Sinus infection from hell!

[KZero11]

I've been suffering for 6 weeks now with an infection from hell. I'm feeling woozy all the time because my sinus below my left eye is all clogged up (revealed by CT scan), and none of the antibiotics I've tried so far worked! If you've ever taken any antibiotic that worked well for you, lemme hear it so I can discuss it with my ENT doctor. Meds I tried so far:

Ceftin - no effect, even though it worked well the last time I had an infection
Biaxin - no effect
Avalox - made me really dizzy so I had to stop
Augmentin XR - currently suffering allergic reaction (rash), so I'm taking benadryl and staying home from work.

Thanks,
Kzero11 (sick, depressed, and going crazy)

[SnowyLynne]

I used to have sinus Infections like you descrobe.I finally got a belly full of fooling around.I had a good talk with my Dr.Told him It's never gone,we need a stronger better antibiotic.Don't have them anymore,but I forgot the name of the med......Have him to do a specimen of your nose contents.This should tell him the type of infection It is....

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SnowyLynne

[This message has been edited by SnowyLynne (edited 11-14-2002).]

[purple2067]

Boy, I really sympathize with you. When I was a kid, I had so many sinus infections that I missed 40 days of school one year. That was about 10 years ago. The problem was that I was allergic to a lot of anti-biotics, so when the drs found one that worked for me, they prescribed it over and over and over again until I eventually became immune to it, and after each sinus infection it left over a little bit of bacteria which then developed into a huge cyst in my sinuses. I had to have it surgically removed. While they were reomving the cyst, they also drained my sinuses. I'll tell ya, before that I used to get 10-15 sinus infections per year. Now I have maybe 2 or 3 a year, at most. (knock wood!)

Has your ear nose and throat specialist thought about as a last resort, surgically draining your sinuses? Also, are you on any sort of decongestant to help dry out your sinuses? Even with a good anti-biotic, you are still going to have congestion if you don't use a decongestant. Do you have any sort of deviated septom which is not allowing your sinuses to fully drain?

As far as good anti-biotics go, you have certainly used some of my favorites! When I was a kid, the one that they always put me on was called Lorabid. That is a very good anti-biotic for sinus infections, provided that you don't use it every single time you get one! (as with all anti-biotics, you can develop an immunity to it if you take it too much, like I did.) One that my friend is taking right now for a sinus infection is called Omnicef. What about Keflex? That is a pretty strong anti-biotic. Or Clindamycin? (not exactly sur eif that is used for sinus infections or not though). Or Cipro???? Or Ceclor??? You just have to be very careful taking anti-biotics for so long, because it can cause bad stomach problems such as diverticulitis.

Have you been using any sort of saline nasal spray to help clean out your nasal passages? I definitely agree with the other poster who said that your doctor should culture your nose and see what kind of bacteria grows. That will help determine the best course of action.

I hope that you get to feeling better soon. I know how miserable a sinus infection can make you feel!

Take care,
Elyse

[Esoteric]

I don't get sinus infections but I used to use a lot of anti-biotics, and no longer do. Instead, I use Essential Oils that have been produced for medical purposes. Oregano oil and cinnamon oil have been proved in a study to be as strong as or stronger than ampicillan or penicillan against E-coli and staph. The oil is diffused in the air and can also be used neet in small amounts on your skin.
If you can find such an oil it could help your antibiotic to finish the job. I only know of one company that sells essential oils created for medicinal purposes. Their oils are analyzed at a University hospital for purity and chemical content. I guess you will have to research for yourself if you are interested in adding such a thing to your health program as I don't think this board will allow me to give a companies name out.
Peppermint oil helps to open sinus passages and keep them open.
I rarely use antibiotics anymore, because as soon as I get symptoms of a sore throat or swollen glands, etc I start using a blend called Thieves, cinnamon or oregano oil. Within a very short time, I'm over it. Good luck with you.

[KZero11]

Thanks for tip guys. To answer some questions, yes my ENT doc and I are considering surgery. The CT scan showed some kind of a build up in my sinus underneath the left eye, and it could very well be a cyst (which explains why antibiotics aren't working).

I used Sudafed for a while as a decongestant and saline nasal spray to clean my nasal passage, but I stopped because they weren't helping my condition (constant wooziness). I am however taking Nasacort AQ steoroid spray to reduce the swelling of my nasal tissue. Oh and I did have a deviated septum but I got that fixed few years ago.

I have an appintment with my ENT doc again next week...I think I'll try to convince him to authorize a surgery because I'm sick of taking antibiotics.