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The illness that felled both my mother and then my sister finally took root in my sinuses. I had tried to fight it with daily Claritin (it's my "windex" and I stand by my panacea) and twice daily nasal and throat saline rinses. The pressure began to build up in my head so I added ibuprofen and zyrtec at night. I also bought Zicam nose gel and Robitussin DM. I felt like crap, my nose was runny and a lot of post nasal drip was taking up residence in my throat. I remembered that I had some Amoxicillin in my medicine box from a previous sinus infection. I dug it out and saw that it was for last year...but took them anyway (a quick Google search shows that I should not take old antibiotics - whoops).
So, I actually felt better today. Much less congested albeit a little fuzzy in the head and tired. I really don't know if it was the Claritin day/ Zyrtec night combo, the nasal and throat rinses, the nose gel and Robitussin, or the expired antibiotics. It could also be a calmer social schedule and more sleep at night.
I have the Flonase and V-Pack that my doctor prescribed today. While I'd like to know what did the trick, I guess I'll have to wait for the next bout of sinusitis to figure it out.
In college pictures taken during Thanksgiving and in the spring, I am accompanied by my tissue box. While it may have started earlier than that, I remember keeping my poor first year roommate awake with my coughing and having a non-stop runny nose. I was in pure misery and as I started working and seeing doctors more regularly (I have health insurance!), I was put on Claritin, Nasonex and antibiotics at least 3 times a year. Last year, I decided to just stay on Claritin.Then I started hearing about nasal rinses but it was always too complicated. I was having a particularly terrible time (couldn't taste a thing from this terrific restaurant M took me to for a date) and M took me to the CVS and we saw these 2 kits. The NeilMed had premeasured packets, a squeezy bottle and you could use warm regular tap water. I started to use it twice a day and it was a miracle. It's not the most comfortable thing - like diving into the ocean without holding your nose closed but when you finally can breathe and smell and taste - you just look forward to it. I don't do it everyday anymore but the second I sense sniffles, I do a little rinse and I'm fine. I started a cough this weekend and gargled with it it - much better. Teachers across the country use it - children are chock full of germs. I haven't been sick since January and am so happy to be off medication.www.drugstore.com
I may not be a doctor but I have suffered quite a bit and figured out what works for me (and some of my friends). S emailed me an article in the NYTimes about nasal rinses. Vindication.
The illness that felled both my mother and then my sister finally took root in my sinuses. I had tried to fight it with daily Claritin (it's my "windex" and I stand by my panacea) and twice daily nasal and throat saline rinses. The pressure began to build up in my head so I added ibuprofen and zyrtec at night. I also bought Zicam nose gel and Robitussin DM. I felt like crap, my nose was runny and a lot of post nasal drip was taking up residence in my throat. I remembered that I had some Amoxicillin in my medicine box from a previous sinus infection. I dug it out and saw that it was for last year...but took them anyway (a quick Google search shows that I should not take old antibiotics - whoops).
In college pictures taken during Thanksgiving and in the spring, I am accompanied by my tissue box. While it may have started earlier than that, I remember keeping my poor first year roommate awake with my coughing and having a non-stop runny nose. I was in pure misery and as I started working and seeing doctors more regularly (I have health insurance!), I was put on Claritin, Nasonex and antibiotics at least 3 times a year. Last year, I decided to just stay on Claritin.
