those with allergy/sinus problems-long and a little gross

Kimenem

Kimenem

Cathlete
What is the worst it has gotten for you?

I USED to only get sick once every few years. I could be around people that were sick and nothing would really happen. This past March, I got hit HARD with allergies and was out of work for 2 days with a cough, headache and general blah feeling.

2 weeks ago, my left ear began feeling plugged and everything sounded "computerized." It didn't hurt though. Last Saturday afternoon, I started feeling like I had to swallow a lot but didn't think much of it. Sunday I could tell something was happening with my sinuses but still, didn't think much of it (my mom battles sinus problems throught the year-we live in the Florida panhandle). Anyway, Monday I started coughing (productive)and the same on Tuesday. I felt pretty normal, just coughing up stuff. Wed afternoon I started getting a sore throat and by Wed night/Thurs morning, it was the worst sore throat I had EVER had. I didn't even want to think about swallowing. Went to the dr (twice)and the 2nd time, he checked my throat, said it definitely looked raw from drainage (not strep). I've been taking Sudafed, Allegra, and Nasonex since Monday. I started taking an antibiotic and Advil yesterday. Advil will lessen the sore throat for several hours. BUT THIS IS GETTING OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I find it hard to believe that after a week, I'm still dealing with this AND, on top of that, dealing with it AGAIN after the bout in March. What have your experiences been like? I feel like if I could get rid of the sore throat, I'd feel much better. B/F syas my throat will stay sore as long as the sinuses are draining. If I don't drink something throught the day, my throat gets "itchy" and I start coughing more.

Thanks

Kim
 
You might consider doing a nasal wash with a Netti pot (sp?). They have different rinses/washes for various conditions, but sometimes just a saltwater rinse helps. I've never done one myself since I don't suffer with allergies much, but my sister does them with her doctor's blessing and finds them somewhat helpful. Deb
 
Kim,

I live in South Georgia and have allergy/sinus problems. I never had them until we moved down south. I have less colds then I did but battle allergy/sinus problems regularly. I just got over drainage where my throat was a little sore but I had more problems trying to clear it. I get watery, ichy eyes and my left ear is stuffy most of the time, especially when I sleep. I take sudafed and nothing else. It works most of the time. I don't like to take tons of meds or anything so I just learn to live with it most of the time. I do go through periods where it tends to get worst but I just rest and know that it will go away in time. Perhaps the lack of rain in this area has something to do with you feeling worse than usual. I heard a month or so ago that lack of rain can make allergies worse. Oh, and working out helps. It tends to clear things out, if only for a little while.

This probably not much help, but I feel your pain.
 
Sounds like you have a sinus infection - which is what I'm guessing the antibiotics are for...

I have year round allergeies and sinusistis.
Stuffed up is a permanent condition for me, (even when it's draining....), so I can sympathize.

Depends on what you want to take.
I've recently gone on NasaCort, because I finally got fed up with not being able to breathe (it was starting to affect my workouts) and the OTC stuff stopped working alltogether.

This stuff has been great. No runny nose, no stuffy nose, no headaches....WONDERFUL!
But it's a steroid, and you're not meant to stay on it longer than a month or two.

Other than that, Caritin D has always helped clear up the nasal stuff for me.
 
I battled allergies all through High School and then College. I used to get sinus infections a lot and sometimes the pressure would get so bad, I would have nose bleeds. I was put on Claritin and then Allegra for the allergies. I had Flonase, Nasanase (sp?), Nasalcort, you name it for the nasal congestion. I still had problems though and when I moved to where I am now (ragweed capital of the US, I swear!), I thought I was going to die. I finally ended up going to an allergist and getting tested. Once they knew what I was allergic to (EVERYTHING), they recommended I get shots. I've been on them now for 3 years and can honestly say I rarely ever have problems with allergies anymore and no more sinus infections. I do not use any nose spray, Allegra, etc... I will say though that pollen this year has been HORRIBLE and I have noticed that even my eyes will itch and nose will run some days. I can't imagine how I would be right now without the shots!
 
I was told I could use the Nasonex indefinitely. I think that plus the Allegra is what ahs kept me from getting sinus pressure/headache with this round. I can't really tell if the Sudafed was working but I do think i was making me not sleep well. I didn't even feel bad until the sore throat started and because it was so bad, it scared me.
 
I have tried everything and the only thing that helps is to use a saline wash when I start to feel stuffy. This has prevented my sinus infections.
 
Do you sometimes feel like this will NEVER go away???? I'm on day 2 1/2 of the sore throat but it feels like weeks. I don't like taking all this medicine. If I ever get over this, I'm going to do some serious research on home remedies and PREVENTION!!!
 
Do you sometimes feel like this will NEVER go away???? I'm on day 2 1/2 of the sore throat but it feels like weeks. I don't like taking all this medicine. If I ever get over this, I'm going to do some serious research on home remedies and PREVENTION!!!
 
RE: those with allergy/sinus problems-long and a little...

I've had allergies for as long as I can remember and I get sinus infections a few times a year. Taking zyrtec and flonase daily has helped alot. I also us a sinus rinse 3-4 times a week. I think it's called Neli-Med Sinus Rinse and I've only seen it Walgreens. It's pretty weird the first time you do it, but once you realize it works you'll keep using it. Since I started using the sinus rinse I only get infections 2-3 times a year. You might want to try and see and Ear, Nose and Throat doctor too.

Hope you feel better soon!

Laurel
 
RE: those with allergy/sinus problems-long and a little...

I understand where you are coming from.

I get the sinus pressure and bad headaches (almost migrane like) and sometimes just lay around a day or two with such pain in my head I don't even sleep.

The times when it is not overbearing, an OTC combo - antihistamine and decogestant (Chlorphenermine + pseudofed) seem to be the best for me. The antihistamine helps control the drainage which the decongestant causes.

When the pollens that affect me were very bad this spring, I picked up am OTC nasal spray at Costco - Zicam - that seemed to help that month + when it was really bad for me.

Good luck in figuring out what works for you . . .
 
RE: those with allergy/sinus problems-long and a little...

If you don't have strep...why take an antibiotic? Do you have a sinus infection caused by bacteria? Did the dr actually test to make sure your infection is from bacteria. If not, antibiotics will make it worse!!! Follow up with probiotics. That should help!

Sara
 
RE: those with allergy/sinus problems-long and a little...

Also, go to earthclinic.com and search for apple cider vinegar for sore throats. ACV is supposed to be anti-viral, bacterial, and fungal. Sounds like a cure all to me! (not to mention safer than antibiotics!)
 
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