I am a 34-year-old female. I started having sinus infections in 1999. I had no idea what they were. I got very ill one winter, dizzy, fever, congestion, and ear infection, fatigue. My sinuses were constantly draining, green, thick mucus. Because I let it go so long thinking it was just a cold, it turned into Bronchitis and I was out of work for 2 weeks on a strong course of antibiotics.

I had no problems from my sinuses after that spell. Well, I became pregnant in 2002; I kept a sinus infection my whole pregnancy. I was on Keflex for about 5 months. I was miserable, not to mention pregnant. It finally cleared up my 7 month of pregnancy, with no further occurrences.

Well, October 2003. The nasty sinus infection has reared its ugly head again. I have been on antibiotics since then. In fact, I just finished a course of Levaquin. Only this time it was worse. I have gone a long as 1 full week with no sleep, the sinus pain (headache, pain in front upper teeth and ear) and pressure has gotten so bad, it woke me up out of a sound sleep. I went to my family practice doctor and for the past three months have had numerous cortisone shots, zpacs, nose sprays, liquibid, augmentan (the new one 2000 milligrams a day), amoxicillan, and levaquin. After realizing none of this was working, he referred me to an ENT. My ENT discovered that I had a cyst blocking my right sinus cavity. He drained the cyst and irrigated my sinus cavity, but it did nothing to relieve my pain and discomfort. Because I had the infection so long, it spread to two of my upper teeth roots. I had to have two root canals.
He scheduled me for a CT Scan of my sinuses, and saw that the cyst was not only back, but also full of infection. I have had the infection so long that some of the bone in my sinus area is now diseased. I am having surgery on Tuesday Dec 23 to remove the cyst and I am glad for it. The pain and discomfort has cost me now 2 months off work, depression because of fatigue from lack of sleep, and because I was on so many antibiotics for so long, my hair fell out in clumps. I had to go and cut my hair completely off.

I pray that the surgery will be a success. I realize it may not be the "cure all" but any break I can get from this pain and suffering, I gladly welcome.

~ Tammy Quarles

It all started five years ago during the winter months in the Pacific Northwest. I usually get one sinus infection a winter but this one was like nothing I had ever experienced.

I am currently a very active 42 year old male in very good health living a very healthy lifestyle. I went to my family physician and he diagnosed me as being depressed and to drink more water. So instead, I made an appointment to see the local ENT. He took one look at my CT and told me that I have one of the worst cases of polyps he has ever seen. Seven days later after a run of Augmentin 875 and a course of Prednesone I had my first of three surgeries. The second would come four months later to do some extensive house cleaning. Things were good for the next few years having one or two episodes during the winter months which the Augmentin and Prednesone would usually take care of. Then this last winter came. The sinus infection that lasted for months and was unresponsive to the drugs.

The third surgery came in March of '03. My local ENT drilled a hole just above my eyebrow and flushed out my frontal sinus cavity. It was unsuccessful.. One course of drugs after another was taking it's toll on my body and my spirit so I turned to alternative medicines. I went to see the local acupuncturist. He used his needles and his herbs to control my condition and for a brief time it seemed to relieve the symptoms somewhat, but more importantly I was off the drugs. It only seemed to mask the real problem and cost me a couple thousand. The acupuncturist completely vamped my diet of dairy, breads, sugars, and anything else that would create any extra mucus in my sinuses.

My local ENT suggested that for my situation a dryer climate had a distinct possibility to eliminate my symptoms and as most of you know, you do what you got to do. He said that the alternative was a frontal sinus obliteration surgery. So I quit my job, rented my house of 18 years, and moved here to Arizona. The first few months were decent. It would be almost two months before I would see a doctor down here and begin the process all over again.
I am on a first name basis with my Dr. here at the local Urgent Care. He calls me 'Lucky' and I call him my 'Banker' as I still am without health insurance coverage here. I am fortunate that I am single and do not have a family as we all know how debilitating this condition can be. I refuse to miss any work so I manage but it is very exhausting at times. Your stories give me encouragement and all though I would not wish this on anyone, it's nice to know that I am not alone. Thank you...

~ Jerome Etchey

I could not believe the stories as I read them - I thought I had to be the only person that has suffered for months. I am 48 years old and am otherwise a healthy runner.

