Chronic Sinusitis

[crundale]

Anyone on the board suffer from this? I have had it for nearly twenty years on and off, and its very much on at the moment. This time I get the impression it is here to stay. I have had a total lack of smell for the last decade and my taste is also affected. I know everything still works for I have been prescribed steroids a few time lately (for asthma) and for a wonderful 48 to 62 hours I can smell and taste as I used to be able to. I have had the operation to clear it (they broke my nose in the process!), but for a week of intense discomfort it changed hardly anything. Has anybody come across a wonder drug or been treated in such a way that it has made a difference? I would be grateful to know.
HNY to Clarets.

[TsarBomba]

I may or may not suffer the same as you. My taste isn’t affected, although my sense of smell is terrible.

I’ve had sinus problems for just under 10 years. My sinuses are permanently blocked, the lining of my nose gets inflamed and I get sores on the inside of my nose (when it’s really bad).

I’ve been referred once before to ENT, and I am back again in February.

I feel your pain, and like you, haven’t come across anything that remotely has helped.

[Suratclaret]

Used to suffer badly from sinusitis until I emigrated.
Tried more or less everything but the only times I got relief was by inhaling menthol and eucalyptus twice a day. Used to buy a bottle of inhalant from Boots…liquid not crystals. It was my GP who suggested it…he thought all the over the counter decongestants were a waste of money.

[Suratclaret]

Used to suffer badly from sinusitis until I emigrated.
Tried more or less everything but the only times I got relief was by inhaling menthol and eucalyptus twice a day. Used to buy a bottle of inhalant from Boots…liquid not crystals. It was my GP who suggested it…he thought all the over the counter decongestants were a waste of money.

[Claret Till I Die]

Does it cause you to repeat yourself Suratclaret ?

[evensteadiereddie]

Thought our Greek scouting ststem had come up trumps when I saw the thread title.

[Terrier]

Neti pot with neilmed sinus rinse

[Taffy on the wing]

I had my ethmoids removed along with a couple of other things up there......horrible recovery.
Things are better now but not fantastic....i wouldn't do it again.
Once i get out of LA everything clears up great.

[IanMcL]

Tunes



Recommend twice daily inhalation.
2 drops Peppermint (menthol as per tunes)
2 drops Eucalyptus
2 Tea Tree
2 Lemon
(Essential oils from e.g Holland and Barratt)
Breaking also important.
In for 5 to fill nose and lungs
Hold for 5
Out for 7 to empty
Hold for 5
Repeat - again and again.

If breathing in is difficult initially, with the sinusitis, then breathe in through mouth. It should free up eventually.

[Lowbankclaret]

I had terrible sinuses, constantly blocked. Along with Asthma.

After being sent to several allergy clinics , I paid a private specialist.

What I found out was I had chemical sensitivity, which a few years later led to finding out my mother has it too. Probably passed on genetically.

What I was told by a friend who was a chemical scientist, that scents in things are all part of a benzene chain, so they are all similar.

Basically all chemicals were removed from the house, air fresheners, cleaners, perfumes, everything. These was a massive improvement within three weeks.
Things like simple soap were used, old type Fairy liquid, green one. And un perfumed domestos .

Then things were reintroduced, but I reacted to most of them and they have never been used again.

Still today within an hour of going in a house with a glade plug in and a car with a magic tree, I cannot breach through my nose, it’s blocked solid.

It changed my life to be fair.

Simple soap

[Lowbankclaret]

https://www.breakspearmedical.com/treat ... nsitivity/

[bfccrazy]

Neti pot always sorts my sinuses.

Another good thing I use is one of the electric diffusers with some menthol drops in. Try and find a decent one that can take adding thicker oils, the ones that can take perfumes are generally good.

[boatshed bill]

I used to get serious bouts of it, but none since I gave up smoking 20 years ago.
My ridiculous way of easing it was to do a headstand in the corner of a room and stay in that position for as long as possible; believe it or not, it worked to some extent.

[warksclaret]

If you are taking any nasal sprays such as Otrivine you need to come off these as they are ruining the nasal linings and making it worse. Then try nasal irrigation using a pre made solution of 500 millimetres of water and one full teaspoon of sea salt. You need to buy the appropriate plastic bottle from the chemist (which may come with pre mixed solutions-but then you can keep the bottle and make up your own medication). You fill the bottle with the pre made solution then breathe the solution though each nostril two or three times a day. This reduces any inflamation in your sinuses. For more info GOOGLE "nasal irrigation"

You may also need a prescription from your doctor for a nasal spray that helps keep infection in your sinuses down.

Have had major problems breathing for several decades but having taken the above action I can now breathe normally again, particularly at night

[boatshed bill]

If you are taking any nasal sprays such as Otrivine you need to come off these as they are ruining the nasal linings and making it worse. Then try nasal irrigation using a pre made solution of 500 millimetres of water and one full teaspoon of sea salt. You need to buy the appropriate plastic bottle from the chemist (which may come with pre mixed solutions-but then you can keep the bottle and make up your own medication). You fill the bottle with the pre made solution then breathe the solution though each nostril two or three times a day. This reduces any inflamation in your sinuses. For more info GOOGLE "nasal irrigation"

You may also need a prescription from your doctor for a nasal spray that helps keep infection in your sinuses down.

