Sinusitis FAQ

first post – need advice regarding lifetime of rhinitus/sinusitus

Question:

Tough sitution. The swelling may be due to an infection. My mom who had "allergies" her whole life recently was diagnosed with Lyme. After long antibiotic treatment her allergies have disappeared. Theres lots of bacteria that can be the cause of your swelling. They love that sinus tissue for some reason. good luck. On Mon, 23 Feb 2004 00:06:46 +0800, Dear Drooper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<droo…@bananasplits.com> wrote: >Hello all, >Just a quick perusal of this newsgroup makes me wonder how I managed >to remain unaware of it’s existence even though I’m a daily usenet >user and have been for over 10 years. >I think it’s becase I long ago resigned myself to accepting my >symptoms and just getting on with living, despite quite severe >problems.     >I have suffered from lifelong symptoms comprising swollen, puffy >sinuses. However, I do not have congestion problems, runny nose, >sneezing or the other typical symptoms, except for seasonal itchiness >for a few weeks here and there when certain pollens are about. >I’m allergic to dust mites. >My sinuses have shown up as "OK" when CAT scanned at various times >over the years. I havent had a scan done for 5 years or so and havent >visted an ENT since 1985. I’m 43. >My problem seems to be swelling, not congestion. My face always feels >"full" and I want to "rip off my face and scrub the underneath" to try >to alleviate the pressure and the sensation of puffiness. I have >potent looking "allergic shiners". >My treatment is largely symptomatic rather than prophylactic,  using >FESS saline spray, Livostin (levocabastine) spray,  Beconase, Telfast >and NSAIDS.  I refuse all drugs containing decongestants. >Of course, not much benefit is derived from these chemicals, as I cant >get them into sinuses which feel like they are swollen to the point >where there is no space inside. (Maybe they arent, but that’s how they >feel). my nose is perpetually clear, but everything else is >perpetually blocked! >I developed sleep apnea a couple of years ago (maybe I had few many >years, but it was only diagnosed two years ago) and now sleep with a >CPAP. I really like it! Strange as it may sound, the thought of >sleeping without the CPAP is`now as terrifying as the thought of >sleeping WITH it when I first was presented with the option. I really >sleep MUCH better. However, it does cause sinus problems to worsen in >my case (and many others also, naturally), but in my case the problem >directly worsened by the CPAP is the sinuses behind my eyebrows. >The sinuses behind my cheeks and in the corner of my eyes couldnt get >any worse! >I’ve developed "polyps" just below the skin surface where I >rub/pressure  the sinuses with fingertips to  somehow ease the >pressure or just to feel I’m doing "something" to combat the pressure >and feeling of swollen puffiness. But all that does is make the >’polyps" bigger! >People who dont suffer this look at me like I’m mad when I describe my >symptoms, as I look healthy outwardly. When I was a kid, the strong >headaches I’d get after being outside for extended periods were >attributed to "migraine" attacks, but I later realized it was sinus >related. It’s a lifelong ailment I wish I could alleviate. >So, after having expressing my frustration, I will close by saying I >intend to download and read all messages in this newsgroup and see if >I can finally get something done about my rotten head…. >Any suggestions gratefully received…. >Thanks, >Sean  

Response:

Some problems with CPAP involve the dryness that it causes which can result in nasal difficulties. Try moisturizing the nose. my product, Breathe.ease XL Nasal Moisturizer Gel has helped many with CPAP dryness. Ask your doctor about using this. Info at http://www.hydromedonline.com Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com

Response:

On 24 Feb 2004 05:45:46 GMT, entcons…@aol.comnospam (ENTconsult) wrote: >Some problems with CPAP involve the dryness that it causes which can result in >nasal difficulties. >Try moisturizing the nose. >my product, Breathe.ease XL Nasal Moisturizer Gel has helped many with CPAP >dryness. Ask your doctor about using this. Info at >http://www.hydromedonline.com >Murray Grossan, M.D. >http://www.ent-consult.com

