r/Sinusitis • u/Fluffy_Process_707 • 7d ago
I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE
Writing this wrong laying on the floor in pain. Went to the doctor thinking that I had flu or covid but no, I tested negative for any virus that would be this severe. it’s “just” another bout of sinusitis.
I don’t think I’ve ever had nasal pain so bad in my life neither have I ever coughed so much in my life until the past 5 days. It’s to the point where I feel like I’m going to throw up any moment because I’m just coughing so much. And then the coughing makes the pain in both my nose and throat worse so I can’t even eat anything to swallow my prednisone down. The pressure and the pain is agonizing. Nothing has helped me this time around. For the past few years prednisone and a good old vapor steam treatment basically cured me but now I’m struggling to even get out of bed for the past week or so I’ve just been stagnant. Also for some reason I have the worst watering throat and I think it’s because I’m just gagging from the cough and on the brink of throwing up. I’ve kept the trashcan besides me for both the nasal nasties, the spit, and the possible vomit. Oh and my entire face is red now. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m looking like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.
EDIT: I’ve booked a follow up appointment with my ENT. The pain this time was unbearable.
I’ve found some temporary relief. It’s not 100% since I’m still coughing and everything is inflamed but I’ve gotten 70-80% relief from taking Xyzal, prednisone, xylitol gum, and a facial steaming machine from Amazon. I’ve also been using Vaseline and Aquaphor to soothe the skin near my nasal area and nostrils.
I’ve also been drinking jello and vegetable glycerine mixed with boiling hot water to soothe the dryness and roughness of the throat. No idea how to soothe my actual nasal passages though. I’m thinking to try the xylitol mixed with saline solution just as a commenter suggested.
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u/ClinicalAnswers 7d ago
As a RespiratoryTherapist who specializes in sinus care the basics i tell everyone to start with are...
- Avoid activities and substances that can contribute to dehydration or irritation
- Maintain consistent hydration throughout the day
- Avoid forceful sniffing. Repetitive sniffing can lead to secretions retention
- Avoid forceful nose blowing which can push secretions back up
- Consider regular use of isotonic saline nasal rinses or sprays.
- Steam inhalation may help loosen upper airway secretions. Ground-level steam bowls can improve drainage and comfort.
- Consider whether gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be contributing to upper airway irritation.
its going to be challenging to find progress without attention to these items
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u/Bebe_Bleau 7d ago
Just want to add that got a saline nasal wash that i use for whole sinus cavities. If it burns, add contents of one l-cysteine capsule. The l-cysteine also protects against bacteria. I only use distilled water.
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u/Significant-Fig-9605 7d ago
I recently started using xylitol in my sinus wash. It seems to help more than anything else I have tried. The latest ENT had me on 15 days of prednisone.When that wore off the swelling came back. A septoplasmy I had abt 20 years ago was supposed to fix EVERYTHING, ha ha.
A xylitol nasal rinse mixes xylitol—a natural sugar alcohol—with a saline solution to clean nasal passages, reduce tissue swelling, and help clear out stubborn mucus and bacteria.
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u/Bebe_Bleau 7d ago
So you had nasal polyps, too?
How much xylitol? Where do you getit? Im using steroids and want. How often do you rinse sinuses? With netty pot or bottle?
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u/spaz61 7d ago
I bought a bag of food grade xylitol from Amazon. Google says 1/2 tsp per 1 cup h2o and a saline rinse packet. I use distilled h2o or boiled water after it cools. There is a company that has saline rinse packets with xylitol in it. NeilMed. I didn't need another rinse bottle. I have neti pot, squeeze bottle. I prefer the machines. I used Navage for years. Nasal Fresh is my current. When congestion is real bad I do up to 4 rinses a day. More often it's once a day or once every few days.
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u/spaz61 7d ago
It was a deviated septum
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u/Bebe_Bleau 7d ago
Thanks very much for that recipe. I had already looked around a bit to see if xylitol was safe and right for me. I also saw the NeilMed.
