Post by carmenere on Sept 18, 2018 16:06:29 GMT -5
I find that being up on my feet helps my sinuses to drain a little bit so I don’t feel as stuffy. Even if I don’t feel like doing anything I try to get up and piddle around the house just to be up and moving. Taking a hot shower and sleeping upright helps too.
I hope you feel better soon. Sinus infections are the worst.
Post by mcsangel2 on Sept 18, 2018 16:21:47 GMT -5
In fact, the last two sinus infections I've gotten (over a period of 5 years or so), I was asked to try Afrin (and maybe Mucinex? can't remember for sure) for a week before filling a script for antibiotics.
In fact, the last two sinus infections I've gotten (over a period of 5 years or so), I was asked to try Afrin (and maybe Mucinex? can't remember for sure) for a week before filling a script for antibiotics.
I've had this since Thur and have been taking sudafed and haven't felt any better.
Post by lucybrown on Sept 18, 2018 16:32:55 GMT -5
Eliminate dairy and sugar. Both are inflammatory and increase mucus production.
Fill a sock up with rice and warm it in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Put the hot compress over your eyes, neck, and/or ear area. Massage your head/face to encourage mucus to move along. Fresh ginger, garlic, lemon, and spicy foods will help your body purge the crud. A saline rinse or Neti pot will help, but don't do it more than 1-2 times per day. Saline is drying if done too much, which makes my sinus headaches worse.
I've had chronic sinus infections for most of my life. Going the crunchy direction has helped far more than I wanted to admit it would.
In fact, the last two sinus infections I've gotten (over a period of 5 years or so), I was asked to try Afrin (and maybe Mucinex? can't remember for sure) for a week before filling a script for antibiotics.
I've had this since Thur and have been taking sudafed and haven't felt any better.
Sudafed is a decongestant but it dries you out. Afrin is also a decongestant but it won't dry you out - giving your sinuses a chance to drain. But at this point, if you've already had it for a week and already got the antibiotics, it will just take time.
ETA: Are you taking the "real" Sudafed, the kind that's kept behind the counter? (with pseudoephedrine). If you take the OTC stuff with the fake ingredient, phenyl something? That won't do squat.
I've had this since Thur and have been taking sudafed and haven't felt any better.
Sudafed is a decongestant but it dries you out. Afrin is also a decongestant but it won't dry you out - giving your sinuses a chance to drain. But at this point, if you've already had it for a week and already got the antibiotics, it will just take time.
ETA: Are you taking the "real" Sudafed, the kind that's kept behind the counter? (with pseudoephedrine). If you take the OTC stuff with the fake ingredient, phenyl something? That won't do squat.
Post by gilmoregirl on Sept 18, 2018 17:56:14 GMT -5
Hot shower with eucalyptus oil. I would back off the Sudafed, my doctor gave me that advice yesterday. The steroids should help immensely. I have one now too and day two on the steroids and I'm so much clearer.
Hot shower with eucalyptus oil. I would back off the Sudafed, my doctor gave me that advice yesterday. The steroids should help immensely. I have one now too and day two on the steroids and I'm so much clearer.
The eucalyptus oil was a game changer for me the last time I had a sinus infection. I also use a humidifier with the Vicks tabs at night.
Post by JayhawkGirl on Sept 18, 2018 21:50:24 GMT -5
Real sudafed Mucinex Ibuprofen to help with inflammation
Neilmed sinus rinse! Several times a day. This will be one of your best tools. nasal steroid (Flonase etc) Drink Tons of water
If you’re on abx and prednisone, you should see relief starting soon. If not you may need a different antibiotic. Watch the color of what you blow out and what the Neti/Neilmed washes out. That can help the dr know what to use. Also, I often need more than 10 days. It took 3 weeks of augmentin to finally fix me this summer.
Sinus rinses! This is the top tip I have for sinus infections. Clears out all the junk. Not like saline spray, but like the Netipot or the squeeze bottle. Sudafed (the good stuff behind the pharmacy counter) Steroid nasal sprays like Flonase or Rhinocort
If you do Afrin, dont take it for more than 3 consecutive days.
Post by starburst604 on Sept 19, 2018 10:03:39 GMT -5
Neilmed squeeze bottle sinus rinse or Netipot (I like the squeeze bottle, more aggressive) - if you are so congested you can't get the water to flow through, use Afrin first.
AFRIN, especially at night but not for more than 3 days. Afrin is the holy grail of being able to breathe through the nose. Other things will open my sinuses temporarily like steam and eucalyptus, hot soup etc. But as soon as it's over I'm back to stuffed.
The prescription stuff should kick in soon and help a ton though, especially the steroid. Hope you feel better soon!
I hated when I got a bad cold when pregnant and couldn't use anything. People would tell me "saline spray!!". Seriously asshole, my sinuses feel like they're filled with concrete and spritzing them with salt water isn't doing shit!!!
Neilmed squeeze bottle sinus rinse or Netipot (I like the squeeze bottle, more aggressive) - if you are so congested you can't get the water to flow through, use Afrin first.
