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Sinusitis worse when fatigued

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
Just wondering if anyone experiences anything like this. My sinusitis began in Feb 2015 when I went on a plane while I had a flu and my ears got all blocked. I had a few months of actual nasal and sinus problems along with postnasal drip and sore throat. While those cleared up, I've been left with weird feelings in my head like dizziness but not vertigo, occasional headaches/face pain and a "full" type feeling in the centre or top of my head. Sometimes I can feel where the back of my nasal passages are due to some weird pressure. No sore throats, rarely any nasal issues. While my face only hurts sometimes, if I press on certain points, it always hurts a lot.

The thing that's weird about it all is that it is markedly worse the more fatigued I am. It doesn't preempt the fatigue - I start feeling tired and then these symptoms get worse. Is that normal with these types of symptoms? Nurofen plus sometimes helps but not always. Is there anything else I can do to ease it? I've tried nasal sprays, nasal washes, massage. All of my allergy tests were negative (except nickel).

It's so frustrating, I could manage with the heavy full head feeling as I'm so used to it with CFS but this damn dizziness type feeling is horrid. CFS is already so bad - why do our bodies enjoy lumping us with so many other problems too lol
 

TiredSam

The wise nematode hibernates
Messages
2,677
Location
Germany
Just wondering if anyone experiences anything like this. My sinusitis began in Feb 2015 when I went on a plane while I had a flu and my ears got all blocked. I had a few months of actual nasal and sinus problems along with postnasal drip and sore throat. While those cleared up, I've been left with weird feelings in my head like dizziness but not vertigo, occasional headaches/face pain and a "full" type feeling in the centre or top of my head. Sometimes I can feel where the back of my nasal passages are due to some weird pressure. No sore throats, rarely any nasal issues. While my face only hurts sometimes, if I press on certain points, it always hurts a lot.

The thing that's weird about it all is that it is markedly worse the more fatigued I am. It doesn't preempt the fatigue - I start feeling tired and then these symptoms get worse. Is that normal with these types of symptoms? Nurofen plus sometimes helps but not always. Is there anything else I can do to ease it? I've tried nasal sprays, nasal washes, massage. All of my allergy tests were negative (except nickel).

It's so frustrating, I could manage with the heavy full head feeling as I'm so used to it with CFS but this damn dizziness type feeling is horrid. CFS is already so bad - why do our bodies enjoy lumping us with so many other problems too lol
Yep. I don't really know what to make of it. That full feeling in the head, the pressure in the middle behind the nose and slightly above. It has correllated with fatigue and headaches lately, but I don't know which is causing which or what the connection is. I have an allergy to 5 trees that have been blossoming lately, so it could be connected to that, but I didn't notice a correlation last year or the year before. Sorry this isn't much help, but just to let you know someone else gets it too. It often comes overnight and I wake up with it in the morning.
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
Yep. I don't really know what to make of it. That full feeling in the head, the pressure in the middle behind the nose and slightly above. It has correllated with fatigue and headaches lately, but I don't know which is causing which or what the connection is. I have an allergy to 5 trees that have been blossoming lately, so it could be connected to that, but I didn't notice a correlation last year or the year before. Sorry this isn't much help, but just to let you know someone else gets it too. It often comes overnight and I wake up with it in the morning.
It definitely helps knowing someone else gets it. I've been feeling like no one gets it because it's so hard to explain the feeling. Mine usually happens around midday, improves a bit then gets worse in the evening which correlates to my usual fatigue cycle. Have you spoken to any doctors about it at all or had any tests? I haven't spoken to the doc about it in months, dreading the tests-negative results-more tests endless cycle that seems to follow any CFS patient around.
 

Crux

Senior Member
Messages
1,441
Location
USA
I've had chronic sinusitis for ever, it seems.

It's gone deep into the sinuses and elsewhere. I've had oral infections too.

This article brings up the usual suspects that cause it : S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, with extra Staphylococcus spp.

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/allergy/rhino-sinusitis/

I've resorted to crushing a tablet of augmentin, dissolving, straining it, and putting it into a sinus spray bottle.
It's inefficient, but better than taken orally.

This system may be better : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25084017
 

TiredSam

The wise nematode hibernates
Messages
2,677
Location
Germany
It definitely helps knowing someone else gets it. I've been feeling like no one gets it because it's so hard to explain the feeling. Mine usually happens around midday, improves a bit then gets worse in the evening which correlates to my usual fatigue cycle. Have you spoken to any doctors about it at all or had any tests? I haven't spoken to the doc about it in months, dreading the tests-negative results-more tests endless cycle that seems to follow any CFS patient around.
I haven't bothered with my doc for about 9 months, I got tired of being told he can't find anything and I'm fine. I have a medical appointment at an immunology clinic in a couple of weeks, I might mention it then. Too be honest it hasn't troubled me that much (ie not been too much of an additional annoyance on top of the usual headaches and fatigue), it's just something I've noticed lately, pain / pressure behind the eyes when I've overdone it (ie committed the crime of leaving my sofa for too long) too. Sounds like it's having a worse effect on you, hope you find something to help it.
 

perchance dreamer

Senior Member
Messages
1,691
@purrsian, I'd suggest seeing the best ENT in your area. Maybe you'd be a candidate for a procedure like balloon sinusplasty.

