The Big Bad Sinus Infection

[gcsmithjr]

I second roses4lace's comments on the benefits of using the spray bottle vs. the neti pot, particularly since it sounds like you're sinus challenges are fairly severe. The SinusRinse bottle helps get more of the saline up into the sinus cavities (and roses is right - don't ever use plain water - it comes with pre-mixed packets but you can mix your own salt to add to the water) and once you get used to it the feeling can actually be kind of pleasant (although it will be weird at first).

There are other options but most involve a mechanical machine (water pik or grossan irrigator) that is kind of expensive and less convenient.

As for your concerns about the drugs, I understand - but Sudafed has been around forever - you might also consider Zyrtec instead of Allegra, Zyrtec is now available over-the-counter so you wouldn't have to worry about a prescription.

Give the SinusRinse bottle a try and hang in there.

[helgadog]

I can understand where you are coming from. My ent had me on prednisone 6 pills daily for 10 days themn 5 a day for 2 days and so on. I was also on clindmyicin 3 times a day for for 21 days and bactrim twice a day for 21 days. Felt better for about a week. Then headaches return fullness in my sinuses never any gunk its like its in there but it won;t come out. now find out there are polyps my left side was to congested even to insert the probe in the office to look. So back on another round of the drugs with sinus surgery this friday. Really can't wait so tired of headaches and just general blah feeling. Hope this helps you decide what to do,
helga dog

[arihalli]

Originally Posted by collegefbfan

I guess that is what I have and what I have had. I would really appreciate any help you all can provide.

I went to the ENT doctor in November and he prescribed Cefrazil (sp?), and Singulair, and told me to get some Mucinex DM. I took all of the antibiotic, took some of the Singulair, and some of the Mucinex. I got better. Then, right after Christmas, it all came back. I went to the doctor again on January 17th. My little boy had had pinkeye and ear infections, and some type of respiratory infection. The doctor gave me Avelox and some codeine cough medicine. It helped and I got better. I was done with the antibiotic and a few days later, it came back again. I went back to the doctor just 12 days later than the last visit. This time he prescribed Omnicef and told me to take the rest of the Singulair and one Mucinex a day.

Is anyone on here having these types of sinus problems? Mine is mainly related to a stuffy head with plenty of gunk coming out. No real sinus pressure. I also do home remedy nasal flushes at least once a day.

Thanks.

My story is essentially the same.....about 3 years ago i started getting my allergies back (to all pollen) during the summer which brought sinus/asthma/nasal drip & acid reflux problems, .......i went on all sorts of antibiotics which did help for part of the time.....this year has been the worst as the frost has LONG since set in - and i still have sinus problems......i went on Ceftin/Cefdiner each and they worked for THAT period of time in easing the problem.....but each time i still get back the signs/symptoms and altho i freq shower and use nasal rinse - i still have the problem......mine came originally from allergies but since there is no goldenrod in the winter - i went to an ENT......he said i wasn't THAT bad but he felt the sinus surgery would help as there was a narrowing in the passages......i asked the Allergist to look at the CAT scan of the sinus's and she disagreed.....felt it wasn't necessary - perhaps an endoscopy she thought and she also felt i should seek another opinion.....which is what i am doing in 2 weeks......one lady at work had the sinus surgery and she felt much better - myself?....i am scared of the packing and unpacking....i have low pain threshold - but if the second ENT thinks its necessary i WILL undergo the procedure.....i hear its fairly routine and in 2 weeks or so - one should be back to work.......my wife has also suggested naturopath - but i once had poor experience with homeopath and i resist that option for that reason.......one thing i have learned is that EACH time i have sinus problems - i have to be careful with acid reflux.....big meals are out.....eat small meals......i don't know how much the acid reflux (which i believe was a byproduct of sinus problem) contributed to asthma - but i suspect it was partially to blame.......definitely a shower before sleep and sinus rinse EASES the problem......thanks for sharing your experience - it was like a mirror of mine.......

[arihalli]

Originally Posted by gcsmithjr

I second roses4lace's comments on the benefits of using the spray bottle vs. the neti pot, particularly since it sounds like you're sinus challenges are fairly severe. The SinusRinse bottle helps get more of the saline up into the sinus cavities (and roses is right - don't ever use plain water - it comes with pre-mixed packets but you can mix your own salt to add to the water) and once you get used to it the feeling can actually be kind of pleasant (although it will be weird at first).

There are other options but most involve a mechanical machine (water pik or grossan irrigator) that is kind of expensive and less convenient.

As for your concerns about the drugs, I understand - but Sudafed has been around forever - you might also consider Zyrtec instead of Allegra, Zyrtec is now available over-the-counter so you wouldn't have to worry about a prescription.

Give the SinusRinse bottle a try and hang in there.

......

.GSsmith... thx so much for your input - i always read your posts with interest.......i have a few questions for board members......1.have they found that the GROSSAN or WATER PIC have been BIG improvements over the NETI/SINUS BOTTLE?........also, 2. has anyone found the ZYRTEC better than Allegra?.....and finally, 3. if i am allergie to all pollen and its 0 degrees up here in upstate NY....and the pollen has long since been killed off - is there really and benefit to antihisitimines at this point?.......i asked my allergist and she wavered on that answer also........i live in one of the sinus capitols of the world (binghamton) and people at work suffering from sinus state they do take antihistimines quite a bit - but if mine is allergy induced - is there really a benefit?.........tx so much for any help and sharing......

[gcsmithjr]

Here's my best shot at answering your questions:

1. Based on my experience and my ENTs recommendation, I switched from the WaterPik (which I used for 2 years) to the SinusRinse bottle and found that the SinusRinse bottle works better for me (although there are people who swear by the Grossan/WaterPik and who would tell you the opposite) - the Neti Pot doesn't work as well because it relies on gravity while the SinusRinse bottle allows you to spray the liquid up into your sinuses. For me the SinusRinse bottle gets a larger volume of liquid into the sinuses and is much cheaper, simpler, more convenient and quicker to use. The WaterPik was fine but it shoots a narrower stream and it seemed like you had to aim it in the right place to get the liquid into the nooks and crannies, plus the WaterPik attachment tended to cause some nosebleeds in places it touched inside my nose. My ENT recommended the WaterPik for several years but switched all of his patients to the SinusRinse bottle when they became widely available.

2. I'm not taking either right now but I preferred Zyrtec to Allegra - it seemed to be a little stronger (and the fact that Zyrtec is now available over the counter so you don't need a prescription is a huge plus in my book - I guess that depends on how much you pay for a prescription).

3. I can only tell you what my doc told me which was "the best cure for your symptoms will be cold weather". If your symptoms are pollen allergy induced you should be pretty safe this time of year - and one of the downsides of taking antihistamines in the winter is they can dry out your sinuses even more during this dry time of year (which can cause the mucus to thicken and the tissues in your sinuses to become more inflammed).

Hope all of that helps.