Sinusitis FAQ

Complete sinus shutdown

Question:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:20:21 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: >Any other suggestions for how to reduce swelling?

You have to find the cause.   It is probably dust or other irritants, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

If I go into a newish huge public auditorium (not a mall)  with very high ceilings and massive up to date air systems, after two hours my nose starts completely opening up (and draining a lot of fluid as the inflammation recedes) in a way it never does at home. Why? Those big auditoriums tend to have very fancy air filtering equipment and a subtle air movement of almost completely clean air. Try and see if the same occurs for you. Another way you can experience this is to sit within 3 feet of a fairly powerful  portable HEPA air filters for a couple of hours.   My nose opens right up.   But I cannot stand the noise, and they do not seem to work if they are any further away than that. So I know I have to aim for a dust free house, or possibly a better air system. Unfortuantely, this is very difficult to achieve.  I think a lot of the time forced air systems are very imperfect, and are dragging in mold from underneath the house etc.

Response:

To give make more clear what I mean by complete nasal/sinus shutdown – it’s like the phenomena you get after you’ve used oxymetazoline for the 2nd week in a row or more – before you read the really, really fine print that says not to use it for more than a couple days – and you find your nostrils closed up so damn tight nothing could possibly bust thru – frightening feeling, no? Anyone know exacly the effect I’m talking about. I’m getting this effect purely due to inflammation & extreme dryness. But, on that subject, I wonder if there is anything that can be done to help someone in the throes of Oxymetazoline withdrawal. this stuff should not be an over the counter med. On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:53:09 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. >nothing, nada, zip. >has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the >consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to >tell the tale. >i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can >only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m >suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter >cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is >so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static >electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a >shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. >what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do >you just die? >i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal >functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry >and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of >Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep >in humidified but the rest of my house and the world usually isn’t >humidified properly.

Response:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 16:41:54 -0500, Don Brady <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->If I go into a newish huge public auditorium (not a mall)  with very high >ceilings and massive up to date air systems, after two hours my nose starts >completely opening up (and draining a lot of fluid as the inflammation recedes) >in a way it never does at home. >Why? Those big auditoriums tend to have very fancy air filtering equipment and >a subtle air movement of almost completely clean air. >Try and see if the same occurs for you. >Another way you can experience this is to sit within 3 feet of a fairly >powerful  portable HEPA air filters for a couple of hours.   My nose opens >right up.   But I cannot stand the noise, and they do not seem to work if they >are any further away than that. >So I know I have to aim for a dust free house, or possibly a better air system. >Unfortuantely, this is very difficult to achieve.  I think a lot of the time >forced air systems are very imperfect, and are dragging in mold from underneath >the house etc.

interesting. yes, i can’t seem to find a place where the air doesn’t seem ‘funky’. dry, with evidence of dust collecting mainly, but in lower levels and basements dank and moldy. i used to think i had a SuperNose – i just sneezed these irritants off and my nose watered and ran a bit, but at least it was running – now it’s locked up bone dry and that is much worse. i also smoked fairly heavily before this crisis ocurred and still, in as bad a shape as i am, have not been able to kick completely but i’ve cut back *tremendously* and i’m very aware any time i do smoke a cigarette – i try to take as few puffs as possible, put it out when it’s half burned down, etc and i feel guilty as hell about touching the damn things – what a terrible addiction. i live on the third floor of a three story apt building – all carpeted. i’m sure there is all kinds of nasty gunk getting circulated thru the heating system in this building. we each have our own separate furnaces though. i ordered a electrostatic air filter for my furnace. hoping that might do some good.

Response:

Opening your nose may not be the complete solution. If your throat is closing off it may be sleep apnea. If so you will need a and you will need a cpap machine may be with a full face mask. Talk to your physician about a sleep study. If you are blessed with insurance it may cover the cost. FatherTime <nos…@nospam.au> wrote in message

news:7et410ppiqbv1sdkrgl1a8c137527bhfoe@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I could never breath through my nose from about age 9 to age > 35 and I lived with it.. but now I have this problem where > if I try to breath through my mouth while sleeping my throat > clamps shut and I can not breath or sleep.  But if I get my > nose clear then I can still breath and sleep so suddenly > it’s become very important for me to be able to breath with > my nose. > Someday I expect it to get bad enough that I can not breath > through my nose either but the doctors don’t want to do > anything about it.. > On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:53:09 GMT, in alt.support.sinusitis > iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: > : > :worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. > :nothing, nada, zip. > : > :has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the > :consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to > :tell the tale. > : > :i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can > nly do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m > :suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter > :cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is > :so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static > :electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a > :shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. > : > :what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do > :you just die? > : > :i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal > :functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry > :and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of > :Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep > :in humidified but the rest of my house and the world usually isn’t > :humidified properly. > : > : > :

