Any had sinus pressure?: Hey everyone! I'm just... - Thyroid UK

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Any had sinus pressure?

crw2ddd profile image
18 Replies

Hey everyone!

I'm just curious, over the past few years I've had these episodes of intense face pressure and fullness, mostly in my maxillary and also intense jaw soreness. My face is also a little warm to the touch, but no fever. Also, there is not much actual congestion or clogging, it just feels super irritated and my whole face feels tense and sinuses feel inflammed. Sometimes it gives me a headache and makes me feel like my head is floaty. I went to an allergist who did a skin prick test and reported a severe dust mites allergy. But I can't help but think this is related to my ongoing hashimotos or some other undiagnosed autoimmune problem because it feels like it flares up and down even through a single day sometimes. Sometimes I wake up and I feel okay at first and then it comes on within a couple hours and continues to get worse as the day goes on. My thyroid results were very good (recently posted in a different post). The allergist prescribed nasacort steroid spray, which hasn't touched it yet (granted it's only been 4 days). I also have been told I have TMJ and I wear a night guard, which seemed to help at first but I've been struggling badly with this for the past month or so. I recently read an article about how estrogen or other hormones can causes sinusitis...sort of like in pregnancy when women get all clogged up. I have several clinical signs of Sjogrens like nerve tingling, muscle aches, swelling glands, and some kind of eye irritation -- but not dryness according to the opthalmologist. I also don't have dryness in my mouth or anywhere else and I'm negative for the antibodies. I'm clueless - my GP thinks I've got fibromyalgia...who know with this stuff.

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Greekchick profile image
Greekchick

Hi crw,

May I ask if you have a goiter or swelling in the neck? I know you have Hashimotos but I can’t tell from your profile about the swelling . BTW Nasocort takes a few weeks to really kick in.

crw2ddd profile image
crw2ddd in reply to Greekchick

Yes I do have a small goiter. When I was diagnosed my TSH was over 100 and I suffered a lot of sinus pressure with that. I correlated the two initially, but my endo said my numbers were right on the money so it had me second guessing everything looking for outside causes

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick in reply to crw2ddd

I ask because I have Graves and had a very large goiter. I also had chronic rhinitis, but in addition I had neck pain, shoulder pain , and dental pain. Everyone said there was nothing to be found. Miracle and surprise, after my TT in February, neck pain, dental pain, and shoulder pain disappeared. And, my sinuses improved significantly. I also had overall muscle pain etc, which improved significantly post TT. Many things cleared up after my surgery. I’m not saying things are perfect - far from it - and meds are still adjusting - but the things you mention have resolved almost completely.

Could it be a coincidence? I do not think so. I am convinced, as is my surgeon, who is a thyroid expert, that the goiter happened to be pressing on nerves etc in a certain area and that was the cause. There is also information about this as well - goiter can cause pain all the way down the side of your body.

I was also told my sleep apnea had nothing to do with my thyroid - and I now hardly have any apnea at all and may be able to get off the machine post TT.

Thought I would pass that along to you. Hoping you feel better and all the best to you.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase

I get very similar symptoms to yours. Took years of bouncing between my then GP who said it couldn’t be sinusitis because my nose wasn’t running etc and my dentist who did x rays etc said there was nothing wrong with my teeth - I knew perfectly well that it wasn’t my teeth,

I’ve been in remission from Graves’ disease and before I was diagnosed I had almost constant sinusitis. Terrible face pain mostly on the left side of my face. I noticed that when I was being treated for it my ‘sinusitus’ disappeared.

I’m convinced it is something to do with my thyroid not being at it’s optimal point. My TSH has crept up from just below 1 when my treatment finished to 2.58 (0.7-4.20) five years later. I know I felt much better when my TSH was around 1 but alas I fit ‘within the range’ so I’m stuck with it as it is and I can’t see the sinusitis etc improving as long as my TSH is within the range.

Unfortunately the sinusitis has come back again, mostly on the left hand side again. I have a lot of pain in my forehead, above my eyebrow, I have very dry eyes, below my eye hurts, my teeth hurt, my left ear hurts and feels blocked and I get funny little swollen glands under my chin. Sometimes my face is so sore I feel like someone has punched me.

My rheumatologist wrote to my GP saying he thought I was developing Sjorgen’s but I’m not sure, my mouth is never dry.

As well as all that I get repeated bouts of burning mouth syndrome and what feels like a herpes cold sore on the roof of my mouth, that is extremely painful and makes me feel flu like. I’ve seen my dentist who agrees my teeth and gums are in excellent condition and he says it is an aphthous ulcer. Whatever it is, it is really unpleasant. My dentist referred me to the dental dept at my local teaching hospital where the consultant I saw did xrays and said he thinks it is burning mouth syndrome, he did blood tests today check for vitamin deficiencies etc and took x rays and has ruled out anything sinister.

My GP gives me antibiotics when it becomes unbearable. In the meantime I use Beconase nasal spray, I gargle with salt water, use a facial sauna to steam my face, I’ve changed my toothpaste to one that contains no additives of any sort and I read nose my mouth with stuff called agents gel.

If I were you regardless of what the ophthalmologist says I would get myself some preservative free eye drops (HycoSan is good) and use them very frequently throughout the day to see if that helps. I think it takes a while for the nasal spray to kick in and you've got to keep using it. I know steaming my head helps too - I bought a cheap facial sauna which makes it very easy.

