Sinus woes

[Nero]

Does anyone have any non-hokum remedies for sinus problems? I have had v bad sinus pressure for the second time in about ten days (the first was the other Sunday and it was extremely unpleasant.) I've been inhaling a v mild H202 solution, used Vicks, drunk ginger and turmeric in hot water, but it still comes back. Thanks.

[Keef]

I'd be interested in this too, as my sinus is shocking!

Yes I know, not smoking would be a good start, but I'm not after a lecture.

[fractionater]

try inhaling\sucking 'lukewarm' mildly slaty water through your nose, and spit out through mouth (obviously don't swallow it!).... helps with colds/hayfever/and other nasaly probs.

I would normally do it from a pint glass, but as this is ED you could go new-age and try a neti pot.

Also, stop sniffing the white stuff!

[Loz]

I'm with fractionater on this one. Sniffing salty water is what scuba divers do if they have sinus issues (not least as they are surrounded with billions of gallons of medicine). Clears things out PDQ.

If you think your sinuses hurt on land, go down 20m underwater and see what it's like!

[ruffers]

You can buy kind of aerosols of salty water for this very purpose from the chemist.

[fractionater]

why buy it?!...its simple warm water from the tap + a tsp of salt + mix!

[sanity girl]

I feel your pain. I've used the Sterimar saline aerosol and it's pretty effective (desperate last resort as pregnant and cannot use sudafed etc). It's quite shocking the gunk that can get flushed out after you've used it! You can get it from most chemists.

[Nero]

Thanks! Has anyone had antibiotics to get rid of any infection? I will try the saline sprays twice daily till after the weekend and then think about going to see the doc.

[????]

My sinuses are crap - continued problems led me to give up smoking and a few other bits and bobs. I still end up with sinus infection about 50% of the time I get a cold and then antibiotic is the only way to clear them up properly.

[Pickle]

I struggle with my sinuses too (for me the infections are generally caused by hayfever). Having battled for the last few weeks trying a variety of gentle remedies I got antibiotics just over a week ago and feel better than I have for months. It's not until a sinus infection has cleared up that you realise just how awful they make you feel!

[randombloke]

Try visiting a cranial osteopath who might be able to help release the pressure. If you've ever seen just how small the sinuses are then you'd realise that it doesn't take a lot of mucus to block them.

[sanity girl]

I have had antibiotics for sinusitus in the past - if your snot is a nasty greenish colour then you have an infection and probably need them - worth seeing your doctor if you're really suffering

[ontheedge]

Agree on the antibiotics when it's bad and the bones in your face feel like they're going to crack they seem to be the only thing that works and pretty quickly at that

[woofmarkthedog]

If..

..you do want to make a home-made saline, then make sure the water is purified as chlorinated tap water can have issues all of it's own

Also a sea salt like "Maldon" is kinder on the nasal lining. ( how east dulwich is that )

Though It will only really help to flush out the irritants, other remedies such as antihistamines sort out the rest

W**F

[Nero]

Hmm. I have asthma and hayfever so perhaps that is causing it, but I don't have the yellow/green mucus, so perhaps it is not an infection? I do, though, feel sick on waking - no, not an existential dread, but more like the catarrh having dripped into the stomach. Mmmmm! I think I'll have to go and see the doc then. Thanks all!

[apenn]

Even better than spraying or inhaling saline - try a neti-pot. I've been using one for years and I think it's fabulous:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=neti-pot&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=4773135469&ref=pd_sl_21vkjdthpl_e

(If this link doesn't work just google neti pot)

Sounds weird but it's easy once you get the hang of it. The neti pot is shaped like a gravy boat. You pour water in one nostril and it comes out of the other one. The advantage of this kind of nasal rinsing is that it creates a kind of suction in your sinus cavity and actually helps to drain your sinuses rather than just clean out what's trapped in your nose. You won't believe what comes out! (Sorry if this is a bit too graphic!)

-A

[Beagle]

I feel your pain. I suffered 6 months of recurrent infection after a knock to my face playing sport, antibiotics didn't help me and like a poster above what actually helped clear the problem up was cranial osteopathy, in Dulwich. Apart from that saline sprays offered the most relief but the cranial osteopathy actually cleared the pain, in two sessions.