I have another frikin sinus infection. Same symptoms, same side of my face

[greenbriar]

same blinding eye pain and horrible ear pain


went to the DR and got a shot

and start on some heavy antibiotics tomorrow.


oh and it feels like a river in my right ear

[pookieblue]

1. it's possible...

that the first one never went away completely. That is what happened with mine... I thought it was gone...then it'd come back even worse. went through this three times before we tried the heavy duty stuff. I'm praying it's done now.

so far this has been the most expensive sinus infection ever...

[Connonym]

2. have you ever tried a neti pot?

It's weird but really helps clean out the sinus passages. I think it's awesome.

http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/Netipot/NetiPotGateway.aspx

[Manifestor_of_Light]

3. You can use a plastic syringe to rinse out your sinuses.

Put warm water with a pinch of salt in a clean cup. Get a plastic syringe of 1 to 4 cc's capacity.

Fill up the syringe with the water.

Tilt your head back, insert syringe in one nostril. Close other nostril with other hand. Open mouth to breathe, and slowly push plunger in to release liquid. Swallow liquid. Repeat in other nostril.

Blow nose.


Works the same as a neti pot. Iodized salt in the cup of water will kill germs.

[Dora]

4. Get a neti pot or a NeilMed bottle.

Both will flush saline water through your sinues. The neti pot uses gravity - you have to tilt your head backwards, which some people aren't comfortable with. The NeilMed bottle requires you to squeeze it gently, and that forces water into one nostril, through your sinuses, and out the other nostril. In both methods, the washing of your sinuses with saline is much gentler than it sounds. It's actually quite soothing to completely rinse your sinuses, and very good for your health, especially when you have a sinus infection. I do it myself 1-2 times a day. More if I'm sick or experiencing bad allergies.

If you try mixing your own saline, I recommend 1/8 tsp sea salt per 8 oz of lukewarm water. Be careful with the salt - too much and it will burn your sinuses quite uncomfortably. I've met people who were turned off of nasal washes because they didn't know how to mix the proper saline.

You can also purchase premeasured saline solution packets ready to mix with water at the drugstore.

Flushing your sinuses really can make a difference in how quickly you recover from this sinus infection.

[yellowdogintexas]

6. I do not have to tip my head backwards to use my Neti pot. The water flows in

one nostril and out the other. It is all a matter of holding the pot and your head at the correct angle. It is amazing how good it feels.

[Dora]

9. Thank you. However,

The neti pot works because of gravity. One's head must be positioned "just so" in order to get the water to flow into, through, and down in order to drain without making a mess. This can be confusing abd physically awkward to someone who's never tried something like this before. Also, its "foreign" nature I think causes resistance in people who might be perfectly comfortable doing the exact same thing with a westernized version of the same tool. Hence, my recommendation of the NeilMed bottle.

I have used both methods comfortably. But my grandmother who can use the NeilMed bottle just fine is not comfortable using a neti pot.

[greenbriar]

5. apparently, I have some sort of blockage in my sinus cavity

during the Christmas break, I get to have an MRI and if it is not gone they may have to "snake" it out



fun fun fun

[yellowdogintexas]

7. a deep seated sinus infection is HARD to get rid of. Not unusual to take 3

rounds of antibiotics to get rid of one.

[old mark]

8. My wife got over one about 10 days ago, went back to the DR

today with another.

We just started using that NeilMed nasan irrigator - it's great, but won't clear an infection. It does make you more comfortable and able to sleep.
Good luck - they are miserable.
mark

[travelingtypist]

10. I used to get horrible sinus infections.

Then I moved out of a 100-year old house that had a serious mold infestation
and I got a massive amount of dental work done. I haven't had a sinus infection
since.

There could be an underlying cause and you'll just keep on getting them.

Good luck.

[DevonRex]

11. If the Sinus Rinse thing doesn't work, try a personal steamer.

They have them at Walgreens for about $10. It's a steam humidifier with a mask for your nose, or it can set up for your breathing through your mouth, too.

Sometimes people with blockages like polyps have a difficult time with the sinus rinses, because hte water doesn't flow right back out. It gets stuck up there for a bit.

But the steamer just gently loosens things up, without filling your sinuses with water. Then you may be able to use the sinus rinses with out getting all clogged up.

[seemunkee]

12. Have you tried steroid nasal spray?

I used to get sinus infections 5-6 times a year. The steroid spray keeps the sinus walls thin and lets things drain better.
Ask the doc about it.

I'll second(or third) the netti pot too.

[Bertha Venation]

13. Oh, man, bless your heart.

:hug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

14. Don't forget

that those antibiotics are killing your good bacteria in your system as well as the bad bacteria. So get some yogurt with live cultures and get some into you, but not at the same time as the antibiotics.

One of the things that my friends who used to get sinus infections swear by is a sugar- and yeast-free diet. Could be linked to food sensitivities or allergies.

I hope you feel better. But don't forget your yogurt.