Discussion:
2 mo's sinusitis Update
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~ÐÅRÅ~
2004-11-20 17:04:04 UTC
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Hi All, been lurking in here for the past wk., and learning from the
posts plus
links. I'm on my 2nd round of antibiotics,
amoxicillin 875 mg. + Clavulanate 125 mg
2 x's daily. Previously had absessed tooth extracted Sept 21st, was
given penicillin bfore oral surg., and post surg., amoxicillin by my
dentist. Hadn't learned about nasal irrigation til 2nd round of
antibiotics were a mo. complete. That either stuffed me up or cleared me
temporarily depending upon blockage and irritation. Found the
saline/baking soda a relief in the morns and before bed. Decided to use
the hydrogen peroxide but it drained out of the right side which was
clear and caused a very drying area that needed constant application of
blistex surrounding the entrance to my nose. I have been feeling equally
miserable as my last post, life has been very stressful on top of being
sick, which added to my woes. I'm going through alot and depression has
been an understatement. The past wk has been spent letting the other
problems go and trying to get well. Yesterday I saw a great nurs. prac.
who used to work for an ENT., and she told me when I mentioned peroxide
in the irrigation not to use it but stick w /the saline and baking soda
as the peroxide would irritate the delicate passageways that are
infected. I've used nasal decongestents very moderately or only when I
had to be around people and didn't want to constantly be blowing my
nose, but I can't stand the rebound effect of them and the sinuses
feeling worse later. I'd taken benadryl_D which would work only about a
third of the time, the infection overides the effect. She told me to get
Afrin but I already had the walgreens brand of that, which is Anefrin. I
use that minimally too and also told her I don't like nasal sprays, she
said use it minimally and no more than a wk. When I was on the 2 rounds
of antibiotics pre and post
oral surgery for absessed tooth, I knew nothing about sinusitis or that
this is what I'd be facing for so long. Nor am I allergic to any foods
or meds and had never experienced such misery in my life as this. I
still can't taste or smell. I used to exercise 3 x's a wk but now am
tired all the time. She checked the extracted area where my absessed
tooth was, and said it looked fine. I told her the beginnings of this
were swelling and tenderness and I attributed it to so many needle
sticks given to pull the tooth as well as the extraction plus the
maxillary area being so inflamed coorelating and exacerbated by
infection. Since I hadn't irrigated during the first 2 rounds of
antibiotics, this time
I shall do this and take the script inclusively and hope this time
works. I did add just a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the dose,
instead of the recommended amt. here. My external nasal area is very
very dry. As is my face for some reason. So I broke open a vitamin E
capsule and used that as a balm. I still keep the vaporizer on all night
too, and try to get as much sleep as possible. And eat as healthily as I
can. Since I can't taste food
anyway, I dont crave foods that aren't
necessarily good for us, so I've lost 8 lbs in the past 2 mo's w/o even
trying. so there's my story and update.. still striving for
wellness..Dara
~ÐÅRÅ~
2004-11-20 17:37:04 UTC
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CORRECTION: Meant to say 3rd round of antitiotics.
Questoryia
2004-11-20 19:13:46 UTC
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Hello Dara I hope you get better and don't have surgery! There was an article
last year that said that surgery can be worse for you because of the scarring
and besides there isn't much the ENT can do without a lot of slicing and dicing
and resecting which means that he cuts off things and breaks down partititions
and destroys the anatomical structure of the nose that permits you to get
moisturized air and not dry out! .
Stop the benedryl unless you have an allergy it will only dry you out!

irrigate with distilled water , kosher salt and baking soda, about a level
teaspoon of salt to a 12 oz mug is what I use and 1/2 a teaspoon or a little
less of baking soda.

if you want to try and disinfect your nose with hydrogen peroxide I suggest
only a few drops or it will irritate the nasal lining.

Drink a lot of decaf herbal tea

try sudafed to decongest and flush when you are feeling open.

Please do what ever you have to before having surgery because its a gigantic
risk and should only be done as a last resort.

I was told I would benefit from surgery and my life has been changed forever
for the worse! It's not worth the risk. I just went to anothe rENT and now I
may need REVISION SURGERY. the healing time and flushing and INCREASED amount
of infections will rob you of your life!

The ENT I just went to prescribed antibiotics AND a FUNGICIDE maybe that is
what you need to try! There are studies from the mayo clinic that suggest that
fungal infections are a significant factor of sinusitus.

If you have any other root canals on the upper side of your mouth it may be
causing infection!

Don't blow too much it will inflame your pasages and spread the gunk throughout
your nasal cavity. If you do blow ,blow gently.

