• Welcome to Phoenix Rising!

    Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of and finding treatments for complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.

    To become a member, simply click the Register button at the top right.

yeast candida causing sinusitis, anyone??

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Im still have chronic sinus issues with pain around the frontal sinus area/forehead. Antibiotics have helped a little and steriod nose spray also but still feel like crap and another sick day from work. The sinusitis is still putting my blood pressure up although not as high as it was before abx etc, what i find interesting is when i use something that helps open up my sinuses short term this lowers my BP, so definately have some congestion up there. I am doing rinses with saline and yesterday started using guafenesin to help loosen secretions.

My researching on the internet i have come across a few sites saying chronic sinusitis can be from yeast/ candida infections, especially if antibiotics have been used in the past but now not helping much for the condition. Like gut issues with candida, in the sinuses when bacteria are killed off, yeast can over run the sinuses. During abx use i take precautions with nystatin and probiotics to counteract possible yeast problems but who knows. I have 3 days until i see my doc and hopefully he can over something.

Now has anyone with chronic sinusitis been helped with anti-fungal/yeast meds like diflucan or nizoral, or know of any good antifungal nose sprays??

cheers!!!
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
I think Ive mentioned this before to you but just in case I havent I'll mention it again.

Some varietiies of Staph can affect ME/CFS patients which produce toxins and that gives sinus issues.. many who have ME/CFS have this as the cause of their sinusitis symptoms. (One in 4 people have staph in their noses.. but it is ME/CFS people who often carry the toxin producing kind). If you havent done so already get a nasel swab done as this could be what is causing your issue.

Of cause with this issue being a bacterial one, the treatment is antibiotics thou this staph is often resistant to many of them.. so it fits in with what you said about not being as bad after antibiotics. (Antibiotics wont help Candida issues and are likely to worsen that kind of issue).

(this nasal staph/sinustitis stuff was all Newcastle ME/CFS research years ago)
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
I think Ive mentioned this before to you but just in case I havent I'll mention it again.

Some varietiies of Staph can affect ME/CFS patients which produce toxins and that gives sinus issues.. many who have ME/CFS have this as the cause of their sinusitis symptoms. (One in 4 people have staph in their noses.. but it is ME/CFS people who often carry the toxin producing kind). If you havent done so already get a nasel swab done as this could be what is causing your issue.

Of cause with this issue being a bacterial one, the treatment is antibiotics thou this staph is often resistant to many of them.. so it fits in with what you said about not being as bad after antibiotics. (Antibiotics wont help Candida issues and are likely to worsen that kind of issue).

(this nasal staph/sinustitis stuff was all Newcastle ME/CFS research years ago)

Thanks Tania, i think john whiting did some research into it. I see my doc on monday so will ask about a nasal swab. its Giving me something to think about. I think antibiotic resistant infections can be treated with doxy or minocycline with some effect as they arent resistant to them, just that they arent 100% effective supposedly?? Im at that up in the air stage, u know, what do i do????

I did just make a sinus rinse with nystatin capsule(antifungal) and gave it a GO, so i will keep doing this the next few days and see if something positive comes from that??? Is there anything else i can shove up my nose??? Maybe a multivitamin lol.

cheers!!!
 

taniaaust1

Senior Member
Messages
13,054
Location
Sth Australia
Yes Dr Whiting was also into that kind of research. Coincidently so is your own doctor, Dr Deed http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mecfs/general/whiting.html

When I got my results back from nasal swab, I also got back a list of different antibiotics that could be used on the staph I had and which the staph I had was resistant too. Out of the 8 different antibiotic types listed there was only three which were listed as being satifactory to use on it.. in my own case Vancomycin IV, Eryth., Clindamycin (if you have it, yours may be different). I ended up using Eryth (which also treated my strep at same time) and also taking olive leaf extract at the same time as I'd been warned it was hard to get rid of and could take several courses.

I dont know if all places that test also check to see what should be used on it and tell you.
 

Athene

ihateticks.me
Messages
1,143
Location
Italy
Another thing that can cause chronic sinusitis is Chlamydia pneumonia, that is one of its main symptoms actually. It only responds to specific antibiotics and takes a really long time to eliminate, so the fact you got no results from antibiotics doesn't prove it's not that. So I'd try yo get that tested on your swab, too.
Staph and CP both need treating with specific antibiotics and resist many types, so you do need to know what you are dealing with.

