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Scuba Forum / General / March 2005Lingering Sinus Problem
Hello rec.scubans worldwide! I'm getting a bit desperate because I plan to fly to Miami in early April and spend a week diving on Blackbeards and I can't seem to relieve the pressure in the sinuses behind my eyebrows. I've had this for about three months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. The current OTC medication I'm using is Extra Strength Tylenol Sinus and that does the job of relieving the pain symptoms alright but the pain comes back when I stop taking the Tylenol. In other words, I'm thinking of the Tylenol as a way to relieve the symptoms but not to cure the problem. My doctor put me on Flonase, which is a corticosteroid nasal spray. I've been taking this, more or less regularly for about 3 weeks: two sprays in each nostril, twice a day. Because of the duration of the problem, my doctor also put me on antibiotics. I just finished a two-week course of Amox. and Clav. 250mg/125mg, which I took three times a day for 14 days, ending about 4 days ago. I just had my sinuses X-Rayed yesterday and have a follow-up appointment with my GP on Wednesday to discuss the results of that X-Ray. I'm hoping she'll send me to ENT specialist to get these sinuses drained somehow, if there's a procedure for doing that. I'm keeping the humidity in my house at over 30% and, about once a day, I make a tent with a towel over a heated vaporizor and inhale the steam for about 15 minutes. Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have thought of or should I start sterilizing my drill bits? (Just kidding.) Thanks. > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! > > I'm getting a bit desperate because I plan to fly to Miami in early April > and spend a week diving on Blackbeards and I can't seem to relieve the > pressure in the sinuses behind my eyebrows. I've had this for about three > months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I had it bad for over six months this year. The doctors told me that it was probably a virus and I might have it for a year. It's been 8 1/2 months now, though not so bad recently. An allergist (I don't have any allergies) put me on a short course of Prednisone. That worked and then Nasalcort. That worked better than Flonase (which makes my nose bleed). Two ENT's and the only guy that could help me was an allergy specialist who had verified that I don't have any allergies. The other thing that was prescribed by both ENT's that also helps is a product called "Sinus Rinse" (tm) by NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (toll free 1-877-477-8633) (www.nasalrinse.com, www.sinusrinse.com, www.neilmed.com) > The current OTC medication I'm using is Extra Strength Tylenol Sinus and > that does the job of relieving the pain symptoms alright but the pain comes > back when I stop taking the Tylenol. In other words, I'm thinking of the > Tylenol as a way to relieve the symptoms but not to cure the problem. Right. > My doctor put me on Flonase, which is a corticosteroid nasal spray. I've > been taking this, more or less regularly for about 3 weeks: two sprays in [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > 250mg/125mg, which I took three times a day for 14 days, ending about 4 days > ago. Biaxin 500mg > I just had my sinuses X-Rayed yesterday and have a follow-up appointment > with my GP on Wednesday to discuss the results of that X-Ray. > > I'm hoping she'll send me to ENT specialist to get these sinuses drained > somehow, if there's a procedure for doing that. Check out the Sinus Rinse. > I'm keeping the humidity in my house at over 30% and, about once a day, I > make a tent with a towel over a heated vaporizor and inhale the steam for > about 15 minutes. Maybe you've got too much humidity going on there . . .or maybe mold in your house. ;^) > Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have thought of > or should I start sterilizing my drill bits? (Just kidding.) LOL. I was still affected when I went to Roatan (though not as severely, thank heavens). Despite conventional wisdom, I was taking a 12 hour Sudafed and an extra strength Sudafed at the beginning of my dive days. I still had some trouble descending from time to time . . .and I was always unbelievably thirsty. :^) Get on Prednisone and the rinse ASAP. > Thanks. Best of luck. > Two ENT's and the only guy that could help me was an allergy specialist > who > had verified that I don't have any allergies. The other thing that was > prescribed by both ENT's that also helps is a product called "Sinus Rinse" > (tm) by NeilMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (toll free 1-877-477-8633) > (www.nasalrinse.com, www.sinusrinse.com, www.neilmed.com) Those are just fancy formulations of saline solution with a buffer. In other words, salt water. Get an atomizer and some saline solution, look in the contact lens department. Or just snork up some salt water. Make SURE you have Kleenex at hand. You WILL need them. Repeat as required. Simple, cheap, available, no