Ever since I’ve moved back to Chilliwack, I’ve been having a lot of sinus headaches and routine problems breathing through my nose. I’ve never really had allergies before (at least, nothing other than an allergy to penicillin ), so I haven’t really known what to do with it all.
While cleaning my office last weekend, I found a few medical reports from my injury in 2006, most notably my first CT scan. While the doctor pointed out the obvious facial fractures, he also made note of sinusitis in both sinuses, something that was never pointed out to me. Regardless, I’ve been taking a lot of allergy pills since moving back here, most of which haven’t really helped all that much. What does seem to help are over the counter nasal sprays, but those are supposed to be pretty bad for you long term.
I decided to go down today to the clinic and get checked out. After explaining everything to the doctor, she took at look up my nose and was surprised and just how swollen my sinuses were. So, needless to say she prescribed nasal corticosteroids for me in the hope it would help reduce the inflammation. Apparently it’ll take up to 3 weeks for full effect, and I can say after one day I don’t really notice much improvement (especially compared to the rapid action of the over the counter sprays), but I’m hoping at some point in the near future I won’t spend most of my days walking around with a plugged up nose. Given how I’ve had sleeping problems on and off over the years, I wonder if the two might possibly be related. I’ll soon find out.
You’re right it does take a while for the nasal sprays and what-not to work. You also have to stay on them long term to keep them working which is annoying too. I was on a ‘nasal toilet’ *sounds yummy eh?* that was Nasacort with some Afrin mixed in. It took years but I started getting bloody noses and I can’t use them anymore so make sure you’re careful and not using them long term. Good luck!
You may also want to look into getting a sleep study done. I have bad sinuses as well and was constantly tired, even after sleeping for 10 hours a night. I ended up staying in a hotel with my sister who is a registered nurse, and she told me that I should have a sleep study done due to the unbelieveable amounts of snoring that I do (which I wasn’t even aware of). Sure enough, turns out that I have sleep apnea and now use a CPAP machine at night. It’s incredibly annoying at first, but the quality of my sleep as improved vastly. Something to consider, anyway.
Hope it works and it clears up soon, Duane!
Get a reference for appointment with allergy specialist. I’m having the same problem myself. Apparently, I’m really sensitive to grass pollen. Corticosteroids sounds like a bad idea long term. Reducing your own immune system intentionally? Doesn’t sound very wise to me.
Beats not being able to breathe!
Corticosteroids are delivered locally using a nasal spray, they rarely enter the system so the effect is mainly just on the sinuses. I’ll probably get an allergy test at some point, but allergy pills haven’t really done anything to help.
I don’t suppose plain old saline sprays help your nose much?
I use the Netti Pot. Works wonders.
I SWEAR by the Netti Pot! I don’t know if it would work for allergies long term to keep sinus pressure/leakage from happening BUT its amazing for instant relief when you’re stuffed up.
I’ve had sinus problems for a long time until my wife told me to go see the doctor about it. He put me on corticosteroids as well and it does take a while to take effect but eventually works. The pain was that it is a prescription so I had to go back to the doctor every 3-4 months or so which I hate doing. My sister in law then introduced me to Neilmed Sinus rinse (same company that makes the Neti Pot) and I no longer need to use the steroids. It is all natural (from what I know) and also the effects are immediate. Also because it is a rinse, it tends to get rid of germs and what not in your sinuses so you get less colds and flus. I highly recommend it.