Sinus Infections | Arthritis Information

I have noted on here that many here suffer from sinus infections. Well, I
think I have one. I have a headache, stuffed nose, drainage into my throat
and just don't feel well all of a sudden.

Are people with RA more prone to sinus infections? I think I have had one
or two in my entire life.

I have heard that antibiotics are not always the best solution. Any ideas on
how I can get rid of this by in the morning? Hope some of this helps!

Hi Lori, hope you feel better soon. I've never had a sinus infection but my DH gets them alot. Dr Weil has several suggestions here: http://www.drweil.ca/drw/u/id/QAA326609

Best wishes for a speedy recovery,

Andrea

Hi Lorster, I have one right now and I have had many in the past, but it happens when I get lax about using my nasal spray which is a saline solution that you can buy at any pharmacy. I am supposed to take Clariton or something similar on a daily basis as well. I call my pcp when I think it is out of hand and this time he gave me a penicillin med for 10 days. Rinsing out the nose is a good idea too and really refreshing after you get used to it. I hope you feel better. Yes if you get rid of it by morning let us know that cure. I get them all of the time. I am in a delima about the my being able to use antihystimines and such scince i have the sjorgrens. It just hasn't been working so well for me at the moment. The two do not make for a happy mix. Mine went into my bronchiels. I do believe it is the season for this stuff to be floating around. Feel better soon.Use a neti pot (google it). I used to get sinus infections all the time, and it would take a month of antibiotics to clear them. Since I began using a neti pot a year and a half ago, I've only had one sinus infection. Good observation, Lorster. I believe there is a connection. For many years I got sinus infections and I do believe that is connected to my RA somehow. I also have noted that many other RA sufferers have sinus infections. And also noticed that many with RA have thyroid issues also.

I use the saline solution nasal spray that you can get at the chemist but if your mucus is yellow or green you definitely need to go see a doctor and get some antibiotics as that is a sign of infection and it probably won't clear up without it.

Lori...are you playing with second graders???? Hon...did you jinx yourself?

Honey, definitely get something that will rinse the sinuses. I got mine at Walgreens and it was worth the fifteen dollar investment. I think that is the only reason why my cold from H*ll did not turn into something. Also, don't forget to gargle with salt water or vinegar. If you get rid of the inflamation all the way around you will drain easier, and coat the throat. Tylenol will be a godsend, and don't forget that you can take 1000mg every six hours, and sleep! Sleep, Sleep, Sleep!!!

Love ya girl and hope this is easy to get rid of!

Shelly, No, sick pediatric patients, LOL. About the same thing. I've had
bloody noses for more than a week. Something I never get. It is real dry
here so maybe that is not helping any. I am miserable with headaches,
congestion. This is about right up there with kidney infections on the
distress scale. I'm not going to go the antibiotic route. Thank you all so
much for your suggestions and I'm going to go out and getting some vitamin
C and nasal spray. I never thought about that. I'm googling neti pot, have
never heard of that. Formermermaid, thanks for that website. Useful info
for me. I'm gonna nip this before it becomes a regular occurrence. Anyway,
I have to go to work today...then have 9 days off YAY!!!! Talk to you guys
later. Hugggs
Lorster -

You can get a neti pot at Walgreens or most other American drugstores (don't know about Zimbabwe

lorster, I don't remember what meds you take, but upper respiratory infections are side effects of most DMARD's, and of course anything that lowers your immune system would increase your risk of infection. I have had quite a few sinus infections in the past year, my only real side effect.

A recent British study concluded that antibiotics and steroid nasal sprays were of no help with sinus infections ( http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20071204/sinus-infect ion-antibiotics-no-help). However, I have had one for almost two weeks now and after the first 9 days, I was in a desperate amount of pain. Sudafed would help briefly, but by nighttime I was in agony with my sinus headaches. I went to my GP who gave me Biaxin (which is what I took last time) and within 24 hours I was in significantly less pain, although I can still feel the congestion. If that's a placebo effect, then so be it.

I hope you find some relief with some of the other suggestions here. My nose is especially sensitive so that I am not able to use nasal sprays without triggering a reaction, and I would guess the neti pot would produce something similar.

Yep, been there, just last month. Sinus infections and biologics I think go hand in hand. Did all the natural remedies, netipot, steam and herbs and nothing worked. Ended up with a serious infection in sinus and chest and had to go on antibiotics. Dr. put me on Cefidinir 300mg. and within 24 hours I felt much better. Sometimes you have to go for the antib. It's more dangerous and harder to treat if you don't use them. Right now I use Flonase to try and keep them at bay. This is the first one I've had in 2 years. I got it a week after taking my first Humira inj. Don't know if there is any correlation. Good luck. Lindy Oh, here is a recipe for saline solution spray. I bought 3 or 4 bottles of it and fortunately kept them and then my ex FIL gave me a recipe to make the saline solution myself that his doctor gave him:

Saline Spray Solution:

1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
300ml of hot water

Mix together. Fill bottles. Lasts for ages.

Much, much cheaper and equally as a effective as buy it already make up in a bottle.

I have found saline spray the most effective a treatment over the years. It stops the post nasal drip and can also be used as a preventative.

Best of all...it's natural...no medication involved. Always a good thing when you are on tons of it already.
Hi Lorster,

I too get sinus infections quite frequently now since starting on Enbrel. I understand that DMARDS also cause them due to the fact that our immune systems are quite compromised and the bacteria we breathe in through our noses can incubate in our noses without the defense we would normally have. The worst part for me is that it inevitably goes into my chest and I get bronchitis and asthma. My PCP has me on saline nasal spray and I try not to take antibiotics too often because they don't really work that well.

I have heard also about the neti pot and I hear it really works. I'm going to try it. I also put warm compresses on my face and sit in a hot shower for a while to loosen things up. Other than that, I'm at a loss.

I hope you feel better really soon.

Lori - my "chronic sinusitis" diagnosis is what got me into thinking I had an infection and needed antibiotics. I had noticed that after I finally broke down and went to the doctor (we are talking about a 30-year expanse of time here), it would be antibiotic time. And after I was on antibiotics, I would feel GREAT for a long time.

So, before I was diagnosed, about a year before, I kept saying, I think I have an infection. And because nothing was showing up I was "depressed". You cannot test for infection of the white cells with the WBC, right?

I think the sinus and infection is a huge part of our disease process. Take care ~~ Cathy

justsaynoemore39432.5589814815Can all DMARDS make you more prone to these infections? Or just certain
ones? I'm on plaq and I thought it was pretty benign. I know I am
immunosupressed due to this endless yeast infection. I'm really tired of this
disease. I think someone else should take it for a while.
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