Repeat sphenoid sinus surgery

@hollyanna75, Hey there! Bless you. I have battled chronic sinus infections since the 1980's. I had sinus surgery in 1994 after trying all types of nasal sprays & allergy shots. My sinuses were very narrow and they didn't drain. It was a last resort. I knew going into surgery it was not a cure all, but, I also knew I couldn't keep taking antibiotics for sinus infections several times a year. I would get migraines from all the sinus infection/pressure.

Has the doctor ever done a culture of your sinuses to see what type of bacteria is growing? This was a game changer for me when a 3 month long infection wouldn't clear up. I had 3 types of bacteria growing in my sinuses, so he knew which antibiotic to prescribe. I worked in the health field and I caught everything that walked in the door. My immune system is not good.

Yes, I do have autoimmune issues and Fibromyalgia. I still get sinus infections, but, I guard myself more from being around anyone sick, I do not go outside when the pollen count is high in my area (Pollen.com) and I wear a mask during peak flu/COVID season. I believe having so many sinus infections over the years wore my immune system down and thus, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

I irrigate my sinus with the Neilmed sinus rinse, use Nasacort, Astelin (Sp?) spray and take Vitamin C, D3, B2, NAC (this is strong and it will dry you out too much. I only can tolerate 1/4 capsule) Magnesium Glycinate & Zinc. Also, my ENT doctor suggested switching nasal sprays occasionally. I just switched from Flonase to Nasacort. Please talk to your doctor before trying any of these supplements.

The sinus surgery helped me to breathe better and opened up my narrow sinuses so the bacteria would not get blocked in them. I still get about 2-3 sinus infections a year. I never get a cold....it goes straight to a sinus infection for me.

Praying for you as I know how chronic sinus infections make you feel. Blessings & Prayers....

I do! Just had my second sinus surgery. Same situation as yours. Turns out I have a rare bacteria in my sinuses that does not show up on regular PCR tests. Have they run an AFB test on your sinuses? It's what my infectious disease recommended (as I was going to multiple doctors to eliminate auto immune issues, genetic issues, allergies, etc). I ended up having non tuberculosis mycobacterium (specifically mycobacterium abscessus). The treatment is rigorous antibiotics. Hoping this fixes the issues. Feel free to reach out again if you have any more questions. It's nice to hear that I'm not alone in this!

@margiel17 Thank you so much!!! I will ask about this!!! I have two kits from invitae coming after meeting with a geneticist after my rheumatologist’s referral.

Yes. I have had chronic sinusitis since 1984 until just now. I was contaminated with pseudomonus at some point with early surgeries. I have had increasingly dufficult infections. Long story short, the fifth doc performed more surgery finding infection in the bones. Consequently much tissue and bone removed from nasal and sinuses. Turbinates reduced, bone fragments removed, sigmoid opened up again. Many antibiotics used in nasal rinses twice a day with cortisone. Then 61 infusions of Ceficipime. Then levofloxine in nasal rinses for weeks at a time. Still found infection. I began to swab with colloidal silver, serrapaptase, and lysine. Twice a day following sinus rinsing. Finally got rid of the last infection after 3.5 years. Actually healed by God. Good luck. Don’t give up.