aspirin 81, Nexium, Zetia, Nitro patches, plus, Albuterol, and T3 as needed,
And, I started Zyrtec a month ago although I can’t tell any difference except it makes me sleepy.

basically you just have to tough out the pain. I have had a head cold and can't take anything for it since i could possibly put me into SVT (which I am kinda trying to do at the moment. Long story). Have you tried taking Mortin or Ibuprofin tho with the list of drugs you are on I don't think it would be wise. Your doctor should have been more help. try asking the pharmasist and see what they can suggest.

'tough out the pain'? Aakk
Sounds like you could use some ideas too.
I can't take Motrin because of the Celebrex, I have T3 but I'm just not crazy about taking T3 all the time.
Surely there are some herbal or home remedies that work to ease this pressure...
I know this is not heart related, but if I keep taking sudafed …….
Even any ol'time solutions that don’t involve menthol or mustard packs will be greatly appreciated.
Surely people with heart problems get ear and sinus infections too.

enie

I have a congenital heart defect and svt. I don't need any suggestions. YOu can take the antibiotics that the doctor gives you but taking any kind of herbal drugs or remidies could do more harm especially with all the drugs you are taking.

Doctors will mostoften tell you to tough it out since so many otc drugs will increase the heart rate. Unless you don't mind going into svt nurmerous times then go ahead take what ever.

kathy c
Sorry if I offended you. Didn't mean to. It's just that my head and ear hurts worse than my heart right now and has been hurting since Nov.
Sorry

I use CoricidinHBP. I have found that since my bypass I cannot handle the decongestants at all. It has caused me to have angina in the past and it's just not worth the anxiety of it.

:wave: I've been going through this chronic sinus congestion thing. It blows up inti full-blown infection now and then. Antibiotics knocked it down but not out. I've had allergies all my life.

With my history, acetaminophen is my only pain med without prescription, even then they all mess with my INR. :(

I've been drinking warm fluids (watch the caffeine and green tea :nono: ). That seems to help. :)

My PCP suggested nasal irrigation. I pour about 1/2 cup saline solution into each nostril daily. It drains out through the other nostril and sometimes my mouth. It may sound gross and is a little weird at first, but I've gotten used to it. Most important, it seems to work a lot. It killed a post nasal drip before it could take hold. :D

Thanks guys for the advise...

heartcreature,
I had seen the ad on tv, but I think I picked up the wrong Coricidin. The one I tried was CoricidinD and it messed me up. I will give CoricidinHBP a try but gingerly...

tomh,
I drink extra weak tea and I'll just heat it in the mic.
The kind of caffeine that is in tea doesn't bother my heart as long as I take it easy and it is weeeeak.... (I make 2 quarts of tea with one tea bag).

What is the recipe to make the saline? I'll try it.
enie

I use chloropheniamine maleate, an antihistamine that does not increase my heart rate or BP since I take other meds to lower those. Sudafed sends my BP up 30-40 pts, not good in my condition.

Hi Gojoe,
I didn't know it was safe for people with heart trouble. I'll check it out. I remember I used to take it back in the 70's, so I know that stuff makes me sleepy. But since zertec makes me sleepy too, I just as well try the chloropheniamine and see how that works instead.
enie

I use 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 cups of water - very weak. The idea is to approximate "normal saline" - the body's natural solution.

I had the same experience with chloropheniamine maleate. I was in an anithistamine fog for many years. Claritin and Nasonex are my best allies these days.