Could your doctor refer you to a rheumatologist for your muscle pains and fibromyalgia? My fibromyalgia disappeared completely after a three month course of steroids followed by hydroxychloroquine to treat my inflammatory arthritis. Not having fibromyalgia is absolute bliss, it is one of the most painful conditions there is.

Hopefully you can get sorted out soon, I can imagine how bad you feel.

crw2ddd profile image
crw2ddd in reply to Fruitandnutcase

My God! I've got quite a lot of those symptoms. I've had several boots of burning tongue. I get prickly swollen nodes under my chin as well. I use the lubricating eye drops every night. They sort of help with the irritation. But I don't have dryness in my mouth and I'm negative for the antibodies My rhumatologist uncovered a positive ANA and that's it. He didn't have anything else to tell me. But I might return and do a follow up. I'm headed to neurology in a few weeks for the pins and needles in my hands and feet...maybe they'll find something. My endo wants me to do a Lyme test. This is getting so old...

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick in reply to crw2ddd

I wonder if your goiter is pressing on a nerve in your neck - that would cause pins and needles in your hands and feet. Worth asking .

crw2ddd profile image
crw2ddd in reply to Greekchick

I will bring this up thank you!

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick in reply to Fruitandnutcase

Hi fruitandnutcase,

You might try a Neti pot for your nose - they are very effective for clearing out your sinuses. Wishing you all the best.

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to Greekchick

I used to use one years and I also had a sinus wash bottle that I used for a long time - then my son told me ghastly tales of people getting brain infections from using them (presumably with regular tap water I imagine) so I stopped. Got a friend whose husband is a pilot and who gets sinus problems and she said he had been advised at a medical to use a neti pot so I think I’ll get another one.

Greekchick profile image
Greekchick in reply to Fruitandnutcase

Yes, I imagine you would have big problems using tap water! I use boiled water with a small amount of salt and use that once a day. Maybe it will help - and give your poor sinuses some relief. Hope you feel better soon. 🤗

Devilscupcake profile image
Devilscupcake in reply to Fruitandnutcase

I came on the board to see if headaches were related to hashi's and found this thread! I've been having sinus headaches for a week now, and it's driving me crazy. Anyway, I saw that you get mouth sores and wanted to share that I've recently discovered that a twice daily Lysine supplement clears them up pretty quickly and helps with burning lips too. Best wishes!

Fruitandnutcase profile image
Fruitandnutcase in reply to Devilscupcake

Thank you, have just ordered some from amazon😊.

Jivedancer profile image
Jivedancer

I used to get chronic sinusitis before it was diagnosed I was in constant pain but it was a dentist diagnosed it after I explained my symptoms and he did an xray I was on constant antibiotics but now if I get it I use a salt nasal wash but thankfully haven't had it that bad for ages its horrible it was like constant toothache dreadful pain in the head and face hope this helps!

SilviadeSousa profile image
SilviadeSousa

Hello! I have sinusitis symptoms without discharge so GP ignores it. I use a netti bottle and have Shiatsu massage once a month. It really helped. When I feel the fullness coming i book a session ASAP and so far as relieved me. If you can give Shiatsu a go. Good luck!

1Florie profile image
1Florie

sorry to hear of your sinus problems I too had problems with this, just down the one side of my nose/face. This was years before I was on thyroid medication. I was prescribed antibiotics and steam inhalation to no good effect. I then saw an acupuncturist which worked for me. I am pleased to say I have not had the problem since. I wish you success in finding a solution to your problem.

Florie

Troygirl profile image
Troygirl

How about this!

I never ever had sinus issues my whole 59 yearssuntil I started all these RA drugs! Methotrexate, Enbrel, Humira, Xelzanze and recently 2 rounds of IV Injection Acterma!

Tomorrow I have to go to the hospital & go under general anesthesia and have Sinus Surgery to remove a FUNGUS that is growing in there!

A FUNGUS!

Are these RA drugs even worth it?

Especially in my case when not one single one has worked yet?

Seems like more harm than good!

Have terrible flares for past 8 months & only thing that is helping is Prednisone.

8 long months of prednisone now has caused me to have Cushinggoid!

Like I said are all these drugs worth it!!

Sinus pain is horrible. First time it happened to me I felt so much pain in my head and was dizzy. I bent down in a garden centre to pick up a plant, and couldn’t get up again. I was convinced it was something really serious.

Try these : Steam. Lots of it. At least 5 minutes every half hour. You need that much.

Tomato tea : 3/4 fill a mug with tomato juice. Add at least one large clove of garlic, crushed, a teaspoon of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of Tabasco sauce. Heat and drink , then drink another mug of it a couple of hours later. Not as disgusting as it sounds and works every time.

Sometimes otc sinus meds just dry up the mucus and this can make the pressure worse. Years ago a doctor told me never to use meds for sinus problems ( unless infected then you do need antibiotics)

Steam and tomato tea work every time..

Myro profile image
Myro

I'm not medicine educated. My thiroid hormones were fine. I was with bought legs in heaven. The best doctors were there like undertakers. I survived. After all I find lack of iodine. Mixedemic coma. Read about symptoms of hipotiroditis hipertiroidis and lack of iodine and conseqvences of each. My nose is not stuffed any more. And many other symptoms wanished. Expecially with Hashimoto it is important to start with doses about 0,1 mg. Increase every few days. There is many things to know. Write down everything. Symptoms .... Make dictionary ...

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