Sinus infection, already deal with bad seasonal allergies

@hraka13
Only use decongestants short time.

Hi @zubedude

I could not naturally deal with my sinus infections. The little bugs are just too happy where they are. It has taken so much time effort and misery to get rid of them, that I cannot imagine me going the natural route. I have read James Nestor's "Breath" and the exercises have kept my congestion to a minimum and therefore less sinus infections.
JFN

My chronic sinus problems are greatly eased by Flonase spray and a Claritin pill every morning. That regimen has also helped ease my explosive sneezing, which my doctor says is caused by irritants in the air. I also run two air purifiers in my apartment. I start the Flonase and Claritin two weeks before trees send out pollen in the spring.

Hi ,
I can sympathize with you about the agony of chronic sinus infections and difficulty breathing especially at night.
It’s always the same, eye dripping , sore throat, your head seems like it’s huge and pressurized . If you bend over your sinus aches or press under your eye or above it and there pain . Sharp ear pain at night that comes and goes
I have suffered for 40 years with chronic sinus infections, at least 4 a year, 2 in winter and 1 or 2 in Fall or Spring.
I broke my nose when 5 as couldn’t skate but the 12 kids at the local pond thought it would be best to put me ,the smallest kid at the end of the whip line . I couldn’t skate and wore my Sisters old ones too big for me . But those days kids came in , took skates , Mom was ironing or doing chores and kids just had their day with the gang on the block .
Well the first guy was 15 and a hockey player and down the line it went in size to me . The first skate went well around the rink gathering speed to see how long I’d be able to hold on . I went flying and landed on my face on ice , my nose bleeding profusely. The 15 year old carried me home and my Mom laid me on the sofa with ice chunks on my nose telling me to squeeze my nose together.
25 years later I had surgery to straighten my nose and remove a polyp off the back of my throat.
It wasn’t done properly and another surgery straightened it better but I could never breathe through my nose especially at night.
When my throat gets a bit sore, or my ear aches or the mucus gets thicker and keeps going down the back of my throat. I start using One of two nasal sprays- the best easiest one is Hydra Sense at any drug store. It’s salt solution so just spray up the nose and tilt your head back a little so you can move the solution from one side to another. Do this 3 times.Then spit it out.
Repeat 2-3 times a day. I have used Alkalol , for over 30 years but it’s only available in USA or online, and now I can get it easier than a trip over the border .Theres a short preparation to warm up a small glass of spring water and then add whatever amount gets it to the strength you want. It’s very strong so you have to experiment. A 1/4 cup water and 3 tbs of Alkalll . It’s all natural ingredients that have been used for centuries to help bacteria infections. The ingredients are menthol of Eucalyptus,purified water,thymol, camphor, Oils of Winter green spearmint,pine and cinnamon. The other ingredients are not harmful but are used in pharmaceutical products for safety and keep product clean of bacteria. You warm up some spring water and add the Alkalol to whatever strength you can tolerate. It’s strong but definitely clears mucus.
These over the counter rinses are not effective if the mucus is sitting in the sinus cavity and becomes bacterial. Then you will get the pressure increased in your head , your vision seems blurry, your neck is tight , any metallic sounds are vibrating in head .
You won’t get better unless you have antibiotics
You need Ampicillin 250 mg Clavulin 600 mg or whatever the dose combination the Dr prescribes.
You will feel better in 4-6 days
Take all the pills because sinus infections are known by Drs to take longer to kill and sometimes you will need stronger dose or an extra 2 weeks on meds
If you don’t get antibiotics the infection will go into your chest and get pneumonia or bronchitis.
My Dr knows me and so if I go out of country she gives me a script of antibiotics to fill so I am not stuck in a country where everything is very expensive or not available.
I have been to many ENT specialists in a major medical community, and there isn’t anything else but this above.
The sinuses can get mucus stuck in a crevice and when it doesn’t move it gets bacterial.
You don’t usually look ill unless you leave it too long and by then it’s affecting your whole body with flu like symptoms.
One thing there is controversy about is using Otrivin Decongestant spray on a regular basis.
I have been prescribed every nose spray corticosteroids sprays and they are expensive and don’t work for me . I was given Flonase and it’s useless. I do use Nasonex a corticosteroid spray once or twice a week which does help with breathing
But every night for 40 years I’ve used Otrivin with no issues with my nasal cavities or mucus lining.
One young ENT told me it was dangerous to use giving me a $145 nose spray that was horrible.
I have gone away and been without the Otrivin spray and don’t have this rebound increased swelling of my nasal membranes
I think if something helps and allows me to breathe all night then there’s no harm to me . I’d rather use it every night and sleep while breathing especially if I have a cold, than struggle and get no sleep .
I have talked to other people who use Otrivin every day as well.
Every drug you take has side effects but they are usually not fatal and sometimes they don’t have those effects
This is my experience and everyone has to decide on what they feel is best for them. It’s often trial and error and eventually you will find your way. Don’t give up , you will find a way that works for you.
That is my experience and maybe this will help you . At least the Hydra sense is very easy to use and simple
Good luck with whatever you decide to try.

At this point you need antibiotics, a clavulin plus ampicillin dose . An infection can’t be cleared using salt water or pine menthol. It’s a living, increasing growing bacteria that can end up putting you in hospital due to chest infections and pneumonia. A simple prescription of an appropriate antibiotic is all you need.
As far as people getting used to antibiotics that they become useless, is not going to happen because you took antibiotics for an infection .
Believe me once you get prescription you will feel so much better you will not let yourself suffer days with this again. We live in the 21st century not 1500’s !! They work so use them to help yourself and feel better. It’s weird why people are so hesitant to get antibiotics. They are the most important discovery of the past 100 years
So many people died of simple infections that spread to your kidneys, chest etc when 20 pills brings you back to living your life

It is important to work with your healthcare provider closely when considering antibiotics or medications. Proper prescriptions, dosage and instructions on taking medications is something that should only be done working with your care team. While we can encourage Connect community members to seek treatment, opinions of professionals and help formulate better questions to ask, Connect cannot replace a medical institution and provider's for prescribing or giving medical advice. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/.

At day 3 this is likely viral sinusitis on top of allergies (so antibiotics won’t help yet), and the most effective approach is frequent saline rinses plus steam to clear mucus, a steroid spray like Fluticasone to reduce inflammation, optional short-term relief with Pseudoephedrine or Oxymetazoline (max 3 days), along with elevated sleeping and hydration, while seeing a doctor if it lasts beyond 7–10 days or worsens.

@fever1, most definitely. I rarely use them.

@gdndiva Please don't use spring water for sinus irrigation, it can introduce bacteria. Instead use distilled water or water that you have boiled and cooled (instructions online).

@arbez & @gdndiva Distilled water may not be sterile, especially after you open it. Water used for irrigation should be sterile - boiled, placed in a sanitized container and stored carefully. It is especially important when you are already fighting an infection to not introduce any other bacteria.