OT - grrr... sinus infection! | Arthritis Information

I guess I'm due for one... I haven't had to take antibiotics for sinusitis for about a year now. Before discovering the neti pot, I was on antibiotics about 6 times per year for sinus infections. I've recently had an annoying cold, and while that's gone, I seem to have acquired a sinus infection that is not responding to sudafed (the real stuff, not the PE crap) and neti pot use. Grrr... the top molars on the left side hurt whenever I chew anything, and the area over the sinuses on the left side of my face hurt like a *&$^*. I'll give it another couple of days, and go see the doc on Wednesday if it doesn't start clearing up. I'm gonna have to cut discontinue the fish oil for a while too, as it can lower immunity. I'm gonna have to dig out the tramadol, because I'm sure I'll start having joint pain when I stop taking the fish oil for a couple of weeks.

To top it all off, the sudafed is causing some wicked insomnia. I took a Lunesta to try to kick its @ss, and all it's done is make me a bit goofy.

Oh Jas, I feel for you, and I may be in the same boat. Since my 3.5 month sinus infection last winter, I've been doing well. But now my nasal passages are congested or burning, and the real Sudafed isn't making much of a dent.

I didn't realize Sudafed could contribute to insomnia, and that might explain some things for me lately. I also didn't realize it could contribute to Raynaud's, and my fingers have been icy painful for the last few weeks.

Think I'm going to have to call the doctor tomorrow. It's a bad week for this cuz we're hosting Thanksgiving (at least it's a small group) and my 20-yr HS reunion is this coming Saturday.

Ladies- please don't wait- call the doctor and get on the antibiotics. You want to be able to taste your Thanksgiving dinners and feel up to cooking them!

Feel better soon!

I'm gonna have to, cuz there's something worse that for some reason I didn't think of til this morning. My stepson is immune compromised (taking infusions for complications of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome) and I'm even the one who's supposed to go pick him up on Thanksgiving morning. Bleh. I'm going to call the doctor now.What is that syndrome? I never heard of it? Let us know how you make out.I love, love, love, Zicam Extreme Congestion Relief when I am clogged up. It's a nasal gel that you spray up into your nostrils. The first time I tried it I was sick as a dog and literally could not get any air through my nose. I went to the drugstore and picked up one of everything I could find for congestion. The first thing I tried was the Zicam. Within 5 minutes my sinuses started clearing and within 20, I felt about 85% better! I was sure I was going to be in bed all day, and couldn't believe how great it worked. I have told my friends about it, and they too are amazed. I did not experience any side effects either. I'm not suggesting to do this in lieu of antibiotics, but it is great at helping with symptoms of sinus problems and colds. Hope you feel better soon. Turkey day is too close for you to be sick. Jas-

Good luck with the antibiotics.

Yep, it's a sinus infection. I'm going to start Levaquin as soon as the pharmacy has it ready (they were swamped). Unfortunately, anything that goes into my nose (neti pot, nasal sprays) causes my eyes/nose/sinuses to react badly.

wanttobe, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is an autoimmune condition that can develop as a reaction to medicines (as simple as tylenol, but there's a whole range of meds) or for an unknown reason. It is more common in children, and my stepson developed it when he was 4. It is usually very aggressive and quick and attacks any soft tissue...skin, eyes, lips...so that victims are often hospitalized in burn units. Some don't survive. My stepson spent a month in the hospital after onset. Usually once it has run its course (there is no cure), it becomes relatively symptomless. However when my stepson hit puberty, he developed problems with the blood vessels in his eyes. He has been seeing a specialist in Boston for a few years now, and after quite a few unsuccessful procedures and meds (experimental ones, stem cell procedures, you name it), he is finally getting some results from IV infusions of Zenapax, an immunosuppressant used for organ transplants and recurrent blood vessel inflammations of the eye. His case is highly unusual of the syndrome starting up again later in life.