In April, 2003 I started feeling like I had bronchitis, and then it turned into a constant runny nose, and the constant foul smell. After taking antibiotics twice with my Internist, and then steroids for asthma (that I do not have) and nothing helping I was then sent to an ENT. He put me on a strong antibiotic for a month. This did not help either. I then had the CT Scan which indicated all the cavities were full of fluid. I had surgery in August. The Dr. told me it was the worst he had ever seen, and as far as I know I had only had one sinus infection prior.

After the surgery I took another dose ofaAntibiotics. I have been faithful with the irrigation - tried it with the antibiotic, and broke out in a rash. I have been on two different nasal sprays, had many "suctions" in the Dr's office, and now almost four months later I have been on Levaquin for 1 1/2 weeks - 1 1/2 weeks to go. I am still not well. If I am not better they will do another scan. No more surgery for me, so I don't know what they will do. I cannot smell - not even the 14 foot Christmas tree. I, too, am sick of being sick. I was always healthy.

~ Robin Cubbage

I just read a couple of your Sinus Experiences and the one by C. Darby sounded a lot like me! I've suffered with sinus infections virtually my whole life (that's 40 years) and can remember one of my earliest sinus scares being a visit to the hospital my 8th grade year for a massive sinus infection. It cost me my whole spring break!

Here I am, 26 years, 4 sinus surgeries and countless antibiotics later and there's still no relief. I just finished another round of antibiotics this morning for the worst case of strep I've ever had - it cultured in my throat, soft palate and nasal passage. I didn't know a person could be this sick. I've given serious consideration to having my tonsils removed, but hear that doing that at my age could be exceedingly painful. Considering the pain I was in a week ago, I could probably take it - along with another 5 boxes of popsicles.

I've tried everything - heat (rice in a sock, microwaved for 1 1/2 min.), cold, nasal steroids, saline washes, antibiotic washes and 2 months of IV antibiotics. Alas, the infection is still there. I am, however, getting some relief, with SinoFresh spray. This antiseptic spray is not cheap, but it helps me get the sinus (just the left - isn't that weird?) to drain. If it drains, it stays out of my throat and relieves the facial pressure.

Sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, whatever you call it, needs some serious research and development help if it's causing close to 40 million people a year to be ill. I know it's cost me work time, home & family time, and just good health for far too many years. My husband is a saint to have put up with me all these years. My health is rarely great, but I remind myself that it could be worse! Hopefully, not much worse!

Thank you for collecting and disseminating information through both your Website and your newsletter. I can't wait to get good news from you!

~ Lori Theaker

At first glance on the outside I am a nearly thirty year-old in the prime of life and health. On the inside I am 100 years old with inflamed head, heavy limbs and hard breathing. Every task is a monumental effort. While it is comforting to learn of others like me, and to know that I am not the mental case I sometimes feel I am, it pains to know of such widespread and intense suffering. I am amazed at the courage, hope and spirit I have read when no relief is in sight.
My experiences began over 10 years ago as a college sophomore at Cornell University. After a year of throbbing, bone-crunching headaches, constant infections, fatigue, joint pain, nonstop antibiotics, unexplained weight loss and precautionary treatment for Lyme’s disease after a positive titer, I surrendered to my first sinus surgery to remove a cyst and enlarge my sinus cavities upon returning from an internship in Australia. The experience was entirely miserable with the doctor drilling the wrong side of my head, hitting a nerve leaving my mouth numb for three months, and vomiting buckets of blood in recovery after being given orange juice. I believe I also woke in the middle of surgery and recall an animal-like intense pressure and tears streaming down my face. I was then over-anesthetized and sobbed for hours in recovery. Days later came removal of the old gauze packing. My brother who accompanied me was green. I don’t think I wanted to see myself.

I did have a period of respite, but still fought chronic fatigue and generally pushed myself to graduate with honors, while carrying a high load of credits and working several hours per week. My advisor and the teammates who worked in the research lab were extremely supportive and flexible on the days that I just dragged myself through life.

I actually felt healthy during a summer of intense physical work as a national park ranger in Grand Teton National Park. I returned to graduate school at Johns Hopkins University and began to get the first dragging hints that I would soon be fighting my old nemesis. Yoga seemed to be the most restorative. After a couple more years of recurrent infections and development of another cyst, I again had surgery by a different ENT in upstate New York. He removed scar tissue from the first surgery and enlarged the sinus passage again, after which I immediately felt better. The gel packing and recovery was also much improved.