Thanks Murray, I actually ordered the full enchilada from you by fax last night. I use a humidifier with the CPAP, so dryness has not been an issue. The backward pressure HAS been an issue with respect to the sinuses behind my eyebrows. But the benefits of the CPAP outweigh the grief. My sinus problems have been with me for as long as I can remember. No treatment has ever worked to the point where the symptoms are completely alleviated. The most benefit I have ever received has been relief from pain and/or the "pulsing" throb that occurs periodically as the body attempts to equalize the pressure. Strangely, my sinuses are at their worst when the air is really humid. When the electrical buzzing/popping is occurring on top of power poles due to excessive humidity, my head feels swollen beyond belief.   Dont know if this is due to humidty or barometric pressure. Even stranger, when in a cool, airconditioned (ie dry) room, that’s when I feel the most relief. To me, this seems contrary to most of the advice I receive. Thanks for the advice (and thanks to the others who have responded) Sean

Response:

Hello all, Just a quick perusal of this newsgroup makes me wonder how I managed to remain unaware of it’s existence even though I’m a daily usenet user and have been for over 10 years. I think it’s becase I long ago resigned myself to accepting my symptoms and just getting on with living, despite quite severe problems.     I have suffered from lifelong symptoms comprising swollen, puffy sinuses. However, I do not have congestion problems, runny nose, sneezing or the other typical symptoms, except for seasonal itchiness for a few weeks here and there when certain pollens are about. I’m allergic to dust mites. My sinuses have shown up as "OK" when CAT scanned at various times over the years. I havent had a scan done for 5 years or so and havent visted an ENT since 1985. I’m 43. My problem seems to be swelling, not congestion. My face always feels "full" and I want to "rip off my face and scrub the underneath" to try to alleviate the pressure and the sensation of puffiness. I have potent looking "allergic shiners". My treatment is largely symptomatic rather than prophylactic,  using FESS saline spray, Livostin (levocabastine) spray,  Beconase, Telfast and NSAIDS.  I refuse all drugs containing decongestants. Of course, not much benefit is derived from these chemicals, as I cant get them into sinuses which feel like they are swollen to the point where there is no space inside. (Maybe they arent, but that’s how they feel). my nose is perpetually clear, but everything else is perpetually blocked! I developed sleep apnea a couple of years ago (maybe I had few many years, but it was only diagnosed two years ago) and now sleep with a CPAP. I really like it! Strange as it may sound, the thought of sleeping without the CPAP is`now as terrifying as the thought of sleeping WITH it when I first was presented with the option. I really sleep MUCH better. However, it does cause sinus problems to worsen in my case (and many others also, naturally), but in my case the problem directly worsened by the CPAP is the sinuses behind my eyebrows. The sinuses behind my cheeks and in the corner of my eyes couldnt get any worse! I’ve developed "polyps" just below the skin surface where I rub/pressure  the sinuses with fingertips to  somehow ease the pressure or just to feel I’m doing "something" to combat the pressure and feeling of swollen puffiness. But all that does is make the ‘polyps" bigger! People who dont suffer this look at me like I’m mad when I describe my symptoms, as I look healthy outwardly. When I was a kid, the strong headaches I’d get after being outside for extended periods were attributed to "migraine" attacks, but I later realized it was sinus related. It’s a lifelong ailment I wish I could alleviate. So, after having expressing my frustration, I will close by saying I intend to download and read all messages in this newsgroup and see if I can finally get something done about my rotten head…. Any suggestions gratefully received…. Thanks, Sean  

Response:

Like you I also have sinusitis and sleep apnea. All my life it seems that one side of my nose was always blocked. Never had sinus infection symptoms. Just a blocked nose. About 9 years ago I went through the sleep study routine was put on CPAP. Then my problems started. My head started to feel like I had a permanent head cold. Told my sleep doctor about it. Was told it was not the CPAP unit causing the problem and to go see a ENT doctor. Over the years I seen 5 different ENT doctors, had two surgeries. At present I am going to a new ENT doctor. He told me 2 weeks ago that my sinus problem is being caused by the CPAP unit and I will not really get any better unless I can get off of CPAP. Damn, I knew this 9 years ago when I first started feeling crappy after going on CPAP. But getting off of CPAP is every hosers dream. Now the challenge is there for me to TRY and chuck this CPAP machine. I started the South Beach diet on Feb 8. So far I have shed 15 lbs (Maybe water so far). But I plan to stick with the diet and see if I can put my CPAP machine in the basement for good. The Doctor told me that I was not really over weight, just about 6 inches too short for my weight (g).

Response:

Filed under: Sinusitis Symptoms

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