Sinusitis FAQ

Newbie question–please help!

Question:

I’m a healthy 47 and never had sinus problems except as a child (hay fever). Right now I’m having aching pain in my left sinuses plus a moderate amount of green drainage that smells like skunks or rotten meat–sickening stuff! In November, a doctor prescribed 10 days of amoxicillin (penicillin?) for another (actually worse) sinus infection. I took all the pills and felt like I was cured, then THIS weird smelly stuff hit me 5 days ago. My temperature is a fraction above normal and I’m taking acetaminophen and Claritin-D. Should I trot back to the doctor or is this the normal course for such infections?   —   ugows…@mindspring.com

Response:

Steve McDonald wrote: > I’m a healthy 47 and never had sinus problems except as a child > (hay fever). Right now I’m having aching pain in my left sinuses > plus a moderate amount of green drainage that smells like skunks > or rotten meat–sickening stuff! In November, a doctor prescribed > 10 days of amoxicillin (penicillin?) for another (actually worse) > sinus infection. I took all the pills and felt like I was cured, then > THIS weird smelly stuff hit me 5 days ago. My temperature is > a fraction above normal and I’m taking acetaminophen and > Claritin-D. Should I trot back to the doctor or is this the normal > course for such infections?   —   ugows…@mindspring.com

Go back to see your physician.  The 10-day course of antibiotic may not have been enough to completely eradicate your previous acute infection. Believe me, do not let this turn into a chronic infection or you may become a permanent contributor to this newsgroup. Regards, Michael M. Vancouver, BC, Canada

Response:

Foul-smelling green drainage and slight fever would certainly prompt me to call my doctor.  I would not speculate that this is part of the initial infection, but perhaps a new one, if the first seemed totally eradicated and it’s been well over a month since you finished the antibiotics (intuition would tell me it would have grown back sooner), though I could be wrong.  Either way, it’s infected or still infected, most likely, and that merits a call and perhaps a visit, depending on your doctor’s willingness to prescribe over the phone.  It is possible that you’re growing the same bacteria, but a second time around (since all of us have bacteria which have made a cozy home in our bodies in normal-sized populations, and they can just overgrow in infections…some bacteria like certain people or places more).  Have you considered adding something with Guaifenesin (an expectorant – mucus thinner… perhaps switching the Claritin-D for Entex LA, or adding just plain Robitussin to the Claritin) and steaming your sinuses over a sink of hot water?  These could get things running and make you more comfortable.  Also if your stomach can tolerate them, I tend to opt for Advil or Aleve over Acetaminophen, because they have anti-inflammatory properties which can open up the sinuses more.  Just a few thoughts.  Hope they help! Kimberly

Response:

Steve McDonald wrote: > I’m a healthy 47 and never had sinus problems except as a child > (hay fever). Right now I’m having aching pain in my left sinuses > plus a moderate amount of green drainage that smells like skunks > or rotten meat–sickening stuff! In November, a doctor prescribed > 10 days of amoxicillin (penicillin?) for another (actually worse) > sinus infection. I took all the pills and felt like I was cured, then > THIS weird smelly stuff hit me 5 days ago. My temperature is > a fraction above normal and I’m taking acetaminophen and > Claritin-D. Should I trot back to the doctor or is this the normal > course for such infections?   —   ugows…@mindspring.com

Hi Steve: It sounds like your infection didn’t get completely cleared up by the amoxicillin.  Amoxicillin, never works for me I usually need something stronger- that will kick it the heck out of my sinuses.  Maybe you should give your doctor a ring back. Hope you feel better soon.  Lisa

Response:

Steve McDonald wrote: > I’m a healthy 47 and never had sinus problems except as a child > (hay fever). Right now I’m having aching pain in my left sinuses > plus a moderate amount of green drainage that smells like skunks > or rotten meat–sickening stuff! > In November, a doctor prescribed > 10 days of amoxicillin (penicillin?) for another (actually worse) > sinus infection. I took all the pills and felt like I was cured, then > THIS weird smelly stuff hit me 5 days ago. My temperature is > a fraction above normal and I’m taking acetaminophen and > Claritin-D. Should I trot back to the doctor or is this the normal > course for such infections?

This time, you should go to another doctor, preferably one who understands that acute sinusitis frequently requires much more than 10 days of antibiotics to eliminate completely.  (2-3 weeks of antibiotics is typical).  If the antibiotic is not taken for a long enough period, the infection can flare up again. Make sure you tell this new doctor that you were already treated once with amoxicillin.  He/she may wish to change the antibiotic. — Steven D. Litvintchouk Email:  s…@mitre.org Disclaimer:  As far as I am aware, the opinions expressed herein are not those of my employer.

Response:

On Sun, 04 Jan 1998 21:34:08 -0500, Lisa Heinz <lhe…@nb.net> wrote: -=>Steve McDonald wrote:

-=>> -=>> I’m a healthy 47 and never had sinus problems except as a child -=>> (hay fever). Right now I’m having aching pain in my left sinuses -=>> plus a moderate amount of green drainage that smells like skunks -=>> or rotten meat–sickening stuff! In November, a doctor prescribed -=>> 10 days of amoxicillin (penicillin?) for another (actually worse) -=>> sinus infection. I took all the pills and felt like I was cured, then -=>> THIS weird smelly stuff hit me 5 days ago. My temperature is -=>> a fraction above normal and I’m taking acetaminophen and -=>> Claritin-D. Should I trot back to the doctor or is this the normal -=>> course for such infections?   —   ugows…@mindspring.com -=> -=>Hi Steve: -=>It sounds like your infection didn’t get completely cleared up -=>by the amoxicillin.  Amoxicillin, never works for me I usually -=>need something stronger- that will kick it the heck out of my -=>sinuses.  Maybe you should give your doctor a ring back. -=>Hope you feel better soon. Lisa In addition you may need to be on antibiotics for a longer period of time. You can check out Dr. Murray Grossan’s page at http://www.ent-consult.com and Dr. Wellington S. Tichenor’s site at http://www.sinuses.com  They both post frequently here and have great info on their sites. Whatever you do don’t let it go.  Especially if you’ve never had problems before. Good luck Victoria "Lee" For address go here: http://scican.net/~haxton/address.html

Response:

Filed under: Acute sinusitis

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