4 Responses to “Chronic Sinus congestion”

1. admin says:

   December 19, 2009 at 7:09 am

   In article <116…@linus.mitre.org>, d…@luke.mitre.org (Douglas S. Rand) writes:
   

   > I have some questions for folks.  I chronically have problems with my
   > sinuses being swollen.  This is especially true during allergy
   > season and during cold season I’m very suseptable to getting
   > sinusitis.  Now when I’m taking an antihistamine (Seldane) this
   > is less of a problem but not totally gone.  I’ll get less frequent
   > headaches from the sinus pressure.  I use a Beconase inhaler.

   After having frequent sinus headaches for several years, I walked across the
   street to the University’s science library and checked some medical practice
   books for articles on sinusitis.  One of them told me something that doesn’t
   seem to be commonly known:  About 50% of sinusitis is related to tooth and gum
   problems, such as gingivitis.  It makes sense — the sinuses are right above
   your upper teeth.  

   I realized that I was walking around with a continual low-grade infection in my
   gums, and this was affecting my sinuses.  Now I pay much more attention to
   keeping food particles out of my gums, and I have much fewer sinus problems.  

   If I forget, and leave part of lunch lodged in the space where my wisdom teeth
   used to be, I’ll often feel sinus pressure come on within a couple of hours.
   —
                                           — Richard

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2. admin says:

   December 19, 2009 at 7:09 am

   I am not a physician, but my experience in treating myself may be
   useful to others.  I was suffering from chronic and/or recurrent
   maxillary sinusitis, related to perennial allergic rhinitis.  The
   symptoms of my sinusitis would disappear after a ten-day course
   of antibiotic, but would invariably recur.  Finally, my ENT
   physician suggested surgery as the only alternative to a lifetime
   of living with sinusitis.  Faced with the unpleasant alternative
   of chronic sinusitis or surgery which might or might not be
   effective, I decided to try one last fling at managing my problem
   medically.  Doing some research at the library, I discovered that
   most physicians tend to under-treat sinusitis.  I found a
   cooperative G.P. who was willing to prescribe 50 days of
   antibiotic (I used Minocin, but I’d suggest something cheaper)
   plus Nasalcrom nasal solution.  Voila!  I can’t say I’ve been
   cured, but I’ve had no evidence of sinusitis for the last five
   months.  I continue to take the Nasalcrom.  My suggestions and
   observations:

   1.   Try a vigorous medical approach before resorting to surgery:
   at least 40 days of a broad-spectrum antibiotic, plus whatever
   measures are used to treat the allergic symptoms, the goal being
   to clear the nasal passages so that the sinuses can drain.

   2.   Nasalcrom nasal solution seems to work.  (I’m tempted to try
   a blind study by having someone fill one of my Nasalcrom
   containers with saline to use in one nostril, while using
   Nasalcrom in the other, but I don’t want to risk disturbing the
   status-quo.)  It may take two to four weeks before the effects
   become apparent.  Also, get the 26 ml. spray bottle, which comes
   with a more effective spray mechanism than the 13 ml. bottle.  I
   initially used a small amount of a dilute solution (0.025%) of
   oxymetazoline (Afrin children’s nose drops) to clear my nose
   sufficiently to use the Nasalcrom.

   3.   Nasalcrom can be used concomitantly with Vancenase or
   Beconase.  I would be unwilling to expose my nasal mucosa to
   Vancenase or Beconase over a long period of time, but see no
   reason why Nasalcrom cannot be used indefinitely.

   4.   For me, oral decongestants seem to work about as well as
   placebos.
        george@ozdaltx                     (214)386-765
3. admin says:

   December 19, 2009 at 7:09 am

   Interesting.  I had recurrent strep throat, and finally asked my
   doctor to try an extended (30 day) antibiotic treatment as an
   alternative to surgery, as opposed to the ten day shots we had been
   doing.  It seemed to work well for me.
   

   –
   Nick Simicich – uunet!bywater!scifi!njs – n…@ibm.com – SSI #AOWI 3958
4. admin says:

   December 19, 2009 at 7:09 am

   In article <26…@bellcore.bellcore.com> m…@flash.UUCP (Mike L Harvey) writes:
   

   >    I have read a great deal lately about the supposed trend
   >    towards holistic medicine.  Yet when I ask around, no one
   >    seems to know of any holistic doctors in my area (Northern
   >    New Jersey).  It is very strange.  
   >    I have tried the physician referral service in the phone book,
   >    but they seem mainly concerned with getting you to one of their
   >    doctors associated with the hospital.
   >                                    Mike

    I sympathise with your situation Mike.  Obviously Scientific Medicine
    has a real lock on business in your area, and does well at disfranchising
    alternative medical models.
    We have ~20 ‘others’ here…a more liberal, multi-ethnic state. But try to get
    insurance to cover it. No way! (Again, part of the problem of a Medical
    Industrial CompleX comprised of MDs, Hospitals, Insurance, Drugs, and  
    Hospital equipment companies).

    My suggestion would be to go to a "Natural Foods Store" and ask them. As
    the ones’ here sell Homeopathic medicine.   I trust you fully scanned the
    yellow pages for Naturopaths  under Physicians.

    Perhaps others in a Neighboring state have a listing of Homeopathic MDs
     that you could drive over to. Hopefully they will respond to your
     question and post such.
    If I have another suggestion I’ll get back to you.
    Aloha
    Bill

       b…@uhccux.bitnet
       b…@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu
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