maichim

Hi prncssxjx
I was experiencing almost the same symptoms on and off since October. The only diference was that my headaches and head pressure were sometimes accompanied by dizziness. Back in November my headache was so bad, I drove into an ER of a hospital nearby because I had no idea what was causing it. A few weeks earlier my doc had suggested I had a sinus infection, but like you, I really didn't feel congested or had much discharge. At the ER they did a CT scan of my head and found nothing alarming so sent me back off to my doc. He continued to treat me for a sinus infection and eventually referred me to an ENT. After 2 more months of headaches and dizziness (by the way driving is really hard because I get a little dizzy), they did a CT Scan of the sinuses specifically, and did prove that my sinus linings were inflamed and diagnosed me with sinusitis. It's been a real struggle, but just in the last two weeks they started injecting steriods directly into my sinuses and I think (I hope) this might be helping. My ENT said he doesn't think I actually have much congestion, but he sees that my sinus lining is inflammed, so this is considered sinusitis as well. All of these things are commonly called a sinus infection, although with a true infection you should experience congestion, pressure, headache, gross discharge and I've heard of many stories of an odor coming from the infected mucous.

I an 100% certain that a sinus infection, or sinusitis, etc., causes severe headaches and pressure. Everything in your head (incl. ears, eyes) is so intimately related to the sinuses that any type of pressure can cause headaches behind the eyes, into the ears, etc. During one of my worst weeks, I also had a severe earache and swollen glands under my ear by my jaw. My sinuses were really bad and there was so much pressure. My bro who is a doc said that it sounded like my glands were doing exactly what they should be...draining the infection (I may not have translated that properly). Also, don't forget, you have sinus cavities in you cheecks, next to your nose, above your eyes, and towards your ears. If you get sinusitis in any of these, all can feel affected.

The regular docs seem to get kinda frustrated with sinusitis symptoms because maybe they know that what is happening really isn't life threatening, but we patients come in all panicked and freaked out like we have a brain tumor. They really should appreciate how scary and upsetting it is, not to mention how horrible the patient really feels. My ENT seems to understand, but he sees this all day so nothing I say stikes him as odd.

After the second round of steroid shots (I have to do one more) and 6 months of absolute suffering (I have never had a sinus problem before), I am finally convinced that all my deadly symptoms were related to the sinusitis. It is really hard to believe when you feel like such an invalid. Get to the ENT, because even the RX's that my regular doc was perscribing was making me worse because they were decogestant/antihistamines. Antihistamines dry you out, and in my case I needed the lining to thin out instead of dry up. I also use saline nose spray, drink tons of water, use a humidifier, and a steriod nose spray of the aqueous form (so not to dry out). Smoking of course isn't good, cause you don't need the tar going up there, and any sinus sufferer will tell you alcohol (esp. beer)can cause a major attack. I guess the alcohol can make your blood vessels in your head expand. So while your getting better, you will also give your lungs and liver a break, but sadly life can get pretty boring! Sorry so long, but you sound like you're suffering and it sounds a lot like what I've been going through and really found help from everyone here on this site.

Good luck and be well.....