Does anyone here suffer from a nasal fungal infection?

Have you tried antifungal medications?

How did they diagnose your fungal sinus infection (symptoms, imaging, cultures)? Asking because I have a unilateral sinus infection due to an abscessed top back molar. The tooth has been treated several times without resolution so am probably looking at extraction. The infection only showed up on endodontist CT (sinus CT was negative). Endodontist doesn't do cultures. Wondering if it may be more than bacterial.

@celia16 No antifungal medications up to this point. Saw another ENT just to get a second opinion quite some time ago, he mentioned the same thing,surgery. I knew this was something different from the usual bacterial type infections when it kept coming back after many rounds of antibiotics.

@arbez It possibly could be, the initial ENT that I saw ordered a catscan. After 3 weeks of antibiotic he ordered and it still came back was enough to figure it wasn't bacterial. The symptoms that I have are pretty much in line with fungal infections, as in color of mucus, consistancy, and unrelenting constant runny nose, along with lack of fever and other common issues usually associated with a regular bacterial type infection.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to ask about a fungal infection. I had sinus issues for a LONG time (no fever until my 3rd root canal, same tooth) until the dentist discovered an abscessed tooth. I was shocked that the sinus CT scan didn't show anything but the scans by the endodontist (specialized scans) actually showed missing bone where the infection had eaten through it. I even developed a "sinus tract" where the infection caused a pathway into the roof of my mouth (have a bump there). My ENT treated me for allergies, sinus migraine, etc. If you have cavities, filling or caps on any back upper teeth you may want to consult an endodontist who can rule out dental caused sinusitis (before having surgery). Hope you get straightened out soon.

I’m no expert, but antibiotics can make one susceptible to fungal infections. I just don’t understand why treating with antifungal meds wouldn’t be attempted before surgery. Why wouldn’t that be a valid less invasive treatment?

I have had rhinitis for several years. Have gone to 3 ENT specialists and CT scan - they all just recommended a steroid nasal spray. I then went to a naturopath who specializes in hard to treat conditions including lyme disease, mold, environmental toxins, etc. After having a nasal swab, a couple of urine tests and lab tests of air and dust and other samples from my house and checking out my symptoms, I have mold colonization in my sinuses which also affects my hearing. I am now using very specialized nasal sprays, etc. and I had my house thoroughly examined for mold - and yes, lots of it here including black mold. Read the book - Toxic by Dr. Neil Nathan

@arbez Thank you also for the good information you provided. I have heard of such a case as yours with an abscessed tooth causing problems like this. This is something I will surely look into, as I'm still not wanting surgery in the sinuses. It's interesting that your initial CT scan didn't show it. All in all I hope you don't have a fungal type infection, it can be tough to deal with.

@celia16 You are correct about the antibiotics, I wish I wouldn't have taken so many before actually finding out it was a fungal issue, it was only after seeing the ENT that confirmed it. Before that I saw a handful of doctors and even an allergist for the problem, and they all prescribed antibiotics, in actuality I should have gone to that ENT right off the bat, but even he prescribed antibiotics. After the issue came back again that's when the CT scan was ordered by him. I asked him about antifungal meds instead of surgery, he said some of the possible side effects that could happen with them, along with possibly being denied because of prescription plan issues. With having afib and taking xarelto as a blood thinner there is no desire to have that type of surgery with me with bleeding issues.

@margvo Spot on with your findings! Your situation is very likely just like mine, my house is very old, and I have always thought the same thing with mold and other issues associated, I wish that I could just move to another house but right now totally out of the question. I'm looking also into purchasing a few good air purifiers for some of the rooms. It's really something that you saw 3 ENT's and a CT scan and the problem wasn't picked up as a possibility. I hope you have a good outcome with the nasal sprays and other things. Right now, I just don't know what type of nasal spray I could use.