Sick of my sinuses!

[Helennn]

Bit of a moany post, but not long had a chest infection and now think I've got a sinus one! I'm just getting really sick of this. 4 years on and off antibiotics and all it started with just normal sinus problems! I don't know how to boost my immune system to get rid of this once and for all?! I take a multivitamin and probiotic daily.

[Minushabens]

Hiya

I don't know how far it's related to asthma but my sinuses drive me crackers...especially at bedtime. I feel like the space between my nose & throat is totally gunged up. I always associated it as a hayfever more than an asthma issue though. Do you think there's an asthma issue there?

[Helennn in reply to Minushabens]

Hey, I'm not too sure but I know our sinuses are all a part of our airways and probably play just as important role as our lungs! I'm the same when I'm unwell! I've never really had hayfever, do you have asthma? Xx

[Minushabens in reply to Helennn]

Yes I've had asthma & hayfever near enough all my life (since I was 3; I'm now near enough 50 years on from there).

There's no doubt that the two are connected atopic illnesses although for me different things trigger the illnesses. I can see how a particular allergy might trigger both sinus & airway problems.

[Helennn in reply to Minushabens]

Aww, are you on seretide? Hmm it may do! Xx

[Minushabens in reply to Helennn]

I was until a few months ago; my consultant took me off it.

[Helennn in reply to Minushabens]

Ohh ok, are you on another medication now for your asthma then? I'm on seretide 250 once in the morning and twice at night X

[Minushabens in reply to Helennn]

My personal concoction is Symbicort 250/6 4 x daily, salbutamol, itraconazole (for something called ABPA which I think developed from many years of badly treated asthma) & montelukast. Plus blood pressure tablets...I have to set my morning alarm 10 minutes early just to fit that lot in!

[Hidden in reply to Minushabens]

I have sinus injuiced asthma..doctors say it could be where I am living...

Am still trying to find out what can be done to help...if ever I find something that works to bring relief. ..I will let you know..

I had some test dome 6 month ago....found that what I was eating effected my emmue system by 50%.... this was done by blood tests. talk to your doctor about it...you never know.

[Helennn in reply to Hidden]

Sinus induced asthma? I have never heard of that. Oh right ok, where do you live if you don't mind me asking? I have now moved to Norwich so am closer to the sea which is meant to be good for asthma. What you were eating was effecting your immune system? Was you eating un healthily then? Xx

[Hidden in reply to Helennn]

I've lived in Thailand for 9 years now..and my problems only started 15 months ago whe I moved into this old house..

Oysters..scallops..and giant river prowns...

The big seafood market is only 1 minute drive from my home..and as i love that food...I would eat most days in the week.

But have not touch it since.

We are going on hoilday and we be living on the beach for a month. ..keeping figers crossed it will help my asthma xx

[Hidden in reply to Helennn]

I've often wondered about this 'living close to the sea is good for asthmatics' because living right on the coast in winter can equate with having to cope with a cold, very damp climate (on the west coast of UK) or an even colder but not quite so damp climate (on the east coast of the UK) - neither of which would be considered great for asthmatics. I lived in Bristol for a couple of years, so very close to the coast, and my asthma wasn't wonderful even in the summer. Bath, not far from the coast, is a known bad area for asthmatics due to the deep valley it is in plus (so I was told when I lived in Bristol) the presence of air pollution coming upstream the river Avon from Avonmouth. I'm not quite sure how the latter worked, but that's what I was told. That said, in my early twenties I lived about ten miles inland from the south east coast, and my asthma was fantastic, as it was for my younger son when he was in the same area.

Conclusion: living close to the coast can be good for asthmatics, but the benefits depend on whereabouts on the UK coast. I do wonder whether Asthma UK have ever produced a map of the best (and worst) places for asthmatics to live in the UK. If so, I'd be very interested to see it. Any comment from Asthma UK on this subject?