Response:

worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. nothing, nada, zip. has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to tell the tale. i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do you just die? i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep in humidified but the rest of my house and the world usually isn’t humidified properly.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Don Brady <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message <news:v556109fvqvbv6v4gjl7mo6qftabvkfg2e@4ax.com>… > On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:53:09 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: > >worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. > >nothing, nada, zip. > First of all,  this has absolutely nothing to do with your sinuses.  Your nose > is one thing, you sinuses are another. > You are talking about inflammation of the turbinates in your nose.  This can > occur due to allergies or infection or irritation. > Mind you, if the turbinates are that irritated, the sinsues will probably not > be far behind. > It is quite common. > >has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the > >consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to > >tell the tale.

Don — you make a very good point here.  I can speak from experience….for years I’ve been diagnosed with Sinusitis.  Until I saw an ENT with a brain and started my own research I realized my problems were my nose and not my sinuses (CT scan as well).  So many times I still read posts of people compaining about sinusitis — or even people in my office saying their sinuses hurt and they can’t breathe through their nose.  The turbinates and mucous membrane can cause terrible symptoms that may mimic sinusitis but be completely unrelated.  Even today when I see my primary care I see "sinusitis" on the insurance forms.  This just seems to be a catch all bucket for any nasal related problem. The treatment, however, seems to be surprisingly similar to that of sinusitis (decongestants, irrigation, antibiotics (assuming infection present), nasal steroids and of course surgery if all else fails). I just find it interesting that it is really 2 distinct problems, however the treatment regiment is so similar.  Does anyone have any input of different treatments for these 2 distinct problems?

Response:

iJah wrote: >> >worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. >> >nothing, nada, zip. Don Brady <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote in message

<news:v556109fvqvbv6v4gjl7mo6qftabvkfg2e@4ax.com>… >> First of all,  this has absolutely nothing to do with your sinuses.  Your nose >> is one thing, you sinuses are another. >> You are talking about inflammation of the turbinates in your nose.  This can >> occur due to allergies or infection or irritation. >> Mind you, if the turbinates are that irritated, the sinsues will probably not >> be far behind. >> It is quite common. >> >has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the >> >consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to >> >tell the tale.

On 25 Jan 2004 07:58:45 -0800, charles39…@yahoo.com (Charles – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Stanton) wrote: >Don — you make a very good point here.  I can speak from >experience….for years I’ve been diagnosed with Sinusitis.  Until I >saw an ENT with a brain and started my own research I realized my >problems were my nose and not my sinuses (CT scan as well).  So many >times I still read posts of people compaining about sinusitis — or >even people in my office saying their sinuses hurt and they can’t >breathe through their nose.  The turbinates and mucous membrane can >cause terrible symptoms that may mimic sinusitis but be completely >unrelated.  Even today when I see my primary care I see "sinusitis" on >the insurance forms.  This just seems to be a catch all bucket for any >nasal related problem. >The treatment, however, seems to be surprisingly similar to that of >sinusitis (decongestants, irrigation, antibiotics (assuming infection >present), nasal steroids and of course surgery if all else fails). >I just find it interesting that it is really 2 distinct problems, >however the treatment regiment is so similar.  Does anyone have any >input of different treatments for these 2 distinct problems?

OK, now i get the distinction. Nose is that thing in the middle of your face, it has bone, cartilage, mucous membranes & turbinates – sinuses are those openings in and around the nose that process air breathed in thru the nose. I think I understand now how I could have the problems I’m having without sinuses being involved at all.

Response:

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:53:09 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: >>worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. >>nothing, nada, zip.

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 20:06:46 -0500, Don Brady <dbr…@pobox.com> wrote: >First of all,  this has absolutely nothing to do with your sinuses.  Your nose >is one thing, you sinuses are another.

OK, ya got me on semantics. >You are talking about inflammation of the turbinates in your nose.  This can >occur due to allergies or infection or irritation.

Yes, that is certainly the case. Although I still don’t have complete reality on exactly where/what ‘turbinates’ are. Need to find a good diagram. >Mind you, if the turbinates are that irritated, the sinsues will probably not >be far behind. >It is quite common.

OK iJah: >>has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the >>consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to >>tell the tale.

Don Brady: >There is no problem short-term breathng through your mouth, but long-term you >will want to fgure out why your turbinates are swelling and get them down…

Yes, desperately trying to get the swelling down and find the cause. Personally, I think I have an infection that has worked it’s way into the bone structure over a long period of time and no amount of oral antibiotics are going to eradicate it. Right now using nasal steroid spray and a course of prednisone – 60mg for 3 days, 40 mg for 3 days, then 20 mg for three days Any other suggestions for how to reduce swelling? iJah: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can >>only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m >>suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter >>cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is >>so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static >>electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a >>shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. >>what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do >>you just die? >>i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal >>functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry >>and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of >>Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep >>in humidified

Don Brady: >If the humidity level is over 40% in your room,  you are probably generating >mold and provdng a hoem for dust mites and that may be a major factor. >In general, you are probably better not running a humidifier because off this >problem.

