What is still going on with my sinuses?
May 8, 2012 4:29 AM Subscribe
Ongoing sinus issues, teeth hurting, painful to breathe.
Last week, I asked this question: What is going on with my sinuses?
I saw two doctors, because I wanted a second opinion.
The first doctor gave me singulair, erythromycin, and prednisone.
He would not recommend an allergist or any scans because he thought it would be a waste of time. I took the singulair for three days, and by the fourth day both of my hands, wrists, and knees were covered in a red rash. See knees here. I stopped taking the singulair and the rash went away in about three days.
The second doctor prescribed cipro and flonase.
Antibiotics have already not worked. I don't want to just have more antibiotics and steroids thrown at me. The last two days, my teeth have really been hurting, and I am up early because of the pain. More concerning is that when I lean over, my chest hurts, as well as when I breathe deeply.
So, I don't know how to proceed from here.
Last week, I asked this question: What is going on with my sinuses?
I saw two doctors, because I wanted a second opinion.
The first doctor gave me singulair, erythromycin, and prednisone.
He would not recommend an allergist or any scans because he thought it would be a waste of time. I took the singulair for three days, and by the fourth day both of my hands, wrists, and knees were covered in a red rash. See knees here. I stopped taking the singulair and the rash went away in about three days.
The second doctor prescribed cipro and flonase.
Antibiotics have already not worked. I don't want to just have more antibiotics and steroids thrown at me. The last two days, my teeth have really been hurting, and I am up early because of the pain. More concerning is that when I lean over, my chest hurts, as well as when I breathe deeply.
So, I don't know how to proceed from here.
Agreeing with everyone that the chest issues are troubling, and you should address them ASAP.
In the meantime, though, I found a saline rinse alleviates my sinus issues when nothing else works; I use this thing. Stressing that this addresses the symptoms, rather than the disease, so do please still see your doctor.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:33 AM on May 8, 2012
In the meantime, though, I found a saline rinse alleviates my sinus issues when nothing else works; I use this thing. Stressing that this addresses the symptoms, rather than the disease, so do please still see your doctor.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:33 AM on May 8, 2012
Response by poster: The second doctor does know about the other prescriptions. He told me not to take the erythromycin and the prednisone and to take the cipro and the flonase instead.
When I called, the lady on the phone just told me to stop the singulair, which I had done, and we scheduled another appointment for next week.
But with these recent events, my chest really hurting, I suppose I should just go to my GP.
posted by DeltaForce at 5:35 AM on May 8, 2012
When I called, the lady on the phone just told me to stop the singulair, which I had done, and we scheduled another appointment for next week.
But with these recent events, my chest really hurting, I suppose I should just go to my GP.
posted by DeltaForce at 5:35 AM on May 8, 2012
Response by poster: To add, I have used neti pots, I have covers for allergens on everything, a new mattress, and a true hepa filter. Ugh I feel really terrible right now.
posted by DeltaForce at 5:36 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by DeltaForce at 5:36 AM on May 8, 2012
Response by poster: Sorry for the updates, but I have a fever of 100 right now. This happened two Mondays ago, where I woke up with a fever and body aches all over (except the chest), and it disappeared the next day.
posted by DeltaForce at 5:42 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by DeltaForce at 5:42 AM on May 8, 2012
Response by poster: Oh and rash was related to singulair because that was the only one I was taking at the time. I did not start the others while I had the rash.
posted by DeltaForce at 5:57 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by DeltaForce at 5:57 AM on May 8, 2012
Chest pain + sinus pain = infection, for sure. The antibiotics you took didn't do the job. You need stronger antibiotics or a longer course. I say this as someone who has had lingering sinus/chest infections that have required more than one course of antibiotics.
In the meanwhile, take some advil cold and sinus or something else with pseudophedrine in it. The kind from behind the pharmacy counter. It really does help with the sinus pressure, headaches and congestion.
And when the infection is cleared up, push for a referral for the allergist until you get one.
posted by 8dot3 at 5:59 AM on May 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
In the meanwhile, take some advil cold and sinus or something else with pseudophedrine in it. The kind from behind the pharmacy counter. It really does help with the sinus pressure, headaches and congestion.
And when the infection is cleared up, push for a referral for the allergist until you get one.
posted by 8dot3 at 5:59 AM on May 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
The fever is reason enough to call back for an urgent follow up appointment. Don't wait until next week. I find it helpful to walk in in person in the morning, requesting an appt sometime during the day (you'll come back for the appt.) 3/3 times they've seen me at first avail appt and I don't have to come back.
Ask doc what the priorities are --and how soon you should expect relief.
Keep the appt for next week, because you'll want a follow up even if you feel better.
(assuming US and that you can afford the visits)
posted by vitabellosi at 6:06 AM on May 8, 2012
Ask doc what the priorities are --and how soon you should expect relief.
Keep the appt for next week, because you'll want a follow up even if you feel better.
