Sinus infection and dizziness - Sinus Problems Message Board

violet6 · 05-06-2008, 09:39 AM

Hi, all!

I just got diagnosed with a rather severe sinus infection...on CT scan one of the maxiallary sinuses was pretty much full of infection, which had also spread to some of the other sinuses. I think I've had the infection (resulting from an infected tooth) for five months. Symptoms included extreme fatigue. But also, I have been dizzy the entire time, also some depersonalization and other just yucky perception feelings. Haven't been able to work, have had some depression as well. At first the docs thought inner ear virus, then migraine. Now we know I have this sinus infection.

Does anyone out there with sinus problems think all this could be a nasty sinus infection? The doc gave me augmentin for 3 weeks...also medrol, but I haven't taken it. Been on the augmentin for 2 days, so far no change. Doc said next steps would be IV antibiotics or surgery.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated! Thank you so much.

(Oh yes, and I have had very little drainage from the infection...I think it's all stopped up inside!)

Violet

gcsjr · 05-06-2008, 12:04 PM

It definitely sounds like a severe infection that's not draining because of inflammation in your sinuses. The fatigue is very common and dizziness is not unusual because your sinuses and ears are very closely linked.

You should definitely take the medrol, it's the only way to get the swelling down so that the infection can drain out - you should also go buy a SinusRinse bottle at the drugstore and try using it a couple of times a day to help get the infected junk out of your sinuses (follow the directions and use the packets that come with it - it will be a little weird at first but should really help).

It sounds like the infection is causing inflammation and unless that gets dealt with the infection may come right back when you're done with the antibiotics because the swollen tissues will keep your sinuses from draining (and if that continues you may have to consider surgery which is not the place you want to be).

violet6 · 05-06-2008, 04:44 PM

Gcsmithjr--

Thank you so much for your reply. I guess I'm afraid of the Medrol making me feel weird emotionally. I took steroids years ago and I felt really depressed--some people seem to have the opposite effect. Well, I may just bite the bullet on that one and do it, as I simply have got to get better.

Today I also got a neti pot, apple cider vinegar, and eucalyptus oil to see if any of that sort of thing might help me. I'm already taking lots of vitamin c, some garlic, and fish oil, and also Culturelle so the Augmentin doesn't make me too sick. Have you tried levaquin? I was also afraid to take that, as I've heard it can make you have weird dreams and other yucky side effects...??? Still, it may be the best choice. Doc said next step was IV antibiotics or surgery. I'd probably opt for another round of oral antibiotics first...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've never had a stubborn sinus infection before. This one is from a sick tooth and was only diagnosed after five months, so it's had time to settle in.

Note: Has anyone ever experienced a weird sore spot in the neck/throat tissue on the same side as their sinus infection? I don't know if that is coincidence or if the infection could have spread somehow to the lymph node or something. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Have felt odd ache/pain in that area a few times now.

Thank you!!

Violet

snh39 · 05-07-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violet6

Gcsmithjr--

Thank you so much for your reply. I guess I'm afraid of the Medrol making me feel weird emotionally. I took steroids years ago and I felt really depressed--some people seem to have the opposite effect. Well, I may just bite the bullet on that one and do it, as I simply have got to get better.

Today I also got a neti pot, apple cider vinegar, and eucalyptus oil to see if any of that sort of thing might help me. I'm already taking lots of vitamin c, some garlic, and fish oil, and also Culturelle so the Augmentin doesn't make me too sick. Have you tried levaquin? I was also afraid to take that, as I've heard it can make you have weird dreams and other yucky side effects...??? Still, it may be the best choice. Doc said next step was IV antibiotics or surgery. I'd probably opt for another round of oral antibiotics first...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've never had a stubborn sinus infection before. This one is from a sick tooth and was only diagnosed after five months, so it's had time to settle in.

Note: Has anyone ever experienced a weird sore spot in the neck/throat tissue on the same side as their sinus infection? I don't know if that is coincidence or if the infection could have spread somehow to the lymph node or something. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. Have felt odd ache/pain in that area a few times now.

Thank you!!

Violet

Wow Violet, I was cruising this section for awhile, taking a break from the "inner ear" board and came across your post. (sorry, i'm following you :-)If you have this going into your neck be careful, it could have spread. When was your last antibiotic and was it via IV?

I ask because a friend of mine had her wisdom tooth extracted awhile back and I recall that it abcessed and spread to her throat. She soon after (and I've heard a wisdom tooth abcess can spread quickly) was running a very high temp, her throat swelled like a balloon and she had to go to the emergancy room for anitbiotic IV.

I think for you the swelling in the membrane needs to go down, but it sounds like the infection needs some serious attention too if it's spreading further to your throat.

You poor thing. This is a never-ending issue for you. I bet this is your main cause of the dizziness. No wonder you have migraines associated with it (unless of course, these came before).

Hang in there....snh39

gcsjr · 05-07-2008, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Have you tried levaquin? I was also afraid to take that, as I've heard it can make you have weird dreams and other yucky side effects...???

Yes, I've used Levaquin several times and have never had any issues, but everyone is different and I know that some folks experience side effects with it - it does seem to work really well for sinus infections.

Quote:

I'm afraid of the Medrol making me feel weird emotionally. I took steroids years ago and I felt really depressed

Steroids can definitely affect your mood - I assume the prescription for Medrol is for 5-7 days, which is a pretty short course. You may not quite feel yourself, but there really aren't many other options for getting that swelling down. When I'm on steroids I always have to watch my moods and remind myself that the meds are affecting how I feel - doesn't make me feel any better but helps me get through it (and it's only for a few days).

Hope you get to feeling better.