prescription, and can be entertaining if done right. Works for me. >LOL. I was still affected when I went to Roatan (though not as severely, >thank heavens). Despite conventional wisdom, I was taking a 12 hour Sudafed >and an extra strength Sudafed at the beginning of my dive days. I still had >some trouble descending from time to time . . .and I was always unbelievably >thirsty. :^) I think you are always thirsty. JF (snip)> The current OTC medication I'm using is Extra Strength Tylenol Sinus and > that does the job of relieving the pain symptoms alright but the pain comes > back when I stop taking the Tylenol. In other words, I'm thinking of the > Tylenol as a way to relieve the symptoms but not to cure the problem. Oh, by the way, my situation included a lot of "production" and post nasal drip (ick) > My doctor put me on Flonase, which is a corticosteroid nasal spray. I've > been taking this, more or less regularly for about 3 weeks: two sprays in [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > 250mg/125mg, which I took three times a day for 14 days, ending about 4 days > ago. My doctor explained to me that the antibiotics were prescribed because when a person has that kind of problem for so long, there's a good chance of infection setting in. In other words, an infection didn't start the problem, it resulted from the problem. > I just had my sinuses X-Rayed yesterday and have a follow-up appointment > with my GP on Wednesday to discuss the results of that X-Ray. > > I'm hoping she'll send me to ENT specialist to get these sinuses drained > somehow, if there's a procedure for doing that. By the way, good luck with that. It took months for me to get into see an ENT and then a month later, I insisted on being sent for a second consult with another ENT. That took almost 3 more months to get in. (snip) > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Thanks. Saline spray? Make sure you have lots of Kleenex on hand, ready to grab. Repeat as required. You can also snork up some salt water, same effect, be neat about it. >Saline spray? Make sure you have lots of Kleenex on hand, ready to grab. >Repeat as required. You can also snork up some salt water, same effect, be >neat about it. Are you suggesting he might start blowing uncontrollable snotballs at poor innocents within range? Is snork a medical term? JF >>Saline spray? Make sure you have lots of Kleenex on hand, ready to grab. >>Repeat as required. You can also snork up some salt water, same effect, be [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > JF SNORK is a perfectly acceptable term, Gorilla Snot is also acceptable. New divers coming up from the first dive of a holiday will sometimes surface with a mask full of gorilla snot, or with it hanging off their chin. Its not cool to come onto the boat like that. The cool thing to do is to discreetly clean up, preferably turned away from the crowd. Its nothing to be ashamed of. Its just uncool. Subsequent dives are usually not as colourful. Almost as uncool as having gear that is not colour coordinated. Eh? 49 days until Coco View. > 49 days until Coco View. An eternity... I have to drive at least 60 miles. >>49 days until Coco View. > > An eternity... > > I have to drive at least 60 miles. Wow..are you that close ? I'm thinking about going to Coco View. How does it compare to Cozumel? >>>49 days until Coco View. >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I'm thinking about going to Coco View. >How does it compare to Cozumel? Totally different world. They're both an island. Beyond that ... CoCo View offers some dynamite shore dives, and two trips a day. The second dive of each trip ends with a "drop off" dive. You drop off the boat, do your diving on whatever features appeal to you and swim back to the hotel shore entry/exit point. The food is simple, but good and plentiful. The beer is stout, the sand fleas are hell if you're not careful. The overwater cabanas are great.  Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman <snip> > SNORK is a perfectly acceptable term, Gorilla Snot is also acceptable. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > 49 days until Coco View. And Here we have the Only valid reason for diving with a buddy!!!! you have someone to tell you - you have a snotball hanging off your face. ><snip> >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >And Here we have the Only valid reason for diving with a buddy!!!! >you have someone to tell you - you have a snotball hanging off your face. Most of my buddies are more likely to stay silent until we're confronted by a winsome lass, at which point they'll start braying and pointing at the offending snorkage. Fortunately I'm inured to their insensitivity. I have to say the notable exceptions are my Florida buddies. ESG will be too busy hitting on the lass. Lee will be trying to figger out the best time to moon us all. Limey Dave's newly hitched so of course he's on his best behaviour, for now. Al Wells might point it out to me, but only to avoid scaring off the lasses, especially those with neon