Sinusitis FAQ

Discolored Mucus

Question:

It sounds like there is a small area of your sinuses that have not recovered normal cilia function. I believe you can speed things up by asking your doctor for an Rx of Bactroban ointment to use in your nose 2x a day. This antibiotic may have an excellent local action to clear this area of infection. Or ask your doctor about using Breathe.ease XL nasal gel. Although this is not an antibiotic, it acts to moisturize the area in order to allow your own natural healing to take place – the moisture acts as a canal to enable healing elements to get there. If you can figure out which side this is, use the ointment or gel on that side. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com http://www.hydromedonline.com/presentingthehydropulse/

Response:

Ok, I have a question that both pertains to my specific condition as well as sinusitis in general. I’ll try to keep it short. I get sinus infections about twice a year. They’re very uncomfortable, but usually go away in two or three weeks. Just after Thanksgiving, I developed more mild symptoms — sore throat, discolored and bloody mucous, bad breath (as my wife so gently told me), post-nasal drip. Because my symptoms were so much milder than when I usually experience a sinus infections (usually I’m severely congested and can’t breath and often also feverish, but not this time) I put going off to the doc until like two months later. I went to a GP, got 10 days of anitbiotics and decongenstants, which did basically nothing. It lasted so long and my symptoms were so mild, I wondered if it was sinusitis or something else. But it persisted, and then, around March, I saw an ENT and over the course of three visits got a CT that he said showed a mild infection, went on antiboitcs for four weeks and was prescribed Nasacort. Around that time I also bought a Grossan Irragator (use it twice a day everyday) and started feeling a lot better. No more bad breath, my wife reports, a lot less post-nasal drip. So overall, I was on antibotics for 10 days in Jan. then four weeks around April. Since then I use my irrigator twice a day and two sprays of Nasacort in each nostril once a day. But here’s the deal. I’m still having some flouresent yellow and bloody mucus. It’s not as common as it was before treatment, when I’d blow my nose half a dozen times a day and half of those times would see discoloration. Now, it’s only after I irrigate and see discoloration in very small quantities. Most of what comes out is clear or white. But each time I’ll see at least a little dab of flouresent yellow sometimes mixed with blood. I’ve investigated sinusitis a great deal and have heard conflicting things. I’ve  read any mucous discoloration is a sign of infection and I’ve read the contrary. So which is true? And is it likely I still have an infection and require more medical treatment, or does it sound like I don’t have infection and should chill out?

Response:

Filed under: Sinusitis Symptoms

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