Jump to content

Menu

See the doctor or wait it out?


Recommended Posts

I have posted before about my ongoing sinus isses. I have sinus headaches often. Sometimes these will last for days at at time. I normally take benadryl, sudafed and motrin while the headaches last. I never had drainage that I am aware of and almost never need to blow my nose. A couple times of year this will change and I will(TMI sorry) expell thick bloody mucus for a few days.

 

A couple weeks ago I was light headed during the day. When I woke up the next morning and turned my head the room spun. When I was able to stand I fell over backwards. This lasted throughout the weekend and I saw my doctor that Monday. I explained that my sinuses didn't hurt like a sinus head ache but I could feel that my sinuses were full. My cheek bones, nose and eyes ache. He didn't think I needed antibiotics and prescribed allegra and nasonex. I have an appointment with an ENT Nov 16th because the doctor suspects Meniere's Disease. I have tried a nasal rinse but it doesn't drain out. (before, not yet with the dizziness) I called the 1-800 number and told my doctor, who suggested I mention this to the ENT.

 

I have been using the allegra and nasonex daily and sudafed once or twice a day. I have been dizzy since this has started but it comes and goes. Yesterday and today the sudafed isn't helping much and the dizziness is almost as bad as that first day. I keep having to lay down because I am so light headed. If I look down at my feet I feel like I am going to tip over. My face feels heavy?

 

I am thinking of trying the walk in clinic tomorrow but I don't want to waste a trip if they can't do anything for me. Should I just wait for the ENT appointment? Anyone ever experience symptoms like these?

Edited by Quiver0f10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have had similar symptoms and it has always been a sinus infection that required a course of antibiotics to get rid of it. If I were you, I'd go to a walk-in clinic tomorrow. The 16th is too long to wait and put up with those symptoms :grouphug:.

 

My MIL has Meniere's Disease and while she obviously gets horribly dizzy, she does not have the other sinus symptoms you're describing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The spinning sounds like you could have vertigo. It is a bit of a shock! If it is vertigo there isn't much they can do for you. The Dr might give you something like dramamine. It is a thickening of the fluid in your inner ear and it is caused by a virus. It does go away. Some people vomit due to the dizziness.

 

FWIW, I have terrible sinus issued. I know the headache that lasts for day, and the combo of motrin, sudifed and claritin. Years ago I had vertigo and it went away after a few days. I had a baby and my dh had to take some time off of work because I couldn't be trusted to safely hold the baby.

 

Now, every now and then, when my sinuses have really been acting up, I might have the random dizzy spell. And, on occasion it happens when I have a cold. I never had it before I had a bout of vertigo.

 

Boy, I remember the first time it hit me. I was sitting on the couch and suddenly felt like I was falling down a hole. I couldn't walk across the floor without falling down. My husband almost picked me up bodily to take me to the hospital. I told him not to bother. Either I was about to drop dead at that very moment or it was nothing and would go away on its own. Either way, there was no reason to take on a hospital bill.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have/had a very similar background...

 

Couldn't blow my nose. Sinus rinses never came out the other side. Always stuffed up but rarely any pain. When I did have a sinus infection, I had to have at least one antibiotic, sometimes two or three, to clear it up.

 

Turns out I had a deviated septum. Things improved a lot after having that surgically corrected. For the first time in my life, I can blow my nose without blowing out my ears. Stuff actually comes out, too. I can do a sinus rinse and the water actually comes out the other side. I still have fall/winter allergies, but medicines help that. When I feel an infection coming on, I can usually get rid of by stopping my allergy meds for a couple of days and using Mucinex-D around the clock for a few days.

 

I also had a period of vertigo during my third pregnancy. We never did figure out the cause. I also get vertigo around certain molds. Two houses ago could grow tons of mold on the windows and it didn't bother me; I cleaned the windows probably once during the winter and once in the spring. In the last house, I got vertigo every three weeks; it was cured by cleaning the mold from the windows/sills/drywall.

Edited by joannqn
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My husband has had great success with sinus rinses. You may benefit from it also. Dh actually got a raging sinus infection to go away completely by using a sinus rinse 3 times a day. It took 3 days to see improvement and I think 10 days for it to go away completely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you think it's an infection and you need abx...see a doctor. When you see the ENT...he/she will order a CAT scan of your sinuses and then you can really see what's going on in there. If they are being blocked by something physical (polyps, septum issues, other growths), the treatment is most likely surgical. If there is nothing physical there...it's most likely allergy caused and you will need to stick to a strict regimen of steroid nasal spray daily plus antihistamines for any relief. If you're already doing that...they will suggest allergy testing and weekly shots (those work really well, but they take time).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My husband has had great success with sinus rinses. You may benefit from it also. Dh actually got a raging sinus infection to go away completely by using a sinus rinse 3 times a day. It took 3 days to see improvement and I think 10 days for it to go away completely.

 

I tried using a rinse but the water does not come out. My doctor said to not use it again and talk to the ENT about it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you think it's an infection and you need abx...see a doctor. When you see the ENT...he/she will order a CAT scan of your sinuses and then you can really see what's going on in there. If they are being blocked by something physical (polyps, septum issues, other growths), the treatment is most likely surgical. If there is nothing physical there...it's most likely allergy caused and you will need to stick to a strict regimen of steroid nasal spray daily plus antihistamines for any relief. If you're already doing that...they will suggest allergy testing and weekly shots (those work really well, but they take time).

 

Thank you. It helps to know what to expect!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you try the Epley maneuver? It may give you temporary relief, like it did for me. It is scary to do it, as it seems as if you are inviting the dizziness in, but it did help me.

 

I am so sorry you are going through all of this - I felt miserable on top of the vertigo and just wanted to quit. everything.

 

:grouphug:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did you try the Epley maneuver? It may give you temporary relief, like it did for me. It is scary to do it, as it seems as if you are inviting the dizziness in, but it did help me.

 

I am so sorry you are going through all of this - I felt miserable on top of the vertigo and just wanted to quit. everything.

 

:grouphug:

 

My doctor tried it but it didn't help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...