Good luck and again stay away from surgery if you can. also don't get fooled
with stuff like deviated septums and concha bullosas or other imperfections
that the ENT tells you that you have because they are all very common and its
more unusual to have a perfect nose interior.
The nose and sinus passages are designed by nature to be very narrow and to
congest and clean themselves so even if it takes a year or longer try whatever
because you may eventually recover and everything will settledown. If you have
surgery then you are a permanent chronic sinusitus person and you may be
miserable for the rest of your life.

I am probably going to kill myself if my revision surgery doesn't improve my
condition because I am that miserable.

When I went to the ENT before any surgery and he treated my infection it went
away but he say I had obstruction and wanted a CAT scan ! then he said that I
needed surgery even though I told him I was feeling great ! he said I would
benefit and I wouldn't have to worry about infections anymore. NOW I have had
more infections in the last two years since surgery than my entire life before
surgery!

well good luck and I hope you get well and choose not to get mutilated by a
surgical geared career doctor who thinks he is greater than nature and can
alter things in the nose that the medical community as a whole admits that they
still do not completely or even nearly understand!
~ÐÅRÅ~
2004-11-21 00:54:27 UTC
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Thanks, Ques.. I'm a huge skeptic and I question everything. I've NEVER
taken a docs word as gospel nor ever accepted anything on face value.
I'm reminded of a time in my early 20's. I felt a walnut sized
knot on my breast. I got scared and made an appt. w/ a dr. Without even
consulting
me about my menstrual cycle, (women retain fluid and things, prior to
menstruation), he had me scheduled for an 'exploratory' surgery, adding
that if there was anything wrong, they'd have to do a mastectomy.
Needless to say I was
TERRIFIED. I was a single young woman barely in my 20's. In 3 or 4 days
the knot went down to a size of a pea. It was not
a "mass'' like a lump. Then I connected
it to the cause. Fluid build up, and so I
quickly called him and he said come in.
It was what is known as, a "cyclic cyst."
I said, "Oh I see, and you didn't rule that
out first and were ready to take a scapel
to me, huh? Dont send me a bill for this.
You're in jeopardy here, for incompetentcy." I never was billed. I
walked out of that office and the day I was sheduled for surgery there
was a call telling me i should be in surgery, the hospital wasn't even
told that this wasn't
necessary. I never forgot that experience. So whether it's religion,
politics, medicine or some guru on the tube peddlin' their latest cure
for health, finding God, extreme beauty claims, miracle creams, enhanced
libido, ad nauseum, I do not fall for any of it. I assure you, there'd
be no way I'd say.. uh huh.. ok Doc, w/o having done extensive research,
or having at least a measure of 2nd or 3rd or 4th opinions and a CAT
scan in my hands as
a means to evaluate and assess acurately. Now yesterday? I forgot to
mention that the nurs. practitioner that saw me, said I had a polyp. She
looked down my left nasal area with her light
and tipped my head back, felt my neck,
(I have swelling on the left side there), and when I heard polyp, I
remembered reading that polyp's are allergy caused
usually, SOMEONE CORRECT ME HERE IF I AM WRONG.. and then I remembered
reading around here that polyp's need surgery. IS THIS SO? I suppose
that cool site medicinenet.com may explain if I do my hm work. Yeah I
don't plan to do any ten parts of water to one part of peroxide. Just a
few drops.
I been using this 4 oz. plastic bottle that
I can squeeze, it has a sports top, the
kind that you can pull up on some bottled water and drinks. So I flush
the left side
fast. Dunno if its making a diff but I feel better. Hopefully the Rx
dose this time
will help. Never had this in my life before
this stupid absess that traveled and I'd
get dentist to give me antibiotics with
the assurance I'd call back in a wk and
I didn't. I drink liptons tea all day long,
and have quit coffee. Coffee seems to
dry me out and not do much good. I have alot of brain fog today ... and
I wonder
if that s due to the higher dose of amoxicillin combined with the
clavulanate potassium... or is it just bacilli time on going. I feel
like putting on flannel jammies before its even dark and crawl
into my nest and just hibernate. Dara
ENTconsult
2004-11-21 20:10:37 UTC
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Nasal polyps usually shrink with treatment and may not require surgery. With
infection or salicylates they enlarge.
Murray Grossan, M.D.
http://www.ent-consult.com
~ÐÅRÅ~
2004-11-22 17:00:29 UTC
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Dr. Grossan, What are salicylates? Incidently, I just posted a question
before reading your post here, about polyps. dara
ENTconsult
2004-11-22 17:29:26 UTC
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salicylates are aspirin and aspirin like medications.
Murray Grossan, M.D.
http://www.ent-consult.com
~ÐÅRÅ~
2004-11-22 18:30:59 UTC
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Ah yes, I just remembered salicylic acid as being the chemical name for
aspirin.
I had no idea that aspirin would be a problem in polyps! I had
previously been taking aspirin for the pressure. Is ibuprofen another
one to avoid? dara

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