Sinusitis

[Samuraisan]

Does anyone have any tips for chronic sinusitis ? Apart from saline nasal wash. I am getting rather fed up with it, every time I go to the ENT, he just tells me to wash my sinuses out and use a spray. I have had X rays and so on, and nothing devious was found, but 3 or 4 times a year I get an attack, and incidently, apparently my breath stinks. So anyone who has any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[jennyjoan]

when you get an answer - I will let my friend know -she is tortured with it and has actually gone private but never helped.

[woofgang]

have you been to a dentist about it? I had longstanding sinusitis that was being caused by an infected tooth, totally painless but horrible.

[Samuraisan]

Yes Woofgang. I go regularly to the dentist. Its's not that, it seems to happen when the damp weather starts, although I have had allergy tests and nothing showed up

[Sqad]

Well, if the X-Rays were normal, then you haven't got chronic sinusitis.

What X-Rays did you have? Routine or MRI scans?

What are the symptoms of these "attacks?"

[Samuraisan]

Jennyjoan, I am fortunate to have private insurance and I got the same diagnosis. The worst is my bad breath and losing my sense of smell and taste. I don't have pain, thank goodness. I think I may take another trip to the doc and see if there is anything new out there.

[Samuraisan]

Squad. I meant they didn't find any polyps etc. I had them done a couple of years ago and to tell you the truth I can't remember whether they were routine or MRI. I will have to search for them. I know one is very different from the other and I don't want to sound a fool, but I can't remember ! My symptoms ? Blocked nose, we'll not really blocked nostrils, I can breath ok, loss of taste and smell, bad breath ( apparently ) ringing in my ears. Some days I feel rather tired and worn out.

[Sqad]

Well, you need either a CT scan or an MRI scan as the problem may well be a deviated nasal septum or a boney spurr blocking one of the smaller sinuses.

[Samuraisan]

Thanks sqad. I think I will go back and get another check.

[Sqad]

Giving this more thought, i feel that the diagnosis in your case is not sinusitis but non-allergic vasomotor rhinitis.
That being so, i am impressed bt the contents of the post by Clanad, particularly in the treatment:

Again, in my case, a steroidal spray (Beconase, here) is prescribed and used once in the morning and once in the evening during the onset of the symptoms. I have to say it changed my life in regards to sinusitis.

It doesn't work the same way as say Afrin or other decongestants that can only be used for 2 or 3 days at a time.

\\\\I've used Beconase for probably 20 years as soon as I recognize the onset of symptoms… maybe 2 or 3 times a year and it always it works. The only downside I find is that I'm certain my sense of smell and therefore sense of taste has lessened due to the steroid… but it's a fair trade-off in my opinion… \\\\

I would have thought that intranasal steroids would be the keystone of your treatment.

[Sqad]

I would still suggest a CT scan and MRI scan.