sinus suggestions?

[VickiB]

The nasty cold I caught right before Christmas is almost gone, but the last couple of days I've had a feeling all is not right. Sinus pressure, headache, low fever,....I think the cold has left me with a sinus infection.

Our family doctor is out of his office until Friday so I've been looking for home remedies to get me through until then. Lots of soup, herb teas, water, and even the good old saline nasal rinse (Yuck!) Reading online I find several natural remedies which are either too scary or not IC friendly. Snorting two lines of cayenne pepper?,....I don't have that kind of courage!

Any suggestions on what else I might try?

Vicki

[Briza]

For me, sinus infections usually do require a trip to the dr for antibiotics...if cold turns to sinus infection my sinus infection will just stay around forever.

In addition to antibiotics these are a couple meds that I use, this is the combo my GP would give me before they became available OTC and now they are OTC AND generic so very inexpenisive:

Mucinex (just the regular, not the one for sinus) says it is for chest congestion but for me it works GREAT for head congestion, sinus pressure as well...for me it has truly been a Godsend. Some years ago I suffered from chronic sinusitis and if not for Mucinex I probably would have drilled a hole in my head to relieve the pressure! (jk of course, but the thought did cross my mind a few times:bonk: before I was first prescribed Mucinex
Claritin allergy (loratadine...the one without the decongestant) and
Tylenol for fever or any aches or pains


Well for sure I know Walmart carries generic versions of both Mucinex and Claritin allergy, probably Walgreens or most large supermarkets, too, and they are VERY affordable. The combo of the two along with Tylenol gives me exceptional relief, but I almost always need an antibiotic to cure it completely: Bactrim and Levaquin are two that I know have worked for me for sinusitis, ampicillin did not

Self help:

damp warm as you can tolerate washcloths on face, cold packs on neck and top of head:bonk:
flushing nasal cavity with warm saline solution (just a bit of salt and water) using a Neti Pot...available at Walgreens...usually includes some kind of saline stuff that you mix with warm water
hot showers and baths


Hope you feel better soon!! And are able to see the dr soon!

[ncnative]

Rinsing with a saline solution like Ocean works wonders for me. A neti pot is a great tool also. I use Mucinex if I need to take meds.
I hope you get some relief and feel better soon :)

[VickiB]

Thanks guys!

I started taking the generic version of mucinex this evening and have already felt a small bit of loosening of junk in my chest. Funny, I hadn't even noticed that there was anything going on in my chest until I took the expectorant. I'm hoping it'll soon begin to have a loosening effect on my sinuses as well.

As far as rinsing with salt & water,....what proportions do you mix that at? I've been using 1 teaspoon to a pint of water and I'm wondering if that's too strong?

I understand the comment about wanting to drill a hole in one's head! This is no fun!

Vicki

[Briza]

HI Vicki
It has been so long since I used my Neti pot that I don't remember the proportion of salt to water...
You might check online for nasal salt water solutions for sinusitus, or google Neti Pot maybe they have a website and maybe that will tell how much salt to water...it is not too much if I remember correctly. My Neti pot looks like a little ceramic teapo or tiny genie's lamp, if you are not familiar with them that is what they look like, kinda cute actually! Mine did not come with the salt stuff to mix in water but I have long lost the instructions on how much salt to use in the warm water..sorry! :( JMHO 1 tsp per pint sounds adequate or more than adequate...it shouldn't sting or burn...and if you do it properly, like with a Neti Pot, the solution goes up one nostril, and out the other...pretty interesting, actually....guess I'm easily amused :lmao: but if you can find anything amusing while suffering with the feeling of wanting to drill a hole in your head to release the pressure, that is good!

[dg2901]

It was suggested to me last month by my Dr to use Mucinex for congestion I was dealing with--I was quite impressed with how well it worked. Within an hour of the first dose I was getting relief. I took it for 2 days as suggested and all was well. Of course, I wasnt dealing with infection, just congestion.

My husband uses a Neti Pot and gets lots of relief from it. He uses a 1/4 tsp of sea salt to 1/2 cup of slightly warm tap water.

Hope you start feeling better soon!
Diana

[ICNDonna]

Maybe we have/had the same "bug" --- I got mine before Christmas and am just now beginning to clear up. I think it may take even more time for my nasal passages to be totally clear.

Donna