Sinus infection from hell!

[Esoteric]

Your last comment about having surgery because you were sick and tired of antibiotics left me speechless. I'm not sure how to find the words to share my concern.
I said almost those very words to my Doctor in 1990 about a small fatty tumor that was causing some pain in my low back. We did the surgery, it was relatively minor, and the surgery healed very quickly. But, I have never been the same since. You see that was the trauma to my body, where my body said enough! and I got Fibromyalgia...
Many people get Fibromyalgia following a surgery or a car accident or neck injury. I've had them all, but that was the situation that changed my life forever, disabling me totally. I haven't worked since 1992. I'd give just about anything to go back in time and NOT have that surgery. It just about ended my life. I am not that person anymore. I cannot play racquetball, run, bike, waterski, play volleyball, work, etc.
Please give your body more time to heal before you resort to surgery. Antibiotics are a minor convienence compared to living with Fibromyalgia. Log onto the Fibromyalgia portion of this health board to get a peek of what could happen.
My surgery was minor. Fibromyalgia is not.

[mlgable]

I too was getting sinus infections/sinusitis so bad that I would be in tears at the docs office when I finally couldn't take it any more. The only antibiotic that really did much for me is called Zithromax which is nicknamed the Z-Pack. You take 2 pills the first day and then one very day for 4 days. It is one of the newer super power antibiotics. Also your doc needs to realize that if you have a very severe infection you may need to be on antibiotics continuously for at least a month straight to get rid of it especially if it has been brewing for a while. I have not had a sinsus problem at all for going on 2 years now this coming February since starting on daily antioxidant supplements. If you are not using a daily antioxidant supplement you may want to add this to your routine as even my health care provider was amazed at my last physical almost a year ago at what it had done for me regarding my sinus problems. One other thing that is being used with some success is a neti pot. You can ask your doc about this or look it up on the web to find out how it works. Also limit your dairy while your sinuses are bothering you as this can aggrivate things. Also if you happen to be a migraine sufferer too remember that when your sinuses flare up it is also possible to have a migraine at the same time so you may have to decide if some of the pain is migraine or all sinus pain. A co-worker and I have both been to the ER with sinus infections and migraines all at the same time. I had this happen first and when she had it happen she came back saying "I never knew you could have a sinus infection and a migraine at the same time." Believe me we both decided that is NO FUN at all. Good Luck.

[jjaksic]

I am not opting for sinus surgery either. I also have a sinus cavity filled with gook, shown on my ct scan.
He did give me Rhinocort a nasal steroid. And I'm taking Allegra 4X day, 30 mg.
I just tried the irrigation technique which helps alot. I'd rather not even use the steroid because I'm very sensitive to all steroids.
I think the reason my left air cavity is so stuffed is because I had a terrible bout with a mold in November for two whole days. My sinuses stuffed up and my asthma worsened. I've had sinus infections. But mostly just perennial sinusitis. Since then I've never been the same. Oh, I also had just come off prednisone and my adrenal is working but not fully. I hear it can take over a year to get back to normal. Or maybe not.
So I'm wondering if this sinus cavity filled with gook because of the MOLD and I won't come in contact with this MOLD again--it was in an old box of photos which we have since reboxed & labled such!!! And once I irrigate those cavities, and I don't come in contact with that particular mold again, might my sinuses remain clear or clearer like they use to be???

[32skater]

I had sinus infections, a few a year, several years
ago. I opted for the sinus surgery and was very
pleased with the outcome of that. It was the
microscopic sinus surgery and it really made a
difference. They get all of the sinus's cleaned
out, polyps, whatever, so you have a fresh new
start. Recuperation was very minimal and well
worth the surgery.

[KZero11]

Here's an update on my sinus problem:

I had a surgury on Jan 2nd by Dr. Lionel Nelson (SF Bay Area -- great surgeon) which involved turbinate reduction, polyp removal, and septoplasty (correction of deviated septum). The surgury was a success...and although it took me a while to recover (bad reaction to oral steoroid), I now feel "normal" again! My heavy-headedness/wooziness has dissapeared and I can breath thru my nose better than I ever have before.

Now that my "structural" problem is out of the way, my focus is on (dust) allergy-control and future sinus-infection prevention. I still vacuum/wash my beddings every week, and I continue to use my trusty sharper image air purifier. I also use waterpik with sinus irrigation adaptor to rinse out my nose, which is great for me since my body don't tolerate medications too well.