OK, thanks for the tip. I have a humidity gage and I just try to keep it at right around 40-50%, just at the low end of the ‘comfort zone’ so to speak. <snip>

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -iJah wrote: > On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 13:16:32 -0500, knob <h…@dontemailme.com> wrote: >>This has happened to probably everyone here.  I lived this way >>for probably 5-6 years.  Sinusus 100% blocked shut due to polyps. >>You get used to it.  Surgery was the only cure.  Nothing will >>remove polyps except a knife.  I was so plugged that normal mucus >>that usually washes down your throat drained out my nose.  I >>slept very poorly since snot was running down my face, into my >>ears, etc.   You’ll live. > Did you breathe thru your mouth a lot then? This is what i find > extremely difficult.

Not too many other options. > I hope you are much better now.

I am, Thanks.

Response:

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 10:53:09 GMT, iJah <ijahSpamSu…@mindspring.com> wrote: >worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. >nothing, nada, zip.

First of all,  this has absolutely nothing to do with your sinuses.  Your nose is one thing, you sinuses are another. You are talking about inflammation of the turbinates in your nose.  This can occur due to allergies or infection or irritation. Mind you, if the turbinates are that irritated, the sinsues will probably not be far behind. It is quite common. >has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the >consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to >tell the tale.

There is no problem short-term breathng through your mouth, but long-term you will want to fgure out why your turbinates are swelling and get them down… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can >only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m >suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter >cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is >so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static >electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a >shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. >what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do >you just die? >i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal >functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry >and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of >Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep >in humidified

If the humidity level is over 40% in your room,  you are probably generating mold and provdng a hoem for dust mites and that may be a major factor. In general, you are probably better not running a humidifier because off this problem. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->but the rest of my house and the world usually isn’t >humidified properly.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -iJah wrote: > worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. > nothing, nada, zip. > has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the > consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to > tell the tale. > i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can > only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m > suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter > cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is > so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static > electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a > shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. > what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do > you just die?

Go see your ENT.  He can do a nasal endoscopy to look up your nostrils and see where the problem is. You may either have a physical blockage (swelling), and/or thick mucus that has blocked up your nasal passages.  Nasal irrigation will take care of the latter problem. In my case, things had gotten so bad that my ENT was simply unable to get his endoscope up thru my left nostril.  He kept hitting blockages and constrictions until he gave up.  At that point, I elected for surgery. — Steven L.

Response:

This has happened to probably everyone here.  I lived this way for probably 5-6 years.  Sinusus 100% blocked shut due to polyps. You get used to it.  Surgery was the only cure.  Nothing will remove polyps except a knife.  I was so plugged that normal mucus that usually washes down your throat drained out my nose.  I slept very poorly since snot was running down my face, into my ears, etc.   You’ll live. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -iJah wrote: > worst case scenario – you simply cannot breathe thru your nose at all. > nothing, nada, zip. > has this ever happened to anyone on this group? what where the > consequences since if you are answering this, you obviously lived to > tell the tale. > i know you could breathe thru your mouth, but i’ve tried that and can > only do it for a short amount of time before i feel like i’m > suffocating and it’s very uncomfortable especially in this bitter > cold/dry weather where the air inside rooms that aren’t humidified is > so damn dry a walk across the carpet can get you lit up with static > electricity and taking off your shirt with the lights out can send a > shower of static sparks flying around like a little fireworks display. > what could be done for someone in a state like this? anything, or do > you just die? > i’m getting worried because i have very, very, very minimal > functionality left. just the tiniest trickle of air. nose is bone dry > and no amount of saline keeps it moist. i think possibly use of > Flonase has contributed to the dryness. i keep the room i try to sleep > in humidified but the rest of my house and the world usually isn’t > humidified properly.

Response:

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 13:16:32 -0500, knob <h…@dontemailme.com> wrote: >This has happened to probably everyone here.  I lived this way >for probably 5-6 years.  Sinusus 100% blocked shut due to polyps. >You get used to it.  Surgery was the only cure.  Nothing will >remove polyps except a knife.  I was so plugged that normal mucus >that usually washes down your throat drained out my nose.  I >slept very poorly since snot was running down my face, into my >ears, etc.   You’ll live.

Did you breathe thru your mouth a lot then? This is what i find extremely difficult. I hope you are much better now.

Response:

Filed under: Sinusitis Symptoms

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