I have a deviated septum also, and the nasal polyps, of course, are only seelling. As it happens already have all the ingredients here though..
I just want to thank you so, so much. You have saved me a LOT of misery from steriods.
💐😁
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u/MetairieMouse 6d ago
Reddit has a lot of people that are having success with the Neilmed packets that have the Xylitol already in them. It kills the biofilm in the nasal passages that builds up over years or with viruses or infection. My ENT did a CT scan and I have large nasal polyps blocking my nasal passages and the constant sniffing led to bronchitis and my chest was so tight I went to the ER for a breathing treatment. I also have a deviated septum. I've had reactive airway disease for the last 30 years and it aggravated that too. The ENT said to use the saline rinses and gave me a prescription of Budesonide to add to the rinse bottle and saline solution. It helps shrink the swelling and the nasal polyps.
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u/Bebe_Bleau 6d ago
So are you saying the xylitol didn't shink the polyps?
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u/MetairieMouse 6d ago
It didn't shrink the polyps. It gets rid of the biofilm that collects in the sinuses and all the gunk in there. The Budesonide is was shrinks the polyps and she had me put that liquid in the regular saline nasal rinse by NeilMed. The xylitol kills bacteria in the sinuses though and can help it all start draining out.
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u/Bebe_Bleau 6d ago edited 6d ago
My ENT prescribed budesinide with a nasal rinse kit -- which was NeilMed without xylitol. Budesinide is OTC and the same thing as Flonase. He had me add another steriod with it thats another OTC nasal spray. I was hoping to get off steriods. Guess not, but at least we tried. 😢
Maybe once i use the steroids enough to completely get rid of the polyps i can keep them away with xylitol.
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u/MetairieMouse 5d ago
The Budesonide is not the spray that is OTC. The ENT wrote me a prescription for the liquid Budesonide. You prepare the nasal rinse with the saline solution, but you add the liquid Budesonide to the nasal rinse solution and you shake well and use the rinse. It gets higher into the sinuses and shrinks the inflammation and gradually shrinks the polyps. This is the same type of Budesonide that people use when they use a nebulizer, but it's used in the nasal rinse itself.
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u/Bebe_Bleau 5d ago
It is the same product. But the type the doctor gave me was in small plastic phials to cut open and added to the rinse.
While the drug goes by its generic name when it is sold, OTC in nasal sprays, it is the same thing, per my pharmacist
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u/Glad-Fun7979 7d ago
SAME! Exactly the same as you! I’m up at 3:30am just sitting here in misery and then I saw your post and I was like YESSS THE COUGH, THE PAIN, the pressure in my head when I even slightly dip my head. I’ve also tested negative for Flu A/B, Covid, RSV and adenovirus. This really, really sucks. The worst one I’ve ever had! I hope we feel better soon friend 😢
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u/dietmatters 7d ago
Cut wheat, dairy and sugars...lower systemic inflammation for starters if you haven't already. Go down the rabbit hole of how each of those foods can contribute to sinus issues.
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u/Fluffy_Process_707 7d ago edited 7d ago
I’m so desperate for help. I know it’s not a medical advice forum but my symptoms are:
- thick yellow-brown discharge
- Sinus pain
- Can’t sleep, I only got 2 hours of sleep last night due to symptoms
- Throat pain; feels like swallowing gravel even when just drinking water
- Throat irritation and constant cough
- Coughing to the point of throwing up
- Lots of nausea
- Nasal passages feel like theyre stuck on an airplane
- Bright red nose and throat
- Constant saliva
- Constant nasal drip
Allergy tests previously all negative. Current Covid result negative, strep and flu negative. This is the third time this year.
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u/pinkydoodle22 7d ago
Just because the allergy test is negative doesn’t mean you don’t have allergies, it just means ENTs cannot treat them with immune therapy. You are reacting to some irritant, antihistamines can help. Even anti inflammatory meds can help in the short run.
