1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Chronic Sinusitis

Posted by frank005 @frank005, Jan 2, 2017

Back in the middle of September 2016, my ears started to feel like it was plugged up and right ear ringing,when I bent forward or even cough my head hurts and also have alot of congestion. Went to see Ear Nose Throat doctor and she recommended me to do sinus rinse twice a day, prescribe me prednisone for five days and order a blood test to what I am allergic to. Medication did not work. Went back to the same doctor this time she told me to take sudafed and flonease. Medicatiion did not work but the sinus rinse did. I couldn't get another appointment right way so I wen to see another Ear Nose Throat doctor. This time doctor recommended me to have a cat scan so I did. It turns out I have chronic sinus. So he prescribe twice to me antibotics and another round of prednisone low dosage. It did not work. I went back to my doctor and I told him you know what I have allergy. He put me on allergy medication which y you take before you go to bed at night. Medication did nothing for me. I have another appointment to see my doctor end of this month. What really worked for me is Mucinex.which I take at night before going bed.

I want to find out if any of you out there had similar experience that I'm going through and it got resolved.

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Cbs61752 | @cbs61752 | Oct 13, 2019

I also suffered from sinusitis for years. Luckily I found a naturopath who brought my suffering to an an end. I started taking herbs and I stay healthy. Initially I took liver detox, and that started me on the road to recovery. I’m so very thankful!

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@seekinginfo | @nrd1 | Oct 13, 2019
In reply to @suzanne65 "Many thanks for your reply.I moved to Asia and within weeks I began to have URI..." + (show)
@suzanne65

Many thanks for your reply.I moved to Asia and within weeks I began to have URI symptoms. First hospitalised six months later for sinus infection and IV therapy and then my first ENT surgery. In 2015 the fires in Asia which lasted 2 months did not help and I was hospitalised numerous times for IV therapy. I returned home in 2017 and since then I have had 3 additional sinus operations including turbinate and the last one a modified Lothrop. My ENT does not like to do surgery as each time I lose some structure and integrity however the level of infection is severe and the last CT showed the sphenoid completely blocked. I flush twice a day and usually nothing comes out. Since this has all started I have also developed a skin rash requiring a regime of 3 months of histamine blockers, severe rash when I go on a beach vacation, skin abscesses requiring drainage and raynauds. I have seen a rheumatologist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist (to rule out GERD) and an immunologist. Some of my lab tests were abnormal but nothing drastic. I also follow a vegan diet and take probiotics. I was contemplating asking for second ENT opinion but as mentioned my doctor is the one that other ENT refers the severe cases to but perhaps it’s time. It’s a horrible way to live and I try to remain positive buts it’s not easy.

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Gosh Suzanne. It sounds like you really have seen many different specialists to try and figure this all out. I can’t imagine your frustration and fatigue you probably have.
The reason why I asked so many questions is because, I had what was supposed to be a minor sinus surgery for ear issues. I never had sinus infections or anatomical breathing issues prior to surgery. Since my surgery I have had many issues.
I have had to get many opinions and educate myself on what exactly causes infections/inflammation and what exactly surgery will and will not do for the issues. Do you mind if I ask the name of your ENT or if you don’t feel comfortable naming, at least the location? It sounds like your body had a struggle adjusting to the new external irritants in a new country. And with all the work to fight off infection and surgeries it has now thrown other systems off in your body.
There is always a place for Western Medicine, but have you tried working with functional medicine/natural path doctors to try and get your body back to as close to homeostasis as possible. Some of the more natural regimens require months of being diligent and patient, but it is worth a try. Since you were healthy before your body is fighting to get back to that place. If you have a resistant staph infection, I’m curious how you learned it was staph and how your labs could come back normal?
Your body has now experienced a lot of internal trauma and stress, which will need to be addressed to help in the healing process.

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sherilara | @sherilara | Oct 27, 2019

I am in the same boat I take mucinex D and NyQuil at night that is the only thing that helps my nose and my sinuses. I had catscan with chronic sinusitis. Omg head feels full with fluid and my nose is stuffed or leaking 3-4 days a week for almost 2 years. It is miserable. I have been to tons of drs now going to a new ENT and not getting anywhere. I am sick of it and don’t feel good taking these meds either. I can up negative to allergies too.

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1 reply
Cbs61752 | @cbs61752 | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @sherilara "I am in the same boat I take mucinex D and NyQuil at night that is..." + (show)
@sherilara

I am in the same boat I take mucinex D and NyQuil at night that is the only thing that helps my nose and my sinuses. I had catscan with chronic sinusitis. Omg head feels full with fluid and my nose is stuffed or leaking 3-4 days a week for almost 2 years. It is miserable. I have been to tons of drs now going to a new ENT and not getting anywhere. I am sick of it and don’t feel good taking these meds either. I can up negative to allergies too.

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I’ve been there and suffered for years until I went to a naturopath who suggested herbs. I took a liver detox and it cleaned up my gut, which helped my chronic sinusitis. Now I never get sick, and that’s since 2013! Good luck!

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1 reply
suzanne65 | @suzanne65 | Oct 28, 2019
In reply to @nrd1 "Hi Suzanne. So sorry to hear what you are going through. To not have answers and..." + (show)
@nrd1

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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My infections started a few months after moving in Dec 13 and got much worse after the fires from Indonesia in 2015 which blew our way for 2 months. I have had multiple hospital admissions and finally surgery in late 2014. I was hospitalised in 2016 with another bad sinus infection which led to endocarditis, pericarditis and septics arthritis. ENT thought when I moved back home with clean air I would get better but sadly I have had to have 3 more surgeries. I also have a sun allergy and Raynauds along with it. My immune system seems to have gone haywire. As mentioned I did see an immunologist and tests were inconclusive. Re the staph they cultured it after surgery and it is not MRSA.
I am vegan and have been going to a naturopath for many years. She has now said there’s not much else she can do.
I am currently on another course of antibiotics as I presently have another infection.
The worse part was in late 2018 I was complaining about headaches and ENT said all was clear when he did the scope and thought it may be GERD. Put on meds for that but headaches and post nasal drip continued for 6 months. It was only when I had a severe infection he did another CT an it showed severe disease and did another surgery where they also found I had polyps. I asked why didn’t he see the infection under scope and said the infection had walled off so it looked clear.
Even the CT did not show the polyps.
I do not know what else to do and my body is full of antibiotics. I probably have had 40 courses in last 5 years.

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lorifilipek | @lorifilipek | Dec 10, 2019
In reply to @cbs61752 "I’ve been there and suffered for years until I went to a naturopath who suggested herbs...." + (show)
@cbs61752

I’ve been there and suffered for years until I went to a naturopath who suggested herbs. I took a liver detox and it cleaned up my gut, which helped my chronic sinusitis. Now I never get sick, and that’s since 2013! Good luck!

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@cbs61752 Hi! What herbs do you take for your sinuses?

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