Have had major problems breathing for several decades but having taken the above action I can now breathe normally again, particularly at night

"Sterimar", that's available. Seasalt nasal spray.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Diet helped the symptoms. Eating more leafy greens and taking fish oil caps. The capillary swelling in and around your sinus goes down so less irritation.

Hot wet cloth on my nose bridge while watching tv at night helped turn things more liquid which created air flow during the night.

Moving from a lowland, wet, low pressure area to a high ground, warm, high pressure area finally fixed it. Obviously that’s not an option but pressure is important

[crundale]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Much appreciated. It appears there is still a few possible remedies I have yet to try. Fingers crossed!

[crundale]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Much appreciated. It appears there is still a few possible remedies I have yet to try. Fingers crossed!

[Roosterbooster]

Morning. ENT doctor here. Just thought I'd clarify a few things. Been some very good advice posted already. But wanted to expel a few myths also.

Lots of people are diagnosed with sinusitis incorrectly. Just because you have been told you have it doesn't necessarily mean you do. A headache, or facial pain, on its own usually means it is something else

Sinusitis is usually part of a condition called rhinosinusitis. It is, by definition, inflammation of the lining of the nose and sinuses. It is essentially the same structure with the same lining, and it would be unusual for only the lining of the sinuses, and not the nose, to be affected. The sinuses are air filled pockets connected to the nasal cavity, and sit behind your cheeks, between your eyes, in your forehead, and at the back of the nose. We are not entirely sure of their function.

Inflammation is not always caused by infection, and for the majority of cases of (rhino)sinusitis that persist over a long period of time, this is certainly the case. Some are definitely caused by allergy, and people may also suffer from hay-fever, asthma or eczema. Others are a non-allergic reaction to chemicals or other substances. We are often unsure of the exact cause. Some will persist after a previous infection, even after the infection has cleared. The infection in these cases is often the trigger, but not the persisting cause. Most of us will have had an acute episode of (rhino)sinusitis. This is your common cold, and usually a virus. Some are bacterial, but most do not need antibiotics, and will settle within a week or 2.

The sensation of a blocked nose does not necessarily men your nasal passages are blocked. We perceive a blocked nose when we do not feel air moving through. If the air moves so easily that it causes little turbulence, then sometimes a completely clear nose can feel blocked.

The symptoms of (rhino)sinusitis are nasal congestion (blocked nose), a runny nose, facial pressure or pain, reduced sense of smell, and the sensation of fluid dripping down the back of your throat (Post nasal drip). Just having one or 2 of these doesn't necessarily mean you have it though. These symptoms (Post nasal drip especially) are quite soft and non specific, and to diagnose it normally requires further evidence after examination of the nose, or occasionally a CT scan. These findings are normally inflammatory changes, polyps, or pus.

Management can be tricky, and surgery does not "solve" the problem. The best way to think of it is like asthma of the nose and sinuses. You either need to completely avoid the trigger, which in most cases is impossible (although we do see it when people move house, jobs, emigrate etc), or get medication onto the linings to keep the inflammation down, exactly like inhalers. In general, there are 3 aspects to the medication: clean, anti-allergy, anti-inflammatory. For most people the anti-allergy aspect is not required. The anti-inflammatory element is steroids. These are usually in the form of a spray, and can be used for years and years, often without any complications whatsoever. In severe cases e sometimes give steroid tablets or drops, which are higher doses, and work wonders, but have more systemic side effects and cannot be used long term. The tablets are normally reserved for those with extensive polyps. The sprays work best when they are sprayed onto a clean nasal lining, and when sprayed in the right direction (Google is helpful here. There are numerous hospital produced diagrams and images). Cleaning the nose does 2 things: washes away any causative substances, and allows the sprays to work. The nose can be cleaned 2 ways: saltwater sprays (such as Sterimar), or douches (such as Neilmed). The douches work best, but are not always tolerated. They are, however, worth persisting with if you can. The cleaning element should be done as many times a day as possible. I would recommend 5 times a day. This can be practically difficult, but it should certainly be done twice a day. Morning and night douches with daytime saltwater sprays can be a good compromise. The clean should always be done before the steroid spray or drops. The medicines take a while to work, and most people do not persist long enough. It can take a few months to feel the benefit, and the medications often have to be continued for years.

Occasionally chronic (rhino)sinusitis gets infected and needs antibiotics, but this rarely solves the problem, and just helps get over an acute exacerbation.

Otrivine drops (or anything with oxymetalzoline or xylometazoline in) should NEVER be used for more than a week, and often not more than a couple of days. They are great at decongesting the nose quickly, and help in acute cases. But when used for longer than this, there actually CAUSE nasal congestion. You have been warned.

Surgery is reserved for those who have failed maximum medical therapy for longer than 3 months. This essentially unblocks the sinuses and allows the medications to work. Other than getting rid of polyps causing blockage, it often does not result in immediate relief. It is also not without risk, as the nose and sinuses sit very close to the eyes and brain.

Hope this helps

[crundale]

Roosterbooster. Many many thanks for such a clear and comprehensive reply. I am certain that your contribution will also assist a number of other individuals on this board. It's a shame sometimes that anonymity is part of this internet experience because your response was easily worth a good few pints in the Bridge before a game.
Regards.

[COBBLE]

I've been using Sterimar for some time and getting significant relief for a blocked nose.