[Helennn in reply to Hidden]

Ah how weird I used to live in Bristol too for 2 years as went to college there! Where all my troubles first began unfortunately! Yes I would love to know if they have ever produced anything like that too! It would be interesting to see where they believe areas are best and worst for asthma suffer's! Xx

[freefaller in reply to Hidden]

For the largest part of my life I have lived in small towns and villages near the sea, on the west coast of Wales and Cornwall - so not a lot of pollution but have had asthma all my life so doesn't always follow that living near the sea is good for you. The other years I lived in Oxfordshire so pretty much as far away from the sea as you can get in the UK - I think Thame is the furthest place from the sea you can get - about 30 miles from where I lived. It is in a dust bowl and my asthma wasn't good but was no worse than when I was living near the coast. In fact all my worst exacerbations have occurred when I lived by the coast. I did however develop allergies and hay fever when living in Oxfordshire. Maybe I am one of the exceptions that prove the rule.

[Hidden]

I'm also susceptible to sinusitis following on from colds, and used to find the inhalant decongestant Karvol (came in capsule form) hugely beneficial when my sinuses began to play up. Sadly Karvol capsules are no longer available, but I've found that Olbas oil works pretty well.

As far as boosting my immune system is concerned, well for me nothing seems to work better than keeping myself physically fit through exercise (in my case ballet).

[Helennn in reply to Hidden]

Oh no! Ooh I must try olbas oil! I've just steamed my face with cinnamon and clove oil a remedy I found for bronchitis when searching online. Ooh you do ballet? I used to do tap, modern and ballet from about 5 years old till about 21/22. I do still exercise though as driving my car to work is impossible as parking is about £10 a day in the city so I bus in and walk home xx

[freefaller in reply to Helennn]

Olbas oil is good but try menthol crystals which you can buy from the pharmacy much cheaper and you only need to use one crystal as it is really strong. A small tube of crystals will last years. I had to buy a new tube because the old tube was broken before I finished the crystals. I do use Olbas oil too as that is easy to take a sniff of when out and about and you can buy Olbas inhalers to use out an about. Best place to buy these cheaply is in "Savers" as you can quite often pick them up there for a couple of pounds or less.

I have just (hopefully) recovered from a sinus infection myself taking last antibiotics today. Hadn't had a bad sinus infection for ages though used to suffer a lot from them but had one almost exactly a year ago too and Docs said no need for antibiotics as it would just run its course and it was not unusual for it to last for 3 or more weeks so ended up on antibiotics as it lasted for months. Also prescribed a nasal inhaled steroid which seems to work well. Take one quarter of the dose as should take two "sniffs" in each nostril night and morning but just take 2 at night. I also use a saline nasal wash - though not while on all the other prescribed things as think that might aggravate rather than help when I am really bad. I use a nettipot but also use sterimar when travelling as the nettipot is a bit of a fuss.

Hope you are getting better?

SIAN

XOXOXO

[Hidden]

Ballet is a form of exercise which is perfect for me. I can't do running (or not of anything over a hundred metres or so) as my asthma is exercise induced and not even taking ventolin beforehand helps. The more aerobic elements of ballet come in short bursts, so I can cope with it. Then, of course, it is wonderful for core strength.

Olbas oil has clove oil, eucalyptus oil, juniperberry oil and mint oil (amongst others). I went down with the awful bug that seems to have done the rounds over the course of the winter and my sinuses really began to hurt. I had one or two Karvol capsules left from my stock (when they began to get scarce I bought a packet whenever I saw one), but I used my last one whilst I was visiting my father. He suggested the Olbas oil, and I have to admit it did a pretty good job at clearing things and then helping to keep them clear.

[Helennn in reply to Hidden]

Aww I'm glad you have found something not as tough on your asthma, I love dance but it's hard to make a career out of it as I found out. Ooh I did not know it had all those in I'm going to have to try some! Xx

[Minushabens]

At 6 foot 2, size 11 shoes, 2 left feet & clumsy as an oaf, my ballet days ended long before they started

[Hidden in reply to Minushabens]

Height is not really an object , nor are size 11 shoes, not at the basic levels of ballet:-). Nor is age really. I've known seventy year olds who have done a basic ballet class once a week; my teacher (who used to be a professional ballet dancer) is now in her eighties. I'm in my fifties and whilst I can no longer do some of the things I used to do (and it certainly would not be a good idea for me to even attempt pointe work), I still enjoy it.

Two left feet - I bet you haven't:-).