AFRIN, especially at night but not for more than 3 days. Afrin is the holy grail of being able to breathe through the nose. Other things will open my sinuses temporarily like steam and eucalyptus, hot soup etc. But as soon as it's over I'm back to stuffed.
The prescription stuff should kick in soon and help a ton though, especially the steroid. Hope you feel better soon!
I hated when I got a bad cold when pregnant and couldn't use anything. People would tell me "saline spray!!". Seriously asshole, my sinuses feel like they're filled with concrete and spritzing them with salt water isn't doing shit!!!
Yes! I'm pregnant now and the congestion is killing me and blocking my ears. My flonase helps me breathe but doesn't unblock the ears and saline spray does nothing but get my nose wet. I need like high dose sudafed.
Neilmed squeeze bottle sinus rinse or Netipot (I like the squeeze bottle, more aggressive) - if you are so congested you can't get the water to flow through, use Afrin first.
AFRIN, especially at night but not for more than 3 days. Afrin is the holy grail of being able to breathe through the nose. Other things will open my sinuses temporarily like steam and eucalyptus, hot soup etc. But as soon as it's over I'm back to stuffed.
The prescription stuff should kick in soon and help a ton though, especially the steroid. Hope you feel better soon!
I hated when I got a bad cold when pregnant and couldn't use anything. People would tell me "saline spray!!". Seriously asshole, my sinuses feel like they're filled with concrete and spritzing them with salt water isn't doing shit!!!
Yes! I'm pregnant now and the congestion is killing me and blocking my ears. My flonase helps me breathe but doesn't unblock the ears and saline spray does nothing but get my nose wet. I need like high dose sudafed.
The only thing that gave me some relief was some Vicks rub at night.
Saline spray can also be used as a saline flush, which is actually a lot more helpful than a quick mist I think most are envisioning. You tilt your head to the side and a bit forward, squeeze the bottle consistently hard, and it all runs out of the opposite nostril.
Neilmed squeeze bottle sinus rinse or Netipot (I like the squeeze bottle, more aggressive) - if you are so congested you can't get the water to flow through, use Afrin first.
AFRIN, especially at night but not for more than 3 days. Afrin is the holy grail of being able to breathe through the nose. Other things will open my sinuses temporarily like steam and eucalyptus, hot soup etc. But as soon as it's over I'm back to stuffed.
The prescription stuff should kick in soon and help a ton though, especially the steroid. Hope you feel better soon!
I hated when I got a bad cold when pregnant and couldn't use anything. People would tell me "saline spray!!". Seriously asshole, my sinuses feel like they're filled with concrete and spritzing them with salt water isn't doing shit!!!
Yes! I'm pregnant now and the congestion is killing me and blocking my ears. My flonase helps me breathe but doesn't unblock the ears and saline spray does nothing but get my nose wet. I need like high dose sudafed.
Get one of these ASAP. Use with or without the vicks vapor pad.
Neilmed squeeze bottle sinus rinse or Netipot (I like the squeeze bottle, more aggressive) - if you are so congested you can't get the water to flow through, use Afrin first.
AFRIN, especially at night but not for more than 3 days. Afrin is the holy grail of being able to breathe through the nose. Other things will open my sinuses temporarily like steam and eucalyptus, hot soup etc. But as soon as it's over I'm back to stuffed.
The prescription stuff should kick in soon and help a ton though, especially the steroid. Hope you feel better soon!
I hated when I got a bad cold when pregnant and couldn't use anything. People would tell me "saline spray!!". Seriously asshole, my sinuses feel like they're filled with concrete and spritzing them with salt water isn't doing shit!!!
Yes! I'm pregnant now and the congestion is killing me and blocking my ears. My flonase helps me breathe but doesn't unblock the ears and saline spray does nothing but get my nose wet. I need like high dose sudafed.
When I was pregnant, I took Hot Hands (hand warmers) and laid them under my eyes. The heat definitely helped.
If you've had the steroid shot and have antibiotics, it's just going to take time for the infection to be flushed out. I take Mucinex at the first sign of an URI. I was told by a doc several years ago that Sudafed just dries up the infection and makes it sticky so your body can't flush it out, so Mucinex is the best way to go because it loosens the crud up for your body to deal with.
I learned a couple new things the other day: 1) Sudafed works if you have an allergy. I felt like ass all last week. My friend, who was visiting from Anchorage, suggested I try Sudafed to see if it would help. She finally talked me into taking one of hers, and I'll be darned if it didn't do the trick! Yay! I also learned that 2) in Oregon you cannot buy Sudafed OTC--you have to have a prescription!! WTF? So she left some for me until I can get to my doctor for a prescription. I'm feeling better, so I doubt I'll make a special appointment unless I have to. I'm traveling to Anchorage for Thanksgiving, so I plan on bringing a PILE of it when I come back. lol
"Why would you ruin perfectly good peanuts by adding candy corn? That's like saying hey, I have these awesome nachos, guess I better add some dryer lint." - Nonny