Sinus Infection anyone? Please post your experiences here.

[Beausoir]

Good God. I am 44 years old and just got back from the ER with my first sinus infection. I also have my very first ear infection.

The pain is incredible. The fatigue is amazing. I was beating myself up all weekend for being so tired.

This thing is kicking my ass.

I am on a Z-Pack for the infection.

How do you make the pain go away? Heat? Ice-packs?

I have to fly on Thursday. My ER doc wrote me a scrip for some Vicoden. She claims that flying with a sinus infection is excruciating. Yikes.

Gimme some home remedies to quell the pain.

[fizzgig]

1. no remedies but plenty of sympathy

i got my first and only ear infection at 19...all i could do was lie in bed and cry, it hurt so much.

:hug:

[Beausoir]

3. I just can't believe that I am this sick. It's silly.

Thanks for the sympathy. I seem to need lots and lots of it tonight.

[u4ic]

2. Your first at 44?

I can only wish. I've been through many wars with the dang things.

Steaming helps, but if you can find a neti pot, try that, too.

[Beausoir]

4. My ER doc suggested the Neti Pot but it scares the beejebus out of me.

Doesn't it hurt?! Alot?

[u4ic]

5. Not at all

I, too, avoided it for a couple of years thinking it will be a weird feeling, maybe pain, could I drown(!), etc.

I've just started a couple of weeks ago, twice a day, and I haven't had a problem at all. The relief from a stuffy nose is nice.

I hope you feel better soon. Sinus infections are awful. :pals:

[grace0418]

6. Have you ever breathed in a little water while swimming?

That's what it's like at its worst. Not painful, just weird. But it helps A LOT.

I feel for you. Flying is going to be excrutiating. Try to get it to pass through your system as much as possible before then. I definitely recommend the neti pot. But also just drink as much water as possible. I had a crazy bad ear infection about 18 years ago and flying has been hell on my ears ever since.

[piesRsquare]

7. My friend got me to do the neti pot thing

It doesn't hurt...just don't breathe through your nose while irrigating! Use warm water...it actually feels rather nice.

(yes, I'm one of those people who would accidentally do something like that! :rofl:)

I'm on antibiotics for a sinus infection right now...got my first one at age 20, get one or two every year ever since.

The fatigue is the worst. Even worse than the pain. It's amazing to me how the fatigue just instantly vanishes after two or three days of antibiotics.

On Edit: I got my neti pot at the drugstore (Walgreens)...in the cough-and-cold section. It's called "SinuCleanse". It's really cool:

[Beausoir]

14. Yes, I can not believe the fatigue.

I was really hard on myself for being so lazy but I can't muster the strength to do anything.

[Sequoia]

33. Just relax then, read a book, watch TV, etc.

Don't be hard on yourself, resting is part of the healing process.

[Connonym]

26. neti pots rock

it's not as awkward as you might imagine it being and you may be amazed at the amount of stuff it clears out of your sinuses. Bummer about the sinus infection. I've found that warm compresses help with the pain also. Hopefully the pain will be short lived and you'll mend up quickly

[Dora]

35. Chronic sinus infections here - I PRAISE THE NETI POT

I've had recurrent sinus infections for years. In the last two years I've found that I have fewer infections and I recover faster with daily use of my neti pot. I have the same Sinucleanse pot that somebody else posted about in this thread.

For my worst infections - with facial pain and headaches - I take three ibuprofen every six hours, and give myself warm eyepacks while laying down.

Give the neti pot a try. Best to do it standing up while you're in the shower. It won't hurt, but it will feel unusual at first - you're irrigating your sinuses with salt water after all. Lukewarm water - not too hot, or you'll cause further irritation. I send one full pot through each side every morning.

Be warned - using the neti pot can clear your sinuses of some ugly stuff. Don't be surprised at what leaves your head.... :scared:

[Beausoir]

37. That last sentence skeered me. But, I guess the whole point is to get rid of the bad stuff.

I think I'm going to give it a try.

[rockymountaindem]

41. This is making me want to buy one just to see what I can get out of there

But then again I'm just strange like that sometimes.

[cutlassmama]

8. Saline/salt water spray is best. It will dry it up.

Shoot it up your nose. Also, use a vibrating massager (on high) all around your face (sinus areas). It will make you sneeze and cough, but in about 20 minutes (and after tons of Kleenex) a lot of it will be flushed out and you will feel so much better. I've had problems for 30 years and those two remedies help the most. I also have a friend with chronic sinus problems and they have helped him too. Hope you feel better soon!

[sasquatch]

9. I had sinus surgery my senior year in high school

[vlas]

10. ouch

My husband found that putting his face in a sink full of warm water helped ease the pain while waiting for the antibiotics to kick in. Get well soon!

on edit: every few hours just for a few seconds!

