Sinusitis

freestyle · January 10, 2005, 5:18pm

Started Anti-biotics today. Anyone have any tips on how to keep my face from wanting to explode?

Saddlesore · January 10, 2005, 5:33pm

Was this allergy related or from a cold?

draught_legal · January 10, 2005, 5:34pm

Dude,

I had a nasty case of that last year… Not fun, not fun at all. Well, as far as the short term relief… I found hot soups and a hot lemon drink we have here in “Canuckland” called NeoCitron. (basically a hot lemon drink laced with with tylenol) However, I would check with your Doc if you’re able to get your hands on that or something similar (seeing as your on anti’s)

Long term… Avoid the temptation to come back early… I made this mistake and I was sick for much longer than I should have been (nearly cost me the season) Get lots of rest and eat well… I pay much more attention to my Z’s and fuel intake now and I have been lucky to not get as much as a sniffle so far in this off season.

smartasscoach · January 10, 2005, 5:41pm

Sinus infections are bad for your memory… you end up forgetting your dad is a MEDICAL DOCTOR!!!

freestyle · January 10, 2005, 5:45pm

Combination I think. I was sick last week with a fever and other flu-like symptoms, but now for the most part my snot is clear with a tiny bit of green.

Tom_Demerly · January 10, 2005, 5:49pm

I suffered from chronic sinusitis for two years. I finally went to a doctor out of town who was a specialist. He did the anti-biotic thing, which I like to avoid if possible due to the undesireable side effects.

Also, he mentioned the HVAC in my house. My house was built in 1929 and had new duct work installed in it since then when it had the furnace and air updated. He recommended getting my ductwork cleaned out. I hired a company and paid $450 to have my ductwork vacuumed out. I haven’t had a problem since. The stuff that was coming out of there was full-on bogue. There were cigarette butts in there. It was nasty.

Cleaning the ductwork was a good idea.

JBR · January 10, 2005, 6:31pm

I “discovered” the saline nasal spray… it really helps keeping things clear. Haven’t had a sinus headache in a year and things seem to clear up and heal up faster. And what Tom says, check, and, if possible, upgrade your air filter system.
Jay

PH · January 10, 2005, 6:33pm

Let me start by saying that I am not a MD. However, I have had a significant amount of experience with sinusitis, so much so that I have had surgery twice to remove polyps that were significant contributors to cronic sinusitis.

Make sure you take all of your antibiotics … if it is diagnosed as sinusitis it is an infection and the you need to fight this infection.
Use lots of nasal saline … use it 3-4 times a day while you have the infection and twice a day after. Believe it or not it will “clean” out about 40% of irritants out of your sinuses. You especially want to do this following every swim.
Steam… this will help losen things up and help get them moving.
Sudafed … best over the counter, or perscription, decongestant I have found (and I have tried lots). While you have the infection use the one that has a mucolytic in it (that helps to thin things out and keep them moving.

One last thing and this is just an observation based on what I have read here in the past. You are way to young to be having serious sinus problems, hopefully this is once and done situation. But if you are not careful it can become cronic. What happens is that you don’t quite irradicate the infection and some part of it sits there and waits for the next opportunity to strike. I can give you more details if you want just PM me.

Pete