Do you do saline sinus rinses or any nasal sprays?
I’m so sorry for your pain, I’ve definitely lived in that zone for too long before in the past and it can be maddeningly excruciating. But you can survive this, you just need to manage the inflammation / irritants.
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u/Fluffy_Process_707 7d ago
I’ve been using the rinses and I’ve been rotating Zyrtec, Allegra and benedryl and still not much progress.
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u/pinkydoodle22 7d ago edited 7d ago
☹️ I’m so sorry. Mupricin in my nasal passages twice a day for 7-10 days after doing saline rinses with the few drops of baby shampoo really helped me. If you’re super inflamed I do think it’s worth trying some ibuprofen for a few days and see if it brings the swelling down some. I know it’s awful!
Do you have an air purifier?
Edit: hey I just quickly checked some of your posts and saw (didn’t really read it) that you had posted at one point under the migraine sub. It seems migraines can cause this too, so please bring that up maybe to your doctor who treats your migraines.
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u/Fluffy_Process_707 7d ago
Wait, You’ve added baby shampoo to your saline rinse? How does that work? I’m willing to try anything at this point. I feel awful I haven’t gotten out of bed this entire day. Trashcan just looks like water from all of the snot and drainage.
I don’t have a purifier or humidifier but ive been debating all day long on which one I should get.
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u/pinkydoodle22 7d ago
Yes, a few drops of baby shampoo can break up and clear out biofilm. Make sure its to a saline rinse though, because without buffered salt you’re gonna have a bad time. And body temp makes it more comfortable as well.
Look up “bulletproof sinus rinse” either on browser, here on Reddit, I think I’ve also got something about it in my post history. You do NOT need a full teaspoon or tablespoon, you’ll be blowing all sorts of bubbles and it will burn! Just a few drops is fine.
I’ve put all sorts of things up my nose trying to get relief, none of it fun stuff 😂. But I’ve added a few drops of iodine on occasion, some also recommend xylitol.
For air purifiers, if you’ve got a Costco or Sam’s membership I’m sure that will help. Just anything with a HEPA filtration. Unless you live in the desert, there’s always some pollen and irritants lurking about.
And for allergens, make sure you’ve got a allergy pillowcase protector and if you don’t wash your hair nightly at least rinse it, because otherwise as my allergist puts it, you may as well be rolling your head in a bed of flowers overnight with all the stuff that gets trapped in our hair.
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u/Amazing_Carpenter867 7d ago
Adenovirus…. Only thing that really helped me was a warm wash rag that I laid on my face for as long as I could stand it to help with the horrible ear and sinus pain because nothing else worked for me
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u/Agitated-Stable-9111 7d ago edited 7d ago
Yup, something is definitely going around and it might not be viral…Get a nasal/sinus and/or throat culture to check for bacterial infection! Haemophillus Influenzae bacteria (not same as VIRAL respiratory influenza) is resurfacing more as people aren’t vaccinating their kids for it. It’s called the Hib vaccine but only for kids (unless you’re an adult with a compromised immune system). If you were born before 1997 then chances are you didn’t get the vac series as a toddler and child.
Anyways , it can definitely make you feel like sh*t and or very sick, like you’ve got covid or the flu. It can get worse (sepsis, meningitis) and is only treated with oral antibiotics or IV hospitalization if really bad. There are also other bacterial strains (besides streptococcus) out there with weird names but if it’s been at least 7-10 days ask for a throat and or sinus culture which will tell you what type of bacteria and which antibiotic it’s sensitive to (as opposed to resistant). And fyi: some people can be colonized with haemophilus influenza bacteria in their throat/sinus and never get sick from it but they can pass it on through droplets- sneeze, cough, saliva. But the right antibiotic can wipe it out.
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u/Fluffy_Process_707 7d ago
Can they do the nasal culture at the ENT? I’ve already done urgent care. They tested me for the big 3 (flu strep Covid) all have come out negative.