[Deep13]

11. Cancel the flight.

Really, it seems a little silly to have to point that out. There's no reason to think you will be in flying condition in three days. Besides, no one else on that airplane wants your infection and you have no right to force them to be exposed to it.

Business trip? Non-refundable ticket? People waiting to see you? Planning for it for a long time? Cancel it anyway. You'll live.

[Beausoir]

13. Uhhh..sinus infections are not contagious. Sheesh. Talk about silly.

[Deep13]

15. Hmmm. It appears you are right.

Geez, where the hell does it come from then?

[Connonym]

27. bacteria

a lot of times your immunity is down a little with a viral infection like a cold and bacteria are able to take hold and start up a secondary bacterial infection with what started out as a viral infection. It doesn't "turn into" a bacterial sinus infection per se, it's just an opportunistic kind of thing.

A recommendation for the flight -- google Valsalva maneuver and/or Toynbee maneuver of auto inflation of the ear and practice these techniques to learn how to do it. Then while flying, as the pressure changes, gently use the techniques to equalize the pressure in your ear. These maneuvers are helpful even if you just have stuffy ears and aren't flying.

[MissMillie]

12. by Thursday you will be feeling better

the antibiotics will help to unpack the congestion in your head. It won't be gone, but it will be better.

Get as much rest as you can. Heat and moist air will help you blow out all the gunk that the antibiotics will be working to clear up.

[WolverineDG]

16. I had one so bad once

I thought I was having problems with my teeth. Turns out my sinuses were so impacted that they were pressing down on my jaw, causing pain in my teeth. Went to the doctor & got super-dooper antibiotics & decongestants (so good I lost 10 lbs of water weight; bad part: getting up every 2 hours to pee). I find that taking hot, steamy showers while massaging my face & head can really loosen that stuff up. Have lots of Kleenex at the ready if you try this, though.

And I would consider cancelling my trip. I've flown with plugged up ear tubes & it's not fun. I sympathize with babies who start crying when the plane descends. Imagine a 1000 icepicks being jammed in your ears.

dg

[Beausoir]

17. My molars are killing me. The ER doc gave me vicodin for the plane. I'm hoping it will work.

[WolverineDG]

20. It might be worth

looking into getting a face/scalp massage to loosen some of that gunk up. :)

dg

[Deep13]

44. I feel your pain.

Well, not right now I don't, but I have and know what it is.:-(

[Deep13]

18. I get at least one every year.

They are not painful for me, but I get all the other symptoms. I have chronic sinusitis. Lately I've been using that neti-pot saline nasal rinse. It is pretty disconcerting to use, but it does work.

[benEzra]

19. Saline rinse (the plastic squeeze bottle kind is easier to use than a neti pot for me).

For the pain, Sudafed + an NSAID (I like BC powder, but a strong dose of ibuprofen works) and find absolute dark and quiet. Lying down with earmuffs on and a warm wet, dark washcloth over the eyes after taking Sudafed + BC usually helps me quite a bit.

One thing that also works for me (but probably not for everybody) is to plug the drain in the shower, turn the lights off in the bathroom, and sit in the shower in the pitch dark with the water as hot as you can comfortably stand; the steam and humidity help clear out your sinuses, and the hot water running over your head and skin diverts blood flow to the surface, helping the sudafed/NSAIDS do their job. Dunno if that works for everybody, but humidity seems to help me. Experimenting with different head angles sometimes eases the pain as well (sounds wierd, but can shift the pressure in a way that makes it less painful).

Sinus problems are a bummer.

[jgraz]

40. YES YES YES. The saline rinse has saved my life

I used to get sinus infections regularly. I started rinsing every morning and I haven't had one in 5 years.

I use the NeilMed rinse: http://neilmed.com/

[benEzra]

48. That's exactly the one I was thinking of. Very easy to use. (n/t)

[otohara]

54. Neti Pot is Safer IMO

My friend got a terrible ear infection from the squeeze bottle - because you're blasting water up your nose vs allowing it to run through the sinus passages at a slower rate - I've used both.

[davsand]

21. Get a warm mist vaporizer.

Sleep with it running in the bedroom with you--preferably where you are breathing in the vapor. It will help loosen up part of that stuff. The antibiotics will start to kill off the bacteria, but you will actually feel better when the draining starts and the pressure reduces.

Sinus infections are, essentially, anaerobic bacteria that flourishes in the sinus when it is full of mucus for a long period of time. The bacteria grows out of control and the pressure starts to build. The key to it all is to get lots of fluids in there to help "wash" or flush it out. Avoid anything with antihistamines in it because that thickens secretions and slows down the draining. You WANT your nose to run--a LOT.





WARNING!! Gross information to follow. Stop reading NOW if you get easily grossed out!!!!!