While you don't know what is living up there, the best thing I have found is saline nasal rinses. You squirt a lot of it up there, bend over and hold for a while, then blow your nose. I got best results from doing this three times in a row, 2 or three times a day.
It doesn't kill anything but it flushes out vast accumulations of whatever germs or mould are up there, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Another thing that can cause chronic sinusitis is Chlamydia pneumonia, that is one of its main symptoms actually. It only responds to specific antibiotics and takes a really long time to eliminate, so the fact you got no results from antibiotics doesn't prove it's not that. So I'd try yo get that tested on your swab, too.
Staph and CP both need treating with specific antibiotics and resist many types, so you do need to know what you are dealing with.

While you don't know what is living up there, the best thing I have found is saline nasal rinses. You squirt a lot of it up there, bend over and hold for a while, then blow your nose. I got best results from doing this three times in a row, 2 or three times a day.
It doesn't kill anything but it flushes out vast accumulations of whatever germs or mould are up there, which helps reduce inflammation and pain.

Thanks athene, did have a CPN swab last year which was neg, maybe need another and also test for a few others like staph. I am doing the saline rinses too, doing everything i think?? appreciate suggestions, could be something i havent tried so keep them coming. just frustrated with it all at moment.

cheers!!!
 

justy

Donate Advocate Demonstrate
Messages
5,524
Location
U.K
Hi Heaps, i have had both chronic sinusitis caused by candida AND Staph infection up the nose. The best treatment i found for the candida/yeast infection was the full anti candida diet and programme - just taking more drugs up my nose didnt help. Fluconazole is good for damping it downj but if the yeats infection is chronic you cant take it long term. Nystatin can have a rebound yeast problem when you stop. The antibiotics and steroid spray may well have caised a yeast problem - steroids are particularly bad for this. You would need to do the diet plus supplements to kill the yeast (caprylic acid is good, with Garlic as well) plus repopulation with probiotics. It took me at least 3 months to feel better and i did the diet and supps for a year. If you go this route you need to avoid ALL antibiotics for as long as possible (this was hard for me as i have a fibrotic lung and get constant infection in there - but i managed to keep my lung controlled with herbs) I also had to reduce my steroid use for my lung as much as i possibly could - you would definately need to stop spraying it up your nose.
Sorry just realised in my haste i am coming across as very bossy - dont mean to be, just trying to cram it all in before i have to get off the computer.

My staph infection i treated after the sinusitis had cleared up mainly. The symptoms i still had which are common in infection rahter than yeast was nose bleeds and lots of crusty stuff up there. I also had frequent nasal ulcers and styes in my eyes (staph being transferred from the nose) I used Fucidin ointment up my nose and on my eyelids for a week at a time approx 3 times - whenever the problem flared up, it seems to be more or less under control now - although it may just be that it is damped down enough to not cause symptoms - i understand Staph can be very difficult to get rid of.

All the best with this Heaps! Justy.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Hi Heaps, i have had both chronic sinusitis caused by candida AND Staph infection up the nose. The best treatment i found for the candida/yeast infection was the full anti candida diet and programme - just taking more drugs up my nose didnt help. Fluconazole is good for damping it downj but if the yeats infection is chronic you cant take it long term. Nystatin can have a rebound yeast problem when you stop. The antibiotics and steroid spray may well have caised a yeast problem - steroids are particularly bad for this. You would need to do the diet plus supplements to kill the yeast (caprylic acid is good, with Garlic as well) plus repopulation with probiotics. It took me at least 3 months to feel better and i did the diet and supps for a year. If you go this route you need to avoid ALL antibiotics for as long as possible (this was hard for me as i have a fibrotic lung and get constant infection in there - but i managed to keep my lung controlled with herbs) I also had to reduce my steroid use for my lung as much as i possibly could - you would definately need to stop spraying it up your nose.
Sorry just realised in my haste i am coming across as very bossy - dont mean to be, just trying to cram it all in before i have to get off the computer.

My staph infection i treated after the sinusitis had cleared up mainly. The symptoms i still had which are common in infection rahter than yeast was nose bleeds and lots of crusty stuff up there. I also had frequent nasal ulcers and styes in my eyes (staph being transferred from the nose) I used Fucidin ointment up my nose and on my eyelids for a week at a time approx 3 times - whenever the problem flared up, it seems to be more or less under control now - although it may just be that it is damped down enough to not cause symptoms - i understand Staph can be very difficult to get rid of.