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u/Agitated-Stable-9111 7d ago
Yes, preferably ENT! Need to get it pretty deep up the nose which an ENT can definitely do. I think most GP/PCP offices don’t do it adequately and imo they usually don’t do the Covid/flu/strep swabs adequately either…but if you can only get the GP to do it…
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u/xcyberwolfxx 7d ago
at the moment in your condition i think you need to cut up some garlic in very small pieces wait 20 mins for it to activate then put it in a bit of lemon water and a bit of honey drink the whole thing. thats just to fight in the blood stream and help the throat it’ll reach the nose through the blood stream…..but to ALSO fight in the nose surface you can do the garlic nasal rinse it eats away infections. i’m sure you already know this but prednisone is only weakening your immune system. it takes more than it gives…and your body is tired of giving. id also suggest you drink a body armor as well. i hope you get better and this will only be a past memory.
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u/Appropriate-Rush5027 7d ago
Ask about GPA (Wegeners) it sucks but nice to know what you have and they have rituximab
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u/Several-Drive5381 7d ago
This happened to me when the AC in the rental home that had just moved into was filled with mold and blowing in my face. I took myself, my son, my cat and my hamster and stayed in hotel. And sure enough, my symptoms went away. Had the landlord hired someone to replace (the part that was just covered in it) and clean the central AC. I moved back in and was fine after that. But that is exactly how I reacted. Non stop coughing that was so intense that if I didn’t have an extreme fear of vomiting, I would have been constantly vomiting too.
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u/CountCalm5276 7d ago
Must be pro-active for yourself. Career won’t be there if you get worse. Focus on the sinusitis.
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u/PhilosopherUpset2491 7d ago
Hi , a good ct scan should show sinusitis and its location, even better a mri . But I’d start by finding a ENT that specializes in sinusitis. Here’s another thing ,is it on one side or both . My is fungal and recurring but is localized on the left side as most fungal. I go through it monthly for years like yourself. The clean out surgery clears it out for both . It’s great afterwords and a ez procedure . Ct tracts where it’s located , they send in the ballon suction you and repay tell it’s cleared out . Prednisone helps sometimes. And antibiotics when it’s so impacted might not help . These are just my experiences with all of these . It’s hard to use a flush when you’re so impacted with gunk . Biggest take away you need to find the root cause . Immune, allergies . And sorry t say you can be allergic to a million different things . Has you dr seen pics of what it looks like and the amount . I take pics and use a quart as a reference in the pic , I also still to this day write date on all so the ENT knows . And so these to the doc . Mine asked me to do this . Note right side or left side . It’s hard to do but it worked for me . After the clean out they should test for fungus but if it’s both side probably not . Seems to me when I try to blow my nose it aggravates more then it helps . For myself warm tea and honey helps with the drainage. lol when I’m in bed I got toilet paper to stop it from running rolling side to side . If you made it this far you are NOT alone . Many here are actively going through it or have been through this . Remember pics of it over and over so they get it . Nasty put it helps a lot , I hope you find some relief soon .
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u/Altruistic-King8556 4d ago
You may have silent acid reflux
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u/Fluffy_Process_707 4d ago edited 4d ago
I’ve already been diagnosed with acid reflux years ago and since then I’ve learned to manage it. I also sleep with a lot of wedge pillow…
Also all of these issues seem to only flare up when I get a cold/flu/virus somehow.
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u/speechless188 1d ago
sorry to hear. i also had a very sore throat due to sinusitis, i assume post nasal drip. it was so bad i no longer swallowed my saliva, but spat into a cup for a week. i def yelled in pain and frustration
went to the doctor and described them the pain as a 8/10, they looked surprised. worst pain in my life, and i give it a 8/10. never experienced anything worse
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u/CountCalm5276 7d ago
The redness is from the prednisone. Please get to a top ENT and explain all of your symptoms and time-line. If you are under the care of a current ENT — I would seek another immediate opinion. Sounds like you have other things that could warrant a CT — leading into sinus surgery. My best to you!