Brain Fog from Sinus infection and inflammation

I didn’t clarify my current sinus situation- most of the year I breathe very well and never have sinus congestion. Due to allergies, twice a year, I get days with congestion and pressure and with URIs I can get a secondary infection.
The second surgery just enlarged a couple of openings.
I have been lucky to have had good ENTs - checked on their background, experience and got recommendations from other physicians.
Did you have bad experiences with sinus surgeries?

Today I feel pretty good... yesterday(Thursday) I felt horrible...I wonder why..

Just Saying, don't mean to scare anyone, my best friend of 50 years complained of sinus infections, headaches, had numerous doctor visits, and a shocking collection of scattered pills, tablets around and under her bed the last time I saw her which was the night before her brain surgery for glioblastoma.
Have you had, an MRI and/ or EEG?

@yellowdoggirl - What a frightening end for your friend!
I do know that anyone with diagnosis of either chronic sinusitis or chronic headaches should have imaging of the brain. CT is used for sinus diagnosis. MRI for persistent headaches.
Here again is a case where one has to advocate for oneself- or have someone else do it. It should not be this way!
I have medical knowledge, but I often get tired of arguing for tests or other treatment. It’s exhausting, especially when you always feel sick.

Thanks, @astaingegerdm , for not being upset with me for speaking up here. I couldn't keep mum any longer, knowing how long this was going on. My heart is still in tatters over her, if only advice could have helped. She was an EEG tech and believed that would have shown the abnormal waves long before the telling MRI finally did.
I am ignorant here, just loved my friend and miss her.

@yellowdoggirl - I’m glad that you shared what happened to your friend. We learn a lot from hearing about other members’ experiences- good or bad.
We miss our family and friends that suffered too long without getting help in time.

@astaingegerdm, @sdgoddard10, @yellodoggirl, and all...Here I come with another viewpoint and personal story.

I live in Jacksonville, Florida where life is wonderful and beautiful, but also where we have a lot of pollens and junk in the air almost year-round. I have had allergy issues for all my years here, in various degrees. My sinus infections were frequent and often severe, with antibiotics and steroids used somewhat effectively.

Last year, a head CT scan found a serious chronic infection in the sphenoid sinus, the deepest sinus, near the brain, and the eyes. I am a patient at Mayo Clinic thankfully and was referred to ENT. Following several weeks of various treatments, with antibiotics and rinses, the infection was diagnosed as one that doesn't respond to antibiotics, so surgery was next.

I had sinus surgery last Sept to remove all the infection wherever it was found and clear out a lot of junk from the years of infection. It wasn't as simple as I expected. I have multiple health issues, 75, and am more fragile than I understood, so recovery was more involved and longer than expected. But, I am now breathing with my mouth shut, day and night. I began using the bi-pap during sleep after about 2 months, too long a wait but I had some bleeding. So, basically greatly improved.

I used Neil Saline nasal rinse, but after the surgery, I wasn't able to use a saline rinse, apparently, I was allergic to 2 of the 3 rinses available. Thankfully, I have another one from Neil I use and expect to use it ongoing, with Flonase nightly and a simple spray for moisture if needed. I have had no sinus issues since the surgery until last week.

We had a week of heavy rains and changing temps. the live oaks and trees were in full bloom, flowers began popping up and sharing beauty and pollen! And, the mold issues in the ground and on my patio became a serious issue and I had 3 days of migraine-like sinus pain, lots of sneezing and blowing, coughing, and general yucky feelings. I'm taking OTC allergy meds, using Flonase daily as prescribed forever, using the nasal rinse, and yesterday I was better. Today, I'm pretty much well. I'm shocked.

Didn't rain last night and is a beauty of a day. I took no steroids or antibiotics this time. First time ever I beat this process. This is a very good thing.

It is important for each of us to take responsibility for and advocate for our own health. I did that when I called Mayo Clinic Florida sobbing because I was having many health issues not addressed or diagnosed properly by the community health systems. Since that day several years ago, I've learned to trust my Mayo doctors and staff, I'm receiving correct diagnoses and treatment when there is some, always care and kindness from the staff, a significant part of the healing process.

