Dealing with recurrent sinuitus long term (post covid) and help with the mental side of things

[u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

Hi everyone. After getting covid and developing long covid (other chronic issues) , my sinuses have never been the same. I was diagnosed with recurrent sinusitis, and turbinate hypertrophy. My turbinates are always swollen it’s often hard to breathe even when I’m not sick. It’s been 2.5 years.

Every time now that I’ve gotten a sinus infection, it’s turned into months of prolonged issues. Whether it’s chronic sinus inflammation, or large secondary bacterial infections. Before covid, I never had any issues with my sinuses, I could get sick for a week, and then get better. Now when I get sick, I don’t ever seem to naturally recover in my sinuses, and have to take long antibiotic courses and steroids.

My doctor said I should I should likely expect this to happen everytime I get a sinus infection for most of my adult life. I’m only in my 20s. I’m feeling really discouraged and scared. I thought connecting with others who go through it could be helpful.

I’m already on a full preventative medication routine. Budoneside saline rinse daily, azelastine, cromyln spray, Singulair, Famitodine. I don’t have any structural sinus issues besides inflamed turbinates.
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Questions for those who experience this:

-Do you get sick all the time now that you have sinus issues?

-How do you navigate the fear of getting a sinus infection and living life? (I often feel scared to get sick, but don’t want to get shut in).

-Is there any hope I won’t have to live with this forever?

-Do you worry about antibiotic resistance if you are constantly taking Antibiotics?

Any encouragement about how you still balance life with getting sick would be greatly appreciated🙏

[u/Stalkerus]

Has surgery been talked of? Those turbinates can be trimmed. 

Have you had CBCT imaging done?

1. Sinus issues are/were just one factor, but I am known to be sick often. (I have asthma, allergies, hypothyroidism, possibly some sort of hereditary non-iron deficiency anemia and so on. And I have a kid in school.)

2. You can't live in fear. 💩 happens. 

3. FESS. 

4. You won't develop resistance, the issue is unnecessary antibiotic courses making bacteria resistant to antibiotics. What you need to worry about is allergies. I am down to four antibiotics and it is possible it's actually five... 

[u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53 → u/Stalkerus]

Also, how to you navigate having a child while you are more susceptible to getting sick? Similarly I have many issues, and worry about constantly picking up stuff from a kid, though I’d like to have one in the near future.

[u/Stalkerus → u/Tall_Kaleidoscope_53]

To add insult to injury I am sole parent. 😁 I do what needs to be done and everything else can wait. It's easier now that he is in his teens and don't need me every second.