Within two years I again began having daily and intense headaches, blurred vision, foggy thinking and general malaise, so returned to this same ENT. He basically said my sinuses are now anatomically correct, although I did have growth of some polyps, to take cold tablets, continue using saline washes and see an allergist.
I did it all.

My asthma/allergist specialist through CT scan discovered I had another cyst that was completely blocking my left nasal passage, which required my third surgery. At this point I had gone from hiking 50 miles a week a few years earlier to not being able to walk to my mailbox. My fingers were blue, my skin was pale, my head ached, my limbs hurt, I woke up each night drenched in sweat, I could never get a deep breath and I burst into tears easily. My peak flows when tested for asthma, which I was diagnosed with, were a fifth of normal volumes. I was also diagnosed with mono. My employers through this period of several months allowed me to work half time for full pay.

Although I didn’t have many environmental allergies, I implemented all the recommended allergy filters and chemical-free products in my home. My doctors began to suspect that that a chemical allergy to newspaper ink was contributing to my problems, so I quit my job as a journalist.

After surgery and freelancing from home for a period of time I felt better, but again began my downward spiral after taking a job outside my home for the salary, benefits and mental stimulation. For the past year I have had one-month where I have felt human. My head is constantly painful and swollen, my ears are plugged, my eyes are swollen, my teeth twinge with every step and my breathing is consistently low. Vacations or activities outside of work and sleep are impossible.

After again being skin tested for allergies, I was diagnosed with a number of food allergies, including corn, soy, tomatoes, strawberries and melon, but not the common offenders of milk, wheat and chocolate. I tried the National Institutes of Health allergy diet three times, and every time ended up extremely sick within a week. I am working with an allergy nutritionist who is focusing more on whole foods, no sugar, no yeast and more lentils, which has increased my energy. I am also taking vitamins and a course of probiotics to restore my natural gut flora. If I were able to stay off antibiotics and prednisone I believe this treatment would help, but it has not staved away the constant infections, which are becoming increasingly acute. I have also found some relief from a chiropractor who works with the body’s energy field in addition to spinal manipulation. I am working with my general practitioner to order the sinus nebulizer. I have found that a water pik is more effective than baby syringe bulbs for nasal washes. I use all of my 12-day supply of sick days, and also apply my 25 personal and vacation days as sick days. I am considering trips to Arizona in fall and spring to help break the cycle, but fear the painful pressure of flying.

I am a scientist and journalist by training, but this experience has opened my mind to realize we are only beginning to understand a tiny portion of the body’s workings. While surgery, steroids and the limited antibiotics I can take because of resistance and allergies keep my body vaguely functional, I have found that alternative practices take me closest to peaceful living. For the sake of my husband, family and friends, I hope research and new treatments will one day allow me to again become the energetic, positive, pain-free person they once knew and now only see rare glimpses of.

~ Julie Berry Diehl

I am female, age 48. Until I was 30, I hardly knew what sinuses were. I came down with a cold which left me with a sinus infection that year and after that, my sinus problems have never completely gone away.

Reading some of other experiences, I guess I am luckier than some.

I'll relate just the last two years of only one diagnosed sinus infection but constant thick mucous that will not drain by itself and doesn't blow out. What does drain is a constant down the back of my throat and what doesn't drain is a feeling of pressure in my nasal passages and sinuses that requires me to snort and sniff and then cough. I am a professional and this is a very bad thing to have to do at work all day long.

Some times its worse than others - in 2003 we took a long car trip from KS to CA and back and my poor husband had to listen to the sniffing and snorting all the way there and back. If I don't sniff and snort I just have a terrible feeling of pressure in my face and nose.

I can't live this way, something has to happen. I wake up every day wondering how my sinuses are today, will I snort and sniff just a little bit a work or will I sound like a pig rooting for mushrooms. How embarassing to be a professional woman with a constant snort, sniff, cough problem. Or sitting in a meeting trying to swallow whatever it is coming down the back of my throat and nearly choking on it because I avoided sniffing and snorting.

Sometimes my upper teeth hurt, even when I'm not having an infection, and sometimes my eyes swell.

And if I get a cold or the flu - well, it always lingers in my sinuses and requires steroids to get rid of it - and still the drainage and discharge continue after the infection is gone.

I finally got a NETI-pot and use it once a day. I was surprised that it really does seem to make a difference though it stings like heck.