All the best with this Heaps! Justy.

Thanks Justy, yes maybe i have bacterial and fungal infections going on as i only took the abx and nose spray when the sinus symptoms were recognised. I did do a course of abx a couple of months ago for sinusitis that seemed to clear with the abx's. I dont eat carbs so that should help with yeast. I will lay off the nose spray until i find out what is going on. I have had GI yeast/candida before and responded to nizoral and nystatin, was awhile ago and why i use nystatin with abx now, i do remember using a product as well with caprylic acid, will have to look into that again. Even if it turns out bacterial, i still need to be careful of yeast/candida.

There was a nasal spray that teitlebaum use to recommend that has bactrim, antifungal and herbal stuff he used for sinusitis, he mentions fungal infections being more common in chronic sinusitis then bacterial, but this spray was used for both infections??

Could Chronic read eyes be from staph infection, i know in the past my red eyes have responded to doxycycline, i wonder??

Im going to ask my doc for a swab of common bacterial infections, can they test for fungal infections with a swab or could the nystatin nasal wash effect results of a swab??

Im sure if our immune systems functioned normally these other dam infections wouldnt happen.

cheers!!!
 

xrunner

Senior Member
Messages
843
Location
Surrey
Of cause with this issue being a bacterial one, the treatment is antibiotics thou this staph is often resistant to many of them.. so it fits in with what you said about not being as bad after antibiotics. (Antibiotics wont help Candida issues and are likely to worsen that kind of issue).

(this nasal staph/sinustitis stuff was all Newcastle ME/CFS research years ago)

They become resistant because colonies coat themselves in biofilm when threatened by abx. It's one of the defense mechanisms (there are others) bacteria have, the more you attack them with ineffective abx the more biofilm they make. They also make biofilm against attacks from the immune system. White cells (macrophages etc) sense the presence of a bacterial form, they unleash inflammation to kill it but the stuff can't reach them inside the biofilm coat. All that inflammation does is to cause oxidative damage to our body.

Dr AW used to send his patients papers of relevant CFS studies. One was about a small study (can;t fint it any longer) done years ago in the US showing bacterial biofilm was an issue in CFS patients.

Ive already posted this on another forum

It has recently been shown that biofilms are present on the removed tissue of 80% of patients undergoing surgery for chronic sinusitis. The patients with biofilms were shown to have been denuded of cilia and goblet cells, unlike the controls without biofilms who had normal cilia and goblet cell morphology.[26] Biofilms were also found on samples from two of 10 healthy controls mentioned. The species of bacteria from interoperative cultures did not correspond to the bacteria species in the biofilm on the respective patient's tissue. In other words, the cultures were negative though the bacteria were present.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofilm
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
They become resistant because colonies coat themselves in biofilm when threatened by abx. It's one of the defense mechanisms (there are others) bacteria have, the more you attack them with ineffective abx the more biofilm they make. They also make biofilm against attacks from the immune system. White cells (macrophages etc) sense the presence of a bacterial form, they unleash inflammation to kill it but the stuff can't reach them inside the biofilm coat. All that inflammation does is to cause oxidative damage to our body.

Dr AW used to send his patients papers of relevant CFS studies. One was about a small study (can;t fint it any longer) done years ago in the US showing bacterial biofilm was an issue in CFS patients.

Ive already posted this on another forum

It has recently been shown that biofilms are present on the removed tissue of 80% of patients undergoing surgery for chronic sinusitis. The patients with biofilms were shown to have been denuded of cilia and goblet cells, unlike the controls without biofilms who had normal cilia and goblet cell morphology.[26] Biofilms were also found on samples from two of 10 healthy controls mentioned. The species of bacteria from interoperative cultures did not correspond to the bacteria species in the biofilm on the respective patient's tissue. In other words, the cultures were negative though the bacteria were present.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofilm

How do we get around these biofilms, saline irrigation? I did read somewhere about baby shampoo, maybe because its gentler for the inside of the nose. From what i am reading, doxy or minocycline with an appropriate antibiotic chosen after a swab.

Sinus issues seem to be a common thing amongst us all.

cheers!!!
 

xrunner

Senior Member
Messages
843
Location
Surrey
The only piece of scientific evidence I've come across was on liposomal antibiotics in patients with cystic fibrosis, I think. These liposomes seem to get through the biofilm layers. However not sure whether they're available to anyone.

There are a number of agents that seem to help breaking it down but these are based on anecdotal evidence. If you google the words biofilm + lyme you should get plenty of info on the topic. These agents have been tried over the past few years in the lyme community in particular.
I've experimented with quite a few but had results only with nattokinase and boluoke. I know others who had good results with edta but I haven't tried it. Cistus incanus seems to be the latest fad but I haven't tried it either .
If you decide to try them, let me know and will gladly share info on how to get the max out of those.

There's also evidence that yeast like candida develops biofilm, making it resistant to treatment. For yeast, they seem to suggest polyphenols (e.g. from green tea) are helpful anti-biofilm agents but don't know much else.

all the best
 

ukxmrv

Senior Member
Messages
4,413
Location
London
After seeing the Mayo research into Candida and sinus infections I started adding Nystatin to my nasal wash (and experimented with other antifungals as well). I've got a Gossan Irrigator and I have to be careful not to clog up the machine.

Using the irrigator I was able to get my sinus infection under control with sea-salt and tea tree oil in the water. Had a CAT scan before and after starting. The sinus infection was eating through the area on the before scan. The after one was much better.

The anti-fungal washes didn't have much of an effect on the infection (whatever it is). NHS swabs have never shown up anything useful although a private one showed Staph. Anti-candida diets, supplements etc don't have any effect on my sinus infections.

My UK NHS consultant now recomends these salt / tea tree washes on his patients now. Doxy is one of the few antibiotics that works for me as well.
 

Nielk

Senior Member
Messages
6,970
Count me in as a sinus issue sufferer.
Tania is right about having your doctor take a swab from your nasal passages. I have a chronic sinus problem but at time it becomes severely infected. I am just recovering from such a bout. the first doctor I went to sent me for a CT scan and said it was inflamed and blocked and put me on antibiotics which didn't help. I went to a different doctor who took a swab and it showed a staph infection. She said the first antibioticc I took did not work against staph so she put me on a different antibiotic and steroids as well. I am finally (after six weeks of this) feeling some relief.
The question whether it could be candida overgrowth is a good one. How to treat that? I have been for the past 5 months on an anti candida diet and don't feel an improvement with my sinus situation.
Athene mentions Chlamydia pneumonia which is interesting I never saw a connection but, my CFS specialist always checks for this in my bloodwork and it always up positive. He doesn't treat it though. I would hate to have to be on antibiotics for an extended time but then again, having this constant infection has such a harsh impact on the way I feel.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
After seeing the Mayo research into Candida and sinus infections I started adding Nystatin to my nasal wash (and experimented with other antifungals as well). I've got a Gossan Irrigator and I have to be careful not to clog up the machine.

Using the irrigator I was able to get my sinus infection under control with sea-salt and tea tree oil in the water. Had a CAT scan before and after starting. The sinus infection was eating through the area on the before scan. The after one was much better.

The anti-fungal washes didn't have much of an effect on the infection (whatever it is). NHS swabs have never shown up anything useful although a private one showed Staph. Anti-candida diets, supplements etc don't have any effect on my sinus infections.

My UK NHS consultant now recomends these salt / tea tree washes on his patients now. Doxy is one of the few antibiotics that works for me as well.

Thanks for reply ukxmrv, so at the end of the day u had a bacterial infection??
I will keep doing a few nystatin sinus washes until i know what it is, i suppose it can hurt and irrigating it with salt water sounds good, i know gargling salty wayer helps sore throats. I use like a big syringe to draw up my sinus washes and drop several drops into my nose and snort up and after a short while blow my nose, salt water would be like an antiseptic rinse. Thanks for the tip.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
The only piece of scientific evidence I've come across was on liposomal antibiotics in patients with cystic fibrosis, I think. These liposomes seem to get through the biofilm layers. However not sure whether they're available to anyone.

There are a number of agents that seem to help breaking it down but these are based on anecdotal evidence. If you google the words biofilm + lyme you should get plenty of info on the topic. These agents have been tried over the past few years in the lyme community in particular.
I've experimented with quite a few but had results only with nattokinase and boluoke. I know others who had good results with edta but I haven't tried it. Cistus incanus seems to be the latest fad but I haven't tried it either .
If you decide to try them, let me know and will gladly share info on how to get the max out of those.

There's also evidence that yeast like candida develops biofilm, making it resistant to treatment. For yeast, they seem to suggest polyphenols (e.g. from green tea) are helpful anti-biofilm agents but don't know much else.

all the best

Hi xrunner, i have heard of nattokinase and how it can help abx or av's penetrate deeper. Is this because it acts on breaking down biofilms???? Interesting if u would like to share more here?

cheers!!!
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Count me in as a sinus issue sufferer.
Tania is right about having your doctor take a swab from your nasal passages. I have a chronic sinus problem but at time it becomes severely infected. I am just recovering from such a bout. the first doctor I went to sent me for a CT scan and said it was inflamed and blocked and put me on antibiotics which didn't help. I went to a different doctor who took a swab and it showed a staph infection. She said the first antibioticc I took did not work against staph so she put me on a different antibiotic and steroids as well. I am finally (after six weeks of this) feeling some relief.
The question whether it could be candida overgrowth is a good one. How to treat that? I have been for the past 5 months on an anti candida diet and don't feel an improvement with my sinus situation.
Athene mentions Chlamydia pneumonia which is interesting I never saw a connection but, my CFS specialist always checks for this in my bloodwork and it always up positive. He doesn't treat it though. I would hate to have to be on antibiotics for an extended time but then again, having this constant infection has such a harsh impact on the way I feel.

Hi nielk,

I had a CPN swab over 12 months ago which was neg and my last bout of sinusitis i had blood test for CPN and myco, they both came back neg, but im also prone to not making antibodies too? SO it could be a staph infection and was reading about most skin infections are staph,mm thats why i keep doxy on hand for this rash that flares on my back, maybe it has got into my sinuses??? The rash was diagnosed as foliculitis years ago which means little. I think doxy and mino work in most bacterial infections but are generally good used in a combo with another abx??
I Welcome more sinus tips that i can throw at my doc monday and to get me through the wekend??

cheers!!!
 

u&iraok

Senior Member
Messages
427
Location
U.S.
Colloidial silver mixed with water and used as a nasal wash also helps.

Sinus problems can also be as a result of the problem with have in the back of our neck with lymph nodes backed up and interfering with cerebro-spinal fluid and the sinuses. I get relief with neck massages and pressing on the lymph nodes to drain them. It also drains my sinuses.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Nystatin sinus rinses maybe helping, still have that sinus headache, eased slightly maybe and this morning my BP is almost normal. Maybe all that rot in my sinuses is on the move, maybe. Also started sneezing more, so dont know if thats a good sign, i suppose my body is trying to expel something. get out you little buggers!

I also did a warm salty water sinus rinse, yuk but i think these rinses are also helping because i using alot higher volume of liquid then with typical saline nose spray as well. When u look at the anatomy of the frontal sinuses, it looks dam hard to get anything up there, maybe the rinses just need to get to the oping of the frontal sinuses.

With all this stuff going up my nose, i keep picturing that episode of the simpsons where Homer had a crayon stuck up is nose and when it was removed he became intellegent, maybe i should get an x-ray to check for a crayon stuck up there, lol.
 

heapsreal

iherb 10% discount code OPA989,
Messages
10,089
Location
australia (brisbane)
Colloidial silver mixed with water and used as a nasal wash also helps.

Sinus problems can also be as a result of the problem with have in the back of our neck with lymph nodes backed up and interfering with cerebro-spinal fluid and the sinuses. I get relief with neck massages and pressing on the lymph nodes to drain them. It also drains my sinuses.
Thanks u&iraok, i have seen colloidal silver sprays mentioned when googling. My doc is an intergrative practioner so i will ask him about a good brand.

cheers!!!
 

calzy

Senior Member
Messages
113
Location
Naples Florida
Me Too! Dr. Klimas put me on a 6 month course of antibx. taken once a week. My gamma gobulin levels are low, and when i see her again for bloodwork she will re test for levels and if still low will most likely receive gamma gobulin IV/shots. She feels it is a low simmering bacterial infection due to low levels of gamma gobulin. Maybe have your doc check for this?