Be prepared for the possibility of bloody yellow and green snot when it starts to drain. It might even smell pretty bad, but you have GOT to get it out of there if you want to feel better.

Feel better soon!



Laura

[OxQQme]

24. Vaporizer!

I also have frequent attacks and have been thru many 'cures' that have uncomfortable side effects. Recently have used a $13 vicks vaporizer with oils of camphor and eucalyptus and 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide into the two gallon vape tank. Stand with your face over the steam and breath deep. So far, so good for me.
And/or, while in that steamy shower, take a spray bottle filled with half water and half h202 (peroxide) and spray it into the fog.
H202 is nothing more than water with an extra oxygen molecule. Google h202+therapy or peroxide+therapy

Ocean brand saline nasal irrigation is good.

The original Claritin helped me for a couple of seasons. The new formulation not so much.


ymmv

[halobeam]

57. I agree

that was a very gross statement below.. but thanks for the warning LOL

Now a question, I just finished a seven day antibiotic for a sinus infection which literally swelled up the left side of my face, slightly closing my eye. (I actually looked younger on that side of my face, no thin skin under the eye..HAH!) Question is, I was warned of the drainage and nothing occured. I've been off meds for a week. Ever hear of this? The swelling is gone, the pain is gone. I never heard of this. Weird, isn't it?

[seemunkee]

22. Used to get them all the time

Can't do much for the pain, just wait for the antibiotics to take hold.
Some saline nasal spray helps a bit along with a dark room and lots of quiet.

When I started using steroid nasal spray it kept my sinuses open enough that I only get them occasionally, like one a year, as opposed to 4-5 times a year.

[Debbi801]

23. They're the worst....

The pain can be terrible. I had one year where I went from one to another. Finally, 10 weeks on augmenten (that was fun) seemed to finally knock it out totally.

Hot (as hot as you can stand) moist compresses applied to your forehead and cheeks, hot (as hot as you can stand) steamy showers, and saline nose drops or a netti pot will be lifesavers. Also, get your self some old fashion sudafed or mucinex to help dry some of it out.

The teeth pain will go away in a day or so.

Avoid moving too quickly from a horizontal to a vertical position.

You might want to see about rescheduling the flight. The difference in air pressure (if you're not pain free by then) will be pretty ouchy.

I hope it clears up quickly!

[July]

25. I thought I was having migraines, turned out to be a bad sinus infection.

I had pain that went from the top of my head down behind my right eye. Ice packs did nothing, but a hot pack helped greatly -- I could actually feel the gunk draining in my head (very strange but welcome feeling). I had to do two courses of antibiotics, and I took Mucinex, which helped somewhat (doctor advised me not to take it at night, because it supposedly "revs you up").

Instead of a neti pot, I used a device called Nasaline that I got at my pharmacy. It looks like a giant plastic syringe. You can either make or buy a saline solution to use with it (use warm water). It didn't hurt -- put the plastic tip against one nostril, lean over a sink, slowly press the plunger, and the water and, ideally, some of the gunk in your head comes out the other nostril.

You may find massaging the points where it hurts or moving the position of your head will also help drain some of the crap or give you a little relief.

Good luck.

[SoxFan]

28. Three Words:

Dark Orange Snot

[Beausoir]

30. Uhhh? Am I going to get that? Is that a bad thing? Lol.

[SoxFan]

32. Hopefully not!

About ten years ago I had a severe sinus infection. There was some bleeding, apparently.

Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink lots of water. If you dry out, the mucus gets heavy and sticky, and clings to the sinus cavity, which hurts like hell.

[Beausoir]

29. Thank you all for the helpful ideas.

I am going to get Sudafed and one of those nasal flush thingys.
Hot showers and compresses and taking a personal day today to rest, doze and read.

I really don't want to cancel my trip. It's the first time away from the kids in 2 years and I really need the break. Nervous as hell about the flight, though.

[Sequoia]

31. Your very first ear infection!?

I had quite a few of those, my last one from a blocked estation (sp) tube. To me ear aches are the worst pain of all, having most during childhood without any cure but a heat pack which helped just a bit. A few years ago I had a sinus infection that was so bad I couldn't smell anything for two years. It was pretty awful not being able to smell anything and made me feel so out of it for so long. And yes, flying with a sinus infection and ear ache will make it so much worse because of the air pressure. Even on a healthy day when I flew from Los Angeles to Atlanta my ears would hurt as we descended to the airport.

[Missy Vixen]

34. I'm the queen of sinus infections

I had surgery to fix the problem about 20 years ago; they stopped for awhile, but they're back and worse than ever ;-). I think it's time to invest in a neti pot, because I'm tired of the antibiotics regimen.

Sleep and rest. Your body is telling you it needs sleep to fight the stuff off.

