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Sinus infection and constant head pressure
Hello, I am a 19 year old college student from Alberta, Canada. I attend a school in The Southeastern United States and it was my first spring that I spent down there where the pollen is more severe than the Alberta Prairies. I suffered from allergies starting at the start of April of this year. I started blowing my nose extra hard to clear the congestion but it kept getting worse. Then I used a Neti Pot squeeze bottle to clear it up a couple weeks later and I used tap water. I felt very sick the next day and had a fever and felt disoriented for a week. A week later I went to see a doctor and he said it was a sinus infection so I was put on antibiotics but it did not get much better and for the past two months my head felt super heavy with constant pressure in my head. Also, sinus pressure comes and goes, I was wondering if there could be something dangerous in the Neti Pot? Or is it allergies or the infection that still has not gone away? Thank y’all!
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@njh I set up a doctor’s appointment early next week. I had to quarantine for full 14 days even though I was fully vaccinated so I will see a doctor a couple days after I get out of quarantine. Thank you for sharing!
@pack12 will you please keep the group posted on your next few days and heed the advice of @njh if your symptoms worsen and/or you feel you need urgent care?
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2 ReactionsHello @amandajro , I saw a doctor today and we are getting started on an ENT referral. Symptoms are getting better. Thank you.
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3 Reactions@lacy2
At the time your symptoms began did you have a head injury… even just a little bump that you shrugged off??
Please know I have no medical training whatsoever. This is from my own experiences and my research.. which it has been a long time since I have I done research. Today my time is limited because of grandchildren. .. so some more research on your own needed.
Other than allergies or your nasal anatomy is off.. like a deviated septum… the only other reason I can think of for your problem is a brain leak. More info here https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/c/cerebrospinal-fluid-leak.html .
If allergies or environmental irritation from what you breathe in then saline nasal rinses should help along with allergy medication. Instead of the nasal rinse or neti pot that you have to mix I have been using Arm & Hammer Simply Saline nasal mist. You can mist it in or use it like a nasal rinse. I used it this morning .. along with my nasal antihistamine spray. .. and the nasal drip stopped. I will do the same this evening. If I get drippy or stuffy between times I use the saline spray. It washes the irritants out and moistens the nasal passages. a lot of times our nasal passages are dry and the mucus … aka snot.. thickens and gets stringy. Sometimes only one side.. for some odd reason. Many sites will tell you how snot forms… just put in your web browsers search engine “ where does snot come from” .. you will even find videos.
ZeeGee
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1 ReactionI developed a sinus infection about 2 1/2 months ago. I have gone to my primary care doctor, an ENT, gotten a CAT scan of my sinuses, and receive 2 rounds of antibiotics. No one seems to be able to determine what is causing the infection or how to treat it. I use a Netti pot 2 to 3 times a day, take decongestants to help relieve the pressure in my head, and blow my nose about once every 2 minutes. Every time yellow mucus comes out. Im sure I have expelled gallons of the stuf. I was directed to an allergy clinic, but the appointment is 2 months from now. Who would be the most likely to be able to diagnose this problem?
Hi @klickman0226, welcome. I moved your message to this existing, related discussion:
- Sinus infection and constant head pressure https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sinus-infection-and-constant-head-pressure/
I did this so you can connect with others like @pack12, @njh @lacey2 as well as the helpful responses they received from members like @loribmt @sueinmn and @fourof5zs.
Your situation sounds very frustrating with few answers despite having seen specialists and taking the common courses of action. An allergy clinic is a good next step. I'm sorry there is such a wait.
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3 ReactionsMy very persistent sinus infection was caused by a cracked root in a tooth. I did not actually have an infection but a severe inflammation. My ENT at Mayo Clinic wanted to do surgery after I had the tooth pulled but there was no way I could go through surgery at that time. She then prescribed 4mg. of dexamethasone for two weeks. This is a tablet that you add to the netti pot along with a Neil-med packet. It did the trick.
Good luck with your search for a solution.
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2 ReactionsI was told to NEVER use tap water for irrigation. I use distilled water. It is very cheap. There are chemicals in tap water and sinus tissue is delicate.
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2 Reactions@klickman0226
Do you normally have allergies? You may be referred to an allergist to help determine the best way to control them. Call and ask if they can either work you in or you can get on a call list when someone cancels their appointment.
Have they taken a sample to determine if the cause is bacteria or fungi? That can determine what medication they use to treat you.
Are you using distilled water (which is recommended) in your netti pot? Are you cleaning your netti pot as per directions that came with it? If you use a nasal spray are you cleaning the nozzle tips after usage? Do you use a cpap machine for sleep apnea?
Here is a link about Chronic Sinusitis: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661
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4 ReactionsHi @klickman0226
I also have had wicked sinus infections, they increased when I moved away from the coast. Life was miserable. Stock should have been bought for companies that make tissues. My allergy list takes pages, I lived in the desert and was even allergic to tumbleweed, the live version. I still have issues but I have reduced them by: medications, saline spray, Flonase and no outdoor clothing in my bedroom, washing my pillow and or drying it monthly, drying and freezing my pillow cases, I take a shower if I have been outside, so no pollen gets on my pillow to breathe it in. I also do not put on allergy mattress or pillow covers for the same reason . These are not cures but if you eliminate some causes of annoyance to your sinuses it is a small win. Less misery, for me. I still get sinus infections, I usually need medication for 3 weeks. I hope some of this helps, I have felt like you and battled the infections for 6+ months once. Medications 2 weeks at a time, until a doctor gave me one for a month yahoo!