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[reener06]

So I get one about every year. Somehow I skipped it last year, but this year it's caught up with me. I know, I know, I was really stressed out about my conference, I stayed up way too late, I'm teaching too many courses, I'm a poor adjunct, I haven't exercised in a long while, so it's my own damn fault. But, geez, this one is awful. I stayed in bed moaning for 2.5 days until spouse could not take it any more. Now I have augmentin, which makes my insides rumble (seriously) all the time and I start hack-coughing every 10 hours, once the meds wear off. I teach three 3-hour courses a week, plus another course, and my voice is giving out.

Just wanted to vent. Anyone else have this crud?

[mouseman]

I discovered that using those Breath-Rite strips reduces the number of times I get sinus infections as well as the severity of the infections.  I also live off of Mucinex D (with Pseudoephedrine) and/or nasal decongestants - they really help clear up my sinus infections faster than antibiotics.
Augmentin sucks - it gives me this godawful metallic taste in my mouth all day long.

Ahhh, the wonders of a deviated septum...

[dr_prephd]

I used to get two or three a year until we moved into a place with hardwood floors. Now I haven't had one in two years. Heaven!

Seriously, crummy rental carpet is the (sinus) enemy.

I've also discovered the joy of the neti-pot.

[bioteacher]

Augmentin is good stuff, but it can be rough on some people. Yogurt can help.
Biaxin is the one that gives me "metal mouth" but it only lasts about an hour after each dose.

In addition to the cough meds and decongestant, I also suggest Vicks Vaporub and a steam vaporizer near your bed. Nostrilla or afrin can also help you open your head up enough to get some sleep at night. Sleep is your friend right now.

I've been there. It's awful. (I've had 3 sinus surgeries, allergy shots 3 or 4 different times and the ENTs now just throw up their hands with me and treat symptoms.)

The good news is that you will get better. You won't always feel like you're hacking up a lung while a guy with a pickax tries to exit your sinuses via your face. To speed that recovery up a bit, do try to rest as much as you can. I know that is a nearly impossible thing to do during a term, but cut corners however and wherever you can. Focus on getting well.

Gentle hugs.

Bioteacher a.k.a the Queen of Sinusitis.

[offthemarket]

I know several people who swear by neti pots.

[alto_stratus]

Nasal decongestants (with pseudoephedrine) were the thing that helped me, too.  I used to take these huge horse-pill sized things called Entex that contained pseudoephedrine and guaifenesin; but I think most formulations now have phenylephrine, which doesn't work well for me.  It may be possible to talk a doctor into giving you the good stuff (assuming you don't have any heart problems), or to find a formulation that works for you behind the counter at the pharmacy.  I think this stuff works best used near the onset, before you have a full-blown infection.  The doctor that gave me Entex was big on avoiding antibiotics (I was up to Cipro anyway) for sinus issues.  Perhaps I was lucky enough to get into the doctor's office before things got too bad (although it was still miserable and disgusting enough).  Even when I was hacking, fully stuffed up, and losing my voice, the Entex seemed to make a big dent in 3-4 days.

Steaming in a shower, using a humidifier, a gentle nasal rinse, massaging over the sinuses, or constantly drinking hot water or tea can help ease symptoms a little.  I do some of these things for prevention now, along with regularly taking a non-drowsy antihistamine and sparingly using ibuprofen to ease brief periods of swelling.  If you have persistent sinus issues, staying hydrated all the time is important.  Also, staying indoors as much as possible when the air is bad or the weather is windy can reduce bouts of irritation and inflammation that can lead to a bigger sinus episode.

Your stomach may not be able to handle a pain reliever at this point, but it might be worth checking with your doctor to see if you have options there.

[titian]

I am sorry that you have this.  I used to get sinus infections pretty much 4 - 5 times a year.  I would dream of taking a big ol' syringe needle and sticking it into my face to relieve the pressure.  Went through 17 rounds of antibiotics.  Biaxin just about did me in. Erythromycin and others of that drug family shred my stomach.