flashing bosom lites. JF >> Hello rec.scubans worldwide! >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Repeat as required. You can also snork up some salt water, same effect, be > neat about it. Use purified water, a good concentration of salt, and an aspirator. An aspirator is like an oblong rubber ball with a pointed nozzle. Insert the nozzle in the nostril and give the ball end a good squeeze. Repeat. Be sure and do both nostrils. It's cheap and it works. Do it over the sink. > > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > comes back when I stop taking the Tylenol. In other words, I'm thinking > > of the Tylenol as a way to relieve the symptoms but not to cure the > > problem. > > > > My doctor put me on Flonase, which is a corticosteroid nasal spray. I've > > been taking this, more or less regularly for about 3 weeks: two sprays in > > each nostril, twice a day. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Repeat as required. You can also snork up some salt water, same effect, be > neat about it. I get chunks of dried mucus that seem like ferro-concrete, stuck all in my sinuses. I have learned to snort hot shower water, not an easy trick, and it cleans me out like drano. In the shower, which is a little less messy. >> > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! <snip> > I get chunks of dried mucus that seem like ferro-concrete, stuck all >in my sinuses. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > In the shower, which is a little less messy. I use a squeeze bulb meant for that purpose. Makes it easier to snort the water. Yes, do it in the shower and be prepared to wash snot off your front. Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman > I use a squeeze bulb meant for that purpose. Makes it easier to snort > the water. Yes, do it in the shower and be prepared to wash snot off > your front. Or leave it on. Mucus is a great conditioner for chest hair. All the chicks love to run their fingers through mine, at least until I tell them how I condition it. >> I use a squeeze bulb meant for that purpose. Makes it easier to snort >> the water. Yes, do it in the shower and be prepared to wash snot off [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >chicks love to run their fingers through mine, at least until I tell them >how I condition it. Reminds me of a line from CSI a while back. "See that stuff in my hair. It's not conditioner." Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! > [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have thought of > or should I start sterilizing my drill bits? (Just kidding.) http://www.bytheplanet.com/Products/Yoga/neti/Netipot.htm > I'm getting a bit desperate because I plan to fly to Miami in early > April and spend a week diving on Blackbeards and I can't seem to > relieve the pressure in the sinuses behind my eyebrows. I've had this > for about three months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. How did you diagnose that, and not, say, just migraine? I used to suffer from sinusitus and I still get it in the early stages because I takes steps to make sure it doesn't get worse. The worst time when when I first got it, didn't know what it was, thought it was cancer, thought I was dying. It wasn't and I didn't. Seems what you'r doing should work, like breathing vapouriser up your snout. I also use a nasal spray. Snorkelling is good as the salt water seems to clear the passages out. Standing in a hot shower with the hot water running on the back of your neck. Avoid dairy products, they are snot makers. Alcohol doesn't help. Put some Eucalyptus oil on a handkerchief and sniff it especialy in bed at night. That should loosen the oysters up. I hope you get over it soon. Poida SignaturePoida Hi Larry, > I'm getting a bit desperate because I plan to fly to Miami in early April > and spend a week diving on Blackbeards and I can't seem to relieve the > pressure in the sinuses behind my eyebrows. I've had this for about three > months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Has your doctor done a white blood cell (leukocyte) count? If the value is too high, you have a bateriological infection and the antibiotics will help. If the value is too low, you have a viral infection, and the antibiotics will not help. An x-ray of your sinuses will tell your doctor if you have a sinus problem which exacerbates or prolongs the infection. Next step would be to check for an allergy. If you are 'lucky', the infection will get better on vacation and then get worse when you get back. This would be a sign that there is something at home you are allergic to that is the cause of your problem. Family members with allergies will give you an indication of your predisposition. Beware of medicinal health teas which are supposed to help releive coughs and cold symptoms. Taken over a long period of time, I have found they tend to make the situation worse. The same goes for nose sprays. Drink lots of water. I too have just gotten over a six week spell of a never ending cough/cold, first from a bacteriological