Sinus infection help?

I have a chronic sinus infection that was diagnosed accidentally by my dentist. I was told that I would need to go on antibiotics for six months or more to get rid of it. I declined as I hate being on antibiotics.

I’ve been doing the sinus wash for 5 years now. It just gently washes away all the infection so that it doesn’t really bother me. I used to have a perpetually drippy nose and the sinus wash has taken care of that.

It sounds to me like you haven’t really gotten over the original cold yet. Many colds take weeks to clear up once they settle in your sinuses.

If it actually is a sinus infection then you have an infection, obviously. If it is viral infection there’s not much you can do about it except treat the symptoms. If it is bacterial infection then it can be treated with antibiotics. If it’s a bacterial infection, it could possibly have some serious consequences if left untreated, because your sinuses are right up there near your eyes and your brain. You probably should see a doctor, but it could just be a cold that’s taking forever to go away, as @tranquilsea mentions. If your mucus becomes pus-like and nasty and icky and disgusting, I would definitely see a doctor but if it just plain old mucus, maybe not.

What color is the mucus?

If it’s clear or whitish then unlikely to be an infection.

I had a sinus infection that on a ct scan showed it shut down all of my sinus’ so my doctor put me on prednisone a steroid that would decrease the swelling and while on the steroids they put me on 20 days of antibiotics which cleared it up totally. I get them from time to time but taking a course of antibiotics usually clears it up now. For my allergies which were the cause of my infection I was put on Lohist D a prescription antihistimine and all I do when I feel my allergies starting is take the Lohist D. I have never used a wash nor has my doctor recommended one. I recommend talking to your primary care about what would cause it and how best to treat it. I hope your sinus infection clears soon, they are not fun at all.

@Buttonstc The majority of it is clear, but occasionally (especially right after I wake up) there’s some green in it.

I should have mentioned that my doctor told me a few years ago that she won’t put me on antibiotics any more for sinus infections, because she doesn’t want to encourage super bacteria if she doesn’t have to.

I suggest you find a good ENT guy or allergist to get this mess cleared up once and for all.

The green stuff indicates definite bacterial infection (according to several of my previous MDs and Allergists)

You have a long-lasting sinus infection plain and simple. Your Drs. refusal to deal with it is bogus.

It’s one thing to avoid unnecessary prescribing. It’s another thing altogether to NOT address an obvious infection.

Find a Dr. with the expertise to handle this properly. Clearly your current one doesn’t.

I’m not just talking about finding someone to just give you antibiotics. You need a specialist who can address the entire problem and WHY you have this lingering infection.

A Dr. who simply won’t deal with it for fear of a “super bug” is still basically not dealing with it at all. There is no excuse for that.

She should refer you to a specialist who can handle it if she refused to.

When I had a sinus infection which wouldn’t go away after a few rounds of antibiotics, my GP told me to call the allergist to find out if he did Rhinoscopy (to find out what’s going on)

My allergist told me to get in ASAP and prescribed a really powerful steroid nasal spray with strict instructions to not go beyond 10 days use. He combined that with a different antibiotic and that did the trick.

Sometimes it takes a combined approach. Plus he avoided an unnecessary procedure (Rhinoscopy). But he said it was there as a last resort.

I’ve had PLENTY of problems in the past with allergies and numerous repeat infections.

Wise Drs. will not give antibiotics for a simple cold (which is viral) but neither will they leave a long standing infection without dealing with it. That’s just plain ridiculous.

I have experienced enough competent Doctoring to recognize the incompetent when I see it.

If she won’t refer you to a specialist, find one yourself. It’s your body and the responsibility for your health is ultimately yours. If one Dr. is not addressing an issue, don’t hesitate to find one who will. YOU are the consumer. That’s what 2nd opinions are for (and even 3rd and 4th if necessary).

Allergies maybe? Do you have a Nettie pot?

@Buttonstc 14 days is not a long-lasting sinus infection. I haven’t even gone to see my doctor yet for this one…

@Judi No, it’s not allergies. I do have a sinus rinse thingy.

Sorry, I missed the 14 days part. And because you quoted the Dr. I thought you had been seen.

But, you asked if you have an infection and the answer is YES. it’s up to you as to what course of action you subsequently take. If it were me, I’d opt for getting rid of it sooner than later with antibiotics. But everyone is different.

@Buttonstc The antibiotics I need are really strong, they cause an upset tummy and a wicked yeast infection (which then needs other antibiotics to go away). So, it’s just a process I don’t want to go to if I can avoid it easily.

Amoxicillin doesn’t work for you ?

But if not, I certainly understand your reluctance about some of the others.

@Buttonstc No, Amoxicillin only kicks the first 80% of it, and you really need the other 20% of it to go away as well. I need Avelox, which at least on me, is definitely a “don’t even think about taking this without at least some crackers” kinda drug.