What helped:
Making saline and irrigating with a baby nasal syringe over the sink (1 cup warm water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda).

Moving from the crappy carpeted rental with mold in the ceiling to a clean apartment with hardwood floors.

Getting diagnosed with allergic asthma and taking meds to calm down the inflammation and help me breathe.  That really seemed to help break the cycle.

On preview:  Entex rocked.  I used to take that before flying, and it dried up everything in my sinuses.  Have not had it in years; if it is phenylephrine now that would be disappointing.  I've also found that does not work as well for me as pseudoephedrine.

[dr_prephd]

Also, staying indoors as much as possible

Unless, of course, it's an inside covered by crappy rental carpet.

[heynonnynonnymouse]

I love my neti pot. I use it once per day whenever my sinuses are feeling "off" in any way - dry, itchy, swollen, pressure headaches, etc - and it does wonders. It takes a little practice at first to get used to it and *not* block one or the other nostril while blowing your nose right after rinsing, but once you get the hang of it it's such a relief.

When I'm not actively sick/uncomfortable, I use it every 2-3 days during the winter, and allergy season, and once or twice a week at other times of year, and it really seems to help my chronic, albeit mild, sinus issues.

[theritas]

So. Very Sorry.  Those rank among the worst days of my life.  Especially when I was taking one of those short / few days long / all day courses. 

Any of my suggestions have been mentioned above, but I can't say I've had lasting success.  Have been trying to commit to the neti pot... time will tell whether this is helping?

I hope you feel better soon!

[reener06]

Thanks everyone. I think what I needed was a big dose of sympathy! I have been thinking about using a neti pot, but I hate things like saline nose spray, so I'm not sure I'll like it, but maybe I'll try it. The augmentin is really doing a number on me, but I'm halfway through it. I'll take the other suggestions to heart as well. The mucinexD seems to cut down on the coughing, but last night I had awful coughing fits. All this lecturing does not help either. And I do live in a hardwood floored house, but the dog and cat hairs can get to me.

It's nice to know it's not just me. I'm also waiting to hear about a job, so the wait is made more miserable with this.

[alastrina]

I know several people who swear by neti pots.

I'm one of them.  I can't take decongestants because of an interaction with another med I'm on and my doctor won't prescribe antibiotics for a sinus infection unless it's gone on for more than 3 weeks or the mucus in green.

I try to use my neti pot every day but realistically, it's more like 3-4 days a week.  At the first sign a sinus infection could be starting, I make sure to use it every morning.  That usually staves it off.  If it doesn't, I use the pot to flush my sinuses 2-3 times a day. 

I really do love this thing.  I'm allergic to dust and grass so I'm screwed year round allergy-wise.  This helps lessen my issues. I've gone from 2-3 sinus infections a year to, at worst, 1 a year.  Usually the one I can't prevent happens when I fly. 

I use 1/4 teaspoon non-iodized salt in 1 cup warm water.  I like the water to be a little warmer than body temp but YMMV.

[zuzu_]

Another neti pot fan. It's not a miracle for me, but it definitely improves things significantly at a very low cost and with no medications. I don't think it cures infections, but it seems to prevent them (with regular use) and provide some symptom relief when you do have one.

I also spray generic flonase up my nose every day. Another cheap, no-side-effect strategy.

[bioteacher]

Neti pots do not work for everyone although they are well worth a try. I have tried them and found no benefit, so don't expect a miracle. But since it can't hurt and it might help, it's absolutely worth trying.

[alastrina]

Another neti pot fan. It's not a miracle for me, but it definitely improves things significantly at a very low cost and with no medications. I don't think it cures infections, but it seems to prevent them (with regular use) and provide some symptom relief when you do have one.

I also spray generic flonase up my nose every day. Another cheap, no-side-effect strategy.

Yes, it really doesn't cure anything but it flushes out the gunk so your body can do the rest of the work. They can make breathing easier as well.  I'm all for cheap and easy.