infection (the antibiotics helped) and then a viral infection directly afterwards. Six weeks of no diving - a real bummer. Here in Switzerland the diving conditions are ideal: cold, clear water. What better conditions could one wish for. Got really worried, as I was in the same situation as you are now. Girlfriend and I are off to the Maldives on sunday for two weeks. Hope the above is of use. Regards Rudolf Bargholz (snip)> Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have thought of > or should I start sterilizing my drill bits? (Just kidding.) Yes, all these do-it-yourselfer sinus rinse guys are indeed the manliest of men. However, you might want to consider that this is not the best time to be introducing potentially new contaminants to your already compromised sinus cavities. Distilled water (or boiled) and the right salt solution, atomized properly. Definitely lean over the sink. Do NOT block off the opposite nostril and keep your mouth open a little bit. You can damage your ears if you try to close off any of the "exits". > (snip)> Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have > thought of >> or should I start sterilizing my drill bits? (Just kidding.) > Distilled water (or boiled) and the right salt solution, atomized > properly. > Definitely lean over the sink. Do NOT block off the opposite nostril and > keep your mouth open a little bit. You can damage your ears if you try to > close off any of the "exits". Maybe there are some problems with socialized medicine after all, if this is how you Canucks treat yourselves. I like Larry's first idea the best of all, going to see an ENT specialist. > > (snip)> Is there anything else I could be doing that my GP might not have > > thought of [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > how you Canucks treat yourselves. I like Larry's first idea the best of > all, going to see an ENT specialist. Greg, I got my sinus rinse info from the two ENT's that I went to see. > Greg, I got my sinus rinse info from the two ENT's that I went to see. So you're saying that what fits the goose always fits the gander? I'm guessing that the two ENTs that you went to see didn't diagnose you unseen, over the internet. And if the pros can't even do it online . . . But if you can talk Larry into it, that's good enough for me. What do I care if he ends up suffering irreversible sinus trauma and never dives again? > > Greg, I got my sinus rinse info from the two ENT's that I went to see. > > So you're saying that what fits the goose always fits the gander? The nose knows. > I'm guessing that the two ENTs that you went to see didn't diagnose you unseen, > over the internet. And if the pros can't even do it online . . . Right. > But if you can talk Larry into it, that's good enough for me. What do I > care if he ends up suffering irreversible sinus trauma and never dives > again? He asked here. He should take that into consideration. > He asked here. He should take that into consideration. Pssst. I have this itch..... David Edmonton, Alberta > > He asked here. He should take that into consideration. > > Pssst. > I have this itch..... And you want us to tell you how to scratch it? Get a cat . . .oh wait . . .never mind. > And you want us to tell you how to scratch it? > Get a cat . . .oh wait . . .never mind. A pussy for my itch. HEY. You are magic :) David Edmonton, Alberta > > And you want us to tell you how to scratch it? > > Get a cat . . .oh wait . . .never mind. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > :) You've known that for a while. :^) > You've known that for a while. No sh.t, eh. " Hi. I'm Greg Mossman." You still fighting with that big old Teddy Bear, Popeye ? David Edmonton, Alberta > > You've known that for a while. > > No sh.t, eh. > > " Hi. I'm Greg Mossman." :^) > You still fighting with that big old Teddy Bear, Popeye ? Looks like. > Looks like. Bugger. I guess I will have to start a flame chilly fest, and charge money to build a fund to send your short butt, along with Popeye's, back to Florida. I will ask Lee and Curtis to take you both diving at Mike's haunts. They know you both. IRL may mend the rift. ( Your both smarter then this.) David Edmonton, Alberta > > Looks like. > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > ( Your both smarter then this.) No, we aren't. (haven't we had this same convo before) ;^) Oh forgot to mention a hot chilli dish. In my list of remedies. Now my remedies, for all those who think that an ENT would be a better choice, are based on preventing sinus problems getting to a head, ( pun not intended) but to curb an infection which happens after your sinuses are blocked. Doctors are trained to diagnose medical problems and cure them, usually with a drug. They are not trained to prevent them. For example when was the last time you went to a Doctor and asked them to prevent you from getting an inflamation of the elbow for example. Well of course nobody does, they wait until the problem gets bad and then off they go to the Doc. to get what, a dose of antibiotics. It is predicted that in about