I'm confused about my chronic sinusitis

[VMLeichliter]

Hi, I'm Vicky and I'm new here, but I'm not new to my situation. I've been dealing with chronic sinusitis for 6 years. At first it was pain in my face and swelling. At first I would run to the dentist because I thought it was my teeth. Then I started taking sinus meds over the counter. I suffer with the pain and swelling all year long. My doctor and I counted 15 sinus infections that she actually treated. (Not to mention how many I had that I didn't see a doctor for.) Anyway, I had a ct scan a few months ago and my doctor referred me to an ENT. I was told that I have pretty severe chronic sinusitis and a deviated septum that is blocking my sinus from draining properly. I would need surgery to correct the deviated septum and work to creat an opening for my sinus to drain as well as clearing out the infection from my sinuses. Okay. My husband didn't like that answer, so I went for a second opinion. I was told the exact same thing. I asked if there was a drug I could take and I was told that the only way to clear my infection was to create a way for my sinuses to drain. My husband still didn't like that idea. Well, okay, but I'm still swollen and I still have pain. I take over the counter medication daily and I'm sure those aren't good in the long run. I went for a third opinion and this ENT says I hardly have any infection and that my sinuses are really normal and that every one has a deviated septum and that everything looks normal. Really, the last time I was on augmenton for 20 days, it just wasn't long enough for it to clear up my low grade infection. So now I've been put on Levaquin 500 mg and a steroid spray. It's been 3 days and I don't feel any better. Ironically, when I use the steroid spray, it comes right out of my nose on the side that's infected. Deep down, I don't think I have an infection. Nothing comes out of that side of my nose (even when I blow hard.) I think my first and second doctors are right, but I'm trying this for my husband. Any advise??????

[Super123]

Hi Vicky,

I sympathize with your problem. I had recurrent sinus infections for almost three years, around 3-5 a year, each requiring antibiotics. Basically, after every cold I would get, it would become an infection.

I didn't want to go for surgery, so I tried several things: sinus irrigation, which helped some; eliminating dairy, which didn't help at all; decongetsants which helped the symptoms only; and steroid sprays which really had no significant effect that I could tell. I went to the ENT several times, and he recommended the surgery but didn't push it. He told me I had a very badly deviated septum, and I did have some symptoms from that, apart from the sinus issue.

Well, after years of this I decided to have the surgery, septoplasty with FESS on both sides. After seeing the inside of my nose through the scope I saw that the septum was probably the reason why I kept getting recurrent infections. The septal wall on the deviated side was squashing the middle turbinate right up against the maxillary sinus opening, pretty much obstructing drainage. Made sense to me.

I had the surgery sixteen days ago, and my nose feels very good. I still irrigate, which has helped clear the post-op drainage. At my follow-up visit, I could see through the scope monitor that the opening was wiiiide open. He also removed the middle turbinate on that side too.

If I were you, sufferring with this as much and as long as you have, I would definitely have the surgery. It's not that bad, surprisingly little post-op pain, and it will **change your life**. I don't know what your relationship with your husband is like, but he needs to understand that this is a really debilitating condition that you have an dbe supportive of your decision. It's your nose, and your life. I would definitely have the surgery.

My surgeon was double board certified in Otolaryngology (ENT) as well as Facial Plastic & Reconstructive surgery. If you can find a similarly credentialed physician, so much the better.

HAVE THE SURGERY.

[reader1]

If you do not have any other symptoms of allergy and you have tried allergic treatment for your sinuses with no improvement and 2 out of 3 doctors say you have a deviated septum, well....

[chigs489]

I would stop taking the Levaquin immediately. Aside from Cipro, it is the most dangerous drug on the market. Side effects can include peripheral neuropathy (systemic nerve damage), tendon ruptures (specifically the Achilles tendon), Serum Sickness, Psychosis, liver damage, etc.

Dr. David Flockhart of the Univeristy of Indiana concluded that up to 30% of people taking Levaquin can expect to experience a central nervous system reaction, such as anxiety, insomnia, even psychosis.

A book was written about these drugs called "Bitter Pills." The author's wife was destroyed by Levaquin.

I took it for 14 days in January, and then another quinolone called Avelox in March. I have nerve damage in my elbows and feet. I also have chronic tendonitis in my wrists and ankles. Symptoms have persisted over 3 months after finishing the drug. I can't exercise or even pick my 14 month old kid off the floor.

Dr. Jay Cohen gave congressional testimony about the dangers of these drugs. Levaquin receives more Medwatch complaints per year than almost all other drugs combined!

Augmentin and Zithromax are safe. Levaquin and Avelox are not. Bayer gives kickbacks to doctors to push their latest poison. Demand a different medication. If your doctor says "the drug is safe." Tell him 4000 articles on the Internet, countless medwatch reports (post-marketing), and numerous researchers suggest otherwise.

There are no mild reactions to Levaquin. If you get a sife effect, you can plan on being disabled for 6 months to a year.

[VMLeichliter]

Just an update. I spent most of last night in pain because my face throbbed. I put Vicks Vapo Rub directly onto my face. (Something I did when I was pregnant and couldn't use anything.) I'm trying not to use the decongestant. I took a sudafed yesterday, so maybe that might be part of my problem. Also it was hot and we had high humidity. I actually had relief when I was down in my basement since it was cooler down there.

All I know is that when my son a seven months old, he was bouncing in my arms and he ended up hitting my nose pretty hard. Not long after that occured, my sinuses started up. I've always gotten sinus infections and bronchittis, but after the hit on the nose, it's been worse. I've taken allergy medications in the past, but they never seemed to work. I even had a prescription and it didn't do anything.

I feel like the last doctor I went to made me feel like I was making the whole situation up. I'm going to wait through the throbbing and see if it goes away. If not, I'm going back to the last ENT I saw who recommended surgery. I think I've given the medical route all I can. I can't live on antibiotics either. What happens if I get another infection in another part of my body. I've exhausted all the antibiotics to try and cure an infection that isn't really there.

Thanks for listening. Vicky