I'm so sorry that you have to fly.

Julie

[Beausoir]

36. Hey Julie! Where have you been?

I was just thinking about you today!

I'm scared of that Netti Pot thingy. I think I may have to give it a try.

[Missy Vixen]

50. I'm still here

I've been grieving, you know. :sigh: I can't believe that my One True Love is actually marrying someone else! How dare he, huh?

In the meantime, things are fine. ;-). How are you feeling?

Julie

[halobeam]

58. My sympathies darling.

I thought of you immediately when I heard the news. I would've sent a basket of chocolates or something, but I didn't know if you'd be answering the door at all. :* B-)

[Missy Vixen]

61. I was crushed!

How could he ever love anyone but ME?

In the meantime, I hope everything's great for you, halo!

Julie

p.s. My little blog made several national newspapers that day. :cry:

[dembotoz]

38. claratin-the behind the counter ones

at the first sign of sniffles
Keeps things draining and uninfected
at least for me

[Beausoir]

39. OK. I tried the Neti-pot. It did not hurt. It was easy to use. Kinda weird at first.

I don't feel any better so far. Slightly clearer in my nasal passages. It kind of made my sinus cramp a little. I wonder what that is all about.

Will try again tomorrow morning and see what happens.

[prolesunited]

42. Did the doc prescribe any decongestants?

You need to get any liquid cleared out of your ear tubes before your flight or it will react very badly to changes in cabin pressure.

I flew with fluid in my ears once and it felt like someone was shoving an ice pick into my brain through my ear. Actually, that might have been *less* painful.

[grasswire]

43. Thanks for this thread -- I'm on day eight of Amoxicillin...

...and have been totally looped out, sleeping sleeping sleeping, chills and sweats in the afternoons, shaky, fatigue, and wondering why the heck I wasn't rebounding. I'm calling tomorrow to see about switching antibiotics -- apparently that's quite common for a sinus infection. The afternoon sweats are weird. Tomorrow I am determined to walk around the block if it is sunny. I hate this.

[Deep13]

45. Decongestion is the key to a quick recovery.

Steam, saline, outside air, Sudafed (the real stuff behind the pharmacy counter, not the "PE" crap) and Mucinex are all helpful.

[grasswire]

46. no no no sudafed

I took it once and had tachycardia and panic for hours. Never again. The only thing I'll ever take is Dimetapp 12 hour extentabs.

Actually, the congestion isn't as bad right now as other symptoms. But my throat is now sore; it wasn't before! I'm wondering if something secondary is happening.

[benEzra]

49. Some meds affect people differently...I can take sudafed, but

dimetapp gives me tachycardia, as do some antihistamines. (Go figure.)

[yellowdogintexas]

56. I totally agree on this regimen. I fought off one without antibiotics

using these handy remedies. That NetiPot really helped, and the Mucinex thins out the junk.

I had some flourescent orange streaks in the mucus but it never got beyond that.

[MissHoneychurch]

47. Just laboring a dragged on sinus infection myself

combined with a tonsils infection. No fun at all.
Using the nasal rinser as well. It helps a lot. No antibiotics for me this time because I just had another tonsils infection two weeks ago and my doc wants my immune system to get into gear first again.

Hope you get better soon. :hug:

[grasswire]

52. did he think the tonsil part is bacterial?

Must have, if antibiotics were given for it. 'Cause I think my infection has started to settle in one tonsil. Bah!

[MissHoneychurch]

53. In the first week yes

now the tonsils hurt because all the mucus leaves my sinuses through the throat, not the nose. But it gets better. No antibiotics this time.

[pitohui]

51. you could lose the hearing in that ear if you fly with an ear infection

i think if you care about your hearing, you will have to pay whatever fees are required to postpone the flight

it will not be worth saving a few dollars to be deaf in one ear, for the rest of your life

as a frequent flyer i've met people this has happened to, at least one of them has been told his hearing loss is permanent

it's because of the changing cabin pressures and the difficulty of equalizing the pressure in your infected ear

vicodin won't do diddly to clear your ear or to equalize the pressure, it is ONLY a painkiller

you need another doctor, one who has actually been on an airplane

[StrongBad]

55. The Z-Pack should get you up and running relatively soon

Until then, just relax and sleep as much as possible - all the while drinking plenty of fluids while awake.

Feel better1

[Generic Brad]

59. Ow! Ow! Owww!

No cure.

Just owwww!

[abq e streeter]

60. I get 3 or 4 a year. Not fun... but echanacea and goldenseal

usually knocks it out in a day , although the last one took longer.

[Liberal Lassie]

62. Go to Walgreens and get a "Nedi-Pot". It is creepy but you can actually RINSE OUT

your sinuses with this gadget and it WORKS!!!