ok....so i've posted this message a while back and havent gotten a reply...i see that quite a few people have viewed it.....so.....

ok...whatever.

People often view messages, read them and don't comment if they cannot help.

Does she have allergies? Often when you have sinus problems it can radiate down into your teeth.

You may want to have her go back to the doctor and start getting tested for allergies, etc.

Good luck!

Chronic sinus problems can be caused by many thing. Allergies, viral infection not resolving and becoming a secondary bacterial infection. Tooth ache can be a symptom of a sinus infection. YOu can also have aGERD a stomach condition - inflammation of the stomach caused by a bacteria called H Pylorie -
This can be treated with diet and a herbal supplement. If you would like to discuss please email - this is not difficult to stop the catch 22 your sister is in.

How would she know if she has this stomach problem...are there any other symptoms that we could see if she has?

It might actually be caused by an abscessed tooth, mouth infection, or a cavity, as crazy as it sounds. Tooth aches can cause everything from fevers to knee pain. I think she should go to the dentist first to rule that out.

Try going to the pharmacy and purchase pressurized sea water in a small plastic container. No harm to try this first. Works amazingly for the stuffiness

Get a referral to an ENT, if the antibiotics aren't working. You could have cysts or scar tissue in your sinus' that could need excision.

hi i have just had surgery for sinus, mine started after a very bad bout of flu, i ended up having teeth problems from it or teeth may have contributed to it, not sure. It took 4 1/2 years to resolve. left side of cheek always looked a bit puffy, had surgery 8 weeks ago and not noticing a major improvement as yet,maybe to early still. I had CT scans, allergy tests which revealed allergies to cats, dogs and dust? I have had animals all my life! anyway get your DR to refer your sister to ENT, i lived with it for 4 1/2 years and it can be very painful and physically draining. in interim try a salt water solution and flush nose with that and steam also helped me. hope that helps

I have also had a similar problem. I thought I had an ingrown hair I plucked inside my nose and noticed some swelling inside the nose. I let it ride for a few weeks it becamse very tender to the point I felt it on the outside of the nose. It felt like an absess on the top left of my nose. I have been on bactrim and ibuprofen for a week now and the swelling has greatly decreased and the abcess like lump is smaller however still there but harder. When I blow my nose now it bleeds and pours out also pain in my two front teeth when I squeeze nose to blow it ! Very bizzare. I am a nurse but away from home right now traveling and dont have that same trust as I do with family dr. Any suggestions ?

Hi there--I'm not the longest sinus headache sufferer, but I may be one of the more aggressive. It took 2 years of consistent effort, but I finally got the recommendation for surgery--which helped significantly. This came after a long attempt to control sinusitis with antibiotics (which helped at first, gradually didn't do anything--would be worth a good try initially) and such things as allergy testing (have none--not fun, but good to rule out as surgery will not get rid of allergies) as well as tried other non-traditional approaches such as accupuncture (some, not much, relief, although I didn't try this for too long after getting go-ahead for surgery--this has gotten positive reviews, however, and most recommend this as a longer term treatment: it certainly wouldn't hurt... especially if surgery isn't on the table. I also don't have a problem w/ needles, though I may be in the minority. Since I also have major issues w/ insomnia, I may try accupuncture again as well).

Other coping mechanisms I've found helpful are as follows--most always helpful, esp. if in need of immediate relief (far quicker than antibiotics, great in conjunction w/ other treatment w/ doctor): Vicks Vapor rub--either applied to sore area and under nostrils/chest/throat. No, this is not my perfume of choice, but that's not really what you think about when pain gets in the way of such thoughts. Breathing in steam--esp. when Vicks is mixed in--works immediately (although you probably won't get to run around with a steaming bowel of Vicks under your nose all day). Get a good expectorant as well--have generic at Rite Aid/CVS, don't pay 2x more for 'Mucinex'--just ask pharmacist. OTC pain relief aids didn't help me, but I hear Ibuprophen helps the most.

Probably the most reliable--and immediate--relief is from giving in to learning how to do 'nasal irrigation'--this is the best longer term coping mechanism I've found after surgery. Get something called a 'neti pot' (also known as a 'jalnetic pot'--CVS/Rite Aid have them although probably just call them 'sinus irrigators' or something--any pharmacist there will know what you're talking about). I got my first one while doing phd research in India--they're great. Can find online instructions--you'll get over being slightly grossed out after pain is reduced. Warm water mixed w/ saline solution (can also be bought in little packets at CVS/Rite Aid along w/ sinus irrigator... which looks like a little tea pot) works great--esp. if used daily morning and evening, along with a hot shower. Along w/ Vicks vapor rub I would also recommend 'Tiger Balm' which I used in India--I'm sure you can find it online.

Other than this, I spent, shall we say, shitloads of time at the gym/running/playing soccer--was only time I felt good during the worst days b/f getting surgery. Highly recommended regardless of what's wrong in the long run.

Additionally, I also still use a nasal steroid called 'Rhinocort'--no generic yet, though this is the highest recommended one out by experts. I attempted to go off it twice--whoah, did I learn quick how great it is.

Hope this helps. Get a heating pad, too, for immediate relief... again, not that this is a particularly pragmatic fashion choice if you actually need to exit your home... but esp. good b/f bed if this is the worst part of the day for headaches (was for me).

Also, make sure you're getting good sleep: nothing craps on an already crappy sinus headache more that insufficient rest. Essential to managing stress and headaches.

The phd only helped regarding research strategies... not with solution-driving aggression. I have major competitive sports obsessivenes to thank for this.

Good luck--back to grading... (no sinus relief there

I've also recently found that '5 hour energy' tiny bottle helpful--the B vitamin complex seems to be overwhelmingly recommended for headache treatment. I wouldn't drink the whole thing first time round if you're sensitive to caffeine, however--will give you the shakes. Try half, work up from there.

Jen

I've tried all of the above and get no relief from any of it, I have horrible sinus problems but they don't proffer the tiniest bit of relief when they should. The only thing left I seemingly have left to try is surgery. Did you have a hard time persuading the doctors you had sinus issues?

I have been dealing with allergies and sinuses for 30 years. It can make your whole body just ach and hurt. My thoart, teeth, ears, head, face, neck, jaw and shoulders would just ach; run fevers, chills, throw up. Sinus issues are caused by allergies. Not bacteria. They just did a new study on this at the beginning of this year. So in order to take care of the sinus problem you have to take care of the allergy one first. The best thing that I have found that works is zrytec. Sinus meds can cause a sinus infection. So they are pointless to take. I use zrytec, drink anything hot, it helps open your sinuses up, advil. Also use a room vaperizer with vicks in it when you sleep. After doing all this, in about 20 minutes I start feeling the relief. Hope this helps you.

I've been toying with that idea, I still believe its probably bacteria but am definitely open to any suggestions. I can't figure out what I'm allergic to though, I've tried ridiculously strict elimination diets, I've eaten nothing for a few days and still felt horrible, so if it is an allergen its airborne. So...I looked at a possible airborne cause but feel no better when I'm outside (summer or winter) even after long periods of time so I can't seem to get relief there. Anti-histamines should work if its an allergic reaction right? But they don't work for me. I do agree though, it is something causing irritation of the sinuses, what though doctors and me seem not to actually know

Do you have a link or anything to that study? If I could find something that just gave me like a day or just an hour of relief it'd give me the hope I needed to continue.

Sorry, you're probably talking to the other guys but I am suffering so am desperate for advice!