Allergies or Sinus. What do you take?

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kevin21

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2010
Messages
24
Location
Houston
I have been having some ROUGH sinus congestion, to the point that my nasal passages are SHUT. If I move around (and get my blood going) it seems to help. But, at night or in the car driving it's almost impossible to breathe through my nose.

I know were not supposed to take decongestants (raises bp) but I almost have to take a bit of afrin (or equivalent) in one nostril just to feel like I'm not suffocating.

I'm almost certain that the ACE inhibitors (accupril in my case) exacerbates the situation due to it dialating my blood vessels and basically closing off the nasal passages.

Any hints or tips to help severe congestion and not tick off the doctors (by taking afrin or sudafed etc)??
 
Hi Kevin, for a really bad cold I take Dristan at bedtime and Claritin during the day. The Afrin your taking is very hard on the nose tissues. Many, many moons ago, my Ear nose throat specialist told me not to use it, that even Dristan was not great to use it, but it's better. Sometimes I use just a Saline solution.

Hope this helps and good luck.
 
a half tab of zyrtec because the full dose tends to be a little sedating, and I literally rinse out my nose with an isotonic solution of water and baking soda. I use a Neilmed Sinus Rinse kit.

I started using the sinus lavage after I saw an allergist that recommended it.
 
Hi Kevin,

I wish I had an answer for you - and for me. My nasal passages are very narrow and at certain times of year, either due to allergies or even just a slight cold, never mind a regular one, my nose is completely blocked both sides simply because the nasal tissues swell - it's not blocked with gunge. I cannot breathe through my nose, I feel like I'm suffocating and have to spend whole nights sitting upright in bed breathing through my mouth which prevents me from sleeping properly. I've tried a kind of steroid you inhale (Beconase) to prevent this happening in the first place, tried it for months, but it doesn't help as my nose is too narrow. Things like nasal washes wouldn't work as the blockage is complete. Decongestion meds like Sudafed don't work either as they assume an ordinary nose not a narrow one ! I hate it.

Anne
 
I asked my surgeon's assistant about Mucinex, which I used to use for congestion. She said that it would be fine - "on occasion." In other words, not consistently over long periods of time. The main ingredient (guaifenisen) thins and loosens nasal mucus, making your cough more "productive." As the mucus drains down to where you can cough it out, you do.

Works for me.
 
My husband has always had chronic sinus problems. He started using a Neti pot, and it has really cut down on how often he gets infection. You have to use it everyday, though, and even when you don't feel congested. If you are already congested it might take a while to feel the effects. Would be good to try it along with the Mucinex or Tylenol suggested by others.
 
Hi Kevin
Have suffered with chronic sinus problem most of my life, with these responses i wonder about a link with AVR, anyway i use Sterimar nasal spray (salt solution) frequently and Flixonase nasule drops occasionally when it is a severe problem. It is not a cure but it helps.
John B
 
It's always a good idea to rule out a sinus infection as opposed to just congestion.

We keep the windows closed to avoid allergens, maintain a stable humidity level, and also avoid foods which can
add to inflammation ( milk, wheat, preservatives, etc.).
The head of my bed is permanently propped up by about 8-10 inches.
I don't take any meds for this issue.....but it is tempting at times.
 
don't you just love Houston in the Spring?

don't you just love Houston in the Spring?

<knocking on wood at the moment> lately my allergies haven't been quite so bad. Think it may be related to my job change 3 years ago from an outdoor-parks dept. to an indoor office job. I went through every allergy/decongestant there is, and some worked for a period of time and then weren't as effective. I had to rotate them and the steriod nasal spray really helped (this was before neti pots went mainstream).

When it comes to OTC nose sprays like Afrin, I would avoid if at all possible. My father became addicted to them very quickly. Couldn't even taper off because there was a rebound effect that made the congestion even worse.

Good luck with the Oak pollen!

Tass
Cypress, TX
 
I don't think the over the counter medications really works and it is useless, so we tried Absolute Goji. It seems like my daughter allergies have lessened.
 
My ENT (Ear/Nose/Throat) Doc is a BIG Proponent of using a Nasal Rinse Daily (or 2X/day).
He Gave me a Neil-Med Sinus Rinse Kit with plastic syringe and 50? packets of premixed Sodium Chloride and Sodium Carbonate (NO burning and NO stinging). Works GREAT and is Low Cost.

He also recommends keeping a bottle of Saline Nasal Spray handy for use 'as needed' (NO restrictions).

He warns against some of the OTC decongestants(sp?) that can become ADDICTIVE (I'm thinking Afrin? was one he specifically cautioned against).

For Prevention, he likes NASONEX ($$$). Flonase is available in Generic Form for lower cost but is not as effective for ALL types of allergies). Astelin is another product that can be used with Nasonex that works on different parameters (which I have forgotten).

For Serious Allergies and Sinus Problems you should really be evaluated by an ENT (Otolaryngologist).

'AL Capshaw'
 
I use the Neilmed nasal rinse when it is very bad to clear the congestion and the Nasonex spray as a prevention, this combination was recommended to be by a specialist in respiratory medicine. If indoors keep the doors and windows closed to avoid allergens.
I have found most OTC nasal sprays cause me to have nose bleeds from the irritation within a few days of continuous use.
If all else fails you can be tested for the worse allergens and then given a course of desensitisation injections.
 
hi kevin,
neilmed sinus rinse is incredible. i used to have chronic sinus infections every year until an ENT recommended this.
i use the rinse in the morning when i wake up and in the evening at bedtime. when i feel something coming on, i use more it during the day. i've also used nasonex and flonase. i take allegra every day preventatively (my allergies precipitate the sinus issues).
do try the rinse; it's great!
feel well,
sylvia
 
I had first a winter cold, was so uncomfortable had to take Musnix and nasal spray to breathe. Then alergy season started as I was getting over the cold and started taking generic for zytec and still the nasal spray. BP is good, glucose normal and protime is normal, strange enough. It is hard to attack colds and allergies at this time of the year. Harder when you have both at the same time and not knowing how to treat both. Hope you are doing better.
 
My cardiologist told me I could take benedryl sometimes, just not as much as I would have needed it since I had horrible seasonal allergies for 3 months. I did take it a couple times just a chewable children's benedryl and my PVCs went crazy. Zyrtec didn't cause me any problems but I don't feel it worked very well either. I keep a bag of Halls in multiple places in my home and I use saline nasal spray and I sometimes rub vaseline up my nostrils if they are seriously itchy.
 
I used to take Claritin, but recently switched to Zyrtec. It works well. I also take an occassional Benadryl at bedtime for an extra boost. AYR and Saline Solution and Vicks rub are good for non-addictive nasal sprays/ointments that can open up the stuffiness.

Unfortunately, Afrin is horribly addictive. If you use it with any regularity, when you stop you will get a rebound effect where you feel more stuffed up than ever. IT will pass, but many find it so uncomfortable they can't quit the Afrin easily.
 
As someone else mentioned, neti pots are wonderful! I swear by mine, just fill with warm water and add a little bit of salt. If you are already congested it might take a few times, but if you get in the habit of using it, you will notice a huge improvement and lessening of sinus issues. Best of all, no drugs and no side effects like the addiction to Afrin others have mentioned.
 
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