If your ENT orders a sinus CT, ask her to look at the nasal swell bodies and see if they are engorged to the point of blocking nasal airflow. My ENT showed me the NSB view on the scan. I wrote about my experience here.

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...us-congestion-and-insomnia.41873/#post-676872

While you are sorting all this out, maybe it would help to sleep with your head elevated. I got this wedge pillow, and it helps with my breathing, which helps my sleep. Maybe head elevation would lessen your sinus pressure:

https://www.relaxtheback.com/contoursleep-side-sleeper-bed-wedge.html

For treatment of sinus infection, the best thing I've found are ozone injections. My doctor injects ozone into my gums above my canines, and it works great.

I got rid of a sinus staph infection with only 1 injection. For another type of bacteria (I forget which type), I required 3 sets of injections, each separated by a week or so, to get rid of it, but it worked. My doctor said that 1 or 2 sets of injections are usually all it takes.

Depending where you live, it can be difficult to find doctors who work with ozone. I got interested because I have problems with oral antibiotics, so wanted an alternative.

Good luck!
 

TigerLilea

Senior Member
Messages
1,147
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia
I've lived with sinus issues for the past 25 years. Six ENTS and six CT scans later no one knows what the problem is with my sinuses as they are almost "perfect" according to the last ENT I saw. My doctor now has me on a 100% dairy free diet to see if possibly I have a food intolerance that is causing at least some of my sinus issues as I also have allergies that four allergy tests later all come back negative.
 

perchance dreamer

Senior Member
Messages
1,691
@TigerLilea, I was also told that my sinuses looked mostly normal from the CT scans. If you've already had scans, you could ask your ENT to show you the nasal swell body view. I'm not sure if they are scanned as a matter of course, though. It may have nothing to do with your problem, but it's worth asking.

ENTs have largely ignored any correlation between NSBs and nasal flow and sinus health until recently. No ENT had even looked at mine on a scan until late last year, and I've been chasing solutions for sinus infections and nasal constriction for years with ENTs.
 

5150

Senior Member
Messages
360
I am one of the many of us who have this problem.
Have found that sinus problems are mostly always present, but occasionally when not crashing, I can keep things under control. What helps with this is: while sleeping, stay warm... I don't sleep under an open window as this invariably kicks my symptoms up. Since I have a constant low-grade sore throat, this tends to make ears vulnerable to infection. When this problem starts, I have a small squeeze-bottle of triple antibiotic(by Bausch & Lomb) that is always handy. Can't let those ears get out of control, so I make sure this medicine is always available & don't run out. It's Rx.
 

rosie26

Senior Member
Messages
2,446
Location
NZ
I've had sinusitis all the way through. It always flares up when I overdo but it's settled down hugely the last few years. I am really rough in other ways though.

I started out with a constantly drippy nose in my milder years and then at severe I had major problems. Very painful sore head/headache everyday for 2 years, blocked, infected sinuses, aching bones in the face and aching sinuses that would get infected when I overdid it. It eased up some as I reached a moderate level, but I was still was getting the aching. They aren't on the top list of one of my worst symptoms anymore. Although still there.
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
For anyone interested in using ozone to treat sinus infections, here's a list of doctors who use ozone therapy. I don't know how many treat sinus infections with ozone, but it might be worth a look. The doctor who treats me with ozone is a doctor of physical medicine who does a lot of prolotherapy and PRP.
http://www.oxygenhealingtherapies.com/my_ozone_doctor.com.html
Thanks for this link, there is one on the Sunshine Coast about an hour from me which is awesome considering there are only two listed in Australia!
I've lived with sinus issues for the past 25 years. Six ENTS and six CT scans later no one knows what the problem is with my sinuses as they are almost "perfect" according to the last ENT I saw. My doctor now has me on a 100% dairy free diet to see if possibly I have a food intolerance that is causing at least some of my sinus issues as I also have allergies that four allergy tests later all come back negative.
Don't you love being told how "fine" everything is all the time?! Have you had any luck with the dairy free yet? I've started having almond milk with my cereal and the only other dairy I really have is cheese sometimes. I can't correlate my symptoms to dairy specifically, although I do get gustatory rhinitis after eating sometimes (doesn't matter if spicy or not spicy, hot or cold, dairy or no dairy - it's random when it happens).
I am one of the many of us who have this problem.
Have found that sinus problems are mostly always present, but occasionally when not crashing, I can keep things under control. What helps with this is: while sleeping, stay warm... I don't sleep under an open window as this invariably kicks my symptoms up. Since I have a constant low-grade sore throat, this tends to make ears vulnerable to infection. When this problem starts, I have a small squeeze-bottle of triple antibiotic(by Bausch & Lomb) that is always handy. Can't let those ears get out of control, so I make sure this medicine is always available & don't run out. It's Rx.
I've discovered keeping warm at night is important for me but not for sinus issues - I get night sweats if I leave the fan on or have a window open. I have been using several pillows to create a wedge so I can sleep elevated and that helps but very mildly.

