Sinus pressure

[Gnusgal]

Okay, so I don't know if I should be worried or not. I woke up this morning with major sinus pressure. This isn't a huge surprise, as I've been fighting a cough for three weeks (yes, I went to the doctor and even had a round of antibiotics that I finished last Monday) and it's not unusual that the congestion is spreading. However, I am in a TON of pain, and with it being a Saturday I will have to wait until Monday afternoon before I can start taking anything because when I went to the pharmacy to see if there was ANYTHING I could take over-the-counter to get relief that wouldn't conflict with my heart meds the pharmasist said that there really wasn't anything that could help other than a prescription because they would all raise my blood pressure. Thanksalotforthehelp...

So anyway, the worry part is this: Some of you MAY remember a couple of years ago when I developed a sinus infection and a blood vessel in my nasal cavity must have burst (we guess) because blood pooled up into my ear, causing severe pain. Well, a couple of times now today I've blown my nose and there was blood. A lot of it. But I don't know what to do about it. When I went to the ER that other time they weren't able to do anything for me except give me pain meds. I mean, how do you stop bleeding in your nasal cavity? So what should I do? Could all the pressure I'm feeling (and it is all on one side) be from blood, or is it really a sinus infection and I happen to have some bleeding too?

ARG! I hate being on coumadin!!! Most of the time it's not a big deal, but at times like this it stinks!

 

[Karlynn]

My bro-in-law had a nose bleed that wouldn't stop and they packed his nasal cavity with about 500 yards of gauze.

Niki - you know that we're going to say that you should go to the ER or give you doctor a call.

 

[Gnusgal]

But it's not like the blood is streaming out of my nose or anything. It's only when I blow my nose that I can even see any blood. I REALLY don't wanna go to the ER. I hate the ER. And besides, I'm on new insurance and I don't know what kind of hassles I'm going to get from them on these kinds of things. I'd rather not have my first claim to them be an ER visit for a sinus infection...

Why do things have to be so complicated for us? Why can't it just be a simple sinus infection like anyone else? Why can't I just go to the drug store and pick up some meds that will nip this in the bud and be done with it? It's just stinky...

 

[Ross]

I wish I had all the answers. Some of us are just destined to be tormented to no end.

 

[OldManEmu]

Gnusgal I can relate to sinus problems I have had them for years September to December, Spring to early Summer in Australia. My sinus issues are related to flowering plants. I some times get blood when I blow my nose however not being on Coumadin I do not have any problems with on going bleeding.

 

[Karlynn]

Since you've had problems in the past, can you call your doctor and get an Rx for an antibiotic to start until he sees you? I tend to get sinus infections as well and can tell when one is "coming on". I would think that in your situation the doctor would rather be safe than sorry and go ahead and prescribe for you.

 

[McCln]

Mine was this past summer and when I mentioned it to the cardio nurse, she suggested stuffing kleenex up my nose. But mine was a mine nose bleed. So there is not much to do with even what is considered mild nosebleed except keep a good eye on it. Good luck.

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, this morning seems to be a little better. I guess I was just getting panicked because of that other time.

Last night before I went to bed I went fishing through my medicine cabinet and found some Nasonex from a sinus infection from long ago. The expiration date said 9/05, but I figured one month couldn't make TOO much of a difference. So I took it. The pressure is MUCH less this morning, so I went ahead and took more this morning. There was still some blood when I sneezed, but I'm going to hold off on worrying for now. I'll call my doctor's office tomorrow and see if they'll call in a prescription without needing to see me (they don't have a weekend service for me to call). In the mean time, I'm just glad my face is not feeling as if it were beat up anymore...

Thanks everyone for being here for me to whine to. I guess it wasn't really necissary, but sometimes you just need to "get it out."

 

[gijanet]

Niki..........

Niki..........

I'm late as always, but I hope you are feeling better now and the Nasonex helped. I know...........I just hate it. Katie is battling the sniffles now.........all stopped up and there is nothing I can give her.
She needs pseudophedrine and that's a no-no, of course, after her arrythmia problems...............sigh! Hope she doesn't end up with my sinuses..........I've already been roto-rootered once and feel like I need to have it done again. Well, hope you are feeling better. Many hugs. J.

 

[Gnusgal]

Still sick and miserable, but at least the bleeding has stopped so I can stop worrying about that... I've been sick for almost a month now! It started out as just a cough, but now I have a cough and sinus congestion. It completely stinks. I've been in contact with my GP several times and all he says is "sorry, there's nothing you can take." Why, oh, why can't a simple cold be simple???

Thanks for the concern. Hope Katie gets to feeling better quickly.

 

[catwoman]

Niki:

Have you had an X-ray of the sinus passages? If you're still having problems, seems there must be something you can take. Maybe a visit to a specialist is in order?

 

[afraidofsurgery]

No treatment??? This is bogus.

No treatment??? This is bogus.

Still sick and miserable, but at least the bleeding has stopped so I can stop worrying about that... I've been sick for almost a month now! It started out as just a cough, but now I have a cough and sinus congestion. It completely stinks. I've been in contact with my GP several times and all he says is "sorry, there's nothing you can take." Why, oh, why can't a simple cold be simple???

Thanks for the concern. Hope Katie gets to feeling better quickly.

If you had one round of antibiotics and you aren't better, why isn't your GP trying a different type of antibiotic?? I think it's BS he/she has just stopped treating you. Being sick for a month is too long - a typical viral cold will last 7-14 days, so if you're still sick you should be treated. Different antibiotics target different types of bacteria, so if the first one didn't work, the GP should try a different type.

Also, can't you at least take Tylenol for the pain, Claritin as an antihistamine, and Robitussin as an expectorant to help w/ your cough? I don't quite buy the "no medicine" story either.

PA

 

[Gnusgal]

Okay, I haven't been COMPLETELY clear about what the doctor has said. First, he did say to take Robotussin DM for the cough. Been taking it, doesn't do much good... He also gave me a steroid inhaler (just the steroid with nothing else in it), which helps SOME, but wears off before my next dose (12 hours) and once in awhile I still get a coughing fit that I just can't stop. But to be honest, my cough has gotten much better since this whole thing started. It's just not completely gone yet.

As for the sinus stuff, I didn't have it when I went to see him, it cropped up later. I called and talked to his nurse and asked her what I could take and she said "Claritin" (I think), but I asked "Are you sure I can take that with all of my heart meds?" To which she replied "Oh, yeah. You're the one with all the heart stuff. Hang on, let me talk to the doctor." Several minutes later she comes back to the phone to say that the doctor has said that there isn't much I can take that wouldn't cause arrythmias and such, except maybe Nasocrom (which is a nasal spray). So I got some of that, but have actually been continuing to use what I have left of the Nasonex instead. I figure having some actual medicine involved (even if it is a little old) would be better than none at all.

Oh, and I've been taking tylenol every day for the pain. That was on my own.

To be honest I've been less than satisfied with my GP ever since starting on coumadin. I think I scare him... I don't go to him often, but when I do it seems as if he simply gives me an antibiotic then stands back and hopes it will work. If it doesn't, he doesn't seem to have any other alternatives. It's like he is terrified of prescribing anything to me anymore. When I went to him with complaints of chronic headaches and migraines, he wouldn't do anything because of all the interactions with coumadin and instead sent me off to a specialist. It's driving me crazy that everything has to be such a big deal. I realize that I've always had a harder time than others getting over things, but this is really crazy!

I don't really have the time to go off and find another GP, though. I only get 7 sick days for the whole school year, and I know from previous history that there are times when those are desprately needed. I hate taking any time off for a stinking cold. If I thought it would do any good, I would, but I am sure I'll continue to feel just as bad for awhile yet. I do think I probably should get on another antibiotic and will probably try calling AGAIN to see if I can get one called in. Perhaps when I tell them that my mucus has turned green it will get their attention...

Thanks for listening to my complaints and for being concerned. I really do appreciate it.

 

[Cris N]

Well, if you don't have the sick time to find a new dr. does your insurance cover 'urgent care' or e.r. treatment? Maybe you could just pop in there on the weekend and hope that someone has a clue of what to do about it.

Obviously there's more that the medical people should be doing for you. I think you're being cared for incompetently and you deserve better!

Cris

 

[Gnusgal]

Well, if you don't have the sick time to find a new dr. does your insurance cover 'urgent care' or e.r. treatment? Maybe you could just pop in there on the weekend and hope that someone has a clue of what to do about it.

They're even more clueless about what to do with me than my current doctor... They get so fascinated listening to my click that they forget why I came in the first place... You should have seen the time I went to a doc-in-the-box for pink eye. THAT was a nightmare!

 

[Georgia]

I really think you need to get yourself to an ent and get that infection treated correctly. It needs to be cultured and treated with appropriate antibiotics. Your GP messing around is going to throw off your inr every time he prescribes. I have a daughter who had awful sinuses (3 roto-rooters by age 25) and when there's a chronic problem like yours' there's no sense in depending on a gp. My daughter ALWAYS had better results when she went to the ent.

I don't know why you can't take claritin or singulair (as long as you don't use claritin-D). I've taken both and am on coumadin and bunches of other stuff.

Meanwhile, have you tried hot and cold compresses? 20 minutes of heat, 20 minutes of cold - for a couple of hours. It really helps drain sinuses that are clogged.

Good luck. That sinus stuff is a bear.

 

[Gnusgal]

Meanwhile, have you tried hot and cold compresses? 20 minutes of heat, 20 minutes of cold - for a couple of hours. It really helps drain sinuses that are clogged.

I've been doing the hot compress right before bed each night. It's hard to do while at work, and from when I get home to when I go to bed I am working on the computer on homework (remember, I'm still working on my Master's degree), so holding a compress to my face isn't very easy (though I did it on Saturday and Sunday because of the pain). I haven't tried cold compresses, though. I may have to see how that does. Though I'm not sure how much I'll like having cold on my face. It's hard enough to do the hot...

Thanks again for your concern. Like I said, I'm going to try calling my GP again and ask point-blank for another antibiotic. I think I need one.

 

[Guest]

If you do not have a fever, it would be inappropriate to prescribe an antibiotic. No fever means that it is either just inflammation or a viral infection. With either of those taking an antibiotic now is just one more step toward bacterial resistance when you have a serious infection. The fact that the antibiotic did not work the first time is a good indication that the doctor just gave you an antibiotic to "say good-bye".

 

[Gnusgal]

Then, Al, what do you think would do the trick and not mess with my multitude of meds??? When I went to the pharmacist here she came up with nothing. Here are the meds I take:

Coumadin (of course)
Vasotec
Toprol
Lanoxin
Topomax
Baby Asprin
Birth Control

When doctors and pharmacists look at this list they back up. They worry about my INR, my blood pressure (which I actually have low blood pressure, but the vasotec is to decrease the workload on my failing Right Ventrical), and arrhythmias. All of which can be effected by most cold and sinus remedies.

If anyone has a solution, I'm more than happy to listen. Apparently I spoke too soon last night when I said the cough was better. Last night I woke myself up coughing at 2 AM. I rarely wake myself up coughing. It's just not fair that someone with as many issues as I do has to suffer this much for a stinking cold.

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't be able to make a recommendation either. It is a surprise to many people not trained in pharmacology that treating a stuffy sinus is one of the hardest things to do. The problem lies in the fact that the nerves that shrink the sinuses are closely related to those that raise blood pressure and cause "highs". Methamphetamine is an excellent sinus clearing agent. I couldn't begin to tell you how many people got mad at me when I worked in retail because I would not make a recommendation for something to unplug the nose. I have suffered many days myself because I knew that nothing would work.