
Suggest Treatment For Chronic Sinusitis

Question: I have sinus infections several times per year. My family doctor figured out years ago that the 7 day run of antibiotics didn't get rid of it, so now he puts me on 10 day augmentin, sometimes with prednisone. About a year ago, my right ear felt full and I went to see him. I didn't have an ear infection and my sinuses seemed clear. He looked through my history (I am 45 and I have been seeing him for 20 years) and he noticed with my ear infections, the right ear was often plugged. He said there may be something unusual about my right eustacian (sp?) tube. He sent me to an ENT. The ENT had a hearing test done on me which was normal. He prescribed prednisone (not sure why) said everything looked fine and he was satisfied that I was ok, unless I wanted to do allergy testing to see if that would help figure out anything. That is expensive and I haven't been able to budget it in yet. My ear got worse and worse and I started to feel a little drainage one weekend so I went to an after hours care place where he said my ear looked fine and had no fluid but he prescribed 10 days of augmentin for my possible sinus infection. On day 5 the ear opened up and I started to feel much better. Unfortunately, 5 days after the prescription ended the ear felt full again and is worse than ever. I am on rhinocort that my doctor prescribed and Flonase that he recommended. My family doctor has me on Allegra and he added singulair a couple of months ago. I've tried netti pot and heatig pad for about 2 weeks, to no avail. I am healthy and have no other problems. I only go to the doctor about 4x per year and it's always for a sinus infection. I do take aciphex for a "choking" feeling. My family doctor has had me on that for over 15 years. My mom has underactive thyroid but mine was tested about a year ago and was fine. My daddy passed away from renal cell carcinoma last summer. I saw a Baylor article about flushing sinuses with baby shampoo or probiotics, but I haven't tried that. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
No, this won't be effective.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for your detailed history and description.
In my opinion, you are mostly having chronic sinusitis which is recurrent and improving with antibiotics.
I don't think this flushing of sinuses with probiotic or baby shampoo will help.
In my opinion, you should get done endoscopic sinus examination to rule out chronic infection like fungal infection or other bacterial infection.
Biopsy from the sinus tissue is also needed.
So better to get done endoscopic sinus examination.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
No, this won't be effective.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for your detailed history and description.
In my opinion, you are mostly having chronic sinusitis which is recurrent and improving with antibiotics.
I don't think this flushing of sinuses with probiotic or baby shampoo will help.
In my opinion, you should get done endoscopic sinus examination to rule out chronic infection like fungal infection or other bacterial infection.
Biopsy from the sinus tissue is also needed.
So better to get done endoscopic sinus examination.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

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