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Hoping to get some help. I was in excellent health and never had any sinus issues but in 2013 while living in Asia I developed almost monthly sinus infections requiring 3 hospital admissions in 2 years and finally extensive ENT surgery. One year after surgery I became extremely ill and was admitted yet again with sinus infection, endocarditis, pericarditis and septic arthritis. It finally abated and I moved back home and away from the poor air quality hoping things will improve. Since then I have had numerous sinus infections requiring 3 more surgeries and frequent visits to ENT for endoscope and cleaning. I have been saline rinsing the whole time sometimes with a steroid spray or antibiotic ointment in the saline bottle. I have been on so many antibiotics and steroids my doctor is reluctant to put me on anything else unless it’s severe. My symptoms are getting worse with constant post nasal drip, terrible headaches and green hard debris dropping from my sinus to mouth and and it seems like this will never end. The infection is staphylococcus and was originally in the sphenoid sinus but the others have been affected as well. All allergies test have been negative. Any help appreciated.
Replies to "Hoping to get some help. I was in excellent health and never had any sinus issues..."
I can't imagine the struggles you have had and are having. I've been having more frequent sinus infections so presently have been doing daily saline sinus rinsing with daily Nasacort nasal spray. It is so rewarding when I rinse and blow out yellow stuff because I know I'm warding off the next potential infection. I also wear a mask if I go out when its a windy day. I'll pray for you to get an answer to this problem very soon. It sounds like you have done everything you can possibly do but there must be an answer... Faye
Hi Suzanne. So sorry to hear what you are going through. To not have answers and to feel like you, or your doctor have tried everything can be extremely frustrating.
Often times surgeons will only want to operate as that is what they are trained to do. Not understanding or mistaking the root cause of the issue. I know you stated your ENT is one of the best in the country. But perhaps it’s time to get a second or third opinion if you haven't done so already. The nasal mucosa has healthy bacteria in it that helps to fight off everyday dust, allergens and viruses. I am not sure what type of sinus surgery you had, you said extensive, so I would be more curious if the surgeries are contributing to your worsening of symptoms. Many people will suffer afterwards from their natural lining/mucosa being disrupted by surgery causing bad bacteria to colonize even more. Hopefully you have had time to restore your gut flora
from all of the antibiotics you have been on and are nourishing your system with foods that will assist in overall immune health.
The whole body is connected, so surgery on the sinuses can affect the whole body. The same lining that lines the nasal mucosa also lines the esophagus all the way down to our gut.
ENTs or surgeons will only talk to you about what’s going on from the neck up. Have you thought about seeing an infectious disease specialists since this did start while in another country. With the other things you mentioned that set in a year after surgery, it sounds like you need a whole body approach on this and to not just be given prescriptions from an ENT.
I would be curious to know how long you lived in Asia before developing symptoms and being healthy prior to. Our bodies can have a hard time adjusting internally/externally to a shift in environment like a move. Temperature, climate, even different water sources and foods can all affect the internal microbiome. When that gets disrupted, that can cause stress on the body which can cause things like infections.
The sinuses also respond to high stress with inflammation, which is not helpful when going through something stressful with your health.
Try to get to the root cause with the right help and I’m positive things will get better for you.
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Hi, @suzanne65 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Six years of sinus infections sounds like an awfully long time to be enduring this issue.
I've moved your post here where others have discussed chronic sinus infections. I'm hoping that @kdawn32 @frank005 will return and offer their insights on the continued infections you've been having. @julianned may have some input on the staph infection and @fdixon63 @jenniferhunter @bennb023 @janovr may have some thoughts related to managing your chronic sinusitis.
I'd also encourage you to look at this Mayo Clinic information on chronic sinusitis https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661.
Have you gotten a second opinion from another ENT on your situation, suzanne65?