I am able to work unless I get a sinus infection but I'm sure that my presence annoys those who have to listen to me sniff and snort all day a lot of days. I feel that my sinus problems are a constant presence in my life, something I have to think about all the time with guafesin pills, nasal sprays, bed side humidifier, and irrigation - not to mention thinking all the time about the impact on those around me.

~ Krista Jackson

I am 22 yr old female. My sinus problems started christmas of 2002 after 3 bouts of sinusitis all within a month, which eventually went away without antibiotics. Although the runny nose and congestion had stopped, I was left with a stabbing, itching sensation above my left eye which I put down to bruising because during my sinusitis I also bumped my eye and to press my eye area it felt extrememly tender to the touch. So basically thought nothing of it. I never did seek medical advise as I was petrified at what the doctor would tell me. I had never suffered headaches before and now all of a sudden they were there every day.

But after giving my partner earache for 9 months, I eventually made an appointment. I had done a bit of my own research on the net and found the condition "rhinosinusitis". It seemed I fell under the category of a chronic sufferer, so I felt more confident to see the doctor. When I saw him, the doctor confirmed my findings and prescribed doxycycline for 10 days and nasonex nasal spray. So far I havent suffered as frequent and as severe, so the antiboitics have seemed to work.

I also have a 4 year old son who seems to suffer with a condition called rhinitis which is very much like rhinosinusitis but without the headaches and achiness.

~ Rebecca Jones

I’m a 40 year old man who has suffered from chronic sinusitis my entire life. As a small child I was always going to the pediatrician, as soon as one infection cleared up another would start and it has been this way ever since. I had sinus surgery approximately ten years ago, at which time they also corrected a deviated septum, neither was any help. I have had allergy injections 3 times a week for my whole life, I’m allergic to no medication or food just cat & dog dander, grass, mold, pollen. Then of course irritants like smoke, cologne, air pollution & chemical smells make life even worse. I find myself taking more and more medication, irrigating my sinuses w/ sea salt, and used a nasal spray with an antibiotic in it. I’ve tried holistic medicine, acupuncture, reflexology, massages, Feldenchrist, vitamin therapy which is outlined in the book Sinus Survival. However I must admit nothing seems to help. Now someone advised I try a macrobiotic diet, I must admit the macrobiotic diet I haven’t tried yet.

I live in Michigan and fall, winter & spring are the worst. I have infections from late September to June, the book Sinus Survival indicates Michigan, New York & Ohio are among the worst states for sinus suffers in winter months. I’m constantly on antibiotics plus prednisone, prescribed nasal spray, and allergy medication. The Sinus infections often turn into bronchitis and this last time into viral pneumonia. It took two antibiotics, plus a prednisone dose pack, Entex, & Allerx dose pack all taken at the same time to end it. At my last doctors appointment they indicated I now have liver dysfunction from the high doses of medications I’m taking.

The infections have made my life miserable. I’m constantly sick with horrible drainage going down the back of my throat; I cough constantly, lose sleep, miss work, catch any virus going around; now I’ve been diagnosed with migraine and cluster headaches that are triggered from the sinus headaches. This has all made me horribly depressed. I am so frustrated; I wish someone out there had the cure. I don’t think the general population knows exactly how debilitating sinus infections can be or how much we suffer. I often times feel guilty when I miss a lot of work and go in feeling horrible only for the infection to get even worse. I find myself in bed most week-ends and feel as though I have no quality of life. Thank you for listening; my heart goes out to each and every one of you because I know first hand how you suffer.

~ Michael Tonda

I'm amazed at how well the nasal inhalation treatments have helped me. Last year I had MRSA of my sinuses and since my doctor had me start the inhalation treatments I've not had one infection! That is amazing especially since I have terrible allergies. Thank you for such a great product.<

~ Donna S.

The itraconazole was very effective.

From the end of January through the first part of May I had continuous nasal production of a clear mucus and sinus pressure. Within one week after using the nebulizer and the itraconazole my sinus production of mucus virtually disappeared. I no longer had sinus pressure. I am very pleased with the results.

~ Don W.

The product that you sent to me has totally cleared up a sinus infection that I've had since December. Your telephone call explaining the treatment to me put my mind at ease before I had even gotten the package. Thank you so much for being so helpful, informative and polite.

~ Mary E. P.