I am pleased with the results of the sinus surgery. Hopefully, this lastest episode with improvement with no strong medications is the first of many. I am convinced that regular sinus rinses are vital for those of us who have allergies and such issues. I also think, my personal thoughts, the sinus rinse is an excellent preventative for many virus and bacteria infections.

So, hope some of this helps with your decisions as you walk this crazy health journey. Blessings to all. elizabeth

@ess77 - Elizabeth, thank you for sharing your sinus history! It actually sounds similar to mine.
Being treated at Mayo was an advantage for successful treatment- you also had years of infections plus at 70+ years old your immune response is not as strong as before.
I have recently realized that I’m also more fragile at 70+. I have had a couple of episodes when a URI turned into sinusitis and then quickly to pneumonia.
I also believe in saline rinses. With congestion I use hypertonic saline- it acts as a decongestant I often make my own, using Kosher salt. I learned to make that 25 years ago when my son saw a Pediatric ENT!
Jacksonville is not far from southern SC where I live. The amount of pollen here is insane!
Thanks again for your personal experience!

@ess77 - I am very glad you're better!
Coincidentally, my friend's adopted home was near Jax, but she was "stuck" in a small Northern US town where medical resources are few, far between, and sometimes iffy, was the sole carer for her elderly parents, couldn't leave, and wanted desperately to get back to FL for care and to her home.
She tried as hard as she could to get care, but some places and circumstances just don't offer many opportunities, even for the bright and willing. Mayo Jax would have been her choice, too!
While it wouldn't have changed the ultimate outcome, it might have given a little more time.
Again, I 'm so glad it worked for you!

@astaingegerdm and all...Ain't it fun being over 70? I keep learning about more health issues and my body keeps changing in ways I could never have imagined in my wildest nightmares...But, I'm learning to better handle the balancing necessary to make it through, accept these changes, even at times get ahead of them.

I began with Neil Saline Nasal Rinse as recommended last year by my ENT. It felt good to have the added moisture and this is a small thing we can do for ourselves that can truly help. In fact, in the last year or so I haven't had the URI infections beginning with a slight sore throat that always leads within 24 hours to bronchitis, then to pneumonia if I don't get a strong antibiotic fast enough or for long enough + steroids...That cycle has been my normal for years. Never have a cold. Frequently have bronchitis that leads to pneumonia. And, since Sarcoid hit my lungs when I was 40, they're susceptible to issues quickly.

I attribute the lack of URI this last year to regular use of a saline nasal rinse AND to daily use of a SoClean to clean my Bi-Pap machine. Funny thing, I just suddenly realized this important change in my health a couple of weeks ago when I had a sore throat that went away after a couple of days. Shocked, as that hasn't happened to me in my memory.

Now, last week I had a horrid sinus headache, migraine-like, full of phlegm, and sneezing/coughing. I expected to be at a crucial care clinic on Saturday. Surprise-Saturday, yesterday, I was on the computer able to open my eyes and not be blinded, spent time outside in our Condo park with several neighbors and dogs, even got a couple of hugs... outside. We had a week of rain as mentioned before, yesterday was lovely and clear and windy and it seemed the air was cleaned of all the allergens. I used the saline rinse several days last week, used Flonase, and took Mucinex a couple of days. Last night, after being outside and enjoying Florida weather and friends...a new experience for me since covid....I'm fine today, Sunday! This is miraculous. I can't remember ever kicking the symptoms, not getting ill after a sore throat or sinus issues. I had the 3 covid shots, but I think this nasal rinse has been my salvation.

How do you make a hypertonic saline rinse? What proportions of Kosher salt to distilled water? I'm using Neil Xylitol Nasal Rinse, after trying two others recommended by the ENT; I had painful, burning reactions to the others. Xylitol is a natural sugar with antibacterial and other beneficial properties that seem to help me and I tolerate it well. The instructions say to use 1 packet for isotonic and ph-balanced rinse, 2 packets for a hypertonic solution. Know the difference?

Well, it's another lovely, clear, breezy day in sunny Florida. I'm a bit tired from yesterday's excursion, so am staying quiet today. Need to charge the batteries.

Be well, Ingegerd, stay safe, and be blessed. Elizabeth