sinusitis - Sinus Problems Message Board

tiggerbengal · 07-28-2003, 07:14 AM

Hello,
I am hoping to find out if people on here have the same symptoms that I do. For about 6 years I have had a strange situation. When I breathe in thru my nose, I get a bad taste & smell. It is horrible. I cannot describe the smell or taste other than it interferes w/ my life! For years, the doctors did not do anything. I am 27, BTW. Until a few months ago. My primary doctor decided to run a cat scan of my sinuses, and supposedly it was sinusitis. They put my on biaxin, which did not help. SO, I went to see an ENT dr,and she gave me levaquin to take for 3 weeks, which did not help either. This post nasal drip or whatever it is has gotten much worse over the last month or so. It used to be where if I had it, I could go to sleep and when I'd wake up, it would be gone. Well, this stuff is staying with me for days at a time.
I am wondering if it is a fungal type of sinusitis, since no antibiotics have worked for me.
I have bad breath when this occurs too, and it feels like there is a big ball of snot in my throat.
Has anyone had this, and what haveyour doctors done for you?
Thanks,

Kim

Harry · 07-28-2003, 11:32 AM

Kim,
I have chronic sinus problems that have been with me for years. I also think it is a fungal problem since it has not responded to standard treatments. I posted a Topic about Tests done at the Mayo Clinic that says "96% of chronic sinusitis is cause by fungi"---- They found 40 different Fungi in 202 patients. That was in 1999. I hope some company has done some development on a treatment and cure???

I have printed out the the Mayo article and taken it to my ENT Doc but he's out of town for the next 3 weeks.

Have you heard of using collidal silver as a nose spray that contains 20 parts per million silver??? I found it use to be used prior to antibiotics but was discontinued but is still being marketed online. I would buy some but don't know what is a safe level that would kill the fungi???

I am trying to find out about any NEW treatment that will work--- Where I live alot of people have sinus problems -- it's a warm/ hot, humid/ moist, moldy --- place where fungus probably grows well.

Don't have any answers right now but I'll keep digging.

I wish you well---Harry

[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 07-28-2003).]

tiggerbengal · 07-28-2003, 07:39 PM

Hi Harry,
do u get a bad smell/taste, too? Its horrible

Sometimes it makes me nauseous. Hopefuuly this second ENT dr. will be able to find something to help. Allegra-D & Zyrtec dont help either.

Peter1266 · 08-01-2003, 05:31 PM

hi tiggerbengal

I have the same problem. I have this for about 9 months and I cant stand it. I got this when I got the Flu at the time, my doctor just gave me penicillin. I got better but then I still couldnt breathe with both nostrils and I would have this bad taste in the back of my throat. At first, I was to embarrassed to tell him that but then I did and he told me to check with the dentist. My dentist told me my teeth are good and your bad breath might be cause by something else. At that time I had no idea that my bad taste was because of my sinus problem. so im going to my ENT tomorrow and find out my result of my X-ray. I still havent taken leavquin.

If no medication is working then I would think the problem is fungal. To make sure, ask your ENT Doc.
tell me your symptoms. I have trouble breathing with both nostrils, bad taste in the mouth, sometimes fatigue and headaches, and runny nose.

I hope I helped a bit. Let me know how you are doing.

tiggerbengal · 08-01-2003, 05:51 PM

hi peter,
Ya, I guess you could say I feel tired, but I thought maybe it was because sometimes I dont sleep good or it's been rough at work. I do get headaches. If I put pinch on my nose, there is pressure. I called my primary doctor and asked her if she thought perhaps it could be fungal, but she doesnt seem to thing that because I am on lamisil for a fungus under my big toenail. According to her, lamisil kills any fungus in the body. I read up on lamisil, and is says nothing about other fungal infections; only that it treats nails.
So, I do think there is a fungus in my nose, or something. All I know is I have had this off and on for 6 years. My husband and I have cats, but I dont believe it has to do with them, because his parents had one before we were married, and this nasty crap in my throat never was present then.
I go see a 2nd ENT on 8/18.