Sinusitis is an infection of the lining of the sinus cavities in your head and is one of the main causes of pain and pressure in your face and head.  It can be long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute) and can last 12 weeks or longer.  Its usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.  Allergies, if applicable, may also be one of the causes of sinusitis, especially if you have extreme allergies and not properly medicating.

Chronic Sinusitis can be hard to treat and can lead to permanent damages in the mucous membranes that line the sinuses.  It could make you more susceptible to future sinus infections. Infections may take some time to treat, mainly with antibiotics if it is caused by bacteria.  Most doctors recommend use of a corticosteroid nasal spray that you would need a prescription for.  Doctors often discuss surgery or allergy testing if your infection is not cured after trying one or two different dosages of antibiotics.  Yes, when sinusitis affects me, I usually need two doses of different antibiotics to knock it out.  Immediately I pull out the cranberry juice, water, soup, jello, saline nasal spray, vaporizer/humidifier, kleenex and pain killers.  Along with these I plan no activity except plenty of REST.

If your sinusitis is caused by a fungal infection, you may need to take antifungals or other medicines that your doctor will suggest and/or prescribe.  Of course, there’s always the hint of surgery, but don’t get anxious about that too soon.  There are alternatives your doctor will discuss.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment  after visiting your doctor and learning your diagnosis.  Be sure to make and go to all your appointments and call your doctor if you are having problems.  Always have your test results and keep a list of the medicines you are taking handy.

Caring for yourself at Home

• Take medicines as prescribed.  Never stop taking antibiotics because you feel better, take all of them.  Antibiotics continue working even after your last dose.
• Use steamy shower, hot bath, or sink filled with hot water to breathe warm, moist air.  Avoid cold, dry air.  A humidifier at home may help.
• If recommended by your doctor, use saline(saltwater) nasal washes every day to keep your nasal passages open.  The solution can wash out mucus and bacteria.  Some recommend a neti pot.  I have a weak membrane lining in my right nostril so having to blow my nose after using the neti pot would not work for me.
• Put a warm, wet towel or a warm gel pack on your face 3 or 4 times a day, leaving it on 5 to 10 minutes each time.
• DO NOT smoke or breathe secondhand smoke.  Smoking can cause sinusitis to worsen.
• If you experience headaches along with your sinusitis contact your doctor immediately.  I experienced such severe pain in my face and head.  It was pain not fit for humans.  After calling my doctor I found while taking my sinus medicines to dry up my sinuses, the dryness was actually causing the severe headaches.  It was like drying up my brain.  Funny, I thought the headaches was coming from my hairdressers’ special type of hair dye she put in my head.  That’s one for the funny papers!  Once I stopped taking the sinus medicine, the headaches went away.  It took some time and pain medication, but it subsided.
• Resting in a quiet, dark place worked for me.  No TV or reading, it just made my head hurt worse.  I called it ‘straining the brain’!
• Using a cold, moist face cloth 10 minutes at a time helped and then I alternated with a warm cloth(my solution, not my Docs); and I used a heating pad behind my neck and shoulders to relieve the tension pain.

Most of all, do not self-medicate if your condition has continued longer than 3 days!  Sinusitis is nothing to play with.  It could lead to so much more if left unattended.  Mainly, rest, hydrate, and even change climates temporarily to get the relief you need.  I hitched a ride with a relative down to my Aunt’s place in Myrtle Beach to change my environment.

Most important, call 911 anytime you experience the following:

• sudden numbness, paralysis, or weakness in your face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body
• sudden trouble speaking
• sudden vision changes
• confusion or trouble understanding simple statements
• sudden problems with walking or your balance
• a sudden, severe headache that is different from any of your other headaches

So understand your health is not a simple thing to take for granted.  Always be aware of your body and any changes.  Never be afraid to contact your doctor when something feels OFF.    Always get your annual check-ups.  Spend time with your family, plan a vacation(vacations can be local and not expensive), and get plenty of rest.  Doing these things will alleviate a lot of stress which can cause so many health problems.

Visit our Health Page for more health issues that may affect you.

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