[Minushabens in reply to Hidden]

Just ask my wife...she always liked to dance but accepted around a week into the relationship that was a non-starter!! I am genuinely notorious for being clumsy. My best mate once stopped his car to give me a lift saying he only knew it was me because of the "lumbering walk".

Anyway, even if there is a route that could get me to dance competently, can we just keep that between ourselves. I can do without undoing 33 years good work

[Alliecat]

my sinus's have been terrible lately.. have used all the usual meds, but nothing seems to be working...ughhh.. so sick of it feeling blocked then runny, then blocked again.. but I think mostly the nostrils are just inflamed which makes it feel blocked... to top it off.. think I have nasal polyps again *sigh*.. but this time not going to have another operation.. will see if the nasal spray works...

[Helennn in reply to Alliecat]

Aww no Allie I really do feel your pain! I don't think I've ever had nasal polyps. How many sinus operations have you had? I had one around 3 years ago now as I had a deviated septum so they thought if they were to fix that all my problems would be gone, wrong! Xx

[Alliecat in reply to Helennn]

I've had 2 so far....wasn't pleasant lol.. but have read that the operations don't help and could in fact make it worse.. so just going to try the flucinase one and hope it works

[Helennn in reply to Alliecat]

Aww no bless you. I have had 1 and always wonder if a second would do the trick but it doesn't sound like it from your experience. And waking up spitting blood for the first few hours after was not nice xx

[Wizzer]

I started using a salt pipe beginning of February and have found it hugely beneficial. My sinus and respiratory tract are clear and seem more open making breathing much easier.

[Helennn in reply to Wizzer]

Ooh that sounds good, I use neilmed sinus rinse with the salt sachets as recommended by an ENT doctor I saw once it is miracle stuff!

[freefaller in reply to Helennn]

Air that worked for you then try using a nettipot saline wash through the winter months. You can buy on Amazon and get the medical grade Himalayan salt to use in them from there too. I would recommend that.

[Alliecat in reply to Wizzer]

I have a salt pipe too and it doesn't seem to do anything for me... but my daughter paid for me to go to the salt caves in Edinburgh for my birthday.. so hoping that might work!

[emmasue]

I have had sinus trouble since I was a child. The last time I went to the GP, he refused antibiotics saying it was probably just viral. The pain was terrible though so I went to the chemist (pharmacist) who suggested a sinus wash. NeilMed do them and the one I got is called a Sinugator. Since I started using it the sinus pain has reduced dramatically and I feel a lot better. I still drain, especially at night and first thing in the morning, but I haven't felt this much better in a long time. My asthma is a lot better as well. Anyway, it's worth a try if you want to help with your sinuses. Good luck!

[Helennn in reply to emmasue]

Hi Emma, aww not good, am not sure if to go to the doctors or not? I feel like I want to try and fight this by myself as I'm just going to be on and off antibiotics for the rest of my life if not! That sounds very good. I use the neilmed sinus rinse which is a plastic bottle and the salt sachets but have not heard of their sinugator xx

[emmasue in reply to Helennn]

The Sinugator is like the plastic bottle only battery operated so it can get the water in better. It is worth a try. It takes a few weeks but it might help. Hopefully spring comes soon. This damp is getting to me. 😞

[susanavalentina]

onions garlic olive oil fruit vegetables meat and you'll improve

[Helennn in reply to susanavalentina]

Thank you Susan, will try anything xx

[Hidden]

Hi Helen I use the Rhinomer or Phytomer or Sterimar and wash my nose for a good while head down straight after using the seretide and I wait a couple of minutes and blow my nose gently because if you blow hard it goes straight back in your sinuses then after a good 30 minutes I put the nasonex 2 puffs at night, I make sure my head is down your chin well in so the nasonex goes in the sinuses and not in the back of your throat..

now all this I got from an ENT at the Charing Cross Hospital..my only problem is that the Nasonex gives me nose bleeds so I have to just wash for a couple of days sometimes and wait until it heals..there you are..

Hope it helps..:)) take care xxx

[Helennn in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I used to use stermiar as recommend by the first ENT doctor I saw who did my nose surgery but I also used to get nose bleeds but from using the sterimar. I changed to a neilmed sinus rinse in the end. Take care xxx

[Hidden in reply to Helennn]

Ok thanks good to know ;))