(assuming US and that you can afford the visits)
posted by vitabellosi at 6:06 AM on May 8, 2012
Also - your sinuses sit (basically) on top of your teeth. I just got rid of an infection that had been going on for years in a sinus-gum-sinus-gum cycle. I've got shit sinuses, but that infection cycle was miserable because it included abscesses in my gum.
posted by crankyrogalsky at 8:29 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by crankyrogalsky at 8:29 AM on May 8, 2012
Response by poster: Made appointment today with my gp for today.
posted by DeltaForce at 8:38 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by DeltaForce at 8:38 AM on May 8, 2012
Was going to come in and tell you to get thee to a doctor ASAP. Glad you made the appointment. This could be more than a sinus problem, and you need to have it looked at. If your doc doesn't recommend an allergist or any tests or scans, insist that he give you a recommend and get on it. You went the meds route, now it's time to get serious with this.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:50 AM on May 8, 2012
posted by BlueHorse at 9:50 AM on May 8, 2012
Before I was first diagnosed with allergies, I went through a round of 6 sinus infections with ever more costly and bad ass antibiotics. It was miserable. What stopped the cycle was large amounts of guaifenesin, serious dry mouth producing but sinus drying amounts of guaifenesin (drink tons of water!). This is over the counter now as Mucinex. You can also find it in most sinus or cold pills. See what the maximum safe amount is and work your way up to it until you find the sweet spot where your sinuses are reasonably unswollen. I haven't had to use antibiotics for a sinus infection since. I never had any chest pain so call the doctor if that gets worse.
I think going to an allergist would be a good idea. Mine took payments since the testing and allergy serum is expensive. It took about 2 months of weekly shots to show improvement during which I was freaking out thinking I had wasted all that money and still felt like crap but thankfully I started showing improvement. You don't need a doctor's referral to see an allergist unless it's an insurance requirement. Just ask your friends/family for help.
Also, a weird thing I found out recently is if you use antibacterial soap, try stopping for a while. The theory is your body is designed to fight off a certain amount of germs, bacteria, etc. and if there's not much to fight, it will start attacking normally harmless stuff like dust mites, pet dander and mold. This has seemed to help me. I don't have any studies to back it up but I've had fewer symptoms since I've tried this. Best of luck to you! I know it's miserable to feel like this and I hope you find something that helps.
posted by stray thoughts at 11:55 AM on May 8, 2012
I think going to an allergist would be a good idea. Mine took payments since the testing and allergy serum is expensive. It took about 2 months of weekly shots to show improvement during which I was freaking out thinking I had wasted all that money and still felt like crap but thankfully I started showing improvement. You don't need a doctor's referral to see an allergist unless it's an insurance requirement. Just ask your friends/family for help.
Also, a weird thing I found out recently is if you use antibacterial soap, try stopping for a while. The theory is your body is designed to fight off a certain amount of germs, bacteria, etc. and if there's not much to fight, it will start attacking normally harmless stuff like dust mites, pet dander and mold. This has seemed to help me. I don't have any studies to back it up but I've had fewer symptoms since I've tried this. Best of luck to you! I know it's miserable to feel like this and I hope you find something that helps.
posted by stray thoughts at 11:55 AM on May 8, 2012
You have an infection, doubtlessly. You started a medication, and now have dropped it and started another, and only a week has passed; it is not unusual for infections to take longer than a week to clear if you're taking a solid course of the same antibiotic.
I think you need to settle on one doctor and see a full course of meds through; less jumping, less potential medicinal overlap, and more patience. Also, "I don't want a course of X thrown at me" is not a good attitude to have, given that you have an infection and extreme discomfort; work with your doctor, and with one doctor, and be open to things that might help you without jumping around.
Not a doctor, obviously.
posted by davejay at 2:26 PM on May 8, 2012
I think you need to settle on one doctor and see a full course of meds through; less jumping, less potential medicinal overlap, and more patience. Also, "I don't want a course of X thrown at me" is not a good attitude to have, given that you have an infection and extreme discomfort; work with your doctor, and with one doctor, and be open to things that might help you without jumping around.
Not a doctor, obviously.
posted by davejay at 2:26 PM on May 8, 2012
I think you could be a bit beyond problems that can be effectively handled by most GPs.
In particular, I'm worried you may be having a rare side-effect of Singulair:
I think you should see a rheumatologist.
posted by jamjam at 5:00 PM on May 8, 2012
In particular, I'm worried you may be having a rare side-effect of Singulair:
Its use is associated with a higher incidence of Churg–Strauss syndrome (whether or not this drug is 'unmasking' subclinical Churg–Strauss is as yet uncertain). Drowsiness is also a common side effect.Churg–Strauss syndrome
(also known as "Allergic granulomatosis"[1]) is a medium and small vessel autoimmune vasculitis, leading to necrosis. It involves mainly the blood vessels of the lungs (it begins as a severe type of asthma), gastrointestinal system, and peripheral nerves, but also affects the heart, skin and kidneys.Your rash sounds like the rash I've read that other sufferers develop, and the lung vasculitis is consistent with your lung pain.
This disease has three distinct stages.[citation needed]For what it's worth, I thought you might have chronic strep when I read your question of last week. That could explain the recurring sinus infections as well as the thing that was on your cheek and the gum problem, and strep infection is anecdotally associated with exacerbation of Churg-Strauss. Aching teeth are also a complaint of people with Churg-Strauss.
* The first stage often involves the sinuses and the onset of allergies not previously had or the worsening of pre-existing allergies.
* The second stage involves the onset of acute asthma. Normally, the person would not have had asthma previously.
* The third and final stage involves the various organ systems. Stage three is by far the most life threatening and painful. Often the person will develop severe nerve pain in their legs, arms and hands. Purple marks will appear on the skin and often sores will appear in the mouth or nose. The disease can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and digestive system.
People can live for many years in the first two stages before progressing to stage three.
I think you should see a rheumatologist.
posted by jamjam at 5:00 PM on May 8, 2012
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So to sum up, please choose a doctor or even more than one doctor, but to every doctor that you see, report everything that you're taking and everything that happens and everything that happens after you see them. If they don't want to listen, see another doctor. At this point, it sounds like you have a few options of doctors?
posted by Tandem Affinity at 5:29 AM on May 8, 2012