ten years time we will all be in the poo because Doctors have been dishing out their antibiotics so much that a super bug is looming because every time you suck on anti biotics the bacteria are producing off springs with an immunity to it. It is predicted that in ten years time the bacteria will be immuned to every antibiotic known to man. Better get as much diving done as possible because you Doctor lovers are killing us all. SignaturePoida > Doctors are trained to diagnose medical problems and cure them, usually > with a drug. They are not trained to prevent them. For example when > was the last time you went to a Doctor and asked them to prevent you > from getting an inflamation of the elbow for example. Well of course > nobody does, they wait until the problem gets bad and then off they go > to the Doc. to get what, a dose of antibiotics. If nobody does, that's not the doctor's fault. Of course doctors are trained in preventing medical problems. Why the hell else would they always natter at you to lose weight, stop smoking, get more exercise, etc.? Jeez Greg Never known it to happen. Unless the patient has a problem that was caused by overweight or smoking then they will tell them to stop. To cure the problem. I have worked for companies that insist on a Doctors health check before they employ them. I've never known a Doctor to knock somebody back, even people grossly fat. Makes me wonder if the bastards are blind. I would probably go to a Doctor once every 10 years normally for a physical injury because the sh.t they give to fix you is worse than the problem you've got. I am going to deal direct with the undertaker and cut out the middle man. Poida SignaturePoida Thanks for all the tips, everyone! The X-rays confirmed a sinus infection and I've been given a different antibiotic. I'm also doing the saline rinse occasionally. I think this thing's starting to clear up. Thanks again! > Hello rec.scubans worldwide! > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. > [...deletia...] > Thanks for all the tips, everyone! The X-rays confirmed a sinus infection > and I've been given a different antibiotic. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >>months and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. >>[...deletia...] try keeping your Blood Alcohol Level very high for a 48 hour period. That helps too. SignatureThe constitution promises freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Think about it, It ain't that hard to figure out. If your religion is none, then deal with it. I strongly urge everyone reading this to check out WWW.anysoldier.com, and support our troops with a letter, a package or a donation. "dazed and confuzzed" <dedmann@comcast.net> wrote in message news:idGdnRmEs-bSDbLfRVn- > try keeping your Blood Alcohol Level very high for a 48 hour period. That > helps too. Every so often I add a bit of blood so I have the strength to go look for more alcohol. > "dazed and confuzzed" <dedmann@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:idGdnRmEs-bSDbLfRVn- [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Every so often I add a bit of blood so I have the strength to go look for > more alcohol. BARKEEP! A round for the house. >> "dazed and confuzzed" <dedmann@comcast.net> wrote in message >> news:idGdnRmEs-bSDbLfRVn- [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >A round for the house. BARKEEP Another house for the round. Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman > "dazed and confuzzed" <dedmann@comcast.net> wrote in message > news:idGdnRmEs-bSDbLfRVn- [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Every so often I add a bit of blood so I have the strength to go look for > more alcohol. Alcohol is a known congestant. Mayhap we've found your problem? ;^) >> Every so often I add a bit of blood so I have the strength to go look for >> more alcohol. > > Alcohol is a known congestant. Mayhap we've found your problem? ;^) He should be snorting the alcohol instead of drinking it? Good idea. It hits you quicker that way. >>> Every so often I add a bit of blood so I have the strength to go look for >>> more alcohol. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >He should be snorting the alcohol instead of drinking it? Good idea. It >hits you quicker that way. How about an alcohol enema. Read News of the Wierd for the results. Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman >>"dazed and confuzzed" <dedmann@comcast.net> wrote in message >>news:idGdnRmEs-bSDbLfRVn- [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Alcohol is a known congestant. Mayhap we've found your problem? ;^) no, the alcohol (if at a high enough level) keeps the infection at bay. SignatureThe constitution promises freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Think about it, It ain't that hard to figure out. If your religion is none, then deal with it. I strongly urge everyone reading this to check out WWW.anysoldier.com, and support our troops with a letter, a package or a donation. |
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