Is it possible to have sinusitis with pretty much no nasal involvement (aside from the gustatory rhinitis)?
 

rosie26

Senior Member
Messages
2,446
Location
NZ
I forgot to mention that I went to 2 ENT specialists (public and private) in my first severe year and both could see nothing wrong with my sinuses.
I've discovered keeping warm at night is important for me but not for sinus issues - I get night sweats if I leave the fan on or have a window open. I have been using several pillows to create a wedge so I can sleep elevated and that helps but very mildly.
Are you living in a warmer climate? I find as soon as the temperature goes below 13C/55F my sinuses start to flare up, also the rest of my ME flares.
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
@rosie26 i do live in a warmer climate. Currently hasn't gone below 15 degrees Celsius as the lowest. But it is humid - I don't think that would help. Thankfully the humidity isn't so bad over the past week - it's a hard choice when air con AND humidity screw you up lol
I'm not looking forward to winter as I'm already cold much of the day, even though it's 25 degrees plus.
 

rosie26

Senior Member
Messages
2,446
Location
NZ
@rosie26 i do live in a warmer climate. Currently hasn't gone below 15 degrees Celsius as the lowest. But it is humid - I don't think that would help. Thankfully the humidity isn't so bad over the past week - it's a hard choice when air con AND humidity screw you up lol
I'm not looking forward to winter as I'm already cold much of the day, even though it's 25 degrees plus.
Yeah, the humidity is hard, makes you feel more weighted down. We get high humidity here at times too. We had one hot day a couple of months ago. I had to have 4 cold showers and also had to keep wetting my hair in between showers to keep cool. I can't remember ever having to do that before. I tried to cool the living room with a fan but it was useless. Where I am, our summer temperature very rarely if ever goes over 30C fortunately. I wish I could escape our winters though.
 

purrsian

Senior Member
Messages
344
@rosie26 i wish I could escape our summers and winters lol our winters aren't even that bad, I'm just so bad with cold and heat.

I went to the doc a few days ago and she suggested I may not actually have sinusitis but my symptoms may be due to my fatigue and POTS instead. I'm having a sinus CT done this week. Hopefully something comes about from this doc so I can come back here and report something useful lol
L
 

me/cfs 27931

Guest
Messages
1,294
Is there anything else I can do to ease it? I've tried nasal sprays, nasal washes, massage.
One suggestion from a sleep doc has helped me.

Do a nasal wash just before bedtime. I was doing a nasal wash earlier in the day, but the bedtime wash is what helped my sleep.

You might even try doing 2 washes about an hour apart before bedtime, if you have the energy.
 

TigerLilea

Senior Member
Messages
1,147
Location
Vancouver, British Columbia
One suggestion from a sleep doc has helped me.

Do a nasal wash just before bedtime. I was doing a nasal wash earlier in the day, but the bedtime wash is what helped my sleep.

That's interesting. I've never been told any specific time to use my neti pot and night time is always the worst time for me as far as stuffed up sinuses. I'll definitely have to try this.
 

rosie26

Senior Member
Messages
2,446
Location
NZ
@rosie26 i wish I could escape our summers and winters lol our winters aren't even that bad, I'm just so bad with cold and heat.

I went to the doc a few days ago and she suggested I may not actually have sinusitis but my symptoms may be due to my fatigue and POTS instead. I'm having a sinus CT done this week. Hopefully something comes about from this doc so I can come back here and report something useful lol
L
My sinuses are starting to play up and right on cue with the cool air we are getting. I think I need to live in an apartment above a large shopping mall so I could go shopping easily for groceries and anything else I need without having to go outside too much, just for the winter months. And that's saying a lot for someone who is an outdoors person. Probably would be too noisy though.

Good luck with the appointment this week. All my tests came back normal. I was sent home with 'reflux' medication after one of my sinus exams. lol. Which I didn't have.
 
Last edited:

rosie26

Senior Member
Messages
2,446
Location
NZ
Do a nasal wash just before bedtime. I was doing a nasal wash earlier in the day, but the bedtime wash is what helped my sleep.
I don't know why my sinuses are different, but I found the neti pot made it all worse for me. The water seemed to all come out again but it felt like the walls of my sinuses held onto some of it which made me feel worse.