Have been hiding in allergic infected denial.

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constantsinus

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Hi,

I have been looking the other way with all of my sinus infections that become other respiratory infections and my severe allergies. I finally got a mask that helps a little bit, a neti pot, and take vitamin c and fish oil. I have used a humidifier on and off for years. Tried a whole bunch of nasal sprays which seemed to cause me more pain. I take loratadine every day. I have had infections since i was a baby starting with ear infections and then chronic sinus infections and bronchitis, and sometimes pneumonia. After both of my kiRAB were born i had months of infection (right now i have a three month old). With my first I got infected after 60 hours of labor, and with my second, i got a sinus infection that just traveled around i guess. I have also been diagnosed with asthma but don't seem to do much about it besides use albuteral. I can't take steroiRAB, they send me right to the psych ward! I am constantly getting infections and almost always start in the sinuses. I get near any allergen, blow up and instant sinus infection. Ten days of cipro helps and then two days later i have another. Plus the cipro gives me yeast infections so i have to take a LOT of diflucan. (one every time I take a cipro pill.) I am allergic to both penicillin and sulfa. I am allergic to cats, cigarettes, pollen, mold, dairy, shellfish, and probably lots more. I don't know if i have some nasty infection that hides in my sinuses and just waits for me to be run down, which is a lot since i have two little ones. I thought this was going to be short. I have my first allergist appointment next week. I am also moving to the Palm Springs area from the east coast. That should help. I guess i will make an appt with an ent but i fear sinus surgery. Lastly, i have started using a neti pot, and it seems there is something blocking the water from coming out. I sprayed some saline up there to unblock it and i got a couple drips come through when i used the neti. And a lot of ear pressure. I continue to use it..it has been two days. HELP. thank you.
 
Thanks gs..

I have an epipen, given by my primary doc for bee stings...have been hospitalized for that. I don't eat shellfish and am very careful about it, but have an epipen anyway. Haven't let my older daughter try it because i am scared of reaction...(i need to get a junior epipen from her allergist). yes i know I have a chemical sensitivity, as perfumes and bbq smoke bother me...The allergist is going to look for post infectious bronchial tube problems in me since i had chronic bronchitis when my dad smoked in the house until I was 9 and then had to use inhalers while playing sports, and in other situations...So we will see. Thanks for your post..don't know why I didn't see it before..
 
It's hard to believe you've dealt with all of that for so long without seeing an allergist regularly (how do you know you're allergic to all of those things if you haven't seen an allergist before?).

You really need to get on a much more consistent regimen to manage your symptoms so, in addition to seeing the allergist, you really should make an appointment with a Pulmonolgist and an ENT. You may also want to consider seeing a Gastroenterologist to be evaluated for a form of acid reflux called LPR that can contribute to sinus issues and asthma.

Seeing an ENT is critical because they'll be able to look inside your nose with an endoscope to see if there is a physical component to your issue (a deviated septum or polyps). Keep in mind that good ENTs will only recommend surgery as a last resort, so don't assume that seeing an ENT equals a recommendation for surgery.

I would ask your allergist for recommendations for an ENT and Pulmonologist, and ask if you should see a Gastroenterologist as well (some allergists also help people manage allergic asthma but based on the nuraber of respiratory infections you've had you really need to see a Pulmonologist).

Beyond seeing the right doctors it's hard to recommend much at this point because there are so many possible issues that could be causing your problems - it's really important that you see the doctors to figure out what's going on.
 
I certainly didn't mean to be accusatory. I asked that question for two reasons: first of all, cigarettes are not really an allergen, but some people are sensitive to them and have an allergy-like reaction that can be indicative of a larger chemical sensitivity issue. Second, shellfish allergies can be VERY dangerous (next to peanut allergies they are the most likely to cause anaphylaxis, which can literally be life threatening), so if you have shellfish allergies you should probably carry an epi-pen and be trained what to do in the event of an anaphylactic reaction. In either case, it's really important to know exactly what you're allergic to (i.e. what types of pollen) so you can better manage the triggers that cause your reactions and, hopefully, avoid those triggers as much as possible.
 
Definitely, definitely allergist. Immunotherapy (allergy shots) might help. He might also put you on an anti-inflammatory or antihistamine nasal spray.

And about the asthma, I also almost wound up in the psych ward from a course of prednisone years ago. (I was screaming with rage for hours). I now take an inhaled steroid, and it doesn't make me hungry or crazy or anything. I've been on it for a couple months now, and my lungs just keep getting better.

I can't promise you that you don't need sinus surgery, but a responsible doctor should be willing to try other things first, and there's a good chance one or a corabination of them will help.
 
Titchou,

Sorry I haven't figured this site out very well yet, and am posting replies out of order..

anyway I didn't take exception to the advice, It was the "it is hard to believe" that was the problem. Also, I am seeing the allergist to determine if I have more allergies than I already know about.

I have tried oral, inhaled, and nasal steroiRAB all with the same result...

Thank you so much for your easy to read reply and advice. I will keep you posted.

L
 
A deviated septum can definitely contribute to sinus infections. And it could be your overall immune system is ok, you just have lung and sinus problems that contribute to the frequent infections.

Anyway, I'm glad you are getting thoroughly evaluated. I'm certainly glad I went to an allergist when I did, trying to figure out why I didn't do this years ago instead of messing around with primary care doctors who made things worse more often than better.
 
OK, judging from your worRAB above:

1) You have been been dx'd with asthma but haven't been to a pulmonologist as you subsequently ask what one can do for you. He can determine if it is really asthma or reflux or some other issue and whether the asthma is the good, old fashioned variety or allergy induced or exercise induced. Lots of good info could be gotten by seeing one and getting a proper evaluation.

2) You say you can't do steroiRAB. What kinRAB have you tried? I have horrible high bp and am wound up like an 8 day alarm clock on the shots or the pills. However, the inhaled kind (either oral or nasal) not do that to me. There are other asthma meRAB as well: Spiriva and Singulair. If you have asthma, you should be on a daily preventer.

3) You took exception to one poster's rec for allergy testing saying that you know what you are allergic to but in the above statement you say "and probably lots more" which would seem to indicate you suspect some but are not certain. Testing will determine exactly what you are allergic to. Often, an offending allergen is coupled with another and one thinks only one is the culprit when it's actually the other. And that can vary from location to location in the country. If you get tested on the east coast where you currently reside, they will test for different allergens that the ones you will encounter in Palm Springs. Also, you may develop ones in CA that you never had in the east as you weren't exposed to them.

4) You may have blockage that could be from inflammation. In such cases, a steroid will often reduce that and clear the blockage. Surgery isn't a given in these cases. You need to find out exactly what is causing the issue.

Hope this helps....
 
Thanks to both of you for your replies. I will add pulmonologist to my list of specialists I need to see. You are right about it being hard to believe that i have gone this long...however, I had a more pressing issue to deal with for years that is much improved now. So now onto my physical health. Even I read my post with dismay. And I forgot to mention that my ob sent me to a hematologist because I have a constant high white blood cell count, and it turns out that I have systemic inflammation. c-reactive protein of 54 at last test. I possibly have some sort of auto immune disorder.

gcsr. I know I am allergic to those things because I live in my body. I don't need a doctor to tell me what I am feeling. I could go into my genetics and reactionsto the allergens but I don't think I need to. But those questions aren't helpful and actual feel accusatory. What might a pulmonoligist do for me?

Jane. What type of anti inflammatory drugs might I take? It was oral prednisone that sent me to to psych ward actually! Rue the day. I have considered allergy shots. I just wonder how I get infected by just getting run down sometimes (like the 60 hour labor.) And with the high white blood cell count. So many things to consider. Don't know where to turn. I need House! I do know that antibiotics make me able to function. They help so that is a plus. They are hard to get... It would be nice to have a name for what I am going through. Just so I can accept it more. I appreciate your kind help.

Thanks
 
Try hydrogen peroxide in your ears 2x a day until it stops bubbling.
Also buy food enzymes and if you can, purchase unpasteurized milk from a dairy. (sometimes not possible to find)
 
The very first Sinus Infection, of one's life, damages the nasal and/or sinus merabranes. These very moist merabranes almost never heal on their own resulting in unhealthy conditions ripe for repeated sinus infections. Antibiotics don't necessarily heal sinus/nasal merabranes, IMHO, they just kill the infection. Stop the antibiotics, and the poor, helpless and damaged merabranes just wait for the next opportunistic organism to strike again! :dizzy:

I had multiple sinus infections every year for decades. My sinus infection problems ended around 2002, after I was able to completely heal my sinus/nasal merabranes by flooding my sinuses with significantly diluted 3% Peroxide.
 
Thanks! Actually the first thing I read on this site before I posted was your flooding method. Seems scary but the definitely in the realm of possibility.

I just want to make sure that is my only problem since i also get other infections...Gonna get tested for immune deficiency.

Thanks again!
 
In addition to strategies already listed, you might want to consider other things that may be aggrevating your sinuses and giving you a tendancy towarRAB more infections.

I delt with asthma and allergies for years and attributed my sinus infections to the constant allergies.

Turns out I had 2 other contributers to my tendency of infections:
-GERD: I had "silent" GERD that mimicked my asthma and allergies. No heartburn at all, but a chronic cough and asthma/breathing problems. I had GERD surgery in 2008 and it cut my sinus infections each year by about 2/3's. Turns out I had acid coming up and irritating my sinuses as well.

-TMJ can mimic sinus problems as well. There is more informationon the TMJ thread on a symptoms sticky at the top.

As for your other non-medical strategies, the NETI pot is one of the most important to help fight the sinus infections.
 
Hi all.

I saw the immunologist/allergist. He is going to run tests. Cat scan of the face, chext x-ray, immunoglobulin blood test, asthma test, and skin test for allergens. He diagnosed me with a bunch of things I already knew i have, but looked up my nose and told me I have a deviated septum. Didn't know that...Does that help lead to many sinus infections?

I tried the Neti pot last month for a week, and the water would not go through on one side, and slowly on the other, and it hurt my ears. He said try it again, so I did. Water trickled out the opposite nostril and it hurt my ears. Then I blew my nose two hours later and this hard thing came out. Like a white solid thing that looked like it had fossilized! Was the size of a button on a womans blouse. Gross and what the...! I was going to postpone the ENT until after the cat scan results but when I called the office about the nose drama, the head nurse said the stop Neti Pot and go to appt so...

I had finally convinced myself that my problems were all allergies and asthma, especially since my breathing was better when i had to go to the er (i have allergies from my house and am moving to Palm Springs area, Ca) But now I am not sure what is up my nose, and about the rest of the tests...I fear the immune deficiency test results.

About the tmj, already been diagnosed with it, and it is worsened by a med I take so I take one that stops the night time grinding etc.. So I don't think that is it.

Gross gross gross. Any thoughts??

Thanks guys.
L
 
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