Sinusitis—-pain but CT scan shows clear
Question:
About mid-November I began feeling ill. After 3 sets of anti biotics I was told my sinus infection was cured. Yet I still had headaches in the fore head, behind the eyes, etc. A CT scan showed I am fine. BUT, I wake up with headaches, feel congested & stuffy, have burning eyes, feel a little dizzy and when I take a deep breath the headache gets worse & it feels like an icicle is being shoved up my nose! The headaches remind me of the way I felt just after my sinus surgery 3 years ago. At least I have more energy & the rotton smell in the nose is only there for awhile after awakening. My doctor now has me using vancenese aq 2 puffs in each nostril 4 times a day. Today the headaches seem lessened. Has any one else had all the symptoms of a sinus infection with a clear ct scan? Also I am using an air purifier-ionizer in the bedroom along with a vaporizer & a water pik with a special attachment, it has a blue bulb on the end, to flush my nostrils with warm salt water. And I use Ocean during the day. Did I mention that some times when I hack up phlegm or blow my nose there is blood in the discharge? Has any one suffered a similar experience & what did you do about it?
Response:
In article <32E02318….@teleport.com>, davez…@teleport.com says… David, This sounds very similar to my situation. Compared to the pre-surgery CT scan, my sinuses now appear to be healthy and wonderfully clear. The surgery (and subsequent months of antibiotics- most recently, Z-pac) has been demonstrably effective. Incidentally, Dr. Tichenor’s sample sinus CT scans (http://www.sinuses.com/ctscan) were very helpful to me in making sense of my own. Unfortunately, the headaches and pressure persist. I’m now sniffing Flunisolide (Nasalide) and Atrovent (.03% ipratropium bromide) twice daily. I also installed humidifiers and Honeywell Envirocare air cleaners at home and office. I temporarily discontinued use of the Grossen attachment — I have trouble getting the water back *out* so I feel intense pressure around the maxillary ostium (I think) about 2-3 hours after using it. Nevertheless, I will keep trying this method of irrigation, since it seems so beneficial to so many and since it makes so much sense theoretically. I can only speculate about the current causes of our headaches. Perhaps mine are related to my cold-weather distance running. I often take melatonin and/or NyQuil before bed — perhaps the antihistamine in the NyQuil or the temperature-reducing effects of melatonin are partially responsible for the morning headaches (Again, this is pure speculation). Of course, my *first* thought after viewing the new scans was that I must be a hypochondriac. Do you share any of these habits (the running and melatonin/Nyquil, not the hypochondria)? Have you thought of other variables? In any case, I think you should view a clear CT-scan as *good* news and signs of progress! Good luck, Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->About mid-November I began feeling ill. After 3 sets of anti biotics I >was told my sinus infection was cured. Yet I still had headaches in the >fore head, behind the eyes, etc. A CT scan showed I am fine. BUT, I wake >up with headaches, feel congested & stuffy, have burning eyes, feel a >little dizzy and when I take a deep breath the headache gets worse & it >feels like an icicle is being shoved up my nose! The headaches remind me >of the way I felt just after my sinus surgery 3 years ago. At least I >have more energy & the rotton smell in the nose is only there for awhile >after awakening. My doctor now has me using vancenese aq 2 puffs in each >nostril 4 times a day. Today the headaches seem lessened. Has any one >else had all the symptoms of a sinus infection with a clear ct scan? Also >I am using an air purifier-ionizer in the bedroom along with a vaporizer >& a water pik with a special attachment, it has a blue bulb on the end, >to flush my nostrils with warm salt water. And I use Ocean during the >day. Did I mention that some times when I hack up phlegm or blow my nose >there is blood in the discharge? Has any one suffered a similar >experience & what did you do about it?
Response:
My CatScans have shown only minor problems but have definite sinus aches and infections. I read that the degree of infection is not as important as the location. The ethmoid sinuses apparently are the worst for this. I had FESS 15 months ago and your aches seem similar to mine. But I have had slight swelling and strong aches in glans under one jaw that goes with it for the last 18 months. FESS did nothing